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  1. Home
  2. Australia's Coral Coast
  3. Geraldton
  4. Houtman Abrolhos Islands National Park

Houtman Abrolhos Islands National Park

We recognise and acknowledge Nanda people as the traditional owners of Houtman Abrolhos Islands National Park.

An abundance of breeding birds and maritime history is a unique experience you will remember and want to share.

No dogs

No park entry fee

Houtman Abrolhos Islands National Park
Tourism WA

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About this park

Set your course to The Abrolhos, where 210 islands are waiting to be explored. This marine archipelago lies 60 to 80km off the mid-west coast of Western Australia. 

Visitors are welcome for day trips in the national park and private tours are available too. Many of the islands are difficult to access due to the surrounding shallow waters and reefs.  

Swim and dive in the clear waters of the islands. With so much to see, you won’t want to get out of the water! The Abrolhos are renowned for spectacular underwater landscapes. You’ll be enchanted by the magnificent coral gardens, colourful fish, anemones and seagrass meadows.

Why not catch a fish for supper? Responsible fishing is permitted. Check the Fisheries Abrolhos Recreational Fishing Regulations for daily bag limits, legal sizes and other regulations that apply. Alternatively, book a privately operated fishing charter. 

The park is steeped in maritime history. Shipwrecks at the Abrolhos are the earliest European archaeological sites in Australia. The most famous wreck is the Batavia which hit a reef in the Wallabi Group in 1629. Many books have been written about the Batavia survivors, the mutiny and the massacre. There are 19 other known shipwrecks at the Abrolhos and many more that are still undiscovered. You can learn more by visiting the WA Shipwrecks Museum at Fremantle and the Museum of Geraldton. Private operators offer historical tours by scenic flight and charter boat. 

Give yourself time to appreciate the incredible birdlife here. The Abrolhos is one of the largest seabird breeding areas. Most of the islands have important nesting and breeding sites. They’re a haven to vulnerable and endangered shorebirds and migratory waders, including several critically endangered species. The park is home to the curlew sandpiper, great knot, Eastern curlew and bar-tailed godwit. 

Nature lovers will enjoy the diversity of wildlife that inhabit the park. Australian sea lions are some of the star inhabitants. The Abrolhos is their northern breeding limit. You may be lucky and spot some of the reptiles and birds that are found nowhere else. These include the Abrolhos Painted button quail, the dwarf bearded dragon and Stokes’ spiny tailed skink. 

The islands’ vegetation is similar to that on the nearby coast. There are also some special conservation habitats, including mangroves, saltbush flats and dwarf Atriplex shrubland.

The Abrolhos islands are clustered into three main groups - Wallabi, Easter and Pelsaert. 

Wallabi Group 

East Wallabi 

Accessible by boat and aircraft, Turtle Bay is a pristine beach ideal for walking, swimming and snorkelling. There is a walk trail and lots of coastline to explore. Look out for tammar wallabies, carpet pythons and the Abrolhos painted button quail. 

Beacon Island 

This is the main occupation and massacre site associated with the Batavia shipwreck. Beacon Island provides a great vantage point for understanding the events that occurred over three months following Batavia's wrecking. 

West Wallabi 

This is the largest island in the Abrolhos and relics of the forts built by soldiers from the Batavia can be seen but access to its eastern shoreline is difficult due to the surrounding shallow waters and reef. 

Tammar wallabies and carpet pythons are often seen, and this island supports the largest colonies of wedge-tailed shearwaters at the Abrolhos. 

Long Island 

Mutineers on the Batavia were imprisoned and sent to the gallows on this island. It is composed of coral rubble with a series of tidal ponds and colonies of breeding birds including roseate terns. 

Easter Group 

Wooded Island 

Mangroves around a large lagoon provide breeding habitat for lesser noddies, bridled and sooty terns, little shearwaters and the largest pied cormorant colony at the Abrolhos. 

Morley Island 

This island supports the largest colony of white-faced storm petrels at the Abrolhos as well as large colonies of fairy and roseate terns and populations of lesser noddies, bridled and sooty terns and little shearwaters. Sea lions can often be seen here. 

Leos Island 

The large lagoon is home to a giant cod that often appears when visitors arrive and is a swimming pool for newly born sea lions. There is also the largest colony of Caspian tern known to exist on an island in WA. 

Pelseart Group 

Pelsaert Island 

Thirteen species of seabird breed regularly across the whole island, including the largest colonies of lesser noddies, sooty terns and brown noddies at the Abrolhos. Visitors should avoid this island during the peak nesting season from mid-August to late January. Roseate terns breed on the island’s perimeter so take care not to disturb them. 

Mangrove forests and the sand in the southern four kilometres of this island provide habitat for nesting and burrowing seabirds. Please avoid these areas. 

Look out for the stone jetty and shelter at the Guano Jetty in the south. These are the remains of an industry that flourished from 1847-1946. The island was also used by survivors of the Zeewijk shipwreck (1727). 

Gun Island 

Survivors of the Zeewijk shipwreck made a camp here. They built a new ship from the remains of the wreck and timber collected from mangroves on nearby islands. A large guano mining settlement occupied this island in the late 1800s. Artefacts such as occupation sites, quarries and tramline foundations can still be seen. Large colonies of bridled terns and wedge-tailed shearwaters nest here from October-March.   

Safety information

Plan when to visit. Read this safety information about  bushwalking, swimming, snorkelling and diving. Consider travelling with a personal location beacon (PLB). In the event you need to be rescued it could save your life! 

There are many ways we can help care for this spectacular park and leave it untouched.  

You’ll need to be completely self-sufficient and take all your rubbish with you. Help care for the islands and follow the seven principles of Leave No Trace.  

When bushwalking please don’t remove anything you find. Fossicking and use of metal detectors is not permitted. Report any relics of European heritage you find to the WA Museum. 

Before you go ashore to explore any islands, make sure you aren’t bringing any unwanted guests. The introduction of non-native species is the single greatest threat to island environments.  

Help keep the islands pest free by taking a few precautions: 

  • Make sure your clothes, shoes, vessels and gear are free of soil, seeds, insects and other living organisms such as house mice and Asian house geckos. 
  • Rodent bait stations on boats are recommended. 

Gallery

Image
wood jetty over clear blue water with people in a small boat
Houtman Abrolhos Islands National Park
Tourism WA

Image
aerial view of strip of land surrounded by clear green water
Houtman Abrolhos Islands National Park
Tourism WA

Image
aerial view of strip of sand surrounded by clear green water
Houtman Abrolhos Islands National Park
Tourism WA

Image
old wooden jetty couple walking in water
Houtman Abrolhos Islands National Park
Tourism WA

Image
pontoon on blue water couple snorkelling
Houtman Abrolhos Islands National Park
Tourism WA

Help to protect the precious birds of the Abrolhos by not disturbing their natural behaviour

  • Stay clear of bird nesting areas. Walk around the perimeter of the islands to avoid disturbing birds and damaging burrows in soft sand. Almost all areas of soft sand will contain the burrows of seabirds. These burrows collapse very easily.  
  • Keep to existing tracks and move away if birds become agitated by your presence. Avoid visiting bird nesting islands two hours after sunrise and two hours before sunset when the birds are most active. 
  • Keep 50 metres from bird colonies and occupied nests. Stay quiet and move slowly. Stressed birds desert their nests leaving eggs and chicks unprotected. 
  • Minimise your use of lights at night, including on boats. These confuse night-flying seabirds, such as shearwaters. 
  • Kiteboarding near bird colonies can cause birds to startle and desert their nests. Be aware of the birds behaviour and stay clear of colonies. 
  • Sea lions breed and haul out on many islands. Be Seal Wise and keep your distance from them, particularly if pups are present. 

Park feature articles

Read the LANDSCOPE article about Houtman Abrolhos Islands National Park. 

Activities

Boating

Fishing

Scuba diving

Snorkelling

Swimming

Plants, wildlife and fungi

Visit the Atlas of Living Australia for a list of species recorded in Houtman Abrolhos Islands National Park.

Traditional Owners

We recognise and acknowledge Nanda people as the traditional owners of Houtman Abrolhos Islands National Park.

Need to know

No dogs

No dogs (or other pets) allowed in this park

No park entry fee

Entry to Houtman Abrolhos Islands National Park is free.

Park office / Contact

Geraldton Parks and Wildlife Office

(08) 9964 0901
geraldtonenquiries@dbca.wa.gov.au

Location

Australia's Coral Coast
Geraldton

Acknowledgement of Country

The Government of Western Australia acknowledges the traditional owners throughout Western Australia and their continuing connection to the land, waters and community. We pay our respects to all members of the Aboriginal communities and their cultures; and to Elders both past and present.

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Main navigation

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    • Destination Perth
  • Experiences
  • Activities
  • Know before you go

    Know before you go

    Get the practical ‘know how’ to adventure into Western Australia’s national parks confidently, responsibly and safely.

    Safety

    Natural area hazards

    Plan your activity

    Be prepared

    Travelling in remote locations

    Bushfires and prescribed burns

    Bushwalking safety

    Camping safety

    Mountain biking safety

    Swimming safety

    Adventure safety

    Beaches and coastal areas

    Rivers, lakes and lagoons

    Fishing, boating, paddling, snorkelling and diving

    Access friendly places

    Access to nature north of Perth

    Access to nature south of Perth

    Access to trails

    Caring for our parks

    Marine conservation

    Fees

    Park entry fees

    Park passes

    Camping fees

    Attraction fees

    Other fees

    Concessions

    Fee waivers

    Camping

    Where and when to camp

    Campground facilities

    Campfires, firewood and cooking appliances

    Powered campsites and generators

    Group camping

    Online campsite booking terms and conditions

    Current campfire conditions

    Campgrounds availability for non-bookable campgrounds

    When to go

    Adventure activities

    Drones in parks

    Tours and accommodation

    Conducting an event in a park

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    Getting around

    Park visitor guides, maps and itineraries

    Park visitor guides

    Aboriginal cultural heritage in parks

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