Paddling in Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park

Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park runs along roughly 120 kilometres of Western Australia's southwestern coast, a narrow ridge of limestone and karri country between Cape Naturaliste in the north and Cape Leeuwin in the south.

The park is primarily a coastal and forest landscape — surf beaches, sea cliffs, caves, and tall forest — and the paddling here reflects that character. This is not a whitewater park or a lake district.

The water that matters most to paddlers is the Margaret River, and the Indian Ocean coast that frames the whole park. The Margaret River passes through the park near Prevelly, on the central coast.

Guided canoe trips run this stretch, pairing the river paddle with the surrounding forest and coastal scenery. The river here is calm enough for touring-style craft and accessible to paddlers who aren't chasing technical water.

The Alltrails description of the Margaret River paddle near Prevelly calls it a beauty of a route that glides past the park — flatwater, scenic, and manageable. The ocean is the other dimension.

The park's coastline is open to boating and kayaking, and the official park guidance lists paddling and kayaking explicitly among the activities, alongside surfing and fishing.

That same guidance carries a clear safety note: exercise extreme caution near cliff edges, pay attention to hazard warning signs, and consider carrying a personal location beacon.

The Southern Ocean swell along this coast is real and can change quickly — conditions that make coastal kayaking here a serious undertaking rather than a casual one.

The park is managed by DBCA (Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions) under Western Australia's parks system.

Check Explore Parks WA for current conditions, any closures related to the ongoing park improvement project, and access details before you launch. The Margaret River won't test your brace. The ocean might. Know which one you're paddling before you put in.