Cape Range National Park and Ningaloo Marine Park
Exmouth, Western Australia
A 'Desert Museum' safari will provide you with the excitement of 4WD off-road exploring. You will travel through desert habitat of rolling red sand dunes which were laid down during the last ice age. Can you identify the foot prints of native animals in the red pindan? Two of Western Australia's universities contemplated the fencing of this unique area and ridding it of feral animals in order to study the resident flora and fauna. The area was intended to be a desert museum and hence the name of this safari.
The 'Desert Museum' safari tour offers you a 'softer' option to the remote wilderness crossing undertaken on 'Range to Reef' safari tour. 'Desert Museum' still provides you with an exciting off-road 4WD experience.
After rain wildflowers abound including endemic species such as the Cape Range Grevillea - Exmouth's floral emblem. Cape Range boasts over 600 species of vascular plants and travelling off-road through desert sand dunes and limestone outcrops provides a variety of plants not to be seen whilst travelling the bitumen road to Cape Range National Park.
From the backbone of Cape Range you will have 360 degree unimpeded panoramic views. Don't forget your camera! The descent down Cape Range is thrilling - rough and rugged.
A 4WD safari tour with WestTreks is the only way that you will experience this descent to the coastal plain.
Aboriginal occupation of Cape Range is well documented and artefacts from the area are on display in the Western Australian Museum. WestTreks have the Aboriginal Custodian's and Elder's permission to visit a significant Aboriginal Rock Shelter which is a highlight of this tour. Etchings on the roof and walls indicates the importance of this rock shelter.
Yardie Creek, in Cape Range National Park, is the only gorge that contains water permanently, both fresh and salt, and supports abundant wildlife. A sand bar usually separates the creek from the ocean. Included in your 'Desert Museum' safari is an hour long boat cruise on the Award winning Yardie Creek Tours boat cruise. The vessel is easy to access, has comfortable seating, and a shade canopy. Yardie Creek is 'home' to a small population of the threatened species of Rock Wallaby, Petrogale Lateralis. Keep your eyes open to discover this adorable mammal.
Ningaloo Reef is an icon of the area. A swim or snorkel in the crystal clear waters of Turquoise Bay is awaiting you. We will provide your snorkelling gear, or you can bring your own.
Milyering Visitor Centre, operated by the Department of Environment and Conservation, is a 'mine of information'. Your time at Milyering will be interesting and informative.
The views from Vlamingh Head Lighthouse hill lookout are spectacular. During Humpback Whale migration the sighting of these giants from the lookout are a regular occurrence.
Exmouth town was constructed to support the Harold E. Holt
Naval Communications Station on North West Cape. We travel past the VLF
towers and the Station on our return to Exmouth.
Shothole Canyon's scenic drive showcases the amazing scenery and rock formations at the base of Cape Range. Charles Knife Road Canyons are accessed by the road built by Bell Brothers in the 1950's. The road follows the razor back ridges. Your camera will be in overdrive when viewing these spectacular canyons. These are Exmouth's grand canyons.
 | Travel through red sand dune desert habitat at the Northern end of the Cape - see map |
| Cross over Cape Range anticline |
| Rugged descent of Cape Range to the coastal plain |
| Significant Aboriginal Rock Shelter with etchings |
| Award Winning Yardie Creek boat cruise [1 hour] |
| Swim or snorkel at Turquoise Bay |
| Milyering Visitor Centre |
| Vlamingh Head Lighthouse hill lookout |
| Charles Knife Road canyons |
| Shothole Canyon |
What to bring: bathers, towel, hat, personal water bottle, sunscreen, camera. We recommend walking shoes/boots. You can replenish your personal water bottle with cold water on board the vehicle.
Pricing: $ AU 199.00 Adult $ AU 155.00 Child (Child rate 12 yrs & under). Your "Desert Museum" tour includes: access/entrance fees, morning/afternoon teas, lunch and boat cruise.
Tour commences at 7.30am and returns approximately 6.00pm.
This site was last updated 31-Mar-2010
