Cape Range National Park
Rugged limestone gorges, kangaroos at dawn, and the reef on the doorstep.
Cape Range backs the entire western side of the peninsula: dramatic gorges, arid-zone wildlife, and a string of beaches and snorkel sites along Yardie Creek Road.
Drive Charles Knife Road for canyon views, walk into Mandu Mandu Gorge for black-footed rock wallabies, or take the boat tour up Yardie Creek. A park pass is required.
Things to do here
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Spots in this area
- LookoutCharles Knife CanyonA ridge-top road into the range with canyon views — best at sunrise.
- Snorkel spotLakesideEasy, beginner-friendly reef a short walk south along the beach.
- LookoutMandu Mandu GorgeA short limestone gorge walk with a good chance of rock wallabies.
- Snorkel spotOsprey BayPopular camp area with an easy drift snorkel over close coral.
- Snorkel spotOyster StacksSome of the closest, most vivid coral on the whole coast — tide dependent.
- BeachSandy BayA wide, shallow turquoise lagoon — calm swimming and flat-water paddling.
- Snorkel spotTurquoise BayPostcard-perfect drift snorkel where the reef meets a white-sand beach.
- LookoutYardie CreekA salt-water gorge at the south of the park — by boat or on foot.
Everything to do in Cape Range National Park (16)
- Charles Knife sunrise driveDrive a knife-edge ridge into the range for canyon views — low light is the point.
- Badjirrajirra Loop walkA long, exposed loop through gorges and spinifex from the top of the road.
- Lakeside reef snorkelEasy sandy entry to a quiet sanctuary-zone reef, a short walk south along the beach.
- Lakeside beach swimA sheltered sandy beach, calm on most days.
- Mandu Mandu Gorge loopA ~3 km loop up a dry creek bed and back along the gorge rim.
- Mandu Mandu rock-wallabiesBlack-footed rock-wallabies shelter in the gorge walls — best at dawn.
- Osprey Bay drift snorkelDrift along the reef off the rocky point — lots of coral close in.
- Osprey Bay lagoon swimA sheltered lagoon swim between the rocky points.
- Oyster Stacks coral snorkelSome of the closest, most vivid coral on the coast — high tide only.
- Sandy Bay swimA wide, shallow turquoise lagoon — calm and safe for a family swim.
- Sandy Bay SUP & flat waterFlat, protected water for SUP — windier in the afternoon sea breeze.
- Turquoise Bay drift snorkelThe famous drift — enter up-current and let the lagoon carry you over the coral.
- Turquoise Bay lagoon swimA calm, brilliant-white lagoon for an easy dip between snorkels.
- Yardie Creek boat tourA gentle boat tour up a red-walled gorge on permanent water.
- Yardie Creek rim walkA short, rocky rim walk for the view down the gorge.
- Yardie Creek paddlePaddle the sheltered red-gorge creek when the sandbar is closed.
- hiking
- gorges
- wildlife
- scenery
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