Steep Point facts for kids
Steep Point is the most western part of mainland Australia. It is found in the Gascoyne region of Western Australia. This spot is about 670 kilometers (416 miles) north of Perth, the state's capital city. Steep Point is also part of the amazing Shark Bay World Heritage Site, which is a special area protected for its natural beauty.
A Dutch explorer named Willem de Vlamingh gave the point its first name, Steyle Hock, in 1697.
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How to Visit Steep Point
To reach Steep Point, you need a four-wheel drive vehicle. The roads leading there are sandy tracks that go through sand dunes. The closest paved road is the North West Coastal Highway, which is about 200 kilometers (124 miles) east of the point.
You need a special permit to enter the area. You can buy this permit at the ranger's house in Edel Land National Park. This park is about 20 kilometers (12 miles) east of Steep Point. You can also find camping spots and basic facilities there.
The closest town to Steep Point is Denham. It is also part of the Shark Bay World Heritage Site. Denham is about 232 kilometers (144 miles) away by road and track. But if you could fly like a bird, it's only about 44 kilometers (27 miles) northeast!
Nearby Islands
Surf Point on Dirk Hartog Island is a short distance away, about 4.2 kilometers (2.6 miles) north-northeast of Steep Point. You can get to Dirk Hartog Island by taking a ferry. The ferry leaves from Blackie's Beach, which is about 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) east-southeast of Steep Point.
Fishing at Steep Point
Steep Point is famous for land-based game fishing. This means people fish from the land for large, strong fish. More than 320 different kinds of fish have been caught here! Some of the most common fish include mackerel, sailfish, and trevally.
Serious fishers often wear safety harnesses because they fish from high cliffs. They use helium balloons to float their bait far out into the ocean. Then, they use special fishing gaffs to pull their catch up the cliff. However, it's quite common for a shark to try and steal the fish before it can be pulled onto land!
The "Final Sunset"
Steep Point is well-known for having the "final sunset" in Australia. This is because it's the westernmost point of the mainland, so it's the last place to see the sun set each day.
Past Events
On July 17, 2006, the biggest tsunami ever recorded in Australia hit Steep Point. It was measured at 7.9 meters (26 feet) high! This giant wave was caused by an earthquake near Java in Indonesia.
South of Steep Point, there is a monument that remembers the sinking of a prawn trawler called Nor 6 in 1963. It also tells the story of how its skipper, Jack Drinan, survived.
