Road Closures,
Conditions & Notices
BUSHFIRE UPDATE: Fitzgerald River National Park
UPDATE 11.04am Thursday, 19 Jan
A BUSHFIRE ADVICE - remains in place for Fitzgerald River National Park, Hopetoun, Jacup, Jerramungup, Ravensthorpe and West Fitzgerald. There is no threat to lives and homes. To stay up to date on the fire and to read full information, please refer to
www.emergencywa.gov.au.
Parks and Wildlife Service has issued a park closure at Fitzgerald River National Park. Crews have begun inspecting roads leading into recreational areas within the park. Recreation sites within the Fitzgerald River National Park will begin to open once inspections have taken place and there is no risk to the public. Visitors should refer to the
DBCA Park Alerts page to find out which sites have been affected or contact DBCA's Albany Regional office directly on (08) 9842 4500 or email
albany@dbca.wa.gov.au.
The sealed section of Hamersley Drive is now open and visitors can access Hamersley Inlet. Please see the latest Parks and Wildlife's Road Condition Access Report which gets updated regularly for the most recent information.
MAIN ROADS WA NOTICES
To stay up to date on road conditions please visit Main Roads Travel Map or by calling 138 138. Main Roads Travel Map is a great resource for the latest alerts on traffic and travel information relating to Western Australia's main road network.
The maintenance of the following roads are the responsibility of Main Roads WA:
South Coast Highway
Brookton Highway (ie Lake King - Ravensthorpe)
Ravensthorpe-Hopetoun Road
SHIRE OF RAVENSTHORPE NOTICES
With the warmer weather brings more movement of our wildlife in the region. Drivers are advised to be aware and help protect our wildlife. A reminder for your safety, when travelling on unfamiliar roads, always drive to the road conditions and ensure you take sufficient rest breaks on long road trips.
For more information on local road conditions and closures within the Shire of Ravensthorpe please contact (08) 9839 0000 during office hours, between 9AM to 4PM or visit the Shire of Ravensthorpe website or Facebook page.
For the latest updates information on local Esperance roads please contact the Shire of Esperance:
Please note access to Munglinup Beach Caravan Park from South Coast Highway is available via Fuss Road (sealed).
WHERE DO I FIND INFORMATION ON THE CONDITION OF ACCESS ROADS INTO THE FITZGERALD RIVER NATIONAL PARK?
There are several access points to enter the Fitzgerald River National Park. These roads are managed by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA), Parks and Wildlife Service.
Updated Friday, 6 February 2026
Updates on the campgrounds (excluding Hamersley Inlet Campground which is managed by the Shire of Ravensthorpe), roads, tracks and trails and any closures can be found by contacting the DBCA's Parks and Wildlife Service Albany office during office hours on (08) 9842 4500 or by visiting the Park Alerts System alerts.dbca.wa.gov.au/
For information about the condition of roads leading to the western side of the Fitzgerald River National Park can be obtained from the Shire of Jerramungup or visit the Road Conditions page on their website.
WHY DO THE ROADS CLOSE SO FREQUENTLY IN THE NATIONAL PARK?
To protect the biodiversity of the Fitzgerald River National Park from the risk of spreading Phytophthora dieback (a deadly plant disease), which is carried by muddy soil sticking to tyres, shoes and equipment, Parks and Wildlife will close unsealed roads and tracks during wet weather events and re-open when the conditions are sufficiently dry (often at short notice).
It is not uncommon for lengthy road closures during the winter months when it is more likely to rain and the soil taking longer to dry. The mild winter conditions experienced in the Fitzgerald Biosphere Coast means that there are times when it is warm and dry enough for the roads to re-open albeit for a short period between the next rain event.
For visitors planning to attend the western side of the National Park (near Bremer Bay) with the aim to get to Point Ann (a natural whale nursey during winter) and St Mary's Inlet campground, it is important to note that all of the roads and tracks in this section of the Park are unsealed and it can be a hit and miss as you are at the mercy of Mother Nature. The chances of access increases greatly with the warmer months, however, until there is sealed access, there can be no guarantee.
The good news if travelling to the eastern side of the National Park (near Hopetoun), Hamersley Drive south is sealed up to Hamersley Inlet and accessible 24/7 except on rare occasions due to alerts relating to extreme weather conditions or bushfire when roads closures may apply for visitor safety. Currently, this is the only sealed road within the National Park but still provides visitors with plenty to see and do including access to key attractions (Cave Point, East Mt Barren), walking trails and the two online bookable campgrounds: Four Mile (Parks and Wildlife) and Hamersley Inlet (Shire of Ravensthorpe). Please note that the northern section of Hamersley Drive which adjoins West River Road and connects with South Coast Highway is however, unsealed and similarly to the western side can close after rain.
The report above is provided to keep you informed on the current status of roads to assist you with your planning. For more information on the Fitzgerald River National Park, please click here (this will take you to Parks and Wildlife Services Explore Parks website). Please regularly check the road conditions and closures before heading out especially after heavy rain as gravel roads and tracks may be closed at short notice. There are digital signs at various entrances to the park to assist you with the status of current road closures, however please be mindful that due to size of the park there may be a short time lag between Rangers closing roads and road notices being issued.
Hamersley Drive south from Hopetoun - is a beautiful, scenic sealed road (bitumen) right through to Hamersley Inlet that will provide plenty of photo opportunities, so don't forget to bring your camera!
Hamersley Drive (south), Photographer Dene Bingham