Editing Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park

{{Use Australian English|date=November 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox Australian place
| type                   = protected
| name                   = Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park
| state                  = wa
| iucn_category          = II
| image                  = Leeuwin-Naturaliste.jpg
| caption                = A location in the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park
| image_alt              = 
| local_map              = yes
| zoom                   = 8
| coordinates            = {{coord|34|14|19|S|115|02|50|E|display=inline,title}}
| relief                 = yes
| pushpin_label_position = left
| map_alt                =
| nearest_town_or_city   = [[Busselton]]
| area                   = 190.92
| area_footnotes         =<ref name="ParkAreas">{{cite journal|year=2010 |title=Department of Environment and Conservation 2009–2010 Annual Report |journal=Annual Report |pages=48 |publisher=Department of Environment and Conservation |issn=1835-114X |url=http://www.dec.wa.gov.au/content/view/6139/2345/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110111124319/http://www.dec.wa.gov.au/content/view/6139/2345/ |archive-date=11 January 2011 }}</ref>
| established            = 1957<!-- {{start date|yyyy|mm|dd|df=y}} -->
| established_footnotes  =
| visitation_num         =
| visitation_year        =
| visitation_footnotes   =
| managing_authorities   = Parks and Wildlife Service of the [[Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions]]
| url                    = https://parks.dpaw.wa.gov.au/park/leeuwin-naturaliste
}}
'''Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park''' is a national park in the [[South West (Western Australia)|South West region]] of [[Western Australia]], {{cvt|267|km}} south of [[Perth]].
It is named after the two [[Cape (geography)|capes]] either end of the park, [[Cape Leeuwin]] and [[Cape Naturaliste]].
It is located in the [[Augusta-Margaret River]] and [[Busselton]] council areas, and is claimed to have the highest visiting numbers of any national park in Western Australia. The park received 2.33 million visitors through 2008–2009.<ref name=2012plan>{{cite web|url=https://www.dpaw.wa.gov.au/images/documents/parks/management-plans/decarchive/shannon_and_dentrecasteaux_national_parks_management_plan_71_2012.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403211955/http://www.dpaw.wa.gov.au/images/documents/parks/management-plans/decarchive/shannon_and_dentrecasteaux_national_parks_management_plan_71_2012.pdf |archive-date=2015-04-03 |url-status=live|title=Shannon and D'Entrecasteaux National Parks Management Plan No. 71 2012|year=2012|access-date=8 October 2019|publisher=Department of Environment and Conservation}}</ref>

==Description==
The park extends over {{convert|100|mi|order=flip}}, from Cape Naturaliste in the north to Cape Leeuwin in the south. It is composed of 28 separate reserves, which together have an area of about {{convert|15,600|ha}}.{{fact |date=January 2025}} Despite the park's large size, the reserves are fragmented, and in many places the park consists only of a narrow coastal strip.<ref name = vascular>Keighery, Greg & Lyons, Michael & Gibson, N. & Keighery, B.. (2011). Vascular flora of Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park. ''Conservation Science Western Australia''. 2011, Vol. 8 Issue 1, p31-60. 30p.</ref>

It has many features of interest including limestone and [[granite]] outcrops like [[Sugarloaf Rock, Western Australia|Sugarloaf Rock]] and [[Canal Rocks]]. The coastal area also contains many beaches with well-known surf breaks, such as [[Supertubes]], Yallingup Beach, and Smiths Beach.<ref>Blair, Larry and Cheyne Horan ''Wavefinder Australia'' 3rd edition.A Hedonist publication {{ISBN|0-9581726-6-8}} Supertubes (Smiths) p.253, Yallingup beach p.252, Smiths Beach p.253.  also in (2001) ''Western Australia's Yallingup Margaret River Region'', www.estategraphics.com.au/surfmaps –  number 10, Supertubes; number 9, Yallingup; number 11, Smiths</ref> Other coastal features include coastal cliffs and aeolian dunes. The park contains many [[cave]]s, some of which are accessible by the public. There are brackish and freshwater lakes and springs, and the park is crossed by several creeks and rivers, including the [[Margaret River]].<ref name = vascular/>

The park either passes through or contains historic sites including the [[Cape Leeuwin water wheel]].

==Leeuwin–Naturaliste Ridge==
The Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge is a discontinuous strip of coastal dune limestone running north–south and extending along the western shore, parallel to the coast from [[Cape Naturaliste]] to [[Cape Leeuwin]]. The ridge is composed of two landform elements, [[Tamala Limestone]] and the basement rock the limestone formed on, called the Leeuwin Complex.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The mystery of Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park |url=https://www.margaretriver.com/things-to-do/attractions/nature-wildlife/the-mystery-of-leeuwin-naturaliste-national-park/ |access-date=2024-11-27 |website=The Margaret River Region |language=en-AU}}</ref>

Tamala Limestone is a naturally occurring [[eolianite]] [[limestone]], found in deposits on the western coastline of [[Western Australia]].

The Leeuwin Complex is a strongly metamorphosed igneous Proterozoic rock made up mostly of granitic and anorthositic [[gneiss]]es. The Dunsborough Fault forms the eastern boundary of the Leeuwin Complex where it adjoins the sedimentary [[Perth Basin]].<ref>Eberhard, Stefan. (2005). Ecology and hydrology of a threatened groundwater-dependent ecosystem: The Jewel Cave karst system in Western Australia. Eberhard, Stefan <http://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/view/author/Eberhard, Stefan.html> (2004) Ecology and hydrology of a threatened groundwater-dependent ecosystem: the Jewel Cave karst system in Western Australia. PhD thesis, Murdoch University. 67.</ref>

The ridge's geology and the variations in vegetation are confined to a number of very narrow bands that follow the north–south orientation of the ridge.{{cn |date=January 2025}}

== Caves ==
The Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge contains over 150 caves, formed via the erosion of Tamala Limestone. Within the national park, six caves are accessible to the public.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goss |first=Sarah C. |date=2023 |title=Caves of the Leeuwin–Naturaliste Ridge |url=https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/77d2439610be460f9be8e1fc8e57c885 |access-date=2024-12-06 |website=ArcGIS StoryMaps |language=en-AU}}</ref>

=== Ngilgi Cave ===
{{Main|Ngilgi Cave}}
Ngilgi Cave, previously known as Yallingup Cave is a cave to the northeast of Yallingup, available for semi-guided tours.

=== Calgardup Cave ===
Calgardup Cave is a cave available for self-guided tours.

=== Mammoth Cave ===
{{Main|Mammoth Cave (Western Australia)}}
Mammoth Cave is a cave available for self-guided audio tours.

=== Lake Cave ===
Lake Cave is a cave available for guided tours.

=== Giants Cave ===
Calgardup Cave is a cave available for self-guided tours.

=== Jewel Cave ===
Jewel Cave is a cave available for guided tours.

==Flora and fauna==
The park contains a large range of geologic features and soil types. The landscape and soil diversity supports a range of plant communities. These include coastal herblands and grasslands, sedgelands, and heath near the coast. Further inland are shrublands, woodlands, and forests, including [[Agonis flexuosa|peppermint tree]] (''Agonis flexuosa'') and ''[[Banksia]]'' shrubland and woodland, and significant stands of tall [[Eucalyptus diversicolor|karri]] (''Eucalyptus diversicolor'') and [[Eucalyptus marginata|jarrah]] (''Eucalyptus marginata'') forest.<ref name = vascular/>

A large variety of bird species inhabit the park including many sea birds, [[red-eared firetail]], [[white-breasted robin]], [[rock parrot]] and [[emu]]. Native [[mammal]]s that can be found within the park include [[southern brown bandicoot]]s, [[western grey kangaroo]]s, [[western ringtail possum]]s and [[western brush wallaby|brush wallabies]].

==Conservation==
{{Unreferenced section|date=November 2024}}
The national park was created from crown lands along the Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge at a time after the main primary industries in the region had been dairying and forestry, and when increased [[land-use conflict]] was arising from the spread of wineries, increased population on hobby farms and other agricultural activities.

Since then many competing land uses have created a complex land management scenario for state and local government authorities trying to mediate quite conflicting issues. The national park is located on some of the most vulnerable land in the region.

==2021 Bushfire==

On 8 December 2021, a bush fire began near [[Mammoth Cave (Western Australia)|Mammoth Cave]] within Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Police believe WA bushfire was deliberately lit |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/police-believe-wa-bushfire-was-deliberately-lit/6n2bpfzh6 |access-date=2024-11-27 |publisher=SBS World News |language=en}}</ref> said to have been [[Arson|deliberately lit]]. WA premier [[Mark McGowan]] urged people to leave the area as soon as possible due to high fuel loads and dangerous conditions.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-12-09 |title='GET OUT NOW': Mark McGowan’s fire warning |url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/bushfires/margaret-river-bushfire-emergency-more-lives-homes-threatened-if-blaze-jumps-caves-road-c-4879635 |access-date=2024-11-27 |website=PerthNow |language=en}}</ref> The fire burned through more than 3,200 ha (7,900 acres) by the following day.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cassidy |first=Caitlin |last2=Press |first2=Australian Associated |date=2021-12-09 |title=Western Australia bushfires: two blazes rage in Margaret River |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/dec/09/western-australia-bushfires-two-blazes-rage-in-margaret-river |access-date=2024-11-27 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

==Cape to Cape Track==
[[File:Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The start of Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park, at Cape Leeuwin.]]
{{Main|Cape to Cape Track}}

In 2001, the [[Department of Environment and Conservation (Western Australia)|Department of Environment and Conservation]] (DEC) opened the [[Cape to Cape Track]], a 135 kilometre walking track along the Leeuwin-Naturaliste ridge.

{{Panorama
|image   = File:Canal Rocks gnangarra 01.jpg
|height  = 500
|alt     = bay of water, with fishing boats at anchor, and the small town of Yallingup near the centre across the bay with hill ridge across the horizon
|caption = Panorama from Canal rocks looking towards Yallingup
}}

==See also==
* [[List of caves in Western Australia]]
* [[Protected areas of Western Australia]]

==References==

===Notes===
{{reflist}}

===Sources===
* Bastian, L. V. ''Minerals and their relationships in the Leeuwin block Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park''  Perth : Government Chemical Laboratories, [1977?]
* ''Cape to Cape Walk Track – Hamelin Bay to Cape Leeuwin 29&nbsp;km" Department of Conservation and Environment, Busselton. n.d. pamphlet
* ''Shaping the Capes: Rocks and landforms of the Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge'' an explanation of the Leeuwin Naturaliste Ridge.
* Orr, Kate. and Frewer, Paul (1988) ''Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park Management plan : summary of public submissions, November 1988'' Como, W.A : Dept. of Conservation and Land Management.
* Taylor, Neil., Scott, Jane., Thomson-Dans, Carolyn and Banks, Roger.(n.d.)  ''Feast for the Soul'' pp.&nbsp;15–20 of ''The Best of the South West'' – Landscope special edition, Kensington, W.A.: Dept. of Conservation and Land Management {{ISBN|0-7307-5552-5}}
* Western Australian Planning Commission. Statement of planning policy. No. 7, ''Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge Policy''. Perth, W.A. : Govt. Printer – in – Western Australian government gazette, Perth, Friday 18 September 1998, No. 189. Special. 5191–5215 p. .
* Western Australian Planning Commission. '' Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge planning review : issues, opportunities and directions : discussion paper for public comment'' / Western Australian Planning Commission, Shires of Augusta–Margaret River and Busselton. [Perth, W.A.] : The Commission, 1995.

{{National Parks of Western Australia}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park| ]]
[[Category:National parks of Western Australia]]
[[Category:Protected areas established in 1957]]
[[Category:1957 establishments in Australia]]
[[Category:South West (Western Australia)]]
[[Category:Warren bioregion]]