Located within the City of Wanneroo, Western Australia, Yanchep is best known for its spectacular national parks. Home to the state's most pristine nature reserves and interesting historical sites, Yanchep has housed a colony of koalas since 1938 and offers a dedicated koala viewing area. The 28-kilometre Yaberoo Budjara Heritage Trail encompasses a variety of trails throughout Yanchep National Park. Follow these trails alongside a collection of lakes to see beautiful wildflowers in season, and admire the dunes, gorges, caves, and radar bunkers that protected Australia’s coastline from enemy invasion during World War II.

This coastal town features expansive stretches of sand and pristine, calm swimming waters with limestone cliffs, caves, dunes, and bushland. There’s also sought-after fishing and snorkelling here, along with a peaceful coastal community further north in Two Rocks with a marina and boat harbour. There’s even a dog beach, where four-legged friends can run free on the sand and frolic in the waves.

The most common entry point for visitors, Perth Airport (PET) is 66 kilometres south of Yanchep. A combination of bus and train will take you about 2.5 hours from Perth, and the drive is about 60 minutes. The smaller Jandakot Airport (JAD) is 81 kilometres south of Yanchep. From Jandakot, you will have to add an extra bus journey, but the drive will take about 50 minutes. Once you arrive at your Yanchep accommodation, you’ll need to rent a car or take taxis to get around, as public transportation coverage is patchy. Having your own vehicle is also the most convenient way to explore further afield.

In summer, the weather is perfect for making the most of the outdoor lifestyle in and around Wanneroo, with the average high during this season hovering around 30 degrees Celsius. The seas of blooms at the local lavender farm are at their best between mid-January and the end of February. Autumn brings slightly lower temperatures, with pleasant days and cooler nights, so remember to bring warm layers for evening outings. Winter in Yanchep can be rainy and is characterised by cooler days and chilly nights. There are a number of local music events — particularly jazz concerts — during the winter to experience. Spring in Yanchep is when the wildflowers in the surrounding landscape are in full bloom — this is also a great time to see the Western Grey Kangaroos and their joeys.

Yanchep National Park

Join a cave tour, admire heritage architecture, learn about Aboriginal culture and native flora and fauna, including kangaroos and koalas, and hike the park's scenic trails. There are a number of activities to take advantage of here, including caving, birdwatching, ziplining, and even helicopter rides.

Snorkelling at Yanchep Lagoon Beach

A wonderful beach for snorkelling, the water here is calm and clear, the average depth is five metres, and the waves are small. There’s also a large reef that offers protection from the elements and is great for spotting fish, sea stars, corals, sea anemones, and turban shells. You can also look out for western blue devil, octopus, prawns, cuttlefish, crayfish, and schools of bream.

Pinnacles Desert

Located about a 90-minute drive up the coast from Yanchep, the Pinnacles are mysterious natural limestone structures that were formed approximately 27,000 years ago. Over time, coastal winds have removed the surrounding sand and exposure to the elements has created the pillars. Native Australian wildlife like kangaroos and emus can also be spotted nearby, particularly early in the morning and late in the afternoon.