Ningaloo - Yardie Creek Road
14.5 km
distance
1h 45m
Contour time
4.3
difficulty
Unsealed
surface
Scenery
Western Australia
Cape Range National Park sits on the Exmouth Peninsula at the junction of the Indian Ocean and the Northwest Shelf. The...
Road quality
Grade 4.25
Every segment scored on 40+ data signals.
Accessibility
Fully sealed
Best in 4WD. Peak season: Year-round.
7-day forecast
Moderate to high difficulty national park access track. The elevated RRI reflects the remote Cape Range coast environment rather than extreme technical difficulty. A capable stock 4WD handles this track in dry conditions. The destination is extraordinary.
Recommended gear: Recovery boards, Snatch strap, Extra water (20L+).
The road
The Ningaloo-Yardie Creek Road is the most rewarding 4WD access road in WA's Northwest. Cape Range National Park rises directly from the coast in a dramatic escarpment of Quaternary limestone - the ranges run parallel to the Ningaloo reef for 50km and the road traces the inland valley between the range and the sea. Yardie Creek Gorge at the southern end is Cape Range's signature feature - a flooded canyon where the creek has cut through the range to reach the ocean, with cliffs of deep red and cream limestone dropping straight into permanently still turquoise water. Black-footed rock wallabies (warru) are regularly seen on the gorge walls. Whale sharks (in season), manta rays and reef sharks are visible from beach stops along the road.
The Ningaloo-Yardie Creek Road is the most rewarding 4WD access road in WA's Northwest.
Why this road
The region
Cape Range National Park sits on the Exmouth Peninsula at the junction of the Indian Ocean and the Northwest Shelf. The Ningaloo Reef running offshore is one of the world's great fringing reefs - 300km long, accessible directly from the beach, and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage area. The range itself is an uplifted coral platform from when this coast was beneath the sea. The result is a landscape of bleached limestone riddled with caves, fossils and the remnants of ancient reef life.
Before you go
Fuel in Exmouth (40km north). National park pass required. The road to Yardie Creek requires 4WD - 2WD vehicles cannot access the gorge. Extra water essential - the Cape Range coast is hot and dry. Allow a full day. The gorge boat tours run in the morning.
See a routing error?
Flag itWorth stopping for
Ningaloo Reef snorkelling
The reef is directly accessible from the beaches along the Cape Range coast road - coral gardens with turtles, rays and reef fish within 50 metres of the shore, no boat required.
Exmouth township
The town at the north end of the Exmouth Peninsula has good food, dive operators and the whale shark tour operators that run the world's most accessible whale shark interaction.
Route
Start
Cape Range NP, Ningaloo
End
Yardie Creek Gorge
Gallery
More roads like this
