Zuytdorp Cliffs

Zuytdorp Cliffs are a dramatic 150-kilometre stretch of limestone cliffs on the central west coast of Western Australia within the Shire of Northampton, north of Kalbarri. Rising up to 250 metres above the Indian Ocean, they form the western edge of the Shark Bay World Heritage Area. Named after the Dutch ship Zuytdorp wrecked in 1712, the cliffs are noted for their remote wilderness character and coastal geology.

Visitors can expect a remote, rugged coastal landscape with sheer limestone cliffs dropping to the Indian Ocean. There are no developed lookouts with barriers; views are from informal pull-offs along unsealed coastal tracks south of Steep Point and north of Kalbarri. The area is arid, windswept and largely undeveloped, with sparse vegetation, wildflowers in season, and expansive ocean views. Access requires a high-clearance 4WD and self-sufficiency.

Named after the Dutch East India Company ship Zuytdorp which was wrecked along this coastline in June 1712 while en route to Batavia. The wreck, rediscovered in the 20th century, is one of the earliest known European shipwrecks on the Western Australian coast and contributed to early European knowledge of the coastline.

The cliffs form part of the Shark Bay World Heritage Area, recognised for its natural values. The coastal region lies within the traditional lands of Aboriginal peoples of the Shark Bay and Murchison area and is valued for its wilderness and natural heritage significance.