Helen Avaient

Mar 29, 20213 min read

Must see lookouts on the Turquoise Coast, Western Australia

Perth to Jurien Bay along the Indian Ocean Drive takes about two and a half hours to drive north straight there. Driving straight there means you miss out on some great lookouts. Each one can be investigated in a short, brief stop. But you can really learn a lot and appreciate this part of Western Australia if you spend more time at any of them.

All four of my recommendations below have easy access, so if you are towing anything, you can drive in, park, then drive out again.

The joy can often be found in the journey as well as the destination.

Nilgen lookout and wildflower walk

Situated: Off the Indian Ocean Drive 21kms north of Lancelin and 64kms south of Cervantes

Accessibility: 2WD, 4WD, caravans, campers etc can easily reach the carpark along a paved road. Vehicles that are towing can drive all in forward gear.

Amenities: Toilets, undercover seating area, gas bbqs.

Overnight camping: No

Signage: extremely well done, both at the car park and along the wildflower walk. I was highly impressed with the signs that show a picture of the blooms as well as information about the plant.

Information: The Nilgen Nature Reserve covers 5507 hectares. Over 650 plant species have been identified here. Nilgen is named after a swamp that was named after an historical well. The wildflower walk is gravel and level. From 1850-1894 this was part of the stock route to Geraldton. The path is paved to the beach making it easy for people with mobility issues.

Best thing: Great beach views and the wildflower walk was well signed.

Kangaroo Point

Situated: Off the Indian Ocean Drive 75kms north of Lancelin and 10kms south of Cervantes

Accessibility: 2WD, 4WD, caravans, campers etc can easily reach the carpark along a paved road. Vehicles that are towing can drive all in forward gear.

Amenities: Toilets, undercover seating area, gas bbqs.

Overnight camping: No

Signage: great signage near the carpark

Information: Great for shore fishing, boating, bush walking and swimming.

Best thing: I loved he beach views. A lot of seaweed on the beach, but this is seasonal.

Molah Lookout

Situated: Off the Indian Ocean Drive halfway between Cervantes and Jurien Bay.

Accessibility: 2WD, 4WD, caravans, campers etc can easily reach the carpark. Vehicles that are towing can drive all in forward gear. Great paved walkway to lookout from car park.

Amenities: picnic table

Overnight camping: No

Signage: excellent signs covering topics such as shipwrecks, aboriginal dreamtime, the Jurien Bay Marine Park and the delta area. Brief and informative.

Information: Views west to Jurien Bay Marine Park and inland to the Southern Beekeepers Nature Reserve

Best thing: the uninterrupted views

Grigson’s Lookout

Situated: Off the Indian Ocean Drive 17.9km north of Jurien Bay

Accessibility: 2WD, 4WD, caravans, campers etc can easily reach the carpark along a gravel road. Vehicles that are towing can drive all in forward gear. A short 100m walk from the car park to the lookout, both on a gravel path and wooden boardwalk.

Overnight camping: No

Signage: extremely well done, both at the car park and at the top of the lookout.

Information: The limestone cairn was built in 1875, as a marker for a coastal land survey between Perth and Geraldton. It stands nearly 30m above sea level.

To the north east is the Grigson’s farm where four generations have lived. Sheep and cattle have been grazed here, and horses were bred here during WWI for the 10th light horse regiment.

Looking south east is Cockleshell Gully. The gully gets its name from the fossilised cockleshells embedded in limestone from when the area was once covered by the sea.

To the south west are the large sand dunes that can move up to 20 metres a year, and the gypsum mines.

To the north west you can see the Fisherman Islands Nature Reserve. The rare Australia sealions breed here.

Best thing: Spectacular 360 degree views of surrounding landscapes.