Stockyard Gully

Start		Jurien Bay
Finish	Lake Indoon
Difficulty
Suitable For
Distance	66.85 km
Minimum Days	1
Average Speed	54.12 km/hr
Travel Time	1 hr 14 mins

Description

The Stockyard Gully Caves are one of Western Australia's best kept secrets. The main cave has a sandy bottom and is some 300m long from entrance to entrance. There are two shorter caves that are accessible for the more adventurous before reaching the "final" cave, which has no exit.

The caves can be approached from the Northern end via Lake Indoon or the southern end from Cockleshell Gully Road. 4WD is only required for the sandy tracks and is suitable for towing off-road trailers/vans. Any 4WD is appropriate, as the larger rocky limestone outcrops on the track have been flattened off by CALM.

Although this trek can be completed in one day (mostly driving), it is a great weekend away with overnight campout at nearby Lake Indoon.

Lake Indoon is a large, freshwater lake, which covers 130 hectares, with a depth varying from approximately 1.5m - 5m depending on the seasons and rainfall. It is approximately 4.5kms around the lake. The Lake Indoon facilities include camping grounds around the lake, an ablution block with hot water showers, and a tank for drinking water. The Carnamah Shire runs the campground at Lake Indoon with campsites available on a first-in first served basis. A gas BBQ and picnic area is available near the boat ramp on the north side of the Lake as well as a toilet block (cold showers only). The camping area spreads out around a section of the lake with each site casually clustered under large canopy of trees and native scrubs attracting plenty of birdlife especially the Carnabys Cockatoo who love to eat the flowering banksias that are prolific in the area. This is also a dog friendly campsite.

How to Use this Trek Note

To download this information and the route file for offline use on a phone, tablet, headunit or laptop, go to the app store and purchase ExplorOz Traveller. This app enables offline navigation and mapping and will show where you are as you travel along the route. For more info see the ExplorOz Traveller webpage and the EOTopo webpage.

TIP	ExplorOz Traveller now features the NEW EOTopo 2025 mapset!

History

The erosion from a creek fed upstream from the surrounding plains formed the caves. Further erosion over the years has resulted in roof cave-ins, leaving natural entrances to the caves. These caves are a natural water course and the creek flows in the wetter months. There are warnings not to enter the caves in severe rainstorms as the cave can flood!

TrekID: 94

Preparation

Diesel	ULP	LPG
4cyl 9 litres	4cyl 11 litres	4cyl 13 litres
6cyl 10 litres	6cyl 12 litres	6cyl 12 litres
8cyl 10 litres	8cyl 11 litres


Mean Max. °C
Jan	29.9
Feb	30.8
Mar	29.4
Apr	26.3
May	23.3
Jun	20.6
Jul	19.5
Aug	19.9
Sep	21.2
Oct	23.3
Nov	25.8
Dec	28.2
Mean Min. °C
Jan	17.1
Feb	17.9
Mar	16.6
Apr	14.0
May	11.8
Jun	10.3
Jul	9.3
Aug	9.3
Sep	9.9
Oct	11.2
Nov	13.5
Dec	15.6
Mean Rain mm
Jan	6.9
Feb	14.6
Mar	14.3
Apr	28.9
May	78.5
Jun	106.8
Jul	112.7
Aug	80.2
Sep	44.6
Oct	26.7
Nov	19.1
Dec	7.2

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Mean Max. °C	29.9	30.8	29.4	26.3	23.3	20.6	19.5	19.9	21.2	23.3	25.8	28.2
Mean Min. °C	17.1	17.9	16.6	14.0	11.8	10.3	9.3	9.3	9.9	11.2	13.5	15.6
Mean Rain mm	6.9	14.6	14.3	28.9	78.5	106.8	112.7	80.2	44.6	26.7	19.1	7.2

Map

Directions

What to See

Facilities

Wildflowers

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Comments & Reviews(3)

12 May 22 Member - Moya

We visited the cave yesterday. Well worth the trip. We are staying at Lake Indoon which is a great free camp with plenty of spots available with a nice view over the lake. We entered from the North track which was a mix of rutted out sand and limestone rock barriers. Lowered tyres to 25psi which made for a much more comfortable drive. Max 25kmh with alot at below 10kph. The cave itself was fantastic. I would highly recommend a visit. Enter from the upstream end if you are not up for climbing over rocks/trees and exit from that end also. If you are up for it enter from the downstream end for a bit more of an adventure. The cave is very large and spacious so most people would enjoy walking through it on the level sand base. On the way out we went the South track which was mainly hard packed sand with some rutted sections. We then headed North/East to the Eneabba pub which has recently reopened after a few years being shut. $8 pints so couldn't go wrong!!

29 Nov 18 Member - Simon S

Totally agree. A hidden gem in W.A. Only the main cave open at the moment. Toilets,info and seating at the southern end. Seating and info at northern end. If going in from the north be prepared for a bit of a climb over rocks before getting to the entrance. Once completed you have a choice of retracing your trail, or walking back over the top ofthe cave via the road you came in on. If you dont like clambering over rocks, i would suggest the south entry, go through the cave and asses your options. Its a nicer option to walk back throgh a a nice cool flat cave.

02 Mar 09 ozwasp

It's definitely worth a visit & better than expected. There’re 2 caves with one being flat & sandy, while the other is rocky & has a 'closed' sign on it. The rocky one is much more of an adventure & I would recommend it to anyone fit - just be sure to have a friend for safety. Take at least 1 reliable torch/person, as it is pitch black in the caves & wear high traction shoes if you do the rocky cave, as it’s slippery. The road in from the south is the best way, as the north road is rocky & long

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