Comprehensive Guide Collection for Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park in Western Australia

Western Australia's most visited national park protecting a dramatic coastal ridge between two iconic capes

Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park

Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park represents one of Western Australia's most significant coastal conservation reserves, protecting a unique strip of landscape where ancient geology meets diverse ecosystems and remarkable biodiversity. The park's linear configuration follows the Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge, a distinctive geological formation that runs north-south parallel to the coast, comprising Tamala Limestone sitting atop the ancient Precambrian rocks of the Leeuwin Complex. This ridge forms the backbone of the park and creates a varied landscape of limestone outcrops, dunes, and coastal heath that supports remarkable ecological diversity despite the relatively narrow width of many reserve sections. The park encompasses approximately 160 kilometres of coastline, from Cape Naturaliste near Busselton to Cape Leeuwin at the southwestern tip of the Australian mainland. The coastal environment features dramatic cliffs, pristine beaches, and the famous surf breaks that have established the Margaret River region as a world-class surfing destination. Inland, the park contains numerous caves formed through the dissolution of the limestone, with over 150 known caves within the ridge system. The Margaret River itself flows through the park, feeding brackish and freshwater lakes and springs that add further ecological variety to the reserve. Since its establishment in 1957, the park has become the most visited in Western Australia, reflecting both its accessibility from Perth and the outstanding natural values it protects.