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Mandu Mandu Walk, Cape Range NP, Exmouth Mandu Mandu Walk, Cape Range NP, Exmouth

  • 1-3 hours
  • 3 km
    • Bush Walk Class 3

      Moderate trail that may have short steep hills, rough surface, many steps or some rock hopping. Directional signage. Some bushwalking experience and moderate fitness required.

The Mandu Mandu walk is an excellent three kilometre loop trail that leads along the gorge rim then descends into the gorge. It is steep in sections so a reasonable degree of fitness is required.  Go early in theday when it’s cooler and you’ll have good chance of spotting some rock wallabies.

River bed in Mandu Mandu Gorge
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By far most visitors to Exmouth focus their attention on the incredible marine environment of Ningaloo Reef. There are however some landbased attractions worth looking at. One of these attractions is a great walk that goes up Mandu Mandu Gorge deep into Cape Range National Park.

The walk trail begins 14 kilometres south of Milyering Discovery Centre on the Yardie Creek Road. From the carpark, the trail enters the dry creek bed of loose water-smoothed rocks. On both sides sheer vibrant red cliffs rise dramatically. The trail has markers along the way as the route is not easily descernable with all those rocks.

Look carefully and you may see rare rock wallabies in shady areas of the gorge walls. After a while the trail rises steeply out of the gorge onto the plateau where numerous flowering plants can be seen. Its a bit of a hard slog, but don't think the worse is over just because you made it to the top. There are several steep ups and downs to negotiate before getting back to the carpark. 

It is highly recommended that this walk be done early in the day as it is often extremely hot. 

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Be trail ready for Mandu Mandu Walk, Cape Range NP, Exmouth

Here is everything you need to know before visiting this trail.

Time / Duration

Up to 2 hours

Length

3km Loop

What To Pack

Group B - Hiking & Long Distance Trails (Bushwalks and/or longer trails) required.

Trail Start

Mandu Mandu Car Park,Cape Range NP, 40 km from Exmouth, 1200km north of Perth

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Trail End

Bush Walk

Class 3

Moderate trail that may have short steep hills, rough surface, many steps or some rock hopping. Directional signage. Some bushwalking experience and moderate fitness required.

Visit Trail Tips for further information.

Difficulty Notes

Steep ascents and descents

Hazards & Warnings

There is no permanent water and very little shade.

Facilities

There is bush camping in Cape Range National Park and a small shop located at the Milyering Visitor Centre. All other facilities are located in Exmouth.

  • Car Park

Best time of year

May to November

Fees

National Park Fees

Trail Access

Drive, bus to Exmouth or fly to Learmonth 1200km north of Perth. 2WD access to Cape Range NP

Prohibited Items

No pets in National Parks
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2 trail goers have rated Mandu Mandu Walk, Cape Range NP, Exmouth as 4.5 out of 5!

We love to hear from people who've been on our Western Australian trails, so it would be most appreciated it if you wanted to leave a review.

Paul M

Reviewed 9 Jan 2020, 12:11am

We did this walk 4:30pm on the 8th January, 2020. Temp by them was a beautiful 26 Deg. Celsius which due to Cyclone Blake included a quite brisk wind to test the fit of our hats and caps. Totally recommend this walk if you are visiting the 'Range'. The walk, the views, the variation of the trail and the evening wildlife make it a great walk. Whilst steep in sections the rock footing is solid with very little loose gravel type stuff to worry about as the rock is jagged and solid offering good boot / shoe traction where needed on the climbs. Two types of birds of prey flew around us for a good portion of the walk 'going about their hunting business' - several Kestrels and two Wedge Tailed Eagles HOVERED over our heads about 20 metres above us. Magic!! Spied one roo and one Rock Wallaby but the enjoyment of the walk and the views all around were a pleasurable change to the beaches and flat coastal plane of this side of the peninsula. We stopped and enjoyed the views quite a few times and the walk took us 1 Hr and 25 mins (2 adults 48+ with no kids).
Jacey Kraut

Reviewed 26 Jul 2019, 6:33pm

The views from the top were amazing. Family of 4 with master 8 and miss 6 managed the walk in about 2 hours.
From the creek bed we could look up and see climbing figs and many birds and some kurrajong trees. Wildflowers sling the top too.

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