This walk showcases an abundance of wildflowers in Spring along with interesting land formations and spectacular views to the Indian Ocean from the top of Mount Lesueur. A mecca for wildflower enthusiasts with over 820 species, including plants not found anywhere else in the world.

 Approx 50km north of Cervantes, straddling Cockleshell Gully Road, this park was named after Charles-Alexandre Lesueur, a natural history artist aboard the Naturaliste on Hamelin’s 1801 expedition. The French government commissioned the ships Naturaliste and Geographe to chart those areas of the coast not documented by Captain James Cook. Many features along the west coast bear the names of members of that expedition, including Mt Peron (the expeditions naturalist) and Mt Michaud (the botanist-gardener). Jurien Bay was named after Charles Marie, Vicompte Jurien, a naval administrator at the time. Lesueur is extremely rich in flora and fauna, with over 900 species (about 10% of the state’s known species) of plants, 50+ species of reptiles (the highest lizard diversity of any of the worlds Mediterranean climate ecosystems), and 120+ species of birds. Birds species particularly well represented include honeyeaters, thornbills, fairy wrens, southern emu, white brested wrens, and calamanthus. The woodlands of Lesueur have also been identified as one of the last remaining breeding habitats of Carnaby’s Black cockatoo. Lesueur National Park covers 26,987 ha, and its status as a National Park recognizes the area’s outstanding conservation, landscape, and recreational importance. These were identified in the 1950’s when the Government botanist Charles Gardner, concerned by the effects of land clearing for agriculture recommended the creation of a reserve. The area around Mt Lesueur itself was protected by being designated a reserve for educational purposes. Since then there have been proposals for a national park and nature reserve, but concerns about the availability of coal resources in the area delayed action until the park was gazetted in 1992.Access to Mt Lesueur itself is via 4WD only, however a number of walk-trails are being developed to allow the visitor to experience this unique area.

Make the most of this stop as most of the other ones along the scenic drives are more of a lookout and don't really allow us to have long meandering bush walks. Walking outside the tracks are strongly discouraged due to the easily spreading dieback disease that you might carry under your shoes.

Closer to the exit of the scenic drive, the scenery changed a bit and there were grass trees as far as the eyes could see. Although a grass tree may look a bit boring from afar, a closer inspection proved otherwise. The long white flower is usually full of busy creepy crawlies that are fascinating to watch