About this place
Hamelin Pool Marine Nature Reserve is one of only two places in the world with living marine stromatolites, or ‘living fossils’. It is located 100km south-east of Denham or 35km from the Overlander Roadhouse.
You can also explore the stromatolite area via the Boolagoorda Walk trail.
Food, information and camping are available in the adjacent Hamelin Pool Telegraph Station and Hamelin Pool Pastoral Station.
This is a protected area and fishing, swimming or snorkelling are not permitted.
Safety information
Plan when to visit. Consider travelling with a personal location beacon (PLB). In the event you need to be rescued it could save your life!
Gallery
Hamelin pool boardwalk and stromatolite viewing
The stromatolite viewing boardwalk at Hamelin Pool Marine Nature Reserve is closed until further notice. The boardwalk was damaged during Cyclone Seroja. All other attractions remain open. These include the nearby privately operated Telegraph Station Museum (with stromatolite display), and the Boolagoorda walk trail linking the shell block quarry and remains of the old telegraph line. DBCA volunteer Campground Hosts are on hand to explain the significance of the area.
Visitors are reminded that, to protect the delicate algal mats and stromatolites, walking below the high-water mark, and recreating in the water – such as swimming or snorkelling – are not permitted within Hamelin Pool Marine Nature Reserve.
Activities
Bushwalking
Plants, wildlife and fungi
Visit the Atlas of Living Australia for a list of species recorded within a 5km radius of Hamelin Pool Stromatolites.
Traditional Owners
We recognise and acknowledge Malgana people as the traditional owners of Hamelin Pool Marine Nature Reserve.