Archipelago of the Recherche WA

The Archipelago of the Recherche or Bay of Isles is situated off WA’s southern coast. First explored as early as 1627, the area was named by French explorer, d’Entrecasteaux (1792) and the islands were subsequently charted by Matthew Flinders (1802). Two of his lost anchors were located in 1972 and are now housed within the SA Maritime Museum. The area also features the world’s 2nd largest diving wreck following the sinking of a bulk carrier (Sanko Harvest) in 1991. Comprising over 100 islands and hundreds more granite islets, the archipelago spans 230 km east (Israelite Bay and Cape Arid NP) to west (Esperance and Cape Le Grand NP). Woody Island (west) is the only island with public access and is popular with snorkelers, divers and campers. Other important islands include Middle (east), Taylor, Cooper and Salisbury (sea lions) and Mondrain, Westall and Wilson (rock wallabies). Recherche’s main industries are commercial fishing (abalone, rock lobster, sharks) and tourism fishing.

Visitor Information Centre: Museum Village, Dempster St, Esperance. Tel (08) 9071 2330 or 1300 664 455.