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Hill Springs, Cape Arid National Park Hill Springs, Cape Arid National Park

  • Less than 1 hour
  • 0.5 km
    • Bush Walk Class 2

      Easy trail with modified or hardened surface, and gentle hills or occasional steps. Clear directional signage. No bushwalking experience required. May be suitable for assisted wheelchair users (if ramps are provided at steps).

    • 4WD Easy

      High Range 4WD and Low Range vehicles may be required. Preferable to have 4WD driver training.

Hill Springs walk is a 500m return walk to the ruins of the historic Hill Springs. The views from the lookout over the Recherche Archipelago and behind to Mt Arid are spectacular.

Red Swamp Banksia ( Banksia occidentalis)
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Built in 1905 by John Baesjou, Hill Springs was occupied by his family until 1910. The trail also visits the grave of William Ponton, John's uncle through marriage.   

The start of the walk from the car park can often be overgrown with ferns and watch out for ticks along the walk. Walk trail surface consists of natural pavements made up of rock material including exposed granite and gravel. The trail is unmarked but vegetation has been cleared to delineate the path.

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Be trail ready for Hill Springs, Cape Arid National Park

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

Time / Duration

30 minutes

Length

500 metres

What To Pack

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

Trail Start

Cape Arid National Park, Thomas Fishery Track off Posion Creek rd 160km (2hours) east of Esperance which is 700km SE of Perth

Get directions

Trail End

Bush Walk

Class 2

Easy trail with modified or hardened surface, and gentle hills or occasional steps. Clear directional signage. No bushwalking experience required. May be suitable for assisted wheelchair users (if ramps are provided at steps).

Visit Trail Tips for further information.

4WD

Easy

High Range 4WD and Low Range vehicles may be required. Preferable to have 4WD driver training.

Visit Trail Tips for further information.

Difficulty Notes

Access to Hill Springs is via a sandy track 4WD only track. To go beyond Hill Springs into Thomas Fishery the four wheel-driving is more difficult.

Hazards & Warnings

Access via Thomas Fishery Road in dry conditions only. If wet the road will be closed due to Dieback management. Beware of ticks along this trail

Facilities

  • Car Park

Best time of year

All year round.

Fees

National Park fees

Trail Access

4WD . Turn off to car park is 6km down Thomas Fishery track, a 4WD track off Posion Creek Rd. Turn off for the Thomas Fishery track is 17.5km down Poision Creek Road. Enter Poison Creek Rd off Merivale Road.

Prohibited Items

No Pets
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1 trail goers have rated Hill Springs, Cape Arid National Park as 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.

Lydia Visser

Reviewed 29 Jan 2021, 7:34pm

Beautiful views and the place has so much history! Ruins are amazing. Don't be deterred my the ant sign it's worth popping down

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