Northcliffe is the home of the giant karri and jarrah tree forests of Western Australia and is the gateway to Windy Harbour at the wild and splendid Cape D’Entrecasteaux with its untouched beaches, excellent fishing and views from the lighthouse across the Southern Ocean to Antarctica.
Several places of significance can be found within D’Entrecasteaux National Park, such as Mt Chudalup, a granite monolith on the way to Windy Harbour, and Broke Inlet, one of the few remaining pristine inlets in the south-west. Visible from Windy Harbour, Sandy Island is identified as an Important Bird Area by Birds Australia for its populations of seabird island species and also at sea off Windy Harbour or Broke Inlet are the “Cow and the Calf” rock formation.
(Please note that some locations along the coast are 4 wheel drive access only, including Lake Jasper, the largest freshwater lake in the South-west and the site of underwater Indigenous peoples’ artefacts, situated 2 hours drive south of Augusta.)
Northcliffe is home to the award-winning Bannister Downs dairy. (Café currently closed due to COVID-19).
As well as enjoying some of the best food in the world in nearby award-winning restaurants of the Southern Forests region, in Northcliffe you can walk through magnificent karri, marri and jarrah forests or along cool creeks and rivers or enjoy the ocean at the largely still unspoiled Windy Harbour, twenty minutes’ drive from town.
Both the Bibbulmun Track and Munda Biddi bike trail pass through Northcliffe.
LOCAL SERVICES
Northcliffe Central General Store and Newsagency (range of food, hardware and general goods)
Karri Country Good Food
Northcliffe Postal Services (Australia Post, gardening and hardware)
Northcliffe Visitor Centre and Northcliffe Public Library (from where you can take guided forest and wildlife tours and wander through the celebrated “Understory” forest sculpture walk)
Northcliffe Community Resource Centre (Internet and digital services, copying, Centrelink access point)
Boorara Mechanical Services (local mechanic) close to town
Fuel is available at the Post Office and General Store.
There is an electric car charger at the Northcliffe Hotel.
The Northcliffe Pioneer Museum has excellent exhibits including life from the 1920s and a major rock collection assembled by George Gardner, as well as a highly regarded historical and family history collection.
Southern Forest Arts maintains a gallery in the Visitor Centre building, with exhibitions showcasing works of local and other artists.
There is a Sports and Recreation Centre and the Northcliffe Golf Club maintains a well-kept course and clubhouse.
Accommodation is available at the Northcliffe Hotel and Motor Inn and two caravan parks near Northcliffe (“Round to It” and “Sid’s Camping Ground”), plus a camping ground and caravan park at Windy Harbour. There are several B & Bs, short stays and home stays both in and around Northcliffe and at Windy Harbour.
