Main Roads Western Australia controls the major roads in the state's Gascoyne region. North West Coastal Highway , a north-south route near the coastline, is the main highway the region. A series of main roads connect coastal towns to the highway, and local roads provide additional links and access to the inland portion of the region. Roads are often named after the towns or areas they connect.
22-462: North West Coastal Highway and the main roads in the region are important for multiple aspects of the Gascoyne's economy. These include industrial activities, particularly gold and salt mining; defence purposes; freight movement, including livestock, as there is no deep-water port in the region; and tourist traffic travelling to National Parks, such as Cape Range , Kennedy Range and Mount Augustus , and
44-568: A crucial nesting ground for the loggerhead turtle . It was also feared that the resort would be generally degrading to the entire marine park. Author Tim Winton , who lives in the area, was vocal in his opposition to the development. In 2002, when he won the WA Premier's Book Award , he donated the A$ 25,000 prize money to the community campaign to save the reef. Ultimately the planned resort did not go ahead. However, developers continue to take an interest in
66-526: Is a World Heritage Site located in the north west coastal region of Western Australia . The 705,015-hectare (1,742,130-acre) heritage-listed area is located approximately 1,200 kilometres (750 mi) north of Perth , along the East Indian Ocean . The distinctive Ningaloo Reef that fringes the Ningaloo Coast is 260 kilometres (160 mi) long and is Australia's largest fringing coral reef and
88-538: Is a major north-south road in the northern Gascoyne. From North West Coastal Highway at Minilya , it travels north to Exmouth , and is the main access road to the North West Cape . Monkey Mia Road is a main road across Shark Bay 's Peron Peninsula in the Gascoyne. From Denham on the west coast of the peninsula, it travels north-east, through the Francois Peron National Park , to Monkey Mia on
110-567: Is a national park in the Gascoyne region of Western Australia , 1,105 kilometres (687 mi) north of Perth . The park occupies the western side of the North West Cape peninsula over an area of 47,655 hectares (117,760 acres). The nearest town is Exmouth , and directly off the coast is the Ningaloo Reef . The area resulted from a gradual uplifting from the sea floor followed by fluctuating sea levels, wind and water erosion that have slowly eroded
132-521: The Australian Institute of Marine Science discovered gardens of sponges in the marine park's deeper waters that are thought to be species completely new to science. The short-nosed sea snake , thought to have been extinct for 17 years, was found on Ningaloo Reef in December 2015. During the early 2000s, significant controversy arose over the proposed construction of a resort at Mauds Landing ,
154-574: The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 . In 1987, the reef and surrounding waters were designated as the Ningaloo Marine Park. Although most famed for its whale sharks which feed there during March to August, the reef is also rich in coral and other marine life. During the winter months, the reef is part of the migratory routes for dolphins , dugongs , manta rays and humpback whales . The beaches of
176-483: The Pilbara region. The other major roads in the region are all connected to the highway, either directly or via another main road. Robinson Street is a major urban road in the Gascoyne town of Carnarvon . From the centre of town, it travels north-east to North West Coastal Highway at a T junction . It is the western leg of the intersection, with North West Coastal Highway forming the southern leg (towards Geraldton ) and
198-554: The University of Queensland . The project aims to create a dynamic model of Ningaloo that integrates socioeconomic factors and environmental impacts resulting from human activities in the region. This model will be combined with an ecological model of the area, ultimately serving to develop planning tools and management models. The primary goal is to facilitate sustainable utilization of the region's resources. The study entails gathering and analysing socioeconomic data from both tourists and
220-404: The bird flower and the desert sturt pea . The area was under pastoral lease beginning in 1876 when J Brockman acquired leases in the area covering North West Cape to run cattle. Brockman sold parts of the lease in 1888 to ornithologist Thomas Carter including Yardie Creek and Ningaloo Station . Carter was the first settler in the area and established a pastoral station in 1889. The area
242-879: The Shires of Carnarvon and Exmouth , local tourism organisations and Tourism WA, the Gascoyne Development Commission, the WA Department of Water and Environment, researchers from Wealth from the Oceans and Ningaloo Project, Chambers of Commerce, WA Department of Energy and Resources, WA Department of Fisheries, the WA Department for Planning and Infrastructure , the Ningaloo Sustainable Development Committee and Ningaloo Sustainable Development Office, Yamatji Land and Sea Council representatives, and
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#1733085934843264-724: The World Heritage sites of the Shark Bay and the Ningaloo Marine Park . Burkett Road is a main east-west road in Exmouth Gulf near the northern edge of the Gascoyne. It links North West Coastal Highway with Minilya–Exmouth Road . Coral Bay Road is a main east-west road in the northern Gascoyne, connecting the coastal town of Coral Bay with Minilya–Exmouth Road in Lyndon . Minilya–Exmouth Road, also known as Minilya Exmouth Road,
286-624: The area. The Ningaloo Collaboration Cluster, an extensive research initiative commenced in 2007 within the region, forms a vital part of the CSIRO flagship Collaboration Fund Research Initiative. The project involves researchers from the CSIRO, Sustainable Tourism Cooperative Research Centre and a range of Australian Universities including Curtin University of Technology , Murdoch University , University of Western Australia , Australian National University and
308-402: The backbone of the peninsula which extends as far as North West Cape . Yardie Creek, a spectacular gorge where the water is trapped by a sandbar , is located within the park. Over 700 caves are located within the park and it is probable that many others remain undiscovered. Over 630 species of wildflower are found within the park, that generally bloom toward the end of winter, including
330-495: The east coast. Monkey Mia road is part of the Shark Bay Tourist Way . North West Coastal Highway is the main north-south highway through the Gascoyne. It enters the southern edge of the region at Nerren Nerren , and travels north-west to Carnarvon . The highway continues north, parallel to but inland from the coastline, passing through Minilya . The highway leaves the Gascoyne at Exmouth Gulf , continuing north-east into
352-672: The eastern leg (towards Karratha ). Shark Bay Road is a main road in the Gascoyne, providing access to the Shark Bay area. From the Overlander Roadhouse on North West Coastal Highway in Hamelin Pool , it travels west and then north-west up the Peron Peninsula to Denham . Shark Bay Road is part of the Shark Bay Tourist Way , and was previously named Denham Hamelin Road. Cape Range National Park Cape Range National Park
374-409: The local communities of Exmouth , Coral Bay , and Carnarvon . It also encompasses the collection of data on the environmental impact of human activities, encompassing natural resource utilization, waste generation, pollution, visual implications, and effects on flora and fauna. The interactive project involves key stakeholders in the region including the WA Department of Environment and Conservation ,
396-554: The only large reef positioned very close to a landmass. The Muiron Islands and Cape Farquhar are within this coastal zone. The coast and reef draw their name from the Australian Aboriginal Wajarri language word ningaloo meaning "promontory", "deepwater", or "high land jutting into the sea". The Yamatji peoples of the Baiyungu and Yinigudura are the traditional owners of the area. The World Heritage status of
418-521: The range and plain leaving behind a range of rugged limestone , deep canyons, and pristine beaches. There is also an eponymous locality of the Shire of Exmouth , but the boundaries of the national park and the locality are not identical. The Cape is the only elevated plateau composed of limestone on the North West Coast. The range has plateaus to an elevation of 314 metres (1,030 ft) and forms
440-414: The reef are an important breeding ground of the loggerhead , green and hawksbill turtles . They also depend on the reef for nesting and food. The Ningaloo supports an abundance of fish (500 species), corals (300 species), molluscs (600 species) and many other marine invertebrates . The reef is less than 0.5 kilometres (0.31 mi) offshore in some areas, such as Coral Bay . In 2006, researchers from
462-643: The region was created and negotiated in 2011, and the adopted boundary included the Ningaloo Marine Park (Commonwealth waters) , Ningaloo Marine Park (State waters) and Muiron Islands Marine Management Area (including the Muiron Islands), Jurabi Coastal Park, Bundegi Coastal Park, Cape Range National Park , and the Learmonth Air Weapons Range. The site was gazetted on the Australian National Heritage List on 6 January 2010 under
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#1733085934843484-482: Was declared a national park in 1964, the off-shore area, Ningaloo Marine Park , was declared in 1987. An abundance of flora and fauna are found within the park. Flora species include mangroves , acacia , spinifex , grevillea , verticordia , eucalyptus and minilya lily . Fauna found within the park include rock wallabies , red kangaroos , emus , euros , 100 different species of bird and 80 species of reptile . Ningaloo Reef The Ningaloo Coast
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