Hardy Inlet

Hardy Inlet on Blackwood River, Augusta | credit: Orderinchaos

At the south west tip of Western Australia, Augusta’s Hardy Inlet is a popular destination. The tranquil waterway, where the Blackwood and Scott rivers converge, opens to the Southern Ocean via Flinders Bay.

Warm weather provides great conditions for picnics, swimming or paddling. It’s also the peak time to spot migratory wading birds along the Blackwood River at low tide. Many other bird species are found in this area including Eastern Reef Egret, Caspian Tern, Australasian Darter and Sooty Oystercatchers.

The inlet is a three-and-a-half-hour drive south of Perth. One of the world’s most scenic coastal walk trails, the Cape-to-Cape Track, will also get you there. Starting at Cape Naturaliste near Dunsborough, this epic 135-kilometre walking adventure leads you through the region’s diverse coastal landscapes to nearby Cape Leeuwin.