Download INDIAN OCEAN DRIVE - Australias Coral Coast

Western Australia’s Coral Coast covers an area of approximately 1170km of coastline from Cervantes in
the south to Exmouth in the north, and inland via the shires bordering the Midlands Road to Mullewa.
INDIAN OCEAN DRIVE

Spanning from Lancelin to just south of Dongara, the Indian Ocean Drive offers
motorists a scenic and direct coastal route to explore the many attractions on offer in
Australia’s Coral Coast.

The Pinnacles are the southern gateway to Australia’s Coral Coast region. Regarded as
one of Australia's most unique landscapes they are believed to have been created
millions of years ago as seashells were broken down into sand and then eroded by water
and wind. Thousands of limestone spires rise eerily out of the sand, some of which are
up to several metres tall.

Located two kilometres south east of Cervantes, Lake Thetis is one of only five sites in
WA that features stromatolites. Made up of the oldest known organisms on Earth, some
fossil remains here have been dated as old as 3.6 billion years. Learn more about
stromatolites on the 1.5-kilometre walking trail.

Western Rock Lobster provides a lucrative industry for the coastal towns between
Cervantes and Kalbarri. Between November and June crayfish boats head out to sea and
return loaded with their bounty for processing.

Lesueur National Park is one of the most diverse and rich floral areas in the world. The
park is home to almost 900 species, including many plants found nowhere else on Earth.
This biodiverse hotspot represents approximately ten per cent of the State’s known
flora.

20 percent of Western Australia’s Sea Lion population live and breed around Jurien Bay.
You will spot these captivating creatures lazing on the beach or ducking and diving
through the water around Jurien Bay Marine Park. The best way to interact with these
captivating creatures is on a charter boat tour from Jurien Bay.
WILDFLOWER COUNTRY

Australia’s Coral Coast is WA’s premier wildflower viewing region. Wildflowers are
found in the region all year round, however, floral displays are at their best from July to
October when inland areas explode into brilliant carpets of colour and the region’s
wildflower hotspots are a treasure trove of unique species. The region’s diverse range of
flora is sure to delight wildflower enthusiasts and the good news is you don’t even need
1|Page
to go off the beaten track - you’ll spot many species along the roadside. Wildflower
hotspots include the Kalbarri and Lesueur National Parks and the Coalseam
Conservation Reserve.

During wildflower season Mullewa has dazzling wildflower displays and is well known
for its carpets of everlastings and stunning wreath flowers.
GERALDTON REGION

The Geraldton region is rich in maritime history. The WA Museum Geraldton provides a
fascinating insight into the region’s rich natural, social and maritime history.

Geraldton’s HMAS Sydney II Memorial commemorates the loss of 645 Australian
soldiers who met their fate in a World War II naval battle in 1941. This magnificent
memorial located on Mount Scott overlooks the city and features a silver dome of 645
seagulls to represent each sailor lost in this war time disaster. Join a guided tour to learn
more about this notorious World War II battle and the dedicated search for the wreck.

Located 55 kilometres off the coast of Geraldton, the Houtman Abrolhos Islands form
one of WA’s most unique marine areas. Showcasing eerie ship wrecks and an abundance
of marine life, divers delight in seeing everything from rays, to lobster and clown fish.
Scenic flights and boat charters are available from Geraldton.

The leaning trees in Greenough are an interesting sight to see. Prevailing strong winds
have forced the trees to grow horizontally rather than upwards.

Point Moore Lighthouse is a Geraldton icon with its bold red and white stripes. This 34metre tall structure is the only one of its kind in Western Australia.
KALBARRI REGION

The Kalbarri National Park is located on the lower reaches of the Murchison River,
cutting magnificent gorges for 80 kilometres, as it carves its way to the sea, creating
spectacular inland gorges and coastal cliffs.

Oakabella Homestead, in Nothampton, is considered to be the most haunted house in
Western Australia.

Port Gregory is bordered by the beautiful Hutt Lagoon known as the Pink Lake due to its
colour created by the naturally occurring beta carotene. The lake changes from a misty
pink to magenta as the sun sets.
2|Page

Nature’s Window is a rock border that beautifully frames the rugged upstream view of
Kalbarri’s National Park. Nature’s window marks the beginning and end of The Loop, a
six-hour walk trail providing magnificent views of the winding gorge below.

Kalbarri’s resident pelicans flock to the foreshore early in the morning to be receive
their breakfast. The pelican feeding tradition started with a local Kalbarri fisherman who
cleaned his catch and threw the scraps to the pelicans.
SHARK BAY REGION

Shark Bay became World Heritage listed in 1991, after meeting all four of the required
natural criteria and remains one of only a handful of places in the world to achieve this
status. The Shark Bay World Heritage Area covers 2.2 million hectares of land and sea
on the coast of Shark Bay. The colourful and diverse landscapes, rare flora and fauna
and world class examples of Earth’s ecological processes all contribute to the region
being World Heritage listed.

Hamelin Pool, located 90 kilometres south east of Denham, is one of only a few places
on Earth where living marine stromatolites (the oldest living organisms on the planet)
exist. These rocky looking lumps in the water are examples of the oldest and simplest
forms of life on earth dating back 3.5 billion years. The water at Hamelin Pool is twice as
saline as usual sea water due to sea grass banks situated across the bay’s entrance and
rapid evaporation from the shallow water. Stromatolites are rock-like structures built by
microbes (single-celled cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae). Few predators
and competitors can survive these conditions, allowing the microbes to flourish and
form stromatolites much as they did billions of years ago. Hamelin Pool stromatolites
grow at a maximum of 0.3mm a year, so examples up to a metre high are hundreds, if
not thousands of years old. There is an excellent viewing platform out over the water
and interpretive displays at the site and at the Hamelin Pool Telegraph Station nearby
which houses a small museum.

The Shark Bay Marine Park covers 1500 kilometres of coastline, making it the largest
marine embayment in Australia. More than 320 species of fish inhabit the Shark Bay
Marine Park, from emperors and angel fish to remoras and wrasse. Spot turtles,
dolphins, manta rays, whales (in season), dugongs and many other marine species on a
wildlife cruise or from the shore. The shallow waters support a diverse ecology,
including the largest number and area of seagrass species in the world, providing
nutrition and shelter for the marine fauna. Tours are available, offering visitors the
opportunity to witness Shark Bay’s abundant marine life.

Shark Bay is rich in wildlife. Some 17 species of mammals, 98 species of reptiles and
amphibians and more than 230 species of birds have been recorded in the area.
Whether on an organised tour or travelling on your own steam, you’re sure to spot
some of the region’s fascinating wildlife. Some of Shark Bay’s mammals are among the
world’s rarest. Five threatened mammal species are found in Shark Bay and four are
3|Page
found nowhere else on Earth. Some of the area’s special mammals include: the Shark
Bay mouse, western barred bandicoot, greater bilby, rufous hare-wallaby (Mala), Shark
Bay boodie, banded hare-wallaby, southern brown bandicoot (Quenda), greater sticknest rat and the woylie.

Shell Beach is made up of countless tiny cockle shells layered up to 10 metres deep and
stretching over 120 kilometres of coastline.

Monkey Mia dolphins are famous for their daily ritual of swimming to shore to interact
with humans. As the bottlenose dolphins are wild, numbers and the exact time of their
visit varies, however they often visit the shore up to three times a day, usually starting
at 7.30am.

Located right at the centre of the southern and northern varieties of WA’s wildflowers,
Shark Bay has the longest season of any part of Western Australia and more than 700
species of flowering plants. Of these, more than 150 species are of special scientific
interest and several are exclusive to the Shark Bay World Heritage Area. The aromatic
Tamala rose is one of the region's most well known and showy species. The Shark Bay
daisy, Royce's Gum, Rogerson's grevillea and golden lambstail are also found only in the
Shark Bay region. The sceptre banksia puts out spectacular large flower-spikes in
summer and, after good winter rains, everlastings often grow in massive drifts of colour
that will surprise and delight visitors.

Dirk Hartog Island was the first recorded landing on Australian soil by Europeans.
Captain Dirk Hartog announced his arrival by erecting an inscribed pewter plate at the
site now known as Cape Inscription. A replica of this plate can be seen at the Shark Bay
World Heritage Discovery and Visitor Centre. Fishing is very good around the island.
Scuba diving, snorkelling and walking are also great ways to explore the surrounds. Air
and land tours and accommodation must be arranged in advance.
GASCOYNE REGION

Carnarvon is often referred to as the ‘food bowl of WA’. Carnarvon’s many plantations
produce millions of dollars worth of produce annually, including more than half of
Western Australia’s bananas and about 70 per cent of Perth’s winter vegetables. The
region’s mild climate, pest-free status and the fertile land near the Gascoyne River result
in the production of top quality fruit and vegetables. Many plantation operators also
produce a range of delicious sauces, jams, pickled fruit, ice creams and dried fruit.

Carnarvon is a great base from which to explore rugged country inland or the wilderness
coast at the southern gateway to the Ningaloo Marine Park.

People from the five Aboriginal language groups in the Gascoyne have come together to
showcase their history, art and culture which you can share in by visiting the Gascoyne
Aboriginal Heritage and Cultural Centre (Gwoonwardu Mia).
4|Page

70 kilometres north of Carnarvon, the Blowholes form a natural spectacle as the ocean
is forced through sea caves before exploding through holes in the rock. The spray can
reach up to 20 metres high.

The Kennedy Ranges span 75 kilometres and are the result of millions of years of
erosion where the natural force of winds, rains, and movement in the Earth’s crust have
combined to etch out valleys and push up spectacular cliffs. Keep an eye out for the
beautiful stones, opalite and mookarite that are scattered along the ranges.

Held in late October each year, The Kickstarters Gascoyne Dash is a desert endurance
motor race featuring motorcycles, quad bikes, custom-built four wheel drives and
buggies. Drawing competitors from around the nation and overseas, this four-day event
covers more than 500 kilometres of the toughest terrain in Western Australia. Yet the
event is not all about motorsport. Set in the majestic Kennedy Ranges of Gascoyne
Junction, spectators can visit the National Park, swim in a billabong, watch the wildlife
and get in touch with the real outback.
NINGALOO REEF REGION

The Ningaloo Marine Park which encompasses over 300 kilometres of coastline, from
Red Bluff in the south to Bundegi Reef in the North. Ningaloo Reef is Australia’s largest
fringing reef and is home to 500 species of tropical fish and 250 species of coral.

The Ningaloo coast’s natural beauty and biological diversity was recently recognised by
the World Heritage Committee and named Australia’s 19th World Heritage site. The
Ningaloo Coast World Heritage Area covers more than 600, 000 hectares and includes
the Ningaloo Marine Park, Cape Range National Park, the Bundegi and Jurabi Coastal
Parks and the Muiron Islands Marine Management Area.

Covering more than 50,000 hectares, the ruggedly beautiful Cape Range National Park
features breathtaking canyons, limestone ranges and 50 kilometres of unspoilt
coastline. The park comes alive with wildflowers in late winter and boasts 630 species of
plants (including 12 endemic and six near endemic species) with the sturt desert pea
and bird flower being highlights.

The world’s largest fish, the whale shark, growing up to 18 metres in length, congregate
in the Ningaloo Marine Park from mid March to mid July annually, following the mass
spawning of coral. Ningaloo is one of the few regions in the world they regularly
frequent and are easily accessible to people who would like to swim alongside these
gentle giants.

In March and April divers and snorkellers can witness an amazing spectacle at night
(with lights) when the ocean glows with coral spawn approximately 10 to 12 days after
the full moon.
5|Page

Humpback whales visit the Ningaloo Marine Park between June and November each
year on their annual migration south. View them at locations along Ningaloo Reef, at the
coastal cliffs of Red Bluff and Gnaraloo Bay in the south of the Marine Park and from
vantage points further north in Coral Bay and Exmouth. In Exmouth, watch them from
the Vlamingh Head Lighthouse, Town Beach and Bundegi Beach. Whale watching tours
are offered from Exmouth and Coral Bay.

Yardie Creek Gorge is an ancient landscape in the Cape Range National Park, Exmouth.
The rust red cliffs give way to deep blue waters, providing dramatic scenery. The gorge
is home to an assortment of wildlife including the rare black footed wallaby.
Contact the Marketing Department at Australia’s Coral Coast for further information.
Ph: +618 9321 9111
Email: [email protected]
6|Page