Abrolhos Islands Visitors Guide

Recreational use

Marine habitats

The Abrolhos Islands lie in the overlap zone of tropical and temperate waters. The extensive coral reef and macroalgae communities offer visitors an array of snorkelling and diving sites and experiences. The diversity of marine life includes colourful fish, anemone communities, brain coral lumps, mixed algal and coral reefs, seagrass meadows and sandy areas where shoaling fish congregate.

Diving at the Abrolhos

The Long Island Dive Trail in the Wallabi Group offers divers a self-guided trail in an area of outstanding marine life. A dayuse public mooring is available, subject to maintenance. In conditions of low swell and wind, it is possible to dive on the wrecks of the Batavia (1629) in the Wallabi Group, and on the nearby wreck of the Hadda, which sank in 1877. A public mooring is provided out from the Beacon Island jetty. For further information, contact the Department of Fisheries or refer to the relevant dive publications.

Significant sites

The Western Australian Museum in Geraldton is recommended as the first port of call for visitors to the Abrolhos. The museum's exhibits explain the natural diversity of the islands. Fishing history is also on display. Stories of tragedy and survival are told, and fascinating artefacts from the Batavia and Zeewijk wrecks are featured in the Shipwrecks Gallery.

On East Wallabi, a track leads to the beaches of Turtle Bay and Fish Point, where coral lumps are within swimming distance of the shore.

In the Easter Group, Wooded, Morley and Leo islands offer beautiful lagoons and sandy beaches. The Lesser Noddy breeds in the mangrove areas of these islands, though access to the mangroves is not recommended because of possible damage to the environment or disruption to the breeding birds.

The Pelsaert Group has a rich maritime history, as well as abundant bird life. On Gun Island, survivors of the wreck of the Zeewijk in 1727 made camp and built a boat in which to escape the deserted island. The relics of guano mining operations can be seen on the southern end of Pelsaert Island.