A new boardwalk is on the way for Lake Clifton’s ancient thrombolites

By: Natalie Pugh

A major upgrade is underway at Lake Clifton, where a new boardwalk will make it easier for visitors to view the lake’s world-famous thrombolites while helping protect the fragile environment around them.

Found in Yalgorup National Park, the Lake Clifton thrombolites may look like ordinary rocks at first glance, but they are formed by communities of microorganisms similar to some of the earliest life found on Earth. Lake Clifton is one of the few places in Western Australia where these living formations have survived.

They also hold deep cultural significance for the Bindjareb people, who know them as Noorook, the eggs of the Wagyl creation snake. The boardwalk has been planned with the site’s cultural and environmental values in mind, allowing people to experience the thrombolites without placing further pressure on the lake’s shoreline.

The existing Thrombolites Wagyl’s Noorook viewing boardwalk closed to the public on 13 July 2026, with work expected to continue until early 2027. The nearby car park and access to the Lake Clifton Giant sculpture, around 1.4 kilometres north of the site, will remain open during construction.

The $3.4 million project will replace the boardwalk built in 1996 with a 145-metre elevated timber structure and a 50-metre concrete connector path. The new design aims to offer clearer views across the lake while reducing the impact of visitors on the surrounding ecosystem.

The upgrade forms part of wider work to improve nature-based tourism and trail infrastructure across the Peel region. Once complete, it will offer a safer and more considered way to see one of the Mandurah region’s most unusual attractions.

Visitors planning a trip should check current Park Alerts before setting out, as access arrangements may change while construction is underway.