I would like to share with you my fellow travellers a tale of not only a mesmerising display of kaleidoscopic colours that mother nature gifted us but the reminiscence of days long ago spent here.
I have included a wide variety of photos for you to immerse yourself into the imagery of this beautiful Peacock Tale.
History of Araluen botanical park
Araluen botanical park is nestled deep with in a valley in the darling scarp of the Perth hills. It first began its journey in the 1920’s as a weekend retreat for the Young Australian League YAL members.
The idea was to experience the outdoor life. When YAL members travelled the world, they were encouraged to bring back plants to match the aesthetics and appeal of the Canadian style log cabins, water features and pergolas as they developed the park.
The YAL took over twenty years to build the infrastructure, using locally sourced materials and tracks left over from timber clearing in the late 1800’s.
To read more about Araluen, please click this link to go to the Araluen Botanical Park website.
The Tulip festival
The kaleidoscopic panorama of the stunning tulips and Springtime flowers are on display each year at the Spring festival.
My dear friend Deb had taken her elderly mother for an outing here and was so impressed, she arranged to take Mum and I the following week, to share in the experience.
Both Mum and I were excited as neither one of us had been to Araluen for over twenty years.
A stroll down memory lane
As universe would have it, the day was truly in our favour. Blue skies and warm sunshine radiating down, unlike the five days prior that had been filled with rain.
Arriving at the park, mum fondly reminisced about her youth. She told us how she and her girlfriend would ride their bicycles, not geared either like the ones today, all the way uphill from Armadale to Araluen. This was a fifteen-kilometre excursion they regularly took to enjoy a refreshing cool swim in the pool there on a hot summers day.
A popular place for social gathering back in the fifties. Lucky the ride home was all downhill!
Pat when she was fifteen standing next to her bicycle in her basketball uniform.
Pat sitting in the long grass in her bathers. The large pergola stands behind her in the background.
A scenic train ride
A bright red and black trimmed miniature train and carriages is the perfect way to enjoy the panoramic views around the park. Taking you past waterfalls, heritage buildings, displays of stunning flora and hilltop views overlooking the valley in all its glory.
Unfortunately, it was a very tight squeeze for Rhian in harness to fit into. She did manage with a bit of help to find a place to lay-down on.
I don’t think Rhian was too impressed with her tight, compact mode of transport!
A magnificent collection of Heritage buildings
Araluen has over thirty heritage buildings and structures throughout the park. The pergola constructed in the 1930’s remains one of the largest in the southern hemisphere. It is constructed with eight tonnes of granite stone and large jarrah timber logs. There are thirty pillars that support a variety of eighty climbing roses.
Log cabins and buildings can be discovered and read about on the interpretive panels. A true reflection of the spirit of community and the dedication of the YAL and the Araluen Park foundation.
A sense of awe and interest is what resides in any who visit.
Six little ducks went out one day
As Deb and I meandered around the park, describing details of plants, birds and reading the information panels to me, she spotted a family of ducks and their ducklings.
Wandering closer, I told Rhian to stand. She then spotted the ducklings and was indeed curious and inquisitive with these funny little waddling creatures.
I suppose she may have never seen a family of ducklings before, especially when one came right up to her front foot to say hello. It really was an unbelievably cute thing to observe!
Rhian was superb as she stood still and never tried to investigate them.
The perfect ending
The train driver kindly dropped us off at the Chalet Healy Cafe, so Mum didn’t have to walk up the steep hill.
Again, as universe would have it, there was a table situated outside in the gorgeous sunshine, in amongst the crowded venue. Over a delightful lunch and coffee, Deb and I also reminisced over our childhood memories spent at Araluen.
I recounted swimming in the pool with all the long reeds in it that tickled your feet when wading and how cold the fresh water was.
Along with playing over the large granite rocks that you could slide down on with the running water flowing over them. To then splash and play in the rock pools along the stream.
Unfortunately, you are no longer allowed to swim in the natural pool, but you can still be pulled into imagined times of long ago when it was vibrant with people swimming and having fun in this almost fairy-tale like setting.
It also brought back memories for mum and all of our family gatherings with our cousins, that’s what life is about isn’t it?
Creating wonderful memories of times gathered with friends and family
Especially at unforgettable places like Araluen.
One for the bucket list
My advice for you my dear fellow traveller, is don’t just say you will put this on your bucket list to do before you depart this amazing place on mother earth. Be sure you take the action and visit Araluen botanical park now. Don’t wait and forget about it, this is truly an outing, you will be sure to remember forever.
Next time we meet, it will be another gorgeous getaway down south, when I go on the Western Australia transplant Getaway at Yelling up, for some comradery, fun and games.
No regrets
Colleen Ashby
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