Sights in Central West Coast
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Lighthouse Keepers Cottage Museum
The Heritage Precinct is an intriguing place to learn about Carnarvon’s history. The area, once the city’s port, houses the Lighthouse Keepers Cottage Museum, Railway Station Museum and the One Mile Jetty, where locals fish for mulloway; you can either walk or take a vintage tram to the end of the jetty. Although the train from the footbridge to the Heritage Precinct is no longer running, a walking trail runs the 2.5km length of the old tracks.
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Cathedral of St Francis Xavier Church
This elaborate cathedral is the finest example of the architectural achievements of multi-skilled Monsignor John Hawes. Its most striking features include imposing twin towers with arched openings, a central dome, Romanesque columns and boldly striped walls.
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Western Australian Museum – Geraldton
This excellent museum has intelligent multimedia displays on the area's natural, cultural and Indigenous history. The atmospheric Shipwreck Gallery documents the tragic story of the Batavia, while video footage reveals the sunken HMAS Sydney. On Sunday at 2pm you can sail in the longboat moored behind the museum.
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Stromatolites
A lot of places talk about 'stepping back in time', but here, you really are! Stromatolites are, in essence, living fossils. In fact they're a perfect example of the earliest life on earth (one of only two in the world). The water is twice as saline as seawater, making these rock-like outcroppings (sole) kings of the pool. The best time to visit these mind-boggling microorganisms is between June and October.
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Shell Beach
Picture a snow-white beach bordered by azure water stretching to the horizon; just don't imagine walking on it barefoot. Billions of coquina bivalve shells have been washed up by the surf to stunning effect. Make sure you have enough memory in your camera because you're going to want to take umpteen pictures. You could even go for the snow effect - tossing up handfuls of shells into the air!
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Kalbarri National Park
With its magnificent river red gums and Tumblagooda sandstone, this rugged park contains almost 2000 sq km of wild bushland, stunning river gorges and savagely eroded coastal cliffs. There's abundant wildlife, including 200 species of bird, and spectacular wildflowers between July and November.
A string of lookouts dots the impressive coast south of town and the easy Bigurda Trail (8km one way) follows the cliff tops between Natural Bridge and Eagle Gorge; from July to November you may spot migrating whales. Closer to town are Pot Alley, Rainbow Valley, Mushroom Rock and Red Bluff, the last accessible via a walking trail from Kalbarri (5.5km one way).
The river gorges are e…
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Ocean Park
A superb advertisement for ecotourism, Ocean Park offers visitors the chance to experience shark-feeding up close and to hang out with red kangaroos at dawn and dusk. The park, situated in a World Heritage area, is run with the emphasis firmly on renewable energy. The soon-to-be-opened oceanarium promises to be a worthwhile addition.
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OTC Dish
On the outskirts of town the OTC Dish was established by NASA in 1966 as a tracking station for the Gemini and Apollo space missions, and tracked Halley’s Comet in 1986. It was closed in 1987 although you can still wander around the site.
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Francois Peron National Park
Renowned for its dramatic golden cliffs, pristine white-sand beaches, salt lakes and rare marsupial species, this national park, 4km from Denham on Monkey Mia Rd, will reward those with 4WD vehicles and an adventurous spirit.
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Ocean Park
On the way into town, Ocean Park is a locally run aquaculture farm featuring an artificial lagoon where you can observe sharks, turtles, stingrays and fish on guided 45-minute tours. The cafe has panoramic views.
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Old Geraldton Gaol Craft Centre
The crafts here are secondary to the gloomy cells that housed prisoners from 1858 to 1986 and the historic documents detailing their grim circumstances.
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Rainbow Jungle
Rainbow Jungle is a bird habitat and breeding centre set in luxuriant tropical gardens 4km south of Kalbarri. At night, Rainbow Jungle hosts outdoor film screenings.
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Kalbarri Wildflower Centre
Stroll 1.8km along a labelled wildflower trail, or take a guided tour.
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Geraldton Regional Art Gallery
This gallery has an excellent permanent collection, including paintings by Norman Lindsay and Elizabeth Durack, provocative contemporary work and engaging temporary exhibitions.
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Chiverton House
An early mining cottage dating to 1896, which has been converted into a fascinating pioneer museum. Don’t miss the vintage tractors and Model-T Ford out back.
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Carnarvon Pioneer Cemetery
The multicultural Carnarvon Pioneer Cemetery is worth a wander; it’s the final resting place of pioneers from as far away as Afghanistan and China.
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St Mary’s Church
The striking St Mary’s Church, designed by Monsignor Hawes, was built from hammer-dressed red sandstone in 1936.
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Railway Station Museum
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Gwoonwardu Mia
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Gascoyne Dash
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Shark Bay World Heritage Discovery Centre
One of WA's best museums has engaging, informative displays on Shark Bay's ecosystem and its Indigenous people, early explorers and settlers.
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