West Cape Howe National Park

Located just 390 kilometres southeast of Perth, West Cape Howe National Park is a crown jewel among Western Australia's national parks.

This pristine park is located between Albany and Denmark, in the Great Southern region and the City of Albany. The park features Torbay Head, which is the southernmost point on mainland Western Australia and is surrounded by the powerful Southern Ocean. The park is approximately 23 km long, stretching from Lowlands Beach to Forsythe Bluff.

West Cape Howe National Park started its journey as a recreational space when it was vested in the Shire of Albany in 1977. Later, in 1985, the area was designated a C Class Reserve, in agreement with the shire and vested in the National Parks and Nature Conservancy Authority. After the addition of an extra 41 ha of a timber reserve along the northern boundary, the park was granted A Class status in 1987. It is now a single reserve (26177) spanning an area of 3,517 ha. During a survey conducted in 2008, the rare and ancient Main's assassin spider, which is currently listed as threatened, was found in the park.

West Cape Howe National Park boasts a range of habitats, including karri forest, coastal heath, and wetlands. These different habitats support a variety of vegetation and plant species. The dense sedge scrub around Lake William is home to rare species such as Amperea volubilus and an unnamed species of Melaleuca. Meanwhile, the park also proudly hosts the Albany Pitcher Plant, Cephalotus follicularis.

The park is mainly accessible only by four-wheel drive vehicles due to the sandy nature of many of the tracks. The popular Shelley Beach,