The Pilbara National Parks & Wildlife WA
Offshore,
the
Ningaloo
Reef
stretches
from
north
to
south
for
260km
and
protects
a
lagoon
rich
in
marine
life.
Fantastic
coral
formations,
rare
starfish,
Dugongs,
Whale
Sharks,
playful
Dolphins
and
giant
Hump-
Backed
Whales
are
some
of
the
fascinating
marine
life
that
inhabit the
waters.
In
season,
sheltered
sand
beaches
serve
as
nesting
rookeries
for
turtles.
Several
historic
ship
wrecks
can
also
be
found
in
the
Park.
Leisure
fishermen,
angling
for
their
own
needs,
are
welcome
in
the
Marine
Park's
recreation
and
general
use
zones.
Special
regulations
apply
and
fishing
and
collecting
are
not
permitted
in
the
Park's
eight
sanctuary
zones.
Fish
are
plentiful
and
common
species
include
Sweetlip,
Spangled
Emperor
and
several
types
of
Trevally.
In
deeper
water,
Spanish
Mackerel,
Wahoo,
Tuna
and
Sailfish
can
be
caught.
Some
220
species
of
coral
and
500
species
of
fish
have
been
recorded
in
the
Park.
The
world's
biggest
fish,
the
Whale
Shark,
regularly
swims
in
these
waters.
Growing
up
to
40,000kg
and
18m
long,
these
monsters
of
the
deep
drift
slowly
across
ocean
currents
filtering
water
for
the
plankton
they
feed
on.
Marine
mammals
such
as
Dolphins,
Humpback
Whales
and
the
Dugong
can
often
be
seen
cavorting
in
or
near
the
reef
lagoon.
During
summer,
green
and
Loggerhead
Turtles
make
their
way
up
the
beaches
to
lay
their
eggs.
Cape
Range
National
Park
Situated
mostly
On
the
west
side
of
North
West
Cape,
the
Cape
Range
National
Park
is
a
spectacular
place
of
rugged
limestone
ranges,
deep
canyons
and
50
km
of
pristine
beaches.
The
park
covers
some
50,581ha
and
its
boundary
is
only
40km
from
Exmouth.
Cape
Range
resulted
from
a
gradual
uplifting
of
the
sea
floor,
fluctuating
sea
levels
and
the
action
of
wind,
rain
and
seaspray
which
weathered
the
range
and
plain.
Many
rocks
in
the
area
are
embedded
with
fossils.
On
the
coastal
plain
on
the
west
side
of
the
range,
fossilized
coral
reef
are
testimony
to
the
primitive
ecology
of
another
time.
A
highlight
of
any
visit
to
the
park
is
Yardie
Creek.
Here,
a
sand
bar
traps
the
deep
blue
water
of
the
gorge
catching
striking
reflections
of
multi-coloured
bands
in
the
sheer
canyon
walls.
A
small
population
of
rock
wallabies
dwell
in
the
sheer
walls
of
the
gorge
and
add
to
its
idyllic
nature,
while
Euros
and
red
kangaroos
dot
the
coastal
plain.
To
fully
appreciate
the
wonders
of
the
park
visit
the
MilyeringVisitor
Centre.
The
centre
has
an
array
of
models,
videos,
a
library
selection
and
many
graphic
displays.
The
nearest
towns
for
supplies
are:
Exmouth
40km
from
the
northern
end
of
the
park
85km
from
Yardie
Creek,
Coral
Bay:
70km
from
the
southern
end
of
the
park
112km
from
Yardie
Creek
Gorge.
Cape
Range
it
self
is
largely
inaccessible,
but
two
roads
run
from
the
Learmonth-
Exmouth
Road
into
the
range
from
the
east.
Shothole
Canyon
Road
winds
along
the
bottom
of
a
steep-sided
canyon.
Charles
Knife
Road
runs
along
a
razor-
back
ridge
to
the
crest
of
the
Range.
(WAPET
drilled
for
oil
here,
in
the
1950s,
and
the
capped
well-head
is
at
the
end
of
the
road).
While
both
roads
are
signposted,
they
are
steep
and
winding
and
unsuitable
for
caravans
and
trailers.
Please
also
note
that
there
is
no
access
through
to
the
coast.
On
the
west
coast,
there
are
a
number
of
camping
areas
and
car
parks
on
the
shore
of
Ningaloo
Marine
Park.
Travellers
should
note
that
there
is
almost
no
permanent
surface
water
in
the
Cape
Range.
Please
carry
water
at
all
times.
Karijini
National
Park
Karijini
National
Park
is
renowned
for
its
spectacular
mountains,
gorges,
water-
courses
and
plateaux,
and
is
second
only
in
size
to
the
State's
Rudall
River
National
Park.
Possibly
its
most
remarkable
features
are
the
gorges
in
the
northern
section
of
the
Park
-
dramatic
chasms
up
to
100m
deep,
some
filled
with
permanent
pools
of
clear,
fresh
water.
A
feeling
of
total
exhilaration
can
be
had
at
Oxer's
Lookout;
the
junction
of
Red,
Weano,
Joffre
and
Hancock
Gorges.
Access
is
available,
though
at
times
not
easy,
to
most
gorges.
Camping
is
only
permitted
in
areas
designated
by
CALM.
Wildflowers
vary
in
abundance
with
the
season
and
from
year
to
year,
but
there
is
always
something
attractive
in
bloom,
particularly
in
the
cooler
months.
Millstream-Chichester
National
Park
In
contrast
to
the
Kariljini
National
Park,
scenes
in
this
Park
vary
from
magnificent
views
over
the
coastal
plain
to
the
permanent
river
pools
of
Millstream.
Excellent
swimming
conditions
and
informal
camping
areas
are
available.
An
uncharacteristic
"oasis"
of
date
palms
believed
to
have
been
introduced
by
camel
drivers
last
century,
lily
ponds
and
the
Millstream
Palm
are
major
attractions.
Another
curiosity
of
this
unique
Park
is
the
large
colony
of
fruit
bats,
also
known
as
flying
foxes,
which
inhabit
the
area. Python
Pool
is
a
beautiful
natural
rock
pool,
beneath
the
Chichester
Range,
enticing
to
swimmers.
A
very
informative
visitors
centre
is
located
at
the
Millstream
Homestead.
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