Yanchep National Park brings several quite different experiences into one day: a koala viewing area, a guided limestone-cave tour, walks around Loch McNess and picnic grounds. You can keep the visit short and stay around the central precinct, or book a cave tour and add a longer walk.
The best first-visit plan is to choose one walk and decide in advance whether you want to go underground. That leaves time to watch wildlife and have lunch without rushing between activities.
Visitor information checked 24 September 2026. Fees are in Australian dollars. Suggested visit lengths are planning estimates.
Plan your visit
| Question | Practical answer |
|---|---|
| Where is it? | North of Perth, inland from the Yanchep coast. Navigate to Yanchep National Park, rather than just Yanchep town or station. |
| How long should I allow? | Around 2-3 hours for the central precinct and a short walk; half a day with a cave tour and picnic. |
| What does entry cost? | Standard vehicle entry is $17 for a vehicle with 12 or fewer occupants; eligible concession entry is $10. A valid park pass can cover entry. |
| Do cave tours cost extra? | Yes. Crystal Cave tickets are separate from vehicle entry. |
| Is a car useful? | Yes. It simplifies the final journey and gives you flexibility between the visitor precinct and tour meeting points. |
| Can I bring a pet? | Pets are not permitted. Contact the park about assistance-animal arrangements. |
Start at McNess House Visitor Centre
McNess House Visitor Centre currently opens 9:15am-4:30pm daily. It is a useful first stop for a park map, tour enquiries and advice about which paths are open. Toilets are available nearby.
If you already have a cave booking, check the meeting point and arrival instructions before starting a walk. Reaching the national park entrance is not the same as reaching the tour departure point.
See the koalas
The koalas are in a managed viewing area with a raised boardwalk. Take your time looking into the branches rather than expecting the animals to be moving around for your visit.
DBCA currently lists viewing hours of 8am-4:30pm daily. Its visitor page also states that the former 3:15pm koala talk is suspended until further notice. You can still plan to visit the viewing area, but do not schedule the day around that talk unless the official koala page confirms it has resumed.
Keep the visit quiet and watch from the designated path. Elsewhere in the park, observe kangaroos and other wildlife from a distance and leave them to find their own food.
Book a Crystal Cave tour
Crystal Cave is a guided underground visit where you can see limestone formations and learn how the cave developed. Reserve a place through the booking link on the official Crystal Cave page. Tickets may also be available at McNess House on the day, subject to availability.
| Crystal Cave ticket | Published price |
|---|---|
| Adult | $16 |
| Concession adult | $12 |
| Child aged 6-15 | $8 |
| Family: two adults and two children | $40 |
These prices were checked on 24 September 2026. Vehicle entry is additional unless covered by a valid park pass. For example, one standard vehicle plus the listed family cave ticket totals $57 before food or other activities.
Ask the park about younger children, mobility requirements and Companion Card bookings before buying tickets. A cave tour and a level outdoor path have different access requirements; choose an above-ground visit if the tour does not suit your group.
Choose a walk
The following distances and grades come from DBCA's published Yanchep visitor guide. Use the current trailhead signs and park advice if a route has been diverted.
| Walk | Published distance | Grade | Why choose it? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dwerta Mia | 2.1 km return from McNess House; a shorter 500 m option starts at Boomerang Gorge car park | Class 1 | A short visit to a collapsed cave landscape. |
| Wetlands Walk | 2.7 km loop | Class 2 | A circuit around Loch McNess. |
| Woodlands Walk | 2.6 km | Class 2 | A woodland walk starting from McNess House. |
| Caves Walk | 4.5 km return | Class 3 | A longer walk passing Crystal Cave; the cave tour is separately booked. |
For many first-time visitors, the Wetlands Walk is the most straightforward way to spend time beyond the picnic grounds. Trails WA's current listing also gives the circuit as 2.7 km. Allow extra time for photographs, wildlife and rests rather than treating a published walking time as a deadline.
With young children, start with the koalas and a short section of walking before deciding on a full circuit. If your group has different abilities, choose a turnaround point together so that nobody is left facing an unexpectedly long return.
Picnic areas, toilets and food
Lakeview picnic area has sheltered tables, toilets and barbecues. Bull Banksia Oval also has picnic facilities. Check the park map for the closest facilities to your chosen activity, rather than assuming there will be a toilet beside every trail.
The park's official information lists Yanchep Inn and Chocolate Drops as food options. Check their own opening arrangements if a meal there is central to the plan. Bringing lunch lets you organise the day around your cave booking and walking pace.
Pack drinking water for everyone before leaving the visitor precinct. Use barbecues only when permitted, and follow any fire restrictions or closure signs on the day.
Getting there and getting home
By car
Set your destination to Yanchep National Park and then follow the signs for the visitor precinct or the meeting point on your tour confirmation. The park and coastal town are different destinations. Leave time after arrival to pay for entry, park and get your bearings.
A single park day is usually more comfortable than combining Yanchep with several widely separated Perth attractions. If you add another stop, choose it from the Northern Perth area guide and check the actual driving route.
Without a car
Use Transperth JourneyPlanner with the national park or McNess House as the destination. Reaching Yanchep Station does not complete the journey. Check the last connection, the walking sections and the return before buying a timed tour ticket.
If the journey requires a taxi, rideshare or private transfer, arrange the return as well as the outward trip. Do not depend on finding an available vehicle at the park when you finish. A tour that includes transport may be the simpler option for visitors without a car.
Accessibility
The koala viewing area has accessible parking bays near its entrance and a wheelchair-accessible toilet. McNess House also lists accessible toilet facilities. These are useful starting points for a visit with limited walking.
DBCA grades Dwerta Mia as Class 1 and describes that grade as suitable for wheelchair users with assistance. The shorter option begins at a different car park from the full route. Ask staff which approach best suits your wheelchair or mobility aid and current ground conditions.
The Class 2 and Class 3 walks can include steps or uneven ground. Avoid assuming that an accessible toilet or car park makes an entire trail accessible. For specific requirements, contact the park on (08) 9303 7759 before travelling.
A relaxed half-day plan
- Arrive and orientate. Pick up a map at McNess House and confirm your tour meeting point, if booked.
- Visit the koalas. Leave time to look carefully rather than treating this as a quick photograph stop.
- Choose one main activity. Take the cave tour or one of the shorter walks. If doing both, let your booking time determine the order.
- Stop for lunch. Use a picnic area or a venue you have checked in advance.
- Add only what still fits. A second short walk is optional. Keep enough time and energy for the journey home.
In hot weather, shorten the walking part of the day. Check DBCA park alerts before departure and follow local instructions if trails or activities are closed.
Common questions
Is the koala talk included in a visit?
The former daily talk is currently suspended. The viewing area remains a separate attraction with its own advertised hours. Check the official koala page for changes.
Can I enter Crystal Cave by myself?
Plan on a booked guided tour. Walking past the cave on the Caves Walk does not provide admission to the underground tour.
What is the best choice for a shorter visit?
Start with the koalas and picnic precinct, then add a short walk that suits your group. A booked cave tour can become the main activity instead if that is your reason for visiting.
Is Yanchep a good rainy-day alternative?
Much of the visit is outdoors. A cave booking does not make the entire day weatherproof, because you still need to get between parking, facilities and activities. For a mainly indoor day, compare Perth's rainy-day options.
Useful official information
- DBCA: Yanchep National Park and entry fees
- McNess House Visitor Centre
- Koala viewing hours and notices
- Crystal Cave tickets and visitor information
- Official park map and walking guide
Compare other Perth parks and gardens or plan your transport around Perth.