Francois Peron National Park - Big Lagoon Campground

16 – 18 October 2018

From Monkey Mia we drove in to Denham for a quick look around before heading back towards Monkey Mia, on our way to Francois Peron National Park. This fairly new park was only established in the 1990’s and was not open to the public when we first travelled this way in 1991. An entry fee of $13 per car is payable at the entry station, as is the $11 per person per night camping fee. We decided on two nights, made our payment and drove the 7 kilometres to the Heritage Precinct. From there we stopped at the tyre pressure station. The rest of the park is strictly 4WD only and visitors are advised to reduce tyre pressure to at least 20psi. 

National Parks advise that a high clearance vehicle is essential. Low clearance vehicles, caravans and large trailers cannot be used on the deeply rutted roads.

After reducing our tyre pressure we set off to Big Lagoon Campground, about 12 kilometres away. The drive wasn’t too difficult, but the road is narrow and windy in parts. There is one section that traverses gypsum clay and can be impossible to pass after heavy rain. Fortunately it was quite dry when we visited. On arrival, we drove around the campground looking for the perfect spot, which we found easily. Our site was close enough to the toilets (although there were a number around the camping area) and also a short walk to the day visitor area which included a couple of picnic shelters with BBQs, tables, chairs and a view to die for. Also near our camp was a viewing platform and a track to the beach. We felt like we had found the perfect place for a couple of days.

View of the campground.

On arrival, the first local we saw was this goanna. It upset the little birds as it searched through the thick heath for food.

'Is the tide gonna reach my chair'

Blue water, red dunes.

Flowering succulents.

Dragon in the sand.

Horsfield's Bronze-cuckoo.

White-breasted Woodswallow.

Singing Honeyeaters are always around.

Variegated Fairywren male race bernieri.

Variegated Fairywren female.

Yellow White-eye.

Yellow White-eye.

I have seen photos of Southern Scrub-robins and Western Grasswrens hopping around the campsites here. Although these pics were from about five years ago I was really hoping it was still the same. No such luck, I saw neither species. There were lots of male Pied Honeyeaters seen on the drive in but always from a long way off. The most interesting bird was probably the vulnerable bernieri race of Variegated Fairywren. The male was way harder to get a shot of than the females. I imagine their bright breeding plumage must be worn with a good deal of caution. Mick

The weather was windy, but not as bad as we had experienced in some places, and we did have some rain overnight and on out last morning, as we were packing up, but that didn’t detract from our enjoyment of this great place. With only a few other campers, it was very peaceful and relaxing. We did go for a few walks along the beach, and to the top of a dune for magnificent views of the lagoon.

Breakfast at the day use area.

Stunning views only metres from camp.

After packing up between showers, we set off for Denham, stopping to re-inflate the tyres at the Heritage Precinct. From there we drove south with no firm destination in mind, but a couple of possibilities.