Updated in September 2026, this Oyster Stacks guide covers park entry fees, hours, parking or transport, safety and what to see.
Oyster Stacks is a shore-snorkelling site in Cape Range National Park, on the Ningaloo Coast in Western Australia. As of September 2026, the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) still advises snorkelling only at high tide of at least 1.2 metres, because the reef here lies close to the surface.
Oyster Stacks quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | No set opening or closing time. Entry fees are paid at the Cape Range National Park entry station. |
| Park entry fees | Standard vehicle $17.00 ($10.00 concession). Large vehicle (more than 12 occupants) $8.00 per person ($3.50 concession). Motorcycle $10.00. |
| Address | Yardie Creek Road, Cape Range National Park, near Exmouth, Western Australia |
| Nearest transport or parking | A small car park off Yardie Creek Road. No public transport serves the park; a private or hire vehicle is needed. |
| Typical time needed | About 1 to 2 hours, including the walk to the lookout and a snorkel |
Oyster Stacks opening hours
Cape Range National Park has no specific opening or closing time for Oyster Stacks itself. The site is a car park, a short track and a lookout, with no gate and no staff on site.
Entry fees are paid at the park’s entry station on Yardie Creek Road. DBCA’s Milyering Discovery Centre, further along the same road, is open daily from 9:00 am to 3:45 pm, closed on Christmas Day. Staff there can give the day’s tide times.
Oyster Stacks park entry fees
Park entry fees are $17.00 per standard vehicle, or $10.00 with a concession. Opening hours and fees were checked on the official website and last updated in September 2026.
| Vehicle | Standard | Concession |
|---|---|---|
| Standard vehicle (12 or fewer occupants) | $17.00 per vehicle | $10.00 per vehicle |
| Large vehicle (more than 12 occupants) | $8.00 per person | $3.50 per person |
| Motorcycle | $10.00 | No concession |
- Visitors who walk or cycle into the park do not pay an entry fee.
- A park pass covers the entry fee. Prices from the WA Naturally shop are: 5-Day Holiday Pass $30, 14-Day Holiday Pass $50, 4-Week Holiday Pass $70, Annual All Parks Pass $130 ($80 concession).
- The Annual All Parks Pass covers unlimited entry to all of WA’s fee-paying parks. Besides Cape Range, this currently includes Nambung National Park (the Pinnacles), Kalbarri National Park, Francois Péron National Park and Lesueur National Park.
5 great Exmouth experiences to book
- 🦈 Swim with the biggest fish on earth on a whale shark snorkelling cruise.
- 🐋 Or take a tour later in the year and swim with humpback whales.
- 🤿 Go drift snorkelling from Turquoise Bay on a guided Ningaloo Reef snorkelling tour.
- 🥾 Join a one day trekking tour in the rugged Cape Range National Park.
- 🐢 Snorkel with turtles on a half day Ningaloo Reef tour.
How to get to Oyster Stacks
Oyster Stacks is about 60 to 65 km from Exmouth, roughly an hour’s drive. From Exmouth, head north out of town on Murat Road and turn left onto Yardie Creek Road.
Follow the signs for Cape Range National Park, and watch for the Oyster Stacks turn-off on the right after Milyering Discovery Centre. There is no public transport into the park, so visitors need a private or hire vehicle.
Parking at Oyster Stacks
A small car park is off Yardie Creek Road, at the start of the track. Space is limited, and it can fill up on busy days, so some visitors park along the road shoulder nearby.
How long to spend at Oyster Stacks
Allow about 1 to 2 hours. The walk to the lookout is short, and most visitors spend around an hour in the water once the tide is high enough.
Accessibility at Oyster Stacks
DBCA describes the walk to the lookout as a short track, but does not publish an accessibility rating for Oyster Stacks. The shore is rocky, with sharp and slippery rock, broken coral and shells underfoot, so entry into the water is not step-free.
Cape Range National Park more broadly offers universal access walk trails elsewhere in the park, but Oyster Stacks is not listed among them. Visitors with mobility needs should check current conditions with Milyering Discovery Centre before visiting.
Pets are not permitted in this park. DBCA carries out ongoing 1080 baiting here under its Western Shield program, to reduce the impact of feral cats and foxes on native wildlife. The poison is dangerous to humans and will kill domestic cats and dogs.
What to see at Oyster Stacks
The Oyster Stacks are five isolated islets that protrude from the reef. Ningaloo Reef is around 300 metres from shore here, in the narrowest stretch of lagoon along the whole Ningaloo Coast.
This close gap between shore and reef, in a sanctuary zone of Ningaloo Marine Park, gives the area a high concentration of marine life. Snorkellers can explore shallow coral gardens from the shore, close to a track that leads down from the car park.
Visitors can expect to see an abundance of fish and diverse invertebrates. Turtles and sharks are also known to cruise past. As a sanctuary zone, the rule is to look, but not touch.
The track also leads to a short lookout, overlooking the lagoon and outer reef, for visitors who prefer to view the site without entering the water.
Practical visitor tips
| Topic | Tip |
|---|---|
| Timing | Snorkel only at high tide of at least 1.2 metres, and check tide times and heights at Milyering Discovery Centre. |
| Crowds | The car park is small and can fill up, so arrive early or be ready to park along the road. |
| Layout | Entry to the water is via a rocky ledge rather than a beach, so the first steps in can be tricky if the swell is up. |
| Entry process | There is no gate or staff on site, so pay the park entry fee at the entry station on Yardie Creek Road. |
| On-site logistics | Wear footwear suited to sharp, slippery rock, and never snorkel alone. |
Frequently asked questions about Oyster Stacks
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Oyster Stacks suitable for children? | DBCA does not set an age limit, but the rocky entry, strong currents and tide dependence make it better suited to confident swimmers. |
| Do you need to book in advance for Oyster Stacks? | No. There is no booking system. Pay the standard park entry fee at the entry station, or show a valid park pass. |
| Is Oyster Stacks open on Sundays? | Yes. DBCA publishes no closing days for the site itself. |
| Are pets allowed at Oyster Stacks? | No. Pets are not permitted anywhere in Cape Range National Park, because of the 1080 baiting program. |
| What tide do I need to snorkel at Oyster Stacks? | A minimum tide height of 1.2 metres. Check current tide times at Milyering Discovery Centre before you go. |
Things to do near Oyster Stacks
- Turquoise Bay: A well-known drift-snorkel site a short drive south, with clear, shallow water.
- Milyering Discovery Centre: The park’s visitor centre, with displays on the Ningaloo Coast World Heritage Area and a small shop.
- Yardie Creek: A gorge at the southern end of the park, explored on foot or by boat tour between sheer cliffs.
- Mandu Mandu Gorge: A walking trail above an ancient river bed, south of Milyering.
- Sandy Bay: A quieter, shallow beach further along Yardie Creek Road, suited to wading and snorkelling.
Alternative attractions
All five are in Western Australia and within a 2.5-hour drive of Oyster Stacks.
- Shothole Canyon: A scenic drive trail through a canyon on the eastern side of Cape Range, with no park entry fee.
- Charles Knife Canyon: A drive trail with lookout points over a deep canyon, also fee-free.
- Coral Bay: A smaller reef town south of Exmouth, reached by road, with more shore-based snorkelling.
- Vlamingh Head Lighthouse: A lighthouse and wartime radar tower at the tip of North West Cape, with coastal views.
- Bundegi Beach: A beach near Exmouth for swimming, snorkelling, kayaking and fishing.
More Coral Coast travel
Other Coral Coast travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- A tale of mutiny and murder on the Houtman Abrolhos Islands.
- How to visit the Kalbarri Skywalk in Kalbarri National Park.
- The extraordinary history of the Hamelin Pool stromatolites in Shark Bay.
- An adventure to Inscription Point on Dirk Hartog Island, Shark Bay.
- What it’s like to swim with whale sharks on the Ningaloo Reef.
