On a drive from Esperance to Albany in WA’s South West, Amy wasn’t expecting to stumble into Fitzgerald River National Park’s native bushland, epic craggy mountains, and white sand beaches… but she’s very glad she did!

 

We Are Explorers acknowledges that this adventure is located on the traditional Country of the Goreng, Menang, and Wudjari people who have occupied and cared for the lands, waters, and their inhabitants for thousands of years. We pay our respects to them as the Traditional Custodians and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.

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Quick Overview

Fitzgerald River National Park sits between the small towns of Hopetoun and Bremer Bay in South West Western Australia. It’s about 440km south-east of Perth, around a five-hour drive (which is nothing by WA standards, I learnt). It’s a bit of a detour on the trek from Albany to Esperance, but as an oasis of nature wedged between the desert and farmland, it’s well worth the extra kilometres.

Read more: Remember to leave no trace

 

About Fitzgerald River National Park

Fitzgerald River National Park has it all – gorgeous white sand beaches typical of WA, rugged mountains with excellent hikes, calm river inlets, and plenty of 4WD tracks to explore. There’s a $17 fee per vehicle per day to enter the park, which can be paid at the entrance.

This park is widely known as a biodiversity hotspot, with 75 plant species in Fitzgerald River National Park endemic to the area, meaning they aren’t found anywhere else in the world!

 

 

This national park is split into two sections – east and west. The east section of the park is more accessible than the west, with more campgrounds, facilities, and sealed roads all close by. The west, however, is the place to be if you’re after an adventure or some solitude in nature. 

Depending on how much time you have, you can definitely stop off for only a day or two or extend your visit for up to a week – there’s no shortage of things to do in this part of the world!

Fitzgerald River National Park History

The Goreng, Menang, and Wudjari people are the Traditional Owners of the land now known as Fitzgerald River National Park, and have been taking care of the lands and waters of this area for tens of thousands of years.

When European colonists first saw the land they obviously didn’t think much of it, and went ahead naming everything ‘barren’. Rather ironically, the park is now internationally recognised for its biodiversity and plant life, and is listed as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

In 2016, the park was included in the National Heritage List due to its epic botanic diversity and endemism.

Best Time to Visit Fitzgerald River National Park

Winter

Planning your trip to Fitzgerald River in winter means you’ll miss the crowds and have a chance to spot whales! However, it’ll be chilly and not the time to visit if you want to do any 4WD tracks given the rainy conditions.

Summer

If you’re travelling in summer or early autumn, make a stop in Bremer Bay to see the orcas. There are more crowds in the area at the time of year, but less rain makes many of the tracks in the park easier to navigate, plus you can cool off at the beautiful beaches.

Read more: How To Hike in Hot Weather

Spring

Spring in Fitzgerald River National Park means stacks of unique wildflowers, making the hiking trails all the more scenic.

 

How to Get to Fitzgerald River National Park

Fitzgerald River is about a 5-6 hour drive from Perth, depending on which side of the park you’re heading to. If you’re heading to the west, close to Bremer Bay, you’ll only be in the car for around five hours. If you’re eastward-bound, it’ll be closer to 6.5 hours.

 

 

If you’re already on a longer road trip like I was, Fitzgerald River is an awesome spot to break up the drive between Albany and Esperance, sitting almost in the middle of the five-hour drive between the two spots. 

The east side of Fitzgerald River is close to the town of Hopetoun, with campgrounds and beaches not much further than 30 minutes from town. The west side can be accessed off the South Coast Highway, and is close to Bremer Bay.

There aren’t really any roads within the park connecting east and west, so to explore both sides you’ll have to head up to the South Coast Highway and back down to your chosen spot in the park.

Where to Stay in Fitzgerald River National Park

Unlike many other national park campgrounds, sites in Fitzgerald River aren’t all booked through the Parks WA website – some are booked through local council sites. We found the Wikicamps app super helpful here to see which sites were 2WD accessible.

East

4 Mile Beach Campground

Run by the department of Parks and Wildlife, this campground is down all sealed roads and has 15 sites altogether, with five of them designated for tents and swags only. It’s the closest to Hopetoun and must be booked in advance. It has lots of modern facilities (toilets, camp kitchen, showers) and is a stone’s throw from 4 Mile Beach.

 

 

Hamersley Inlet Campground

Run by the shire of Ravensthorpe, this campground is 2WD accessible and only around 30 minutes from Hopetoun. There are 14 sites right on the inlet, with basic but clean drop toilets, BBQs, and picnic benches. This campground is accessible to most caravans, it’s super clean, and still feels secluded in the bush.

Whalebone Beach Campground and Quoin Beach Campground are also on the east side of the park. These two sites are most often frequented by people hiking the Hakea Trail, and aren’t accessible by 2WD. If you’re not hiking but want to check out Quoin Beach, make sure you have a (very) capable 4WD and you’ve checked the roads are open!

Read more: How To 4WD For Beginners

West

St Mary’s Inlet Campground 

This campground is technically accessible with a 2WD but we were extra cautious and didn’t trust our big van down the corrugated gravel road. St Mary’s is a beautiful spot right on the beach where Southern Right whales can be seen during calving season in winter. 

The only drawback here is that you can’t book a site ahead of time – $15 per person per night must be paid when you arrive. For this reason, the campground is first come first served, so during peak times you might make the long drive down the questionable road and find no spots available – a gamble I’ll leave in your hands!

Quaalup Homestead Wilderness Retreat

If you’re feeling a bit fancy and want all the creature comforts, Quaalup Homestead is the only accommodation in the national park. It hosts cabins as well as unpowered camping sites with toilets and showers. This retreat isn’t on the beach, but by a river with lots of smaller walks nearby.

Essential Gear

What gear you’ll need to bring really depends on what you want to do in the park. No matter your chosen activities, you’ll definitely have to bring:

  • Water (there’s no drinking water provided in the park)
  • Good hiking shoes
  • Swimmers and towel
  • Kayak, canoe, or SUP
  • 4WD recovery gear if you plan on driving anywhere a bit dicey
  • Camera!
  • Camping gear so you can stay put for a few days

What to Do in Fitzgerald River National Park

Hiking

There are a variety of awesome hikes in Fitzgerald River National Park, ranging from short strolls to challenging multi-day hikes.

East Mt Barren

A short but steep hike up to the summit of Mt Barren, this is a Grade 4 hike. The trail begins with an easy boardwalk but towards the top it becomes a bit more scrambly, with some mobility required to climb over and around rocks. We made the trek up for sunrise and the view over the inlets and beaches was unbeatable.

 

 

This trailhead is easily accessible from the east side of the park, but we had the place all to ourselves until the hike back down.

You might also choose to hike West Mt Barren if you’re staying on the west side of the park. A similarly short but steep hike to the summit, with beautiful views from the top. 

 

 

Hakea Trail

If you’re after a bigger adventure and want to see more of the east side of the park, the Hakea Trail is for you! 23km of rugged coastline, the hike starts at Cave Point and continues to Quoin Head. You can do the whole trail as an overnight hike and stay at one of the campsites along the route or you can choose to do smaller sections of the trail and still see some beautiful coastal views. This track is pretty remote, so plan accordingly.

 

Kayak / Canoe / Paddleboard

While the beaches of the South West can occasionally be a bit wild, the many inlets in Fitzgerald River are calm and beautiful. Bring something to float on and adventure into Hamersley Inlet right from Hamersley Campground – and bring the fishing rod along too! 

Read more: How to Stay Safe at the Beach

 

 

Whale Watching

If you’re in Fitzgerald River National Park during winter, you might spot some Southern Right whales and their new calves! Point Ann is the place for whale watching, but if you have binoculars or a camera with a good lens you should be on the lookout from anywhere along the coast.

What it’s Like to Visit Fitzgerald River National Park

My partner and I were on an epic road trip from Melbourne to Perth when we discovered Fitzgerald River National Park. In Esperance, holed up waiting for the weather to clear, I (as the passenger princess) was devising our route towards Albany.

We were pretty sick of the desert by then, so a national park with some greenery was just what the doctor ordered. We drove into Hamersley Campground that the evening, accompanied only by one other car, and set up camp.

 

 

We ended up staying in the park for three nights, spending some much-needed time outside the van and exploring nature. The park was virtually empty, and we had most of the tracks nearly to ourselves. We didn’t expect such a wild, natural place to pop up on this drive, but now we’re recommending it to anyone who’s heading to Western Australia!

Handy Tips for Fitzgerald River National Park

  • Check the recent weather and the conditions of the roads in the park, especially if you’re heading into the west side or planning on driving the 4WD tracks
  • We didn’t have phone reception nearly the whole time we were in the park, and while there may be wifi and better reception in the works, be prepared and bring a pack of cards!
  • Pretty please clean your shoes when prompted to on hiking trails to keep the park free from Phytophthora dieback, a fungal disease that ravages native plants. This disease can be spread on shoes and vehicles, so follow directions from Parks and Wildlife to preserve Fitzgerald River’s unique biodiversity
  • Check out the map and handy information at the park entrance!

 

Fitzgerald River National Park FAQs

Is Fitzgerald River National Park worth visiting?

Absolutely! This is a beautiful park that’s much less visited than other coastal parks in Western Australia. With untamed beaches and nearby mountains to gain stunning vistas from, Fitzgerald River National Park is definitely worth a visit.

How to cross Fitzgerald River National Park?

There’s no roads across the entire length of Fitzgerald River National Park, visitors in cars need to drive out of the park and approach from opposite ends to access both sides of the park.

Can you camp in Fitzgerald River National Park?

Yes! There are plenty of campgrounds in the national park, just make sure to book one that your type of car is able to access, as some are 4WD access only.

Keep Exploring WA’s South Coast

This piece was brought to you by a real living human who felt the wind in their hair and described their adventure in their own words. This is because we rate authenticity and the sharing of great experiences in the natural world – it’s all part of our ethos here at We Are Explorers. You can read more about it in our Editorial Standards.