Unsure about whether it’s worth driving all the way out to Yardie Creek while you’re visiting Exmouth?
I’m here to tell you that it’s a magical spot – teeming with wildlife everywhere you look, you’ll see more here in an hour than you’re likely to see for a whole year in a big city.
I’ve visited this pristine place twice in the last 12 months and I would happily go back again and again. Every time you step foot on this untouched landscape there is something new to discover. I cannot compare the experience to any other place – it’s both pin-drop quiet and raucously loud with life all at once.
If you’re planning a trip to Exmouth you’d be crazy to miss out on this experience – so get your shoes on and keep reading to find out exactly what you’re in for.
1. Yardie’s Most Charming Resident – the Rock Wallabies
The cutest of all the creatures in Yardie Creek Gorge, the Black-Flanked Rock Wallaby is the star of the show. This particular species is listed as Endangered – over many years it’s been pushed into a small and isolated population.
They’re agile and adorable, bounding over rocks and hiding in crevices to avoid becoming anyone’s lunch. They are threatened by habitat destruction and feral animals, and they once used to roam most parts of Western Australia.
Once the sky is dusky (at sunrise or sunset), they emerge from their hiding places to start their daily hunt for food. Walking along the trail you’re likely to see tens of them at once – and once you’ve seen one you’ll keep spotting more and more! I was shocked about how friendly they were, we stood on the trail for a good 10 minutes watching one have a feed only a few metres away.
One thing to keep in mind is that they are wild animals, and they are endangered. Even though they are unbearably cute, it is our duty to give them as much space as possible. Don’t approach them, don’t feed them, and respect their environment. If you want to find out more about how you can help the species, head over to WWF Australia.
2. View the Gorge from Above in All its Red Splendour
The great thing about The Yardie Creek Gorge Trail is that it follows the upper ledge of the gorge – so you’re metres above the landscape feeling just like a bird of prey!
From any part of the trail you will have the perfect view into the gorge. The red cliffs are carved out of ancient limestone, and over millions of years it’s been shaped by water to create countless ledges, crevices and hiding-holes for birds, reptiles and marsupials.
If you have a little time, stop for a moment and survey the landscape. Lookout for the signs of life all around you – search for the Osprey nests on the ledges, rock wallabies basking quietly in the sun, or the fish surfacing at the water’s edge.
3. Spot an Osprey or Sea Eagle
The Osprey is an absolutely majestic and beautiful bird, and what better place to see one up close than Yardie Creek. They come into the gorge to nest and look for prey, meaning your chances of seeing one are pretty high. They feed predominantly on fish, so you might even get to see some action!
The second time I visited the Gorge I was curiously checked out by one – she was gliding through the Gorge while I was standing in the mud-flats near the river mouth. She was as curious as I was to have a closer look, so she slowly came down to just above my eye height, kept a few metres safe distance of course, turning her head to have a good look as she went past. Perhaps it was a warning, and perhaps it was a welcome. Either way, it fuelled my fire to make sure I cared for and respected her home during my visit.
4. Hear the Delightful Screech of the Black Flying Fox
Can you imagine the sound of hundreds of tiny chicks, cheeping and chirping? Now imagine the same thing, but instead it’s hundreds of tiny Flying Foxes making slightly louder, screechier, but equally adorable noises!
You will know when you’re getting closer to the colony because you’ll hear it. When you first set out on the Walk Trail it’ll sound more like some general background noise, perhaps just some active bird life. But as you get closer you’ll recognise their calls until you finally reach the colony hiding in the mangroves by the water’s edge.
They roost in the mangroves during the day and forage for flowers, pollen and fruits at night. So be warned – don’t be hanging around the colony before they’ve taken off after sunset!
5. Walk Over Ancient Coral Reef
The rocks that Yardie Creek Gorge are made of range from 5 to 20 million years old. You can find all sorts of amazing ancient coral fossils in the limestone here, many of which look just like the corals you can see currently living on the Ningaloo Reef.
Have a seat on the ground and look around for fossils you can recognise – perhaps some branched corals or some bivalve shells. Next time you’re snorkelling over the Ningaloo Reef see if you can make any matches!
The geological history of the Cape Range is long and complex, and if you want to learn more you can read this paper found on the WA Museum’s database.
6. Listen for the Sound of the Western Bower Bird
Another charming but alarming sound to listen out for in the Yardie Gorge is that of the Western Bowerbird. These birds are infamous for creating spectacular and elaborate bowers, often collecting and displaying trinkets such as shells and bones in their efforts to attract a mate. They’re cheeky characters and once you spot one, and hear one, you’ll never be the same again!
If you want to know more about these intriguing birds, eBird.org has some great information.
7. Get Some Exercise After Sitting in the Car Forever
There’s a good chance that if you’re in Exmouth you’ve spent a fair bit of time in the car to get there. The perfect antidote for a sore bum is to go for a walk and get sore legs!
The Yardie Gorge Trail is approximately 3km return and is considered a Grade 4 (bushwalking experience recommended). The entire walk can be done in an hour, but if you’re constantly distracted and stopping to watch and listen to the wild it’ll probably take a bit longer. Jump onto AllTrails to have a look at the trail map.
The best time to walk the Trail is from April to September when the weather is a bit milder (it gets extremely hot in the summer months and has very limited shade). Always make sure you bring enough water and food, 1 litre per hour per person is a good general guide. Standard National Park Entry fees apply.
8. There’s a Short Trail Option
The Yardie Nature Walk is a shorter, more accessible option and still allows you to see the best of Yardie Creek. The Nature Walk is approximately 1.2km return and is a Grade 1, meaning it’s a nice wide and relatively flat track that takes you to a lookout over the Gorge. From here you can spot the wallabies, osprey, bats and birds.
Allow about 40 minutes to complete the walk, and of course, more if you stay a while. Find out more information about the trail here.
9. It’s Only an Hour (and a half) from Exmouth
Yardie Creek Gorge is located a 1.5 hour drive from Exmouth. It’s a beautiful drive that takes you all the way around the Cape Range on a sealed road. If you feel like stretching your legs before you get to Yardie Creek there are countless epic beaches to stop at along the way – take a peek at the famed waters of Turquoise Bay and swim straight over the World Heritage Listed Ningaloo Reef.
The road is sealed all the way and suitable to most vehicles. Parking at Yardie Creek is easy too with a sealed carpark, it’s also got drop toilets and some picnic tables near the river mouth. To get across to the other side of Yardie Creek itself, however, you will be in 4WD territory. But you also could walk across the sand bar when the tide is low.
10. Have A Picnic and Listen Out for Calls of the Wild
My absolute favourite part of any outdoor adventure, no matter how big or small, is to pause long enough to really listen.
Find yourself a quiet perch overlooking the Gorge, get out your packed lunch and take a deep breath. The longer you sit still the more the landscape will come to life around you. Listen out for the sounds of each insect – scratching, clicking, digging. Hear the quiet whispers of tiny birds hopping about the trees. Look down and watch for bubbles on the surface of the water. Maybe you’ll even hear a rock wallaby shifting its nap position under the afternoon sun.
Never a dull moment in the wild!
11. Watch the Kayakers Paddling Silently Below
One of the best ways to experience the Gorge is to get down into it. Yardie Creek Gorge is a pristine and protected habitat to thousands of animals, which is why human activity is limited to those that create minimal disturbance.
You won’t be allowed to bring any motorised vessel into the Gorge, and you’re not allowed to get off your kayak or SUP while you’re in the Gorge. That’s why it’s such a serene place to sit and watch.
If you’re not into kayaking, you can enjoy watching others from above.
If you are into kayaking, you can hire a kayak or SUP in town and make your own adventure.
12. You Can Book a Boat Tour to See the Gorge Up Close
If hiking or kayaking aren’t your thing, you could book a boat tour in the Gorge. Yardie Creek Boat Tours are the only operator who run tours in the Gorge, and with decades of experience and local knowledge they can share endless information and stories with you.
They have a special permit which allows them to run the tours with a motorised boat, and they work closely with the DBCA to contribute to research and conversation efforts to preserve this one-of-a-kind ecosystem.
Tours run twice a day on most days of the peak season, you can book your tour here.
13. Watch the Sunset in One of the Most Alive Places on Earth
Never have I been so in awe of such a tiny, life-packed place. In just a few hundred metres there are hundreds of species of unique animals and plants that you can’t find anywhere else, together, on the planet.
If you visit late in the day, you will experience the magic of a Yardie Gorge sunset. As the sun slowly goes down over the Ningaloo Reef you will have a moment to be thankful for the incredible landscape and all the life it supports.
Do You Have Your Own Story to Share?
Wait no longer, plan a trip to Exmouth and add Yardie Creek to your list! If you’ve got questions or want to share your own stories, leave a comment below.