Nestled between a frequently travelled highway and the Indian Ocean, just south of Mandurah, lies a series of lakes and reserves that together make up the largest national park on the Swan Coastal Plain. Yalgorup National Park is known for the microscopic communities that reside in Lake Clifton and form thrombolites. Lake Clifton and Lake Preston are both situated within the boundaries of the park and are home to a large variety of bird-life.

Lakes and bird life
Yalgorup National Park stretches from just south of Mandurah to north of Myalup and covers an area of 12,888 hectares, including ten magnificent lakes. It protects a wetland system that has achieved international recognition as an important area for migratory waterbirds, and it supports several threatened plant and animal species.

The park’s crowning glories are the Lake Clifton Thrombolites, which can be viewed on a boardwalk. This is one of few places in Western Australia where these communities survive.

Spring and autumn are particularly good times to explore Yalgorup National Park. There are nature walks at Lake Preston and Martins Tank Lake Campground (which incorporates the Lake Pollard Bird Hide). Both walks can be strolled at a leisurely pace before indulging in a well-earned barbecue or picnic.