Avon Valley is a
national park
A national park is a nature park, natural park in use for conservation (ethic), conservation purposes, created and protected by national governments. Often it is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state dec ...
in
Western Australia, 47 kilometres northeast of
Perth. It was named after the
Avon River, which flows through it. The area is an undulating plateau with the sides of the valley steeply sloping back to the river approximately below. The area contains
granite outcrops and a mix of soil types including
loam
Loam (in geology and soil science) is soil composed mostly of sand (particle size > ), silt (particle size > ), and a smaller amount of clay (particle size < ). By weight, its mineral composition is about 40–40–20% concentration of sand–sil ...
s, gravels and
lateritic sands.
It was officially named on 15 October 1971.
Jarrah,
marri and
wandoo trees are found in the park along with 90 different species of birds, making it an ideal place for
bird watching.
Christmas tree
A Christmas tree is a decorated tree, usually an evergreen conifer, such as a spruce, pine or fir, or an artificial tree of similar appearance, associated with the celebration of Christmas. The custom was further developed in early modern ...
s and
grasstrees are interspersed through the woodlands.
In the springtime the park is visited by wildflower enthusiasts to view the diverse range of flowers, including
dryandras, donkey
orchids and
lechenaultias. Other plants found in the area are Conostylis, and the rare
fringed lily is also found within the park.
The bushranger
Moondyne Joe used the area as a hide-out with his cave and corral situated within the park boundaries. Both have since been damaged by a series of
bushfires within the park.
The area was subsequently designated as a reserve within the National Park in the
Moondyne Nature Reserve
Moondyne Nature Reserve is a reserve located within the Avon Valley National Park, in the Avon Valley, Western Australia.
Considered and reviewed in 1979 and 1980, it was established in 1981.
A guide was published in 1984 as to the features wi ...
in 1981.
The third route of the
Eastern Railway is in parts the southern border of the park, on the southern side of the Avon River, and provides - at times of bushfires and other emergencies - a track and point of access.
Facilities
Entry and camping fees apply for visitors to the park. Toilets, water, shaded areas and wood barbecues are available for use. Trail signage and an information shelter are located within the park and a dedicated
ranger is on site ( No longer on site).
References
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National parks of Western Australia
Protected areas established in 1970
Darling Range
Avon River (Western Australia)
Jarrah Forest
Wandoo Forest