The thing about Fitzgerald River National Park is, you don't know you want to see it until you're there and you haven't allocated more than a few hours for it. I didn't find it very well publicised and had to peruse niche hiking websites to find the trails in this place, but having been there once, I think I might have to go back one day.
East Mount Barren from the East
This hike was going to be a quick stop on our drive from Esperance to Albany. The National Park is just west of Hopetoun. A town I'm not entirely certain how to pronounce. Hopetown or Hopetoon?
The hike itself started at the East Mount Barren Trail, not far from the entrance to the Park, where you can pay the $15/car entry fee. There's a car park at the hike base with some information and that's pretty much it, giving you the opportunity to hike up from the West end.
The hike started with a boardwalk for about 400m, there it rapidly changed into a steep rocky climb to about 350m above sea level. The wind was incredibly strong and we only passed a few folks heading the other way. Like good English hikers we discussed the weather and agreed it was very windy.
The middle sections of the trail was mostly flat but the surface varied over a combination of gravel, rocks, dirt and granite slabs.
Towards the half way point of the 'there and back' trail, it became more rocky and some sections required a little clambering. The views at the top were even windier, but the views were spectacular.
On the way out, there was another lookout attached to a car park on the east side.
Bonus photo as we were heading west out of Ravensthorpe, part of the Silo Art trail...
