Whenever I tell people about my travels through Western Australia, their eyes usually light up with the mention of Perth or Broome. But today, I’m here to chat about some spots that don’t get nearly enough love from those who aren’t in the know – the Western Australian national parks!
I’ve hiked through the scrub, snorkelled beside sea turtles, and camped under a blanket of stars so thick you’d swear it was made up – all right here in WA’s national parks! From the eerie lunar-like landscape of the Pinnacles in Nambung National Park to the underwater wonderland of Ningaloo Reef, I’ve seen things that are hard to believe unless you’re standing right there.
In this post, I’m sharing my favourite national parks in Western Australia so that you can experience these incredible moments for yourself.
1. Cape Le Grand National Park
If you’re after some of the whitest sand beaches and turquoise waters you’ve ever seen, you’ve got to check out Cape Le Grand National Park, located about a 45-minute drive from Esperance, which is the closest major town down here in southern WA.
This park is all about stunning, unspoilt beaches, with some seriously rugged coastal scenery and dramatic granite peaks that just call out for a hike or three. Cape Le Grand’s star attractions include Lucky Bay, which is the most famous beach and also where you can see kangaroos lounging on the beach.
Whilst you’re here, don’t miss the chance to hike up Frenchman’s Peak, where the 360-degree view of the entire park will seriously take your breath away, and don’t forget to go and snap some photos of the Esperance pink lake.
2. Kalbarri National Park
Kalbarri National Park is a blend of desert and wild, untamed coastline that’ll keep your camera busy and your eyebrows raised. There are just so many things to do here! This national park is about a 6-hour drive north of Perth, making it one of our favourite weekend road trips from the city. It doesn’t hurt that it’s also warmer up in Kalbarri than Perth, making it a brilliant destination in winter.
What makes Kalbarri special is its stunning river gorges and coastal cliffs. The national park is divided into two main areas: the inland gorges like Nature’s Window, a natural rock arch that frames the river views below beautifully and the Kalbarri Skywalk, an epic viewing platform overlooking the gorges, and then the coastal cliffs area, which offers those breathtaking ocean views I mentioned.
Hiking is the main thing to do in the park, and there are countless different routes you can choose from, from the short, 1km Red Bluff Lookout trail to the 16.7km Bigurda Trail. If you’re visiting during wildflower season (around August to October), you’re in luck – you’ll get to see the landscape explode in eye-popping colours, with over 1,000 species of wildflowers in bloom!
3. Karijini National Park
Deep in the heart of Western Australia’s northern Pilbara region, about a day’s drive from Perth (or closer to Port Hedland), lies Karijini National Park. This park is famous for its ancient landscapes that will make you feel like you’ve arrived on another planet! Here, you’ll find deep, red rock gorges, sparkling-clear rock pools, and waterfalls that you won’t be able to resist taking a dip in – so don’t even try!
Karijini is a hiker’s dream come true, with more hiking trails than you can shake a stick at, covering everything from easy walks leading to stunning lookout points like Oxer Lookout, to more challenging treks that take you deep into the gorges where you can cool off in the many natural pools. These things, to me, are what make Karijini one of the best national parks in Western Australia for hiking.
Karijini is seriously off-grid, especially compared to most other WA national parks on this list. For this reason, your best bet is to kit out your car or van to camp in it, pack a tent, or be willing to cough up a pretty penny to stay at one of the park’s few hotel-style resorts.
4. Francois Peron National Park
For the quintessential Aussie outback-to-ocean adventure, Francois Peron National Park, just a quick hop from the coastal town of Denham in Shark Bay and Monkey Mia, is your go-to. Be warned, though: you’ll need a 4WD to explore here because it’s all offroad!
This park’s red dirt roads contrast starkly with the brilliant blue waters of the Indian Ocean, making every view absolutely jaw-dropping. Top places to add to your bucket list here include Cape Peron, the northernmost point in the park where you’ll get to witness the power of the ocean crashing into the land, the red-cliff-lined Bottle Beach, and the mind-bending gorgeous Little Lagoon.
Watching the sunset paint the totally undeveloped landscape in the evening, you’ll quickly agree that Francois Peron is a place that feels worlds away from everyday life!
5. Cape Range National Park
Adjacent to the world-renowned Ningaloo Reef, Cape Range National Park is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful national parks in Western Australia.
About 40 minutes from the town of Exmouth, this park has heaps of trails, and they’re all about the views and the wildlife. You can take a walk through Mandu Mandu Gorge to see where the water has cut through the rock over countless years, or just wander along the beach and watch the kangaroos come out as the sun goes down. And if you’re into bird watching, you’re in luck. There’s a whole bunch to see here, from tiny finches to big, bold eagles.
If you like snorkelling, you can just wade out from the beach and be on the reef in minutes, floating over coral and hanging out with schools of fish, turtles, and maybe even a reef shark or two. No boat needed!
A word of warning: camping here can be tricky – there are only very basic sites with drop toilets available within the park, and they book up fast. For this reason, your best bet is searching for accommodation in Exmouth town instead.
6. Yanchep National Park
Just a 45-minute drive north of Perth, Yanchep National Park is where you go for a quick escape to the wild. It’s a relaxed spot, where you can wander through natural bushland, spot koalas clinging to eucalyptus trees, and watch western grey kangaroos grazing at sunset. The park is pretty low-key but full of opportunities to get up close with Australian wildlife.
Thanks to the impressive Crystal Cave here, you can save yourself the drive down to the more famous Margaret River caves and explore an underground world of stalactites and stalagmites on a quick day trip from Perth. It’s as cool as it sounds!
Above ground, there’s plenty to keep you busy. The park has over 400 caves, numerous walking trails, and the chance to spot local wildlife. Yanchep also gives you a peek into the area’s Indigenous heritage through its regular cultural programs, adding another fascinating reason to pay it a visit!
7. Nambung National Park
Located about 200 kilometres northwest of Perth, Nambung National Park is home to one of Western Australia’s most alien-like landscapes – the Pinnacles Desert. Here, you’ll find stacks of thousands of limestone pillars, some reaching up to four metres tall, scattered across the desert floor. It’s like walking onto the set of a sci-fi movie!
The formations vary in shape and size, and their origins are a bit of a mystery, involving millions of years of coastal winds and water.
Although the Pinnacles are the main draw here, there’s plenty more to do and see here. The park borders the Indian Ocean, featuring beautiful beaches where you can relax or fish, and the coastal dunes and the bushland around offer plenty of hiking opportunities if you’d like to stretch your legs.
Keep your eyes peeled, and you may be rewarded with colourful flashes of parrots or even a bobtail lizard sunning itself!
8. Prince Regent National Park
Tucked away in the Kimberley region near the fun-filled town of Broome, Prince Regent National Park is as remote as it gets, accessible only by boat or light aircraft. The good news is, its isolation means that it’s an absolute haven of biodiversity, where you’ll find rugged sandstone, rainforests, mangroves, and waterfalls, including the jaw-dropping King Cascade, which tumbles down formations of terraced rocks.
Where the park truly shines is with its absolutely bonkers amount of wildlife, including saltwater crocodiles and the ever-elusive monjon (the smallest rock wallaby), as well as majestic white-bellied sea eagles.
It takes a lot of commitment and planning, but if you manage to venture here, the rewards far outweigh the effort, giving you the sense of being an explorer discovering an undiscovered, secret spot. Plus, there’s that undeniable feeling of remoteness, knowing you’re in a place few others have visited. You can’t beat that!
Explore WA’s Awesome National Parks!
If you’ve spent any amount of time on this blog, you know I love a good road trip – and visiting these national parks is the perfect excuse to head out on one! These are places where you can see the wild side of WA up close, get your boots dirty, and maybe even share a beach with a kangaroo or two. You don’t want to miss them!
