Yardie Creek, gorge W.A.

Yardie Creek Boat Tour.  

Yardie Creek is located in the spectacular Yardie Creek Gorge, 1-hour drive from Exmouth. The ancient gorge has deep blue water, red limestone cliff faces and a wonderful array of birds and wildlife including the rare black-footed wallaby and red kangaroos. From the top, the views into the creek and out to the Ningaloo Reef are purely spectacular.

You have the option to do the 1.5 kilometre walking trail which slowly climbs up the red rock cliffs over a flat path which then becomes harder as it narrows and requires navigation of rocks and small creek line gullies. Alternatively, you can do the boat cruise (as did we) which takes you up through the spectacular gorge.

Either way you will see a variety of birds and yellow footed rock wallabies that inhabit the rock walls, there is even a batt colony.

Click on pics to enlarge.

Eastern Osprey

There were a number of Osprey nests along the cliff faces. The Osprey are a medium-sized fish-eating raptor (bird of prey). It has dark brown upperparts contrasting with pale underparts. The Osprey is known to use the same nest year after year. The nest is made from sticks and driftwood and is used repeatedly for many years. It is usually placed on a cliff, a dead tree or even a radio mast. Both birds (male and female) bring sticks, but the female usually places the sticks in the nest. The nest is lined with grass, seaweed or bark. The female does most of the incubation, while the male brings food to the nest.

Eastern Osprey, baby.

Eastern Reef Heron, white

The Eastern reef heron, also known as the Pacific reef heron or eastern reef egret, is a species of heron found throughout southern Asia and Oceania. It occurs in two colour morphs with either slaty grey (see image below) or pure white plumage. The sexes are similar in appearance. They are a  small heron that hug rocky coastlines. 

Eastern Reef Heron (Grey-Morph)

Yardie Creek, gorge with amazing red limestone cliff faces.

Rock Wallaby, Yardie Creek gorge. (Live in these vertical cliffs)

Rock Wallaby, Yardie Creek gorge

Batt colony, Yardie Creek gorge

Grey Butcherbird, juv

Grey Butcherbirds range from northern Queensland, through southern Australia, including Tasmania, and to the Pilbara in Western Australia.

Western Bowerbird

A dark, brownish, mottled, strongly marked bowerbird with warm brown tones overall and a small pink crest on the nape. Inhabits woodland habitat, and often near fig trees in rocky gorges. They are found in central Australia and parts of the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

Common Sandpiper

The common sandpiper is a smallish wader (shore bird) with contrasting brown upperparts and white underparts. It habitually bobs up and down, known as ‘teetering’, and has a distinctive flight with stiff, bowed wings. Its presence is often betrayed by its three-note call which it gives as it flies off.

Yardie Creek, vehicle bogged in the sand.

The sealed road actually finishes at Yardie Creek. To continue further south, vehicles follow the sandy beaches, some as is the case above get bogged. Signs are in the area to the effect that towing vehicles are unavailable. So there options, 1) Reduce tyre pressure, 2) Try and reverse out. 3) Dig themselves out with a shovel. 4) Lay down EXITRAX Recovery Boards. If all else fails, then usually some fellow campers will come to their aid.

Exmouth where the outback meets the Ocean.

Outback Australia

Living on the east coast we generally forget the harsh outback country in Australia and its size, reportedly 70% of the Australian landscape is considered outback. Here at Exmouth you travel 100 or more kms in the harsh countryside to the next small village. The previous day we drove 300 kms return to nearby Coral Bay.