The Best Things to Do in the Houtman Abrolhos Islands

Turquoise shallows melt into deep cobalt sea as sunlight flickers across the reef’s crystal-clear waters. Overhead, seabirds circle in a sky so vast it feels like the edge of the world. A string of low-slung islands, all limestone and saltbush, rise from the sea.

These are the Houtman Abrolhos – 122 islands adrift in the Indian Ocean, 60 kilometres off Western Australia’s coast. Once familiar only to crayfishers and maritime historians (the wreck of the Batavia haunts nearby reefs) the Abrolhos host some of Australia’s richest biodiversity and are a Hope Spot, a place identified as essential to ocean health by conservation group Mission Blue.

The islands are surrounded by water that teems with life and is home to a range of coral reefs. On land, thousands of seabirds like the Crested Tern and Lesser Noddy nest undisturbed alongside flourishing flora and fauna. Staying overnight in the Abrolhos means sleeping aboard a boat and cruise operator Eco Albrolhos offers five-night sailings. But things are about to change: new lease agreements mean that for the first time, low-impact, land-based accommodation is planned. Until it’s ready, daytrippers, including wheelchair users, can immerse themselves in this marine sanctuary.

“An incredible experience” is how Geraldton local Chris Kerr, who works for the charity Access to Leisure and Sports, describes her first snorkel in an accessible water scooter, made possible by updated paths on the islands. “Being able to reach the beach and snorkel the reef – it felt like a whole new world.”