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Park size: 155,000 ha
Phone 08 9776 1207
The park covers 130 Km of the southern coastline. Camping is permitted but some sites are only accessible by 4wd. The name comes from the French explorer withe the rather grand name:
Antonie Raymond Joseph De Brui Chevalier D Entrecasteaux who explored the coast with the ships
Recherche (Research) and Esperance (Hope).
The park is located along the south coast between Augusta and Walpole and the name is pronounced - 'don-truh-cast-oh'
The Warren, Donnelly and Shannon rivers all pass through the park that also contains Lake Yeagarup and Lake Jasper (the largest freshwater
lake in the south west.)
It is thought that Lake Jasper formed over 3000 years ago when a large dune blocked the mouth of what was then a small river. Aboriginal artifacts have been found in the
deeper parts of the lake and dating of wood samples show that the area was a woodland between 3750 and 4000 years ago,
Settlement in the area dates from the mid 1800s. Initially it was driven by graziers who followed the aboriginal practice of moving inland during the winter and then moving
closer to the coast in summer. It wasn't until the 1920s that land started be be formally taken up in the region.
The Group Settlement Scheme attempted to open the area up but harsh conditions and remoteness meant that most of the hopeful settlers met
with heartbreak and failure. It was the timber industry that kept people in the area and slowly recreation reserves were established along the coast to allow timber workers
to enjoy them selves on the time off.
It wasn't until the 1980s the the national park was declared and a strategy for management of the area was devised.
The park offers some of the best 4x4 trails and some of the most impressive scenery you will find on the south coast. Much of the area is quite remote so you need to be well
prepared and equipped to tackle the tracks.
Black Point is one of the most interesting features of the park as it is made up of basalt rock formed by volcanic action in pre-history 135 million years ago.
There are a number of campsites in the area including Black Point, Lake Jasper, Banksia Camp, Broke Inlet, Crystal Springs, Fish Creek Hut, Coodamup Hut, Gairdner River mouth,
Yeagarup Beach, Yeagarup Hut, Leaning Marri, Warren River and Connollys Flat.
Windy Harbour, Salmon Beach, and
Broke Inlet can all be accessed by 2wd but all other areas require a 4x4 to access.
Biting insects such as mosquitoes and march flies can be a nuisance in this area so it is recommended to be prepared with appropriate clothing
and some form of insect repellant.
Best time to visit:
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Jan
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Feb
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Mar
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Apr
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May
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Jun
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Jul
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Aug
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Sep
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Oct
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Nov
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Dec
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NPW Website for more information
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