UNESCO sites in Western Australia

Western Australia is the largest of Australia’s six states, with an area which accounts for around a third of the country’s total land mass. Also known to be the state with the longest coastline, it is home to three outstanding Natural World Heritage Sites.

Located at the most westerly point of the Australian continent, the protected areas and conservation reserves of Shark Bay cover an area of around 23,000 square kilometres, 70% of which is marine water. A unique combination of wildlife, flora and stunning scenery exists here.

The waters, islands and surrounding land of the Bay boast exceptional natural features, namely vast seagrass beds, a large dugong (sea cow) population, and an abundance of stromatolites (hard, dome-shaped deposits of limestone formed by microbial communities).

Unique depositional processes and weathering over hundreds of millions of years have given these towers their spectacular appearance, the distinctive bands being due to the layers of orange iron oxide and black cyanobacteria which stabilise and protect the ancient sandstone.

The park sits in a transitional climate zone between monsoonal areas and the hot, dry desert, meaning it is host to a remarkably rich and diverse mixture of ecosystems, plant and animal species, including over 130 bird species and many species of reptile.

Stretching along more than 300 kilometres of remote coastline, this 6,000-square-kilometre marine and terrestrial property is outstanding for both its incredible natural beauty and for the importance of its natural habitats in the conservation of biological diversity.

While the three World Heritage Sites of Western Australia are listed for their natural values, their cultural significance is equally undeniable.