RV TRAVEL
ENTERING FRANCOIS PERON NP
Just 4km from Denham is the entrance to
Francois Peron National Park. Francois
Peron was only 26 when he joined the
Nicolas Baudin 1801 expedition sent by
Napoleon on a ‘voyage of discovery’.
Francois Peron 4WD track.
From 1881, the Peron Peninsula was a sheep
station and was grazed until 1990 when it was
purchased and gazetted as a national park.
After paying your park and camping fees
at the entrance, it is worth stopping 5km
along at the Peron Homestead Precinct. The
display centre is informative, as is the self-
guided walk through the old shearing yards
and station quarters. The hot tub contains
artesian bore water, and it is guaranteed
that you’ll be yearning for this while at one
of the five campgrounds, none of which
have fresh water or showers.
EXPLORING THE PARK
After a look around, it is time to engage 4WD
and drop the tyre pressures to something in
the 20psi vicinity, depending on your load
and preference. The long, red, narrow track
ahead has soft, sandy ruts and the odd pull-
out. Take care because it is two-way; the
speed limit is 50km/h. Stay on the main
track and/or the tracks to the campgrounds;
many of the old station tracks are now off
limits for revegetation.
At 3km from the start of the track is a turn-off
to Big Lagoon on the west of the peninsula.
It is 9km to the campground, and the soft,
boggy sand will reveal quickly why caravans
are not permitted in the park. Camping is
near the lagoon with boat launching from
the beach.
Artesian spa at Peron Homestead.
/ 51