Cape Range National Park Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Cape Range National Park Western Australia
IUCN Category II (National Park)
Cape Range Landscape
Cape Range National Park Location in Western Australia
Nearest town or city	Exmouth
Established	1965
Area	476.55 km² (184.0 sq mi)
Managing authorities	Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions
Website	Cape Range National Park
See also	List of protected areas of Western Australia

Cape Range National Park is a special place in Western Australia. It's about 1,105 kilometers (687 miles) north of Perth. This national park covers the western side of the North West Cape peninsula. It's a huge area, about 47,655 hectares (117,760 acres)! The closest town is Exmouth.

Right off the coast of the park is the amazing Ningaloo Reef. The land here was formed over a very long time. It slowly lifted up from the ocean floor. Then, the sea levels changed, and wind and water wore away at the land. This created the rugged limestone hills, deep canyons, and beautiful, untouched beaches you see today.

Exploring Cape Range National Park
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Exploring Cape Range National Park

Cape Range is a unique place because it's the only high plateau made of limestone on the North West Coast. The highest points in the range reach about 314 meters (1,030 feet) high. This range forms the "backbone" of the peninsula, stretching all the way to North West Cape.

Yardie Creek Gorge

One of the most amazing spots in the park is Yardie Creek. It's a spectacular gorge where water gets trapped by a sandbar. This creates a calm pool where you can often see wildlife.

Hidden Caves

Did you know there are over 700 caves inside Cape Range National Park? It's very likely that even more caves are still waiting to be found! These caves are an important part of the park's unique environment.

Wildflowers and Plants

If you visit towards the end of winter, you might see over 630 different kinds of wildflowers blooming. Some of these beautiful flowers include the interesting bird flower and the bright desert sturt pea. The park is home to many plant species like mangroves, acacia trees, spinifex grass, grevillea, verticordia, eucalyptus trees, and the minilya lily.

Park History

The land that is now Cape Range National Park was first used for farming in 1876. A person named J. Brockman leased the area to raise cattle. Later, in 1888, he sold parts of the lease to Thomas Carter, who was an ornithologist (someone who studies birds). Carter was the first settler in the area and started a farm in 1889.

The area officially became a national park in 1964. The ocean area just off the coast, called Ningaloo Marine Park, was created later in 1987.

Amazing Animals

Cape Range National Park is full of different animals! You can find rock wallabies, red kangaroos, emus, and euros. The park is also home to about 100 different kinds of birds and 80 different kinds of reptiles. It's a great place to spot Australian wildlife!