Fitzgerald
River National Park: This time we are moving away from NSW and describing a
National Park in Western Australia. Fitzgerald
River National Park has an area of 240,000 hectares and follows the southern
coastline west of Esperance. A wealth of plants is found in the Park. Over
1800 flowering plant species have been identified. This represents nearly 20%
of the native plants found in Western Australia. Sixty-two species only occur
in Fitzgerald River National Park. Hakea victoria and Regelia
velutina (see photograph) are two of these endemic species. The rare
Western Whipbird and Ground Parrot are two rare birds found in the Park. Also
within the park are a series of isolated peaks known as the Barrens. Matthew
Flinders named them in 1802. The
park is also known for its spongelite cliffs. This soft rock was formed more
than 36 million years ago. Sponges proliferated in the warm shallow sea, which
covered the area. Their silica skeletons gave rise to the name of the rock
type. A road traverses Fitzgerald River National Park and provides
access to picnic areas and walking tracks.