Yardie Creek at a glance
Yardie Creek is a gorge with red rock walls that runs towards the sea. It sits inside Cape Range National Park, so the park vehicle fee applies. There are picnic tables and toilets at the site. The area is habitat for the threatened black-flanked rock-wallaby, for ospreys and for other birds. A sighting is possible, but never guaranteed.
You can see the gorge three ways: a short nature walk, a harder gorge trail that continues from the walk, or a guided boat tour that runs for about an hour on a shaded boat. They suit different people, so decide before you leave Milyering.
Walk or boat: the options compared
Lengths as published by the park agency, with a second figure where sources differ.
| Option | Length or time | Level | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yardie Nature Walk | 1.2 km return, about 40 minutes | Class 1 | The visitor centre lists 1.25 km and Class 2 for the same walk |
| Yardie Gorge Trail | About 2 km for the whole trail | Class 4 | Continues from the nature walk |
| Guided boat tour | About 1 hour | Boat | Shaded boat. Check the timetable and price for your date. |
The nature walk is the easy choice for most visitors. The gorge trail is a different effort, so treat the Class 4 grading seriously and carry water.
Our picks: Yardie Creek
The gorge by boat, plus an evening astronomy session on Yardie Creek Road.
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.
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 →Yardie Creek and Ningaloo tours
Boat tours, guided Cape Range days and reef trips from Exmouth, with current prices and availability.
The Yardie Creek boat tour
A local operator runs a guided boat trip of about one hour through the gorge on a shaded boat. The operator's own site already advertises its 2027 tour at A$85, so do not read that figure as a 2026 price. Check the tour, date and price when you book, and ask whether the trip runs on your day, because running days and departure times can change with the weather.
A walk or a boat tour does not mean you can drive through the creek mouth, and it does not mean a road continues south. Treat Yardie Creek as the place you walk or cruise, not a crossing.
Choosing between the walk, the trail and the boat
With about an hour to spare, the nature walk is the straightforward choice. It is graded Class 1 and takes around 40 minutes there and back. The gorge trail is a different effort at Class 4, and it belongs to the cooler season, when you can carry enough water and start early. The boat tour is the way to see the gorge from the water. The boat has a shade cover, which counts for a lot on a hot day.
Many visitors combine two of the three. Walk first while the day is cool, then book the boat for later, or the other way round. Ask the boat operator how the timetable works before you plan a tight schedule, because published offers do not show free seats on your date.
Rock-wallabies and other wildlife
The black-flanked rock-wallaby is listed as threatened, and Yardie Creek is one of the places it lives in the range. You are more likely to see animals when you are quiet and patient. Keep your distance, and never feed wildlife. Ospreys and other birds also use the area.
Rock-wallabies may also be seen near the Mandu Mandu Gorge walk. For other animals of the coast, such as turtles and manta rays, see the things to do page.
Heat, season and what to carry
Plan around the temperature, not the clock.
Hiking season
The park overview recommends walking only from April to September. Between November and March, the park agency warns of temperatures above 45 °C, little shade and no water on the trails.
Water
Carry at least 4 litres per person on walks, choose a cooler time of day, and stay back from cliff edges.
Park fee
A$17 per vehicle with up to 12 people, A$10 reduced, 2026. The fee covers several fee-charging parks on the same day. See the Cape Range National Park page for passes.
Plan the day at Milyering
Milyering Discovery Centre, about 54 km from Exmouth, has information, a shop and snorkel hire. It is open daily 09:00–15:45. Check opening and the day's conditions there before you continue.
After the cyclone
Cyclone Narelle struck this coast in 2026, and the cyclone season runs from 1 November to 30 April. The Shire lifted road access restrictions on 8 April 2026, but that does not mean every park site is open. Some campgrounds on the station coast are closed with no reopening date. Check the current alerts and any signs at the park entrance, and confirm your accommodation before you travel.
Combine Yardie Creek with
Other stops in the park.
Yardie Creek: frequently asked questions
How long is the Yardie Creek walk?
The park agency gives the Yardie Nature Walk as 1.2 km return, Class 1, about 40 minutes. The visitor centre lists it as 1.25 km and Class 2. The gorge trail continues as Class 4 and is about 2 km in total.
Can I see rock-wallabies at Yardie Creek?
The creek is habitat for the black-flanked rock-wallaby, so a sighting is possible. It is never guaranteed.
How long is the Yardie Creek boat tour?
About one hour on a shaded boat. Ask the operator about running days and the price for your date.
Is there an entry fee?
Yes, as Yardie Creek lies inside Cape Range National Park. In 2026 the published fee is A$17 per vehicle with up to 12 people.
Can I cross Yardie Creek by car?
Do not count on it. A walk and a boat tour do not show that the creek mouth can be crossed or that a road continues south.