Stirling Range National Park

The Stirling Range National Park protects a dramatic line of peaks that rises suddenly from the surrounding wheat belt farmland about 80 kilometres north of Albany. Bluff Knoll, the highest point at 1,099 metres, is the tallest peak in the southern half of the state and one of the few places in Western Australia where snow falls in winter, sometimes dusting the summit several times a year.

The range is a geological island of ancient quartzite and sandstone that has been isolated from surrounding landscapes for millions of years. This isolation has driven extraordinary plant speciation: the park contains more than 1,500 flowering plant species, with over 80 endemic species found nowhere else. The mountain bells (Darwinia species), the Stirling Range banksia and the rare mountain kunzea are among the most notable. In spring (September to November) the slopes are blanketed with wildflowers and the park becomes a pilgrimage site for botanists and wildflower enthusiasts from around the world.

Bluff Knoll is the most popular climb. The track to the summit is 6 kilometres return and gains about 650 metres of elevation through a series of steep switchbacks. The walk takes most people three to four hours and rewards with panoramic views from the Great Southern Ocean to the wheat belt. On clear days the view extends more than 100 kilometres. Toolbrunup Peak, the second highest summit at 1,052 metres, is a harder scramble with some exposed rock sections and is considered the more rewarding climb by experienced bushwalkers.

The range is striking from a distance because of its tendency to attract cloud. Even on clear days the peaks often trail wisps of mist, and in winter the entire range can be shrouded in low cloud for days at a time. The interplay of cloud, light and the distinctive purple-grey colour of the quartzite rock makes the range one of the most photogenic mountain landscapes in the state.

Basic camping is available at Moingup Springs inside the park. Albany, the nearest major town, has full services and is about an hour's drive south. The park is open year-round but the walking tracks are at their best from September to November.