Exmouth Vlamingh Head Sunset Walk
Walk to Vlamingh Head Lighthouse at the northern tip of the North West Cape — the lighthouse above the sheer cliff where humpback whales pass within metres of the headland on their annual migration is one of the most dramatic viewpoints in Western Australia.
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Vlamingh Head Lighthouse
Vlamingh Head Lighthouse (1912) stands at the tip of the North West Cape — the lighthouse marks the point where the Indian Ocean meets the Exmouth Gulf, and between June and November humpback whales pass so close to the headland that their blows are clearly audible.
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Humpback Whale Watching Point
Vlamingh Head is Western Australia's most productive shore-based whale watching site — humpback whales heading south from their Kimberley breeding grounds round the North West Cape in tight groups, visible from the clifftop at distances of 50 to 500 metres.
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Exmouth Gulf Sunset View
The view east from Vlamingh Head over Exmouth Gulf shows the extraordinary geography of the North West Cape — the narrow peninsula separates the Indian Ocean to the west from the enclosed gulf to the east, with the Pilbara ranges visible on the horizon.
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Cape Range Antenna Farm
The US Naval Communication Station Harold E Holt antenna farm covers 40 square km of the North West Cape — the very-low-frequency transmitters communicate with submerged submarines throughout the Indian Ocean, and the towers are visible from Vlamingh Head.
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Learmonth Airfield Sunset
Learmonth Airport served as a WWII air base and still operates as an emergency diversion airport for Perth — the sunsets over the Indian Ocean from the flat coastal plain around the airport have the deep reds and oranges of dust-laden desert air.
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North West Cape Milky Way Site
Vlamingh Head after dark is one of the best dark sky locations in WA — the nearest city (Exmouth with 2,500 people) is 70 km away, and the Milky Way over the Indian Ocean from the lighthouse headland is a clear band of stars arcing from horizon to horizon.