Northcliffe lies in the lower south-west of Western Australia, in the Pemberton vine-growing region. Its key attraction is its diverse natural environment. Towering karri, jarrah and marri forests, rich coastal plains, wetlands, spectacular dunes, unspoilt coastline and D’Entrecasteaux National Park surround Northcliffe. Northcliffe is located on Bibbulmun Track map 6 - Northcliffe.
Northcliffe was surveyed in 1923 for a Group Settlement scheme in which forest areas were cleared for farming and for forest industries. Apart from land clearing, the trees of the forest were felled to make sleepers for railway lines, and for construction purposes in Australia and Europe. Northcliffe was named after the newspaper baron whose papers promoted the scheme. The economy of Northcliffe is based on dairy farming, timber and tourism. It has a population of about 900.
Handy contacts
Getting there
Northcliffe is located 366 kilometres south of Perth. It is a drive of approximately four hours from Perth via South West and Vasse Highways. Northcliffe is 30 kilometres from the popular holiday and fishing village of Windy Harbour.
The distance from Northcliffe to Pemberton is 37km, a 30-minute drive north. Northcliffe to Walpole is 100km, which takes approximately an hour and 10 minutes south-east along the South West Highway.
Alternatively, take the TransWA Australind train from Perth City Railway Station to the Bunbury Passenger Terminal and the coach to Northcliffe, or the coach from the Perth East Terminal to Northcliffe. Be sure to check with the operators beforehand, as these services may not operate daily.
Accommodation & service providers
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Along the Track…
Close to Northcliffe, in the Gardner River valley, the soils and landscape change dramatically, with the karri forest giving way in places to deep sands, gentle undulations and low scrubland. The walk south into Northcliffe offers a wide variety of vegetation and terrain, including sandy tea-tree flats and farmland. The Northcliffe Forest Park has a rich floral display in late Spring, in particular the various climbing plants, which scramble and twine through the understorey in a jumble of colour.
Southwards and eastwards, the Track crosses flat and low-lying terrain, following the Gardner River south. Between July and November, some stretches of the Track in D'Entrecasteaux National Park may be knee-deep in floodwater. Winter rainwater drains slowly across the flat landscape into Lake Maringup, the second largest freshwater lake in WA. There, the Track continues east and crosses the Shannon River at Dog Pool, a lovely camping spot amongst the karri.
Walking south of Northcliffe, walkers are rewarded with a wide variety of vegetation; karri forest, jarrah woodland, paperbark swamps, low shrubland and swampy sedgeland. While the distribution of vegetation types may appear to be haphazard, there is a pattern, which relies on the underlying soils and landforms. The soils of the south-west were formed over many millions of years by a complex interplay of environmental forces and the weathering of the underlying rock. The original granite rock can often be seen close to the surface. As one moves eastwards the occurrence and size of these granite outcrops increases. Outcrops such as the Woolbales Hills on the Pingerup Plains are dominant features.
Suggested walks
Day walks:
- Wheatley Coast Road to Gardner campsite return (23.4km). The Wheatley Coast Road access point is 3.5km south of Northcliffe.
- Hill Brook Road to Northcliffe one-way (14.6km). Please check the latest Track conditions as this part of the Track can become flooded. To get to Hill Brook Road travel 8km north from Northcliffe on Wheatley Coast Road and veer right onto Hill Brook Road. Follow this road for 2.5km to the point where the Bibbulmun Track crosses the road.
Overnight walks:
- Broke Inlet Road to Northcliffe one-way (86.1km, four days, three nights). To get to Broke Inlet Road from Northcliffe, take Wheatley Coast Road north, turn right on to Middleton Road and continue to the South Western Highway. Turn right and drive down the highway to Brook Inlet road. Turn right again and drive 3kms to where the road intersects the Track. Total distance about 90kms. To get to Broke Inlet Road from Walpole, take South West Highway west for 25km, turn left onto Broke Inlet Road and travel for 3km to where it intersects the Track.
Walpole is the next town after Northcliffe for walkers heading south. Northcliffe to Walpole is a walk of 137.1km, which takes approximately eight or nine days, seven or eight nights.
Pemberton is the next town after Northcliffe for walkers heading north. Northcliffe to Pemberton is a walk of 55.3km which takes approximately three days, two nights.
For more information on day walks, visit our day walk webpage.