Avon Valley National Park, Australia

From summer to winter, from north to south, and from high outcrops to deep river and stream valleys, the forests of Avon Valley National Park are constantly changing. The Avon River flows in winter and spring when the river churns over spectacular rapids. During summer and autumn the river diminishes to a series of pools in a bed of granite boulders and tea-tree thickets. The park features forests and granite outcrops, panoramic views over the Avon Valley and the chance to see a wide variety of birds and wildlife.

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Avon Valley National Park Wildflowers in Avon Valley National Park

From summer to winter, from north to south, and from high outcrops to deep river and stream valleys, the forests of

Avon Valley National Park are constantly changing. The Avon River flows in winter and spring when the river churns over spectacular rapids. During summer and autumn the river diminishes to a series of pools in a bed of granite boulders and tea-tree thickets. The park features forests and granite outcrops, panoramic views over the Avon Valley and the chance to see a wide variety of birds and wildlife.
Visiting the park

The roads within the park are all unsealed. The nearest telephone, petrol and food outlets are at Gidgegannup or Toodyay, 30 kilometres from the park. There are some picnic facilities and basic camping sites. The small amount of development means much of the park has wilderness qualities. The best time to visit is during the cooler months.

The camping grounds have wood barbecues, picnic tables and pit toilets. Water is available in the Bald Hill and Homestead camping areas. A fee is charged for camping in the park. Go to the ranger's residence to pay fees. The steep and rough roads are not suitable for caravans and trailers.

If you intend to walk off the marked tracks or camp away from the camping grounds, please let the ranger know beforehand. It is suggested that you bring plenty of water and avoid strenuous walking on hot days. Make sure you have a topographic map and compass if you plan to go on the longer tracks. Bring binoculars and a camera for the views and wildlife.

The Avon River can be run by experienced canoeists in winter and is made famous by the Avon Descent each August. In summer the river slows to a trickle, becoming a series of shallow pools unsuitable for swimming.

More Information Travel Guide in Australia

Avon Valley National Park : 80 km north-east of Perth via the Toodyay Road. Turn left into Morangup Road, and left onto Quarry Road Australia

[Source : calm.wa.gov.au]

Dok Kra Jiew, the Child of the Earthy Paradise, Chaiyaphum, Thailand

Do you know why the park is called that name? Pa Hin Ngam means the forest of spectacle rocks. Geographically, in the area, there are many rocks with different spectacle shapes, upon the seers’ imagination. Pa Hin Ngam National Park covers an area of 70,000 rai or 112 square kilometers. Most of the area is of the dense natural forest.

Remarkably, the national park is the bed for wild flower called Dok Kra Jiew, locally called Bua Sawan, and curcuma, for scientific name. The flowers grow and bloom only in the autumn, from June to August. Thus, it is the highlight of the national park, especially during its blossoming time from the late June to the middle of August. On June 26, 2004, the opening of the festival was held and this festival is happening throughout June to July. Pa Hin Ngam National Park every year becomes the host of number of visitors from various places visiting the park to admire the intoxicating beauty of the “Child of Nature”, Dok Kra Jiew when fully blossoming. The sprouts with mixed color between pink and purple amazes the sight of nature- lovers with its contrast with the greenery earth and millions of years- rock beds.

Well, let go inside the national park. If you drive yourself, you may park the car at the parking area, and take a mini bus, which is available only during the festival, with only 10 bath, to Dok Kra Jiew field. Walking? It can be. Is it too tiring? A bit, but it is worth walking to appreciate nature along the way leading to the field, (which is the climax!) especially in Do you know why the park is called that name? Pa Hin Ngam means the forest of spectacle rocks. Geographically, in the area, there are many rocks with different spectacle shapes, upon the seers’ imagination. Pa Hin Ngam National Park covers an area of 70,000 rai or 112 square kilometers. Most of the area is of the dense natural forest.

Remarkably, the national park is the bed for wild flower called Dok Kra Jiew, locally called Bua Sawan, and curcuma, for scientific name. The flowers grow and bloom only in the autumn, from June to August. Thus, it is the highlight of the national park, especially during its blossoming time from the late June to the middle of August. On June 26, 2004, the opening of the festival was held and this festival is happening throughout June to July. Pa Hin Ngam National Park every year becomes the host of number of visitors from various places visiting the park to admire the intoxicating beauty of the “Child of Nature”, Dok Kra Jiew when fully blossoming. The sprouts with mixed color between pink and purple amazes the sight of nature- lovers with its contrast with the greenery earth and millions of years- rock beds.

Well, let go inside the national park. If you drive yourself, you may park the car at the parking area, and take a mini bus, which is available only during the festival, with only 10 bath, to Dok Kra Jiew field. Walking? It can be. Is it too tiring? A bit, but it is worth walking to appreciate nature along the way leading to the field, (which is the climax!) especially in the morning. It is about 3.5 kilometers far in order to reach the end of the land bordering Central and Northeastern parts of Thailand, called Sood Pandin viewpoint, situated at an altitude of 846 meters above sea level, and it is only 2 kilometers away from the park’s headquarters. This is the first view stop that you should not miss.

Walking another 800 meters, you will meet the path to the Dok Kra Jiew field stretching far and wild in front of your eyesight. Mist of the early morning appears to be a mosquito net protecting the Child of Nature when they are to spring themselves to greet their guests. Along the way, signposts are available for visitors to read the information about the site, its attractions, and about Dok Kra Jiew nature The field can be seen from the Hin Ngam Rock Ground to the Sood Pandin viewpoint. Trailing, or taking photo for this fascinating seasonal spectacle is a real treat.

Being just a small part of tourism sector, Pa Hin Ngam National Park seems to serve for eco- tourists who quest for the truth of nature, or just want to study the nature of “Nature”. What you can expect is the color of forest, wildlife, and misty surrounding.

When your eyes are met with and your feet are stamping on strong strange- shaped earth- made rocks, just linger your eyes even more to the soft side of nature, like Dok Kra Jiew field, and you would see that on the solid side of things, soft and gentility appear.

More Information Travel Guide

Accommodations : In the park, camping sites are provided. For further information, please contact the Pa Hin Ngam National Park, PO Box 2, Por Tor Jor Tepsatit, Chaiyaphum, 36230, Tel: 01-930-7581.

[Source : thaiparks123.com]

Changi Beach Park, Singapore

About the park : One of the oldest coastal parks in Singapore, this place brings back memories for Singaporeans who frequented this area in the 60s and 70s. The park is 3.2km long with stretches of sandy beaches between Changi Point and Changi Ferry Road.

The beach with pristine white sand extends into the park at places to form a continuous stretch of wide open area dotted with coconut palms, BBQ pits, Park benches and Shelters.

The Kampong ambionse has been carefully retained while jogging track and other amenities were added. Visitors can now jog or cycle along the winding tracks from Changi Point to Changi Ferry Terminal and back.

This is the place where families can gather over the weekends for picnics, swimming, barbecues or overnight camping. Sitting by the beach, you can look out to the sea overlooking Pulau Ubin, enjoy the gentle breeze of the sea, the sways of the coconut palms and listen to the waves rolling onto the white sandy beach. Bring your own food here, or you can get some at the nearby Changi Village.

The park is lit from 7:00 pm to 7:00 am.

Facilities : Play equipment, barbecue pits, camping areas, restroom

Activities : Barbecuing, cycling, camping, fishing, exercising, water sports

Getting there : Services 9, 19 and 89 to Car Parks 2,4 and 5 Nicoll Drive. Services 2 and 29 to Changi Village and 5-minutes walk across the pedestrian footbridge to the park.

Location : Along Nicoll Drive and Changi Coast Road
[Source : nparks.gov.sg]

Aso-Kuju National Park, Kyushu, Japan

Aso National Park includes two groups of vol- canic mountains, Mt. Aso caldera and Mt. Kuju, the highest (1,79lm) in Kyushu.

Mt . Aso, an internationally famous active vol- cano, has the world's largest caldera basin which marks its original crater. Its diameter is 16 km from east to west and 32 km from north to south, and about 128 km in circumference. There are 3 new craters in central cone area, and southern most new crater is very active, constantly sending forth black smoke, accompanied by underground rumblings.

Mt. Kuju is famous of its vast foot slopes and highlands, which are covered with gentle and sunny grassland. Wild azalea growing in groups in this area is famous and beautiful in early sum- mer.

In and arround the park, there are many hot springs such as Beppu, Chojabaru, Yu-no-Tani and Uchino-Maki. The highway linking Beppu- Kuju-Aso-Kumamoto ensures visitors very com- fortable driving across the park and all around Kyushu.

More Information about Travel Guide in Asia

[Source : bootsnall.com]

Bali Barat National Park Indonesia

General

Bali Barat National Park lies at the western side of Bali and is 77,000 ha, some 10 percent of Bali's total land area. The park is the last refuge of one of the most endangered birds of the world the Bali Starling.Bali Barat is mountainous and consists of primary monsoon forest, mangrove forest, savannah and coral islands.The peninsular Prapat Agung, with its extensive web of footpaths, is the most accessible part of the park. Here at Tegal Bunder, you will find the Bali Starling Recovery Project where the PHPA is trying to reintroduce Bali Starlings.Pulau Menjangan, an island north of the mainland part of the park, is an excellent place to explore the coral reefs.

Access

Bali Barat National Park is easy accessible from Gilimanuk, the ferry port where ferries to and from Java come and go. Gilimanuk is reached by ferry from Java or by bus from Denpasar or Singaraja. From Gilimanuk take a minibus or ojek to Cekik for the last three kilometer. Here you will find the PHPA headquarters. An other entry point is Labuhan Lalang, accessible by minibus from Gilimanuk. Labuhan Lalang lies at the main road to Singaraja, which cuts through the park. To reach Pulau Manjangan you can hire a motorboat from Labuhan Lalang (30-40 min).Permits and obligatory guides are available at the PHPA headquarters at Cekik, at the PHPA office in Labuhan Lalang or at the PHPA office in Denpasar.

Accomodation

Gilimanuk Asih Cottage Homestay Nusantara II, from Pak Made, a former PHPA chief. Homestay Kartika Chandra Homestay Gili Sari Cekik Camping area, no food Some simple rooms and bungalows, no food More Imformation Accomodation in Bali

Trekking

Along the coast of Prapat Agung, 25 km Sumber Klampok - Tegal Bunder Fauna Bali Barat National Park is a paradise for bird-watchers. They will find about 160 different species in the park.

Animals

Banteng (Bos javanicus), Wild Boar (Sus scrofa), Rusa Deer (Cervus timorensis), Long-tailed Macaque (Macaca fascicularis), Ebony Leaf Monkey (Trachypithecus auratus), Barking Deer or Muntjac (Muntiacus muntjak), Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), Leopard Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis), Pangolin or Trenggiling (Manis javanicus), Large Flying Fox or Kalong (Pteropus vampyrus), Black Giant Squirrel (Ratufa bicolor), Water Monitor (Varanus salvator).

Address PHPA headquarters, Cekik PHPA, Labuhan Lalang PHPA, Jl.Suwung 40, Denpasar

[Source : geocities.com]

Ba Be National Park Vietnam

Considered as the eighth national park of Viet Nam, Ba Be National Park is a valuable natural heritage. Covering more than 23,000 hectares, this beautiful region is a tropical rainforest area with over 410 named plant species and 300 wildlife species. It is surrounded by steep mountains up to 1554m high.

Ba Be National Park, or according to the mass, is simply called Ba Be (three lakes). In fact, this is the park’s main feature. Ba Be is three linked lakes, which have a total length of 8 km and a width of about 400m. The deepest point in the lakes is 35m. Nearly 50 kinds of freshwater fish reside there. Ba Be Lake is covered with many limestone mountain chains, which have numerous of caves and under-streams.

Puong Cave, 30m high, 300m long, with a navigable river inside – a part of Nang River, is an interesting place to visit by making a boat trip. Thousands of flitter-mice living in this cave generate many powerful odors.

Nang River flows at the foot of the limestone mountain, goes through Puong Cave to reach Ba Be Lake. It is navigable for 23 km between a point 4 km above Cho Ra and Dau Dang Waterfall, which consists of a series of spectacular cascades between perpendicular walls of rock.

Ao Tien is a small lake on the top of the mountain. The climate around here is very cool and fresh. Legend said that the fairies above always go down in this place to swim and play chess. Therefore, people name this place Ao Tien (the lake of fairy).

BA BE NATIONAL PARK : Bac Kan Province, Ba Be district Vietnam.