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Cape Range National Park

If you want to enjoy spectacular rocky gorges, carved by ancient rivers, adjoining one of the most pristine and beautiful coastlines in the world, come to Cape Range. The area is well known for the striking contrast between the clear blue seas, coral reefs and sandy beaches of Ningaloo Marine Park, and the rugged scenery of Cape Range.
(See 'Range to Reef' feature.)

The Cape Range is the only elevated limestone range on the north-western coast of WA. The impressive weathered limestone range has plateaus of up to 314 metres high. It forms the spine of the peninsula that stretches up towards North West Cape in the Gascoyne region of Western Australia.

You can climb up deep rocky gorges to enjoy breathtaking scenery. One of many popular walks is a three-kilometre ramble through Mandu Mandu Gorge along the bed of an ancient river. As the summer heat is intense, walks should only be attempted between April and September. You can also view rock wallabies at Yardie Creek.

Beneath the rocky plateaus and canyons of the Cape Range National Park lies a network of hidden caves and tunnels. They harbour a unique collection of bizarre cave-dwelling animals: an ancient treasure trove of immense value to both science and nature conservation.

Mangrove Bay

The turn-off to Mangrove Bay is 8 kilometres north of the Milyering Visitor Centre on the Yardie Creek Road. A bird hide overlooks a shallow lagoon, just 100 metres along a boardwalk from the Mangrove Bay car park. Here you can take advantage of the shaded seating and spend as much time as you like studying the variety of birds, including seabirds and waders. Take binoculars and a bird book with you and take precautions against mosquitoes.

At Mangrove Bay there is also a fauna hide, 500 metres from the car park (20 minutes return). If you are quiet there is a good chance you may see kangaroos, galahs, emus, cockatoos and corellas at close quarters. The best times are early morning and late afternoon.

Yardie Creek

Yardie Creek is about 38 kilometres south of the Milyering Visitor Centre along the Yardie Creek Road. A 500 metre (½ hour return) walk meanders above the gorge's vertical red rock walls, overlooking Yardie Creek. It is initially an easy walk but becomes more difficult as you ascend the Range.

If you wish to add a further 1.5 kilometres (1½ hours return) to this walk, follow the track that leads from the end of the Yardie Creek walk. Remain on the northern side of the gorge so as not to disturb the black-footed rock-wallabies. Look closely and you may be able to spot these animals as they seek shelter on ledges along the southern cliff face, where they await evening before coming out to feed.

Mandu Mandu Gorge

The track to Mandu Mandu Gorge is 15 kilometres south of the Milyering Visitor Centre along the Yardie Creek Road. This trail is a 3 kilometre 2 hour return walk. It starts from the end of the Mandu Mandu track and follows the northern ridge of Mandu Mandu Gorge, offering splendid panoramic views of the gorge carved by an ancient river. Near the start of this route, the trail crosses a steep-sided creek, so please take care.

A variety of birds can be seen from the trail, which is marked by numbered metal posts with arrows on top, the last finishing in the gorge bed. From here, make your way along the base of the gorge through shady clumps of bloodwood trees back to the car park.

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Where is it?: Lying predominantly on the western side of North-West Cape Peninsula, Cape Range National Park protects an area of 50 581 hectares. The northern boundary of the park is 39 kilometres from Exmouth by road, and the southern boundary is 70 kilometres north of Coral Bay. Travelling time: The northern park boundary is 40 minutes from Exmouth, while the southern boundary is two hours along the coast from Coral Bay.

Access:
The coastal attractions of the park can only be reached along the Yardie Road. Features on the eastern side of the Range can be reached via the Charles Knife and Shothole Canyon Road, which are south of Exmouth on the Minilya Learmonth Road.

Facilities:
There are a number of camping areas all along the stunning, white sandy coast, from Boat Harbour to Ned's Camp. Entry fees apply. Some areas are for day use only (see map). There are also picnic facilities and toilets at many sites. No campfires are allowed in the park - gas barbecues only. Exmouth and Coral Bay are fully serviced.

Best season:
April to September.

What to see and do:
Walking, photography, nature observation, birdwatching, picnicking, camping, canoeing, wildlife watching, swimming, snorkelling and diving.

Walking - When walking in the park wear a wide-brimmed hat, sunscreen with a sun protection factor of 15+ and sturdy walking shoes and take plenty of drinking water with you (4 litres per person per day) as there is no water available in the range. Temperatures may be deceptively high, especially in the canyons. We advise you not to undertake the walks in summer. For your own safety please remain on existing tracks.

• Badjirrajirra Route to Shothole Canyon
  A 4 km one-way (1 hour) walk between Thomas Carter Lookout and ShotholeCanyon. You will need to organise a vehicle to meet you at the Shothole Canyon car park.
• Shothole Canyon Route
  A 250 metre (one hour) walk takes you from the Shothole Canyon car park to the lip of the canyon, returning along the same route. The trail up the side of the canyon is extremely steep and very narrow in some places, climbing 120 metres along the ridge.