Cape Range National Park in short
Cape Range National Park lies on the North West Cape, with a coast of sandy bays on one side and rocky gorges inland. The sea off the park is the Ningaloo Marine Park. The Ningaloo Coast, a World Heritage property that covers land and sea in this area, has been on the UNESCO list since 2011 under criteria (vii) and (x). Entry to the marine park itself is free. The vehicle fee for the road through the national park is separate.
The park is cared for jointly with the Traditional Owners, the Baiyungu, Thalanyji and Yinigurdira peoples. Most visitors drive in from Exmouth, stop at Milyering Discovery Centre, then split the day between a beach, a gorge and a lookout.
Entry fees and park passes
Published rates in Australian dollars, 2026. The fee page was updated on 20 August 2026.
| Entry or pass | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle with up to 12 people | A$17 per vehicle | A$10 reduced |
| Vehicle with more than 12 people | A$8 per person | A$3.50 reduced |
| Motorcycle | A$10 | No reduced rate listed |
| Annual All Parks Pass | A$130 | 12 months, private vehicle with up to 12 seated people |
| Annual All Parks Pass, concession | A$80 | Proof of eligibility needed |
| Holiday Pass | – | Sold for 5 days, 14 days and 4 weeks. Check the current price for each. |
| Annual Local Pass | A$30 | Only for eligible local residents and ratepayers |
The daily vehicle fee covers several fee-charging parks on the same day. Walkers and cyclists pay no entry fee. Camping fees are separate. If you camp for several days in a row, you pay entry only on the first day and can leave and re-enter during the stay without paying again. Print a Holiday Pass and display it in the vehicle. Reduced rates follow Australian entitlements for seniors, pensioners and veterans. Do not assume a discount for overseas concessions, and check who qualifies before you rely on one.
Our picks: Cape Range National Park
A guided hiking day, an evening under the stars and a boat trip in Yardie Creek.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in Australian dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Cape Range one-day trekking adventure
A wilderness guide, park entry, lunch, snacks, drinks and accommodation transfer. Not for under-16s, and bring your own day pack.
Check availability →
Stargazing with telescopes in Cape Range National Park
Two hours with an astronomy guide, telescopes and seating. Transport and meals are not included, so you drive to the meeting point yourself.
Check availability →
One-hour boat trip through Yardie Creek gorge
A boat ride through the gorge with guide commentary. Park entry and hotel transfer are not included; allow about 90 minutes to drive from Exmouth.
Check availability →Cape Range and Ningaloo tours
Guided park days, reef snorkelling, kayaking and wildlife trips from Exmouth, with current prices and availability.
Places inside the park
The ones most visitors plan around.
Milyering Discovery Centre
Open daily 09:00–15:45, closed on Christmas Day. It has exhibits, visitor information, a shop and snorkel hire. There is no separate entry price for the centre, but the vehicle fee for the park applies. Camping can only be booked online. The centre has self-service terminals, and outside opening hours a wifi hotspot gives access to the booking portal.
Turquoise Bay
The best known drift snorkel on the coast, with currents that can be strong. Read the safety notes before you enter the water. Turquoise Bay guide
Oyster Stacks
Snorkel here only at high tide, with at least 1.2 m of tide. Check tide heights and times for Milyering. The entry has sharp, slippery rock, shells and broken coral, so wear suitable footwear. Currents and swell are possible, and you should not snorkel alone.
Lakeside
Walk about 500 m south along the beach to the sanctuary marker. The snorkel area lies between the beach and the yellow buoys. Currents are possible, and the area can flood after heavy rain or very high spring tides.
Mandu Mandu Gorge
A 3 km loop walk, graded Class 4, with some steep sections. The park agency suggests early morning or late afternoon. Rock-wallabies may live in the area, but a sighting is not guaranteed.
Yardie Creek
A short nature walk, a harder gorge trail and a boat tour. Yardie Creek guide
Charles Knife Canyon
A winding mountain road with views over the range. Charles Knife and Shothole guide
Turquoise Bay, Oyster Stacks and Lakeside are sanctuary zones. All marine life there is protected, so look and do not touch.
Camping in the park
Cape Range camping is booked online only, through the state Park Stay system. Sites are released once a month, on the first Tuesday at 10:00 AWST. The state guide of September 2026 lists May 2027 from 3 November 2026 and June 2027 from 1 December 2026. Periods can differ from calendar months around weekends and school holidays.
You can stay up to 14 nights if one night falls in the Western Australian school holidays, and otherwise up to 28 nights. The person who camps books from their own customer account. On release day the site closes from midnight, and at 10:00 an existing queue is cleared and reshuffled at random, so lining up early does not improve your place.
Osprey Bay is a published example: A$15 per adult per night, A$10 reduced, A$5 per child, plus the vehicle entry fee and no booking fee. Sites have no power, toilets are dry, open fires and dogs are not allowed, and generators may run only on marked sites from 08:00 to 21:00. The camping page has the rest, including the former station campgrounds. Those now belong to a separate park, Nyinggulara National Park, and its campgrounds are closed after the cyclone with no reopening date.
Heat, hiking season and water
The park overview recommends walking only from April to September. From November to March the park agency warns of temperatures above 45 °C, little shade and no water on the trails. Carry at least 4 litres per person, choose cooler hours of the day, and stay back from cliff edges.
Learmonth Airport averages 38.1 °C in January and 24.5 °C in July. The cyclone season runs from 1 November to 30 April. For month-by-month numbers, see the weather page. Closures are posted by the park agency, so check the current park alerts and any signs at the entrance before you set out. If you want to use Coral Bay as another base, Coral Bay has its own guide.
Next in the park
Pages to read before you go.
Cape Range National Park: frequently asked questions
How much does Cape Range National Park cost?
In 2026 the published fee is A$17 per vehicle with up to 12 people, A$10 reduced. A motorcycle pays A$10. An Annual All Parks Pass costs A$130.
Is entry to the Ningaloo Marine Park free?
Yes, entry to the marine park is free. That does not replace the vehicle fee for the road through the national park.
How do I book a campsite in Cape Range?
Online only, through Park Stay. Sites are released monthly on the first Tuesday at 10:00 AWST. The general daily 180-day rule does not apply here.
Can I snorkel at any beach?
No. Each spot has its own limits. Oyster Stacks needs high tide, Lakeside has a marked snorkel area, and Turquoise Bay has strong currents at times. Never snorkel alone.
When should I hike in the park?
The park overview recommends April to September. Between November and March, heat above 45 °C is possible.