Lesueur National Park, Western Australia
Overview
Lesueur National Park is located near the town of Jurien Bay in Western Australia, about a 2½ hours’ drive north of Perth. The region around the park is one of Australia’s biodiversity hotspots which is characterised by a significant number of endemic species. Of approximately 800 species of flowering plants found in the park, more than one hundred are endemic to the region.
Lesueur National Park is home to a variety of wildlife, although most of the mammals occurring in the park are nocturnal. There are approximately 50 different species of reptiles, in particular lizards, that are commonly encountered during bushwalks. The rich flora of the park also supports a large number of invertebrates, including hundreds of species of insects and spiders.
While there are generally very few butterflies in Western Australia, several species can be encountered at Lesueur National Park. The summit of Mount Lesueur in particular is a popular hill-topping location for several species, including the Western Australian subspecies of the Varied Dusky Blue (Candalides hyacinthina simplexa), the Blotched Dusky Blue (Candalides acasta) and the uncommon Copper Dusky Blue (Candalides cyprotus). Other frequently seen hill-toppers include the Wattle Blue (Theclinesthes miskini) and the Wood White (Delias aganippe). A rather common species found throughout the entire park is the tiny Two-spotted Line Blue (Nacaduba biocellata).
Lesueur National Park is most famous for its spectacular display of wildflowers. During August and September the landscape is covered in colourful flowers, in particular after decent winter rainfalls. Among the highlights of the park are the magnificent and iconic Kangaroo Paws (Anigozanthos). The Cat’s Paw (Anigozanthos humilis) and the Red and Green Kangaroo Paw (Anigozanthos manglesii), Western Australia’s official state flower, are particularly abundant and can be seen growing along the park’s roads and hiking trails in large numbers.
Other spectacular wildflowers in Lesueur National Park include the colourful Tinsel Lilies (Calectasia), Fringe Lilies (Thysanotus), and various species of carnivorous Sundew (Drosera).
