Yanchep National Park is located in western Australia. It was one of the first national parks established in Australia. The park is approximately 31.7 miles (about 51 km) north of the city of Perth. Yanchep is accessible year round, and it offers camping and other activities. The park is notable for its Aboriginal history as well as its system of caves and Australian wildlife. There are guided tours offered through many of the caves, a series of hiking trails for authentic Australian walkabouts, and a system of lakes where people can go boating at certain times of the year. About 240,000 local and international visitors make their way to Yanchep National Park for a visit each year.
The park area was a hunting ground for the Aboriginal peoples for thousands of years prior to European settlement in Australia. Yanchep National Park derives its name from the Aboriginal word for the bulrush reeds that can be seen growing around many of the lakes in the region. European explorers discovered the lakes in the 1830s, and surveyors noted the many fascinating caves in 1841. Tours of the area were being offered by guides as early as 1903.
The caves at Yanchep National Park offer several unique experiences. Visitors often come to see the Crystal Cave, a limestone cave with underground streams. Daily tours provide a glimpse of the cave and the amphipods that live in the waters there. Cabaret Cave is another popular attraction. The cave is set up as a banquet hall, where ballroom dancing, dining, and other activities are held in an underground setting. The other underground attractions that visitors can access include the Mambibby, Yanchep and Yonderup Caves.
Camping in Yanchep National Park is a favorite activity of many tourists. The longer hiking trails in the park take several days to traverse by foot. Amenities along the hiking trails include huts, drinking water, and bush toilets. Australian wildlife are often sighted in the park, including koalas, kangaroos, and wallabies.
Other amenities that are offered at Yanchep National Park include a golf course, the Aboriginal Experience, and the historic Yanchep Inn. The Aboriginal Experience provides a glimpse of traditional aboriginal life in the Australian Outback. The Nyoogar people were the original settlers in the Yanchep area, and visitors can learn more about them. There is a fee to access the park, and prices vary based on the number of people in a visiting group. Lodging is available at the Yanchep Inn, and camping is available for a fee as well.
