The Aquarium Yallingup

 

The Aquarium Yallingup has become a popular tourist attraction and desired snorkeling location in more recent times thanks to Instagram and the rise of interest in exploring WA.  This little piece of nature is everything the internet claims it to be, is easily accessible (once you know where you are going) and is an absolute must for your WA adventure bucket list. We visited on a fairly overcast, windy and cool day, but as you can see it was still absolutely stunning.

Where is The Aquarium Yallingup?

The Aquarium is located in between Canal Rocks and Smiths Beach at Yallingup in the South West of Western Australia.

Is it accessible by car?

You’ll need to park your car and walk to The Aquarium via the Cape to Cape track. You can’t drive your car there.

How far do you have to walk to get to there?

Depending on which end you walk from, it’s around a 1 – 2 km return to walk

Where is the best place to park?

You can either park at the Kathleen’s Seat Lookout Canal Rocks carpark, located on the right hand side of the road before you start driving down the big hill to Canal Rocks or you can park in the carpark at the far end of Smith’s Beach Road at Smith’s Beach.

The Kathleen’s Seat Lookout Canal rocks carpark is a lot smaller however it’s a slightly shorter walk from here than the Smiths Beach carpark where there are a lot more parking options. On a busy day, although it’s a slightly longer walk, the Smith’s Beach end is probably the better option to get parking.

How do I get there?

From either of the access points, follow the Cape to Cape Track markers until you come to the limestone clearing.

Then follow this clearing towards the ocean and you’ll find The Aquarium.

Limestone clearing on the Cape to Cape Track that leads down to The Aquarium

Is the walk trail difficult?

I couldn’t find any official grading on this section of the Cape to Cape Track, however the track varies in surface. It’s mostly sandy and has some sections that are really rocky with some slight inclines, particularly at the end as you approach the Aquarium. Given it’s short distance 1-2km return, depending which track entry you choose, it’s suitable for most physical abilities as long as you are ok with stepping up and down a few large rocks. The Aquarium is not wheelchair or pram accessible.

What is there to see along the way?

You get some beautiful views of the coastline as you wander towards The Aquarium and you’ll see a few wildflowers when in season too. There are a couple of lookouts to stop at along the way also.

 

What is the beach area like?

The actual beach area is limited. It’s mostly rocks with a small patch of white sandy / shelly area where you can walk into The Aquarium. Keep this in mind on a nice summer’s day, you may have to get there early to be able to score yourself some space in the sandy area. There’s not a lot or room for setting up beach shelters, so just a towel, hat, sunscreen, snorkelling gear, some snacks and water is all you’ll need.

How deep is it?

This depends on the tide of course but it’s around 3-4 meters deep in parts. There is a beach entry so you can ease yourself into the deeper sections.

Is it a safe place to snorkel?

It’s very safe to snorkel. It’s completely surrounded by rocks, so it’s protected from the waves and from larger ocean marine life getting in. 

The Aquarium Yallingup Map

 

Summary

The Aquarium is a summer beach hot spot and an all year round tourist attraction and is a must to either see or to snorkel if you are visiting or holidaying in this beautiful part of the South West. Take a good look at the maps above before you go, as it is a little hard to find if you don’t know where you are going. If it’s a nice day, do expect it to be super busy and parking to be a little bit difficult.

 

 

Want more South West Adventure? Then check out the Always Adventure Ready South West Adventures Guide for some inspiration!