William Bay Trail, William Bay NP

William Bay National Park supports hundreds of plant and animal species across a rich mix of marine environments, coastal heath, and inland forests, many of which are endemic to Western Australia's biologically diverse south coast. 

Inland hills shelter mature Karri forests, Warren River cedars, and majestic Tingle trees. Coastal pockets transition into shady groves of Peppermint trees, and rugged cliff edges and sand dunes support a thick cover of coastal shrubs including Dryandra and Banksia. Up to 40 distinct orchid variations inhabit the park, such as spider, bird, sun and greenhoods orchids.

Pockets of forest shelter native marsupials including kangaroos, wallabies, and ringtail possums, plus echidnas, wambengers and honey possums. Shady canopies host striking species like fairy-wrens, red-winged fairy-wrens, rosellas, red-capped parrots, robins, and firetails. The pristine beaches provide critical nesting grounds for hooded plovers and fairy terns. You can also spot oystercatchers and ospreys.

Protected pools and inlets create calm, nutrient-rich marine hubs away from the big swells of the Southern Ocean. Snorkelling around the granite boulders reveals a thriving ecosystem of fish including Zebrafish, Stripeys, Banded Sweep, Moonlighters, and King George Whiting. Sea stars and stingrays can be found in the rocky shallows.