Description
Cape Arid National Park, a vast 279 415 hectares, is located on the southeast coast of Western Australia, 120 kilometres east of Esperance.
Access to the park is from the sealed section of Fisheries Road. Nine kilometres of conventional drive all weather gravel road leads to park boundary. Another nine kilometres of the same quality roads lead to the main camp area at Thomas River. The majority of tracks within the park are rough four wheel drive and access is subject to weather conditions.
The park has magnificent coastal scenery, granite outcrops, swampy clay flats, several ruins and small mounts providing superb lookouts.
There are many self guided walks to choose from. They vary from one to four hour walks, for example at Len Otte Nature Trail, one hour; Pegged Trails, four hours; Tagon Coastal, four hours; Boolenup, two hours; Mount ragged, three hours; Unpegged - Mount Arid, two and a half hours.
Swimming at Thomas River: Most beaches are suitable for swimming but caution should be exercised as rips can develop quickly.
Best time for windsurfing is between November and February at Yokinup Bay.
Rockclimbing is allowed with permission from the Ranger.
Best time to visit the park is all year round.
Southern Right and Humpback whales are often seen between July and October.
Warning! Because the park is large, scarce in water and mostly unsignposted, all visits should be planned with caution. Access along all four wheel drive tracks is subject to weather conditions. Steep rock slopes to the ocean are subject to king waves and are slippery when wet.
