Just 90 minutes south of Perth is Woggaal Noorook/Lake Clifton in Yalgorup National Park, home to the largest living thrombolite reef in the Southern Hemisphere. What started as a quick side trip during a camping weekend turned into one of the most unexpectedly fascinating stops of Lisa’s summer.

 

We Are Explorers acknowledges that this adventure is located on the Traditional Country of the Noongar 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.

Jump to Section

What is a thrombolite?

The Lake Clifton thrombolites are fragile ‘living fossils’ around 2,000 years old; living rocks that have been flexing their microbial muscles since forever!

They’re some of the Earth’s oldest rock structures, thought to have been around for 3.5 billion years. They form in lime-rich lakes where the water is brackish. The microbial communities (primarily cyanobacteria) actively trap and bind sedimentary grains (like sand and mud) and draw calcium carbonate (lime) from the water, cementing the grains together. This process gradually builds clotted, rock-like structures. The name thrombolite is Greek for ‘clot stone’.

 

Lake Clifton Thrombolites, Woggaal Noorook, Yalgorup National Park, by Lisa, rounded rock formations, shallow clear water, sunlit ripples, microbial structures, living fossils, Western Australia, ancient, endangered, Noongar cultural significance

 

Lake Clifton Thrombolites are Culturally Significant

The thrombolites at Woggaal Noorook/Lake Clifton area form a significant part of the local Noongar Dreaming stories; how the waterways and land were created and the story of the Waggaal Maadjit/Rainbow Serpent. Local Elders refer to the thrombolites as Waggaal Maadjit eggs.

 

Lake Clifton Thrombolites Are Endangered

Beyond their cultural significance, the Lake Clifton thrombolites are incredibly fragile. In 2000 they were classified as critically endangered. While we don’t depend on them for oxygen today, they’re a living link to Earth’s earliest history. Staying on the hiking paths and boardwalks is vital to ensure they survive into the future. Lake Clifton and nearby Lake Richmond are protected heritage-listed sites.

Read more: Remember to Leave No Trace

 

Lake Clifton Thrombolites, Yalgorup National Park, Western Australia, by Lisa Ikin, wooden boardwalk, clear water, living fossils, ancient microbial structures, lake shore, nature

 

Stromatolites: Same Same but Different

Stromatolites are thrombolites’ taller relatives. They do the same job as thrombolites by pumping oxygen into the atmosphere, but like a fine pastry, they’re formed by layering. They thrive in extra salty waters like Hamelin Pool in Shark Bay World Heritage region 8.5km north of Perth.

 

Where else can I see thrombolites?

  • Lake Thetis in Cervantes, two hours north of Perth
  • Lake Richmond near Rockingham one hour south of Perth
  • Lake Hawdon South in South Australia on the Limestone Coast
  • They are also found in other places such as the Bahamas, Canada, China, Mexico, Türkiye, Argentina, Chile, and the United States

 

Lake Clifton Thrombolites, Yalgorup National Park, Western Australia, by Lisa Ikin, ancient living rocks, clear water, shoreline, blue sky, critically endangered microbial communities

What It’s Like to Visit Lake Clifton Thrombolites

With a couple of mates in tow, I ducked down to Herron Point Campground on the Peel-Harvey Estuary to squeeze in two quiet nights of camping before Christmas. Most people come here for the Blue Manna crabs that lurk in the estuary, but I had a different mission: paddle time.

After camp set-up, I grabbed my SUP for a sunset paddle and quickly learned that the estuary at Herron Point is very shallow. I waded out far further than expected, trying to keep my fin off the bottom while sidestepping cranky crabs. Once I reached the deeper channel though, it was worth it – glassy water, effortless paddling, and birds everywhere. A proper slow-down moment.

 

Paddling Herron Point, by Lisa Ikin, blue paddleboard, calm water, blue sky, Peel-Harvey Estuary, Yalgorup National Park, Western Australia

 

The next morning we left our fellow campers to the crabs and pointed the car towards Lake Clifton, only ten minutes down the road, to check out the thrombolites.

The 5km Lakeside Loop starts in the car park and follows the lake shoreline with a boardwalk at the beginning where we could eyeball the ancient living rocks through the clear, mostly fresh water of Lake Clifton. The rounded rock formations are all shapes and sizes, and I could see why the local Noongar people liken them to eggs.

Nearby Accommodation

The Ramsar-listed wetlands of the Yalgorup Lakes System is the perfect location for a spot of twitching. I spied massive flocks of pelicans, gulls, Pied oystercatchers, ducks, Black swans, and herons to tick off my eBird list.

Read more: Why Birdwatching Will Improve Your Next Adventure & How To Get Started

We photographed one of Thomas Dambo’s Giants then it was time to cool off at Preston Beach, 15 minutes away at the edge of Yalgorup National Park.

 

Thomas Dambo Giant, Lake Clifton trail, Yalgorup National Park, by Lisa Ikin, large wooden sculpture, outdoor art, forest, Western Australia

 

It’s one of those classic WA beaches with white sand for days, 4WDs still roll onto the shore, and locals know exactly where to park up. Despite its popularity, we had the place almost entirely to ourselves.

Read more: How to Drive Safely on the Beach

We swam and bodysurfed until our fingers wrinkled, then cruised back towards camp via the Preston Beach General Store – because no beach day is complete without ice cream.

 

Preston Beach, by Lisa Ikin, sandy beach, blue ocean, clear sky, footprints, dunes, Western Australia, Yalgorup National Park, relaxing

 

Our final night at Herron Point was all about camp cooking, swapping stories, marvelling at thrombolites, and aggressively applying insect repellent (those things were hungry). It was exactly the kind of low-key, outdoorsy reset we’d been chasing – simple, salty, and just far enough off the radar.

 

Herron Point, by Lisa Ikin, sunset, Peel-Harvey Estuary, people wading, sandy beach, calm water, vibrant colors, sky reflection

Where to Stay at Lake Clifton

Lake Clifton Caravan Park

Lake Clifton Caravan Park is walking distance from the thrombolites with powered and unpowered tent and caravan sites. Bookings essential.

Herron Point Campground

A 15-minute drive away, Herron Point Campground is a nature-based campground right on the estuary. Campers must be self-sufficient, but there are flushing toilets onsite. Booking online at the Shire of Pinjarra.

Martin’s Tank Campground

Martin’s Tank Campground is in Yalgorup National Park which has free entry. Campers must be self-sufficient and book online. There are non-flush pit toilets onsite.

Featured Event

‘Run for Country’ Sydney Film Screening

  • Start Date: Mar 19, 2026
  • Venue: Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace

Join us for a powerful documentary screening that tells the story of communities standing together to protect one of Australia’s most significant inland forests. In north-west NSW, farmers, First Nations leaders, nurses, nannas, runners, and young activists are united against...

See Event Details See More Events

Essential Gear

  • Hiking shoes
  • Camping gear if staying in the area
  • Hat and sunscreen
  • Insect repellent
  • Camera/Binoculars
  • Bathers and towel (if you’re hitting the beach)
  • Water

Read more: What to Pack in Your Hiking First Aid Kit

Explore More Natural Wonders Near Perth

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.