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  1. Home ›
  2. Australia's Golden Outback ›
  3. Esperance & South East Coast ›

Cape Arid National Park

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National Park

Cape Arid National Park is a large and exceptionally scenic park best known for its stunningly beautiful beaches, clear blue seas and rocky headlands.

Essential information for all parks of Australia's Golden Outback
Essential information for all parks of Esperance & South East Coast

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Contact Information

Esperance

Sites & Activities
Phone: 
+61 (0)8 9083 2100
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Opening Information

Open every day.

Park Location

125km E of Esperance.

Park Activities

Canoeing & kayaking
Swimming
Snorkelling
Bushwalking
Fishing

Park Facilities:

Picnic Table
Toilet
Entry Station
Info Shelter

Park Information

 

 


Cape Arid National Park is a wildly beautiful and biodiverse area. Coastal sandheaths, mallee and low granite hills extend inland to Mount Ragged after which the vegetation is transformed into woodlands dominated by saltbush and bluebush. The jagged Russell Range, which rises to its highest point at Tower Peak (almost 600m), comprises ancient uplifted quartzite that has the same origins as the Barrens Range in Fitzgerald River National Park.

Wonderful wilderness

This near-pristine wilderness is an important conservation area for 1100 species of plants and more than 160 bird species, several of which are threatened or endangered. Migrating whales pass by close to the headlands in late winter and spring.

Together with Nuytsland Nature Reserve and Eucla National Park to the east, Cape Arid National Park forms an almost continuous nature conservation area to the South Australian border.

Bushwalking

The best way to experience the park’s diverse wildlife and magnificent scenery is on a walk – near the coast on the Tagon Coastal Trail and  Len Otte Nature Trail or inland on the Mt Ragged Walk Trail. You can also watch for whales from the lookout at Dolphin Cove on the Tagon Coastal Trail.

Rich history

The park earns its name from French Admiral D’Entrecasteaux who named the cape ‘Cap Arride’ in 1792. Captain Matthew Flinders anglicised the name in 1802 and Cape Arid National Park was subsequently named after this dominant headland.

Although remote, the area has a rich history. Cheap land and reports of ‘beautiful grassy plains’ to the east were incentives to many who came. You can see ruins of homesteads, buildings and dams constructed by pioneer graziers in the early 1870s around Thomas Fishery and Pine Hill.

Camping

You can camp at Belinup, Yokinup Mia Mia, Thomas Fishery, Seal Creek, Jorndee Creek and Mt Ragged. Fees apply. Campsites are not bookable and operate on a first come first served basis. 

Your safety

It’s great to escape everyday life and visit a park or reserve in WA. It is also important to us that you return safely to your family and friends. 

Always remember it is really important to plan your visit. Read this safety information about swimming, bushwalking, fishing, snorkelling, paddling and kayaking. Consider traveling with a personal location beacon (PLB). In the event you need to be rescued it could save your life!

  • Coastal risks are significant in this area. Visit the RecFishWest website for more information.
  • Pine Hill, Mt Ragged and the Thomas Fishery area are remote locations and you must be fully self-sufficient. Take camping gear, ample water and non-perishable food, first aid kit, tool kit, spare tyres and parts, recovery gear, CB radio.
  • Essential travel only: Balladonia Road to Mount Ragged is only accessible from the south. Visit the Shire of Dundas website for more information. 

We recognise and acknowledge Aboriginal people as the Traditional custodians of Cape Arid National Park.

Sites & Activities

Activities

Facilities

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Flora & Fauna

ALA Integration Page Content

The Atlas of Living Australia (Atlas) contains information on all the known species in Australia aggregated from a wide range of data providers: museums, herbaria, community groups, government departments, individuals and universities.

Sites & Activities
Visit the Atlas of Living Australia page for this area.
Reviews

Reviews

mohammedta replied on Thu, 2014-06-19 16:22 Permalink

Wonderful

By mohammedta on 19/06/2014

This is a comment posted through API. Did it work?

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Downloads & Resources
PDF icon Cape Arid and Eucla national parks brochure (705.32kB)

See a 360 panorama of the Thomas River Campground

Cape Arid National Park, DEC
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