Back to Nature Camp

Visited: summer

Recommendation: This is a little known park that is just lovely to stay at, putting many similar camps to shame. There is a lot of wildlife here but I only got a taste. It is one for further exploration for sure.

There are 2 highways running south to Perth, the 60 along the coast and the 1, further inland. About 80 kilometre from the northern Perth suburb of Joondalup and in between the highways is the Back to Nature Caravan Park. It is run by Harry and is a quiet patch of paradise. The thick trees and lush grass contrast with the dry scrub everywhere surrounding the parking area.

Each morning brings a range of visitors, from the squabbling magpie families to the wail of the black cockatoo. This is a great place to listen to parrots calling, although they were not very co-operative in photography terms. The best sighting I got was of a flock of at least 50 Carnaby's Black Cockatoo as they circled the area late one afternoon. The 28 Ringneck Parrots were always about and every now and again a few Red-capped Parrots would sit in the trees. They were soon dealt to by the more aggressive ringnecks. The Laughing Kookaburra could also be relied upon for an early morning wake up call!

28 Ringneck Parrot (Barnardius zonarius semitorquatus)

White-cheeked Honeyeater (Phylidonyris nigra)

Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae)

There are always plenty of small bush birds in the trees and bushes around the campsite and it was lovely to listen to them chattering in the afternoons. The Yellow-rumped Thornbill was the most common here but as they are often on the ground, I found it difficult to catch them in the grass or scrub areas, despite them being a usually confiding bird.

Gerygone and fairywren flitted about and with a bit of persistence, I got them instead. I found the Splendid and the Purple-backed Fairywren here. Also present were good numbers of Weebill and I heard the Grey Fantail frequently.

Western Gerygone (Gerygone fusca)

Splendid Fairy-wren (Malurus splendens)

You can walk a fair way out the back of the campsite, although the sight of the hill back up to the park is quite daunting. It was pretty quiet when I walked in the mornings. The highlight was catching this young Collared Sparrowhawk as it flew into a low branch of a tree close by. There were Yellow-rumped Thornbill on the ground below and I just hoped he wasn't there looking for breakfast!

Collared Sparrowhawk (Accipiter cirrocephalus)

The approach roads to the caravan park are also interesting as you are surrounded by thick coastal heath land. On my way out, I headed north and then west to pick up the highway running parallel to the ocean. The scenery continued to be stunning in the early morning light but I had to stop for a sleepy Shingleback Skink as he made his way across the road.

On my way out of the park heading towards the highway.

Shingleback Skink (Tiliqua rugosa)