Days 47 and 48: Schafer to Northcliffe and Rest Day, Northcliffe
We acknowledge the Nyoongar People as the traditional custodians of the land and waters along the Bibbulmun Track
Grassy tracks through farmland are the order of the day.
Many hikers push on through Northcliffe and continue to Gardner, just stopping for lunch in town. But for wildflower enthusiasts and leisurely hikers, there is plenty to see in and around the village. Overseas hikers might like to experience small town life. If you’re not in a hurry, it’s certainly a good spot to stop for a day and there’s a great Visitor Centre which will store your resupply box, lightening the load from Pemberton (we didn’t do this but should have). We sent one of our bounce boxes here to good effect.
The Visitor’s Centre will direct orchid enthusiasts to locations within walking distance (there are many!).
Use Bibbulmun Track Foundation Maps 5 and 6
At last an “easy” mostly downhill day into Northcliffe
Today is flatter and largely downhill, together with a shorter distance, making for an easy hike. You’ll see more lush, rural scenery with quirky vignettes, while orchid enthusiasts will spot many, many flowers, especially around Northcliffe.
The landscape is much flatter, with wide swamps and open scenery…
…interspersed with lovely forest. I find it particularly lovely because I’m not staring at a steep track directly in front of my feet!
Another new spider orchid, the Karri spider (Caladenia karri)
And beautiful C. x spectabilis hybrids
The white sand coupled with more open vegetation promises plentiful orchids
Many flying duck orchids (Paracaleana nigrita)
and enamel orchids (Elythranthera brunonis)
Into the farmland, with a grassy track between the paddocks.
Vegetation corridors like this are essential for wildlife in rural country - you can see the native habitat and food sources for birds and animals either side of the track, while out of shot is grazing land.
Two weevils doin’ what they’re doin’ in the habitat corridor.
Although we have navigation apps on our phone, we still find there’s nothing better for an overview than a big paper map, which provides a much larger field of view than a tiny screen. Whenever we stop, we usually pull out the map to see what’s ahead. YMMV!
A new spark plug will fix ‘er up, mate, no worries! Nearby, the track traverses muddy paddocks with cows and crosses over electric fencing.
Babbling creeks
… and tables in the middle of nowhere! It has been a delightful walk!
Day 48: Rest Day, Northcliffe
We arrive in Northcliffe and have a somewhat underwhelming dinner at the pub where we are staying. The following day neither of the much-touted cafes are open (at least one of them usually is - they take it in turns) so we buy supplies from the little supermarket and make this delicious breakfast. Then we go to the Visitor Centre for directions to local orchid hotspots.
We find Microtis media ssp media, as well as Forest Mantis and Flying Ducks,
the Scented Sun (Thelymitra macrophylla),
And not one but THREE fire-responsive species of Prasophyllum: P. giganteum (Bronze Leek),
P. regium (King Leek)
and P. fimbria, the Fringed Leek, all growing cheek by jowl. Astonishing!
That evening, we head through the back part of town, past perfectly kept cottages and this one empty one (really, Bunnings?) to the…
…Northcliffe Worker’s Club, which serves basic but delicious food and generous portions in a nice setting with friendly patrons. Highly recommended.
