Francois Peron National Park

Francois Peron National Park is a nine-hour drive north from Perth, but it’s definitely worth the travel! 

A photo of a person sitting on a wooden bench atop a sand dune in Francois Peron National Park. The bench sits beside a flat path made of wood planks. The path and bench are surrounded by orange sand and green and grey coastal shrubs. The white sand beach and turquoise water can be seen below. The sky above is blue and mostly clear.
Photo credit: Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.

Cultural Recognition

We recognise and acknowledge Malgana people as the traditional owners of Francois Peron National Park. Wulyibidi is the Malgana name for Peron Peninsula and Gutharraguda, meaning ‘two bays’, is the name for Shark Bay. 

A photo taken by a drone at Big Lagoon in Francois Peron National Park. Bright orange sand/dirt makes up most of this image. It is flat and bare in the foreground, and slopes upwards to form a dune in the midground. The dune is sparsely covered by small green shrubs. To the right of the image, the sand gives way to the turquoise ocean, and a person can be seen pulling a kayak out of the water.
Francois Peron National Park is known for being a place where “the desert meets the sea”. Pohot credit: Tourism WA
A photo of the beach at Cape Peron. A bright red, rocky cliff face borders the beach. The sand at the bottom of the cliff is cream-coloured and flat, and leads to the calm ocean. Two people can be seen walking along the beach in the distance, away from the camera.
The unique landscape of Cape Peron is one of the park’s main attractions. Photo credit: Tourism Western Australia

Overview of Francois Peron National Park

One of this coastal park’s main attractions is the spectacular contrasting landscape. The rich red desert meets the white, sandy beach, which leads to the clear, turquoise ocean. 

Francois Peron National Park is also home to an incredible array of wildlife – especially in the surrounding waters. Dolphins dance gracefully through the waves, while manta rays, sea turtles and dugongs leisurely glide through the water. You might even spot a humpback whale from August to October! 

A two-wheel-drive vehicle will get you to the Peron Heritage Precinct, which features interpretive displays, a grassed area, barbecues and a walk trail.  

From here, a four-wheel-drive vehicle is needed to explore the rest of the park. However, there are numerous four-wheel-drive tours that depart from nearby Shark Bay and Monkey Mia. 

Some wonderful spots to see include Cape Peron, where you can try and spot ocean wildlife from the top of the red cliffs, or explore the rock pools on the beach below. Skipjack Point Lookout is also one for the list, offering a walk trail and spectacular views over the Shark Bay Marine Park. 

Dogs are not permitted within the national park.  

A photo taken of the walkway at Skipjack Point. The walkway is flat and sealed and runs over the red sand dunes before turning to the left. Green and grey coastal shrubs sparsely cover the dunes around the walkway. The ocean can be seen in the distance and is turquoise in colour before turning dark blue as the water deepens. The sky above is bright blue and clear.
Follow the walkway to find the Skipjack Point Lookout.
It’s important to protect beautiful landscapes like this one at Big Lagoon. Photo credit: Tourism Western Australia

Cost of Entry*

Fees apply for entry into Francois Peron National Park, which contribute to park management, including protection of the environment and the development and maintenance of visitor services and facilities. 

Private vehicle with up to 12 occupants  

  • $17 per vehicle  
  • $10 per vehicle concession  

Private vehicle with more than 12 occupants  

  • $8 per occupant 6 years or older  
  • $3.50 per occupant concession  

Motorcycle  

  • $10 per motorbike  
  • No concession  

No entry fee applies if you walk or cycle into the park.

*Prices accurate as of January 2024, refer to the Explore Parks WA website for up to date pricing.

Nature Play Resources

Nature Play WA has created fun and interactive resources for Francois Peron National Park

For more fun, interactive nature play activities for families that can be used wile exploring any location, check out our free, Every Kid in a Park resource library

Family Resource Library

Activities & Information

Francois Peron National Park is a quieter coastal location that is a great place for families wanting to spend time in nature together.

A photo of the hot tub at Peron Homestead Precinct. The hot tub is a short, wide, round structure made of corrugated metal, and full of water. There are a couple of wooden benches around the outside of the hot tub. The area is fenced, and some grass and trees can be seen on the other side.
Hop in the hot tub or explore your surrounds at Peron Homestead Precinct. Photo credit: Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
A photo of four kayaks laying on the beach, right by the water at Cape Peron. The water is clear, flat and calm. The sky above is bright blue, with a few white whispy clouds.
Kayaking is a great way to explore the marine area of the park. Photo credit: Tourism Western Australia

A highlight of Fitzgerald River National Park is visiting Peron Homestead Precinct to see what it was like living on a remote sheep station or to try out the hot tub!

There are lots of amazing places to swim, snorkel and canoe around the park and fishing is a popular family activity too! There are beachside camping areas and it is wonderful place for a family camping trip.

There are picnic tables and toilets at the northern end of Cape Peron and two amazing clifftop lookouts where you might spot a turtle, mantra ray of even a dugong!

A bottlenose dolphin swimming underwater. The dolphin is a light grey colour, and has a curved body. It has a long, bottle-shaped snout, and a curved dorsal fin on its back. The water is a turquoise colour.
A photo of a dugong swimming in water. The dugong is quite big, with a small round head, and a larger, long, round body. It has a small fin on each side of its body, and a large, disc-shaped tail. It is light grey in colour.

Francois Peron National Park is also home to an incredible array of animals and plants.

During your visit you may spot one of these amazing animals:

  • Bottlenose dolphin 
  • Manta ray 
  • Shark 
  • Dugong 
  • Turtle 
  • Racehorse goanna 
  • Thorny devil 

Keep your eyes out for these birds:

  • Emu 
  • Cormorant 
  • Singing honeyeater 
  • Fairy-wren 

And look out for these incredible plants:

  • Wattle 
  • Hakea 
  • Grevillea 
  • Bush tomato 
  • Halgania 
A photo of a thorny devil. It’s a very small lizard that is completely covered in spiky thorns. It is brown, white and yellow in colour.
A thorny devil lizard. Photo credit: Tourism Western Australia
A photo of pincushion hakea flowers. The flowers have a large, red sphere in the middle, with lots of thin, white stems sticking out of it, resembling a pincushion. Large, green leaves grow between the flowers.
How interesting are the flowers of the pincushion hakea?

We suggest reading this safety information about travelling, bushwalking, swimming, fishing, paddling, kayaking and snorkelling before your visit. 

Visit the Explore Parks WA website for more. 

A photo of a four-wheel-drive car on an unsealed road in Francois Peron National Park. The road is made of dirt, and is very bumpy. Coastal shrubs and bushes surround the road and the car. The sun is casting a warm orange glow over the landscape, making it hard to see much colour.
Care must be taken when driving on unsealed roads. Photo credit: Tourism Western Australia
A photo of a turtle gliding through the water. It has a small, round head with large eyes. It has long fins that stick outwards just below its neck. It has a large shell that is brown and green in colour. Its two (2) shorter back fins can’t be seen in the photo.
A photo of some branches of a wattle tree. The branches are covered in flowers which are bright yellow and small, round and fluffy. They also have rows of thin, green leaves.

Francois Peron National Park is home to many plants and animals. Follow the tips below to assist in the protection of the Francois Peron National Park environment.    

  • Only follow marked walk trails and roads.   
  • Leave no trace. Ensure all food and rubbish is contained and out of reach of wildlife, and take all belongings with you when you leave.  
  • Only camp in designated sites.  
  • Do not feed wildlife.   
  • Do not disturb or displace plants and animals. 

Visit Explore Parks WA website for more information about Frances Peron National Park.

Acknowledgements

Nature Play WA would like to thank the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions for providing valuable information about Blackwood River National Park.

  • A photo of a white four-wheel-drive on a beach in Francois Peron National Park. The blue ocean can be seen behind the car, and the iconic red cliff face of Cape Peron can be seen in the distance. The sky above is bright blue and clear.
  • A photo taken at Cape Peron from the top of a sand dune. The rich, orange-coloured sand dune can be seen in the foreground, with a person standing atop it in the distance. In the midground, past the dune, is the turquoise-coloured ocean. Above, the sky is blue and clear, besides a few small white clouds.
  • A photo taken at Krasker’s Tank. There is an interpretive sign to the right, featuring information about Krasker’s Tank. Slightly further back is the tank; wooden poles form a four-legged structure, atop which sits a sheet of steel. These objects are surrounded by green bushes and shrubs. The ground is made of rich red dirt, and the sky above is mostly clear and blue.
  • This photograph was taken at the Hilltop Lookout and shows views of the Nornalup Inlet in the distance, with forest in the foreground, and the Frankland River flowing in between. The view is seen through a canopy of trees, with the blue ocean in the distance. The ocean is calm and is a crisp blue. The sky above is blue, with streaks of grey clouds.
  • A photo taken by a drone at Big Lagoon in Francois Peron National Park. Bright orange sand/dirt makes up most of this image. It is flat and bare in the foreground, and slopes upwards to form a dune in the midground. The dune is sparsely covered by small green shrubs. To the right of the image, the sand gives way to the turquoise ocean, and a person can be seen pulling a kayak out of the water.
  • A photo taken on the beach at Cape Peron. The light brown-orange sand on the right slopes downwards to meet the flat, clear ocean on the left. A child walks away from the camera along the beach. The land curves to the left in the distance to form a point, atop which sits a red-coloured cliff. The sky above is clear and blue.
  • A photo of a person sitting on a wooden bench atop a sand dune in Francois Peron National Park. The bench sits beside a flat path made of wood planks. The path and bench are surrounded by orange sand and green and grey coastal shrubs. The white sand beach and turquoise water can be seen below. The sky above is blue and mostly clear.
  • A photo of a child in a t-shirt and shorts, laying on their back on the sand. Their arms are stretched out to the sides, while their legs remain together. Patterns in the sand show the child has been moving their legs and arms in and out, to form the shape of an angel in the sand.