Fitzgerald River National Park

Few places in Australia stop you in your tracks quite like Fitzgerald River National Park. Stretching along a remote stretch of the southern Western Australian coast, this vast park contains more plant species than the entire British Isles — over 1,800 recorded — making it one of the most botanically significant places on the planet.

Walking the Barrens and Point Ann trails in spring, you move through a wash of banksia, hakea, royal hakea and the extraordinary Qualup bell, colours so vivid they seem almost artificial against the pale scrubby heath.

The wildlife here rewards patience. Southern right whales congregate in Hamelin Bay and around Point Ann between June and October, often close enough to shore that binoculars are almost unnecessary. Emus wander the firebreaks without concern, and if you camp quietly at Hamersley Inlet or Four Mile Beach, you stand a reasonable chance of spotting quokkas at dusk — far less crowded encounters than anything you'd find on Rottnest Island.

The coastal scenery is genuinely dramatic: crumbling quartzite headlands, long windswept beaches, and estuaries where the light does something extraordinary in the late afternoon.

Access is largely unsealed road, and a high-clearance vehicle is strongly recommended once you move beyond the main corridors. The nearest gateway towns are Bremer Bay to the west and Ravensthorpe to the north, each around an hour's drive from the park's key entry points. Entry fees apply and are payable on arrival; no permit is required beyond that for standard day visits.

Facilities are minimal, so carry all your water and food.

Visit between August and November for peak wildflower season combined with whale sightings, and pack sturdy shoes, sun protection, and more water than you think you need.