Western Australia · Attraction
Houtman Abrolhos Islands
Coral reefs, seabirds, shipwrecks
schedule 1 min read / Updated Jun 2026
Scattered across 100 kilometres of Indian Ocean roughly 60 to 80 kilometres west of Geraldton, the 122 islands of the Houtman Abrolhos are a natural and historical wonder of the first order. Designated a national park in 2019, they host the southernmost true coral reef in the Indian Ocean, more than 100 bird species, Australian sea lions, and the ghostly legacy of one of history's most notorious maritime disasters.
The Dutch East India Company ship Batavia wrecked on Morning Reef in the Wallabi Group on 4 June 1629, and the massacre that followed remains one of the most chilling episodes in seafaring history. Artefacts from the Batavia and three other Dutch wrecks are displayed at the Museum of Geraldton on the mainland, but the reef and wreck site itself still draw divers and historians to the islands.
Wildlife is extraordinary. The islands support breeding colonies of more than two million seabirds, Australian sea lions, dolphins, and humpback whales during their winter migration. Snorkelling over the coral gardens reveals remarkable marine diversity for this latitude. The islands are sometimes called the Galapagos of the Indian Ocean.
Day trips depart Geraldton by scenic flight or boat. Camping is not permitted. Visitors arriving by aircraft pay a small per-person park entry fee; boat access remains free.
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