Editing West Cape Howe National Park

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox Australian place
| type                   = protected
| name                   = West Cape Howe National Park
| state                  = wa
| iucn_category          = II
| image                  = 2002 - View across Shelley Beach to West Cape Howe, WA - panoramio.jpg
| caption                = View across Shelley Beach to [[Torbay Head]]
| image_alt              = 
| local_map   = yes
| zoom        = 10
| coordinates            = {{coord|35|06|22|S|117|35|34|E|display=inline,title}}
| relief                 = yes
| pushpin_label_position = top
| map_alt                = 
| nearest_town_or_city   = [[Denmark, Western Australia|Denmark]]
| area                   = 36.05
| area_footnotes         = <ref>{{cite journal| year=2010| title=Department of Environment and Conservation 2009–2010 Annual Report| journal=Annual Report| pages=48| publisher=Department of Environment and Conservation| issn=1835-114X| url=http://www.dec.wa.gov.au/content/view/6139/2345/| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110111124319/http://www.dec.wa.gov.au/content/view/6139/2345/| archive-date=11 January 2011| df=dmy-all}}</ref>
| established            = 1985
| established_footnotes  = 
| visitation_num         = 
| visitation_year        = 
| visitation_footnotes   = 
| managing_authorities   = Department of Parks and Wildlife
| url                    = dec.wa.gov.au/component/option,com_hotproperty/task,view/id,101/Itemid,755/
}}
'''West Cape Howe National Park''' is a national park in [[Western Australia]], {{convert|390|km}} southeast of [[Perth]]. The park is found between [[Albany, Western Australia|Albany]] and [[Denmark, Western Australia|Denmark]] within the [[City of Albany]] and in the [[Great Southern (Western Australia)|Great Southern]] region.

[[Torbay Head]], the most southerly point of the mainland of Western Australia, is situated within the park.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rainbowcoast.com.au/areas/albany/westcapehowe.htm|title=Rainbow Coast WA - West Cape Howe |year=2009|access-date=12 November 2010}}</ref>
The park is abutted against the coast of the [[Southern Ocean]] and takes up approximately {{convert|23|km|abbr=on}} of the coastline between [[Lowlands, Western Australia|Lowlands Beach]] and Forsythe Bluff.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dec.wa.gov.au/component/option,com_hotproperty/task,view/id,101/Itemid,755/|title=Department of Environment - West Cape Howe National Park|year=2010|access-date=12 November 2010}}</ref>

== History ==

The park began as being vested in the Shire of Albany in 1977 for the purposes of recreation. By 1985 the area was gazetted as  C Class Reserve after agreement between the shire and vested in the [[Department of Environment and Conservation (Western Australia)|National Parks and Nature Conservancy Authority]]. Following the addition of an extra {{convert|41|ha|acre|abbr=on}} that was a timber reserve along the northern boundary the park was given an A Class status in 1987. The park is now a single reserve (26177) and is made up of an area of {{convert|3517|ha|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dec.wa.gov.au/pdf/nature/management/west_cape_howe.pdf|title=West Cape Howe Management Plan 1995-2005|year=1994|access-date=12 November 2010}}</ref>
The rare and ancient [[Archaeidae|Main's assassin spider]], currently listed as [[threatened]], was found to inhabit the park during a survey conducted in 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.verveenergy.com.au/documents/RARE_SPIDER_STUDY_AT_ALBANY_-_MEDIA_RELEASE.pdf|title=Verve Energy Media release - Exciting find of rare assassins spider found on WA South Coast|year=2008|access-date=12 November 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110220003300/http://www.verveenergy.com.au/documents/RARE_SPIDER_STUDY_AT_ALBANY_-_MEDIA_RELEASE.pdf|archive-date=20 February 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

== Flora ==

The park is home to a range of habitats including [[karri]] forest, coastal [[heath]] and [[wetland]]s each of which support a diverse array of vegetation and plant species. The area around Lake William supports a dense [[sedge]] scrub and rare species such as ''[[Amperea volubilus]]'' and an unnamed species of ''[[Melaleuca]]''. The Albany Pitcher Plant, ''[[Cephalotus follicularis]]'', is also found in the park.<ref>{{cite AHD|9358|West Cape Howe Area|date=1991|access-date=14 October 2010}}</ref>

==Facilities==

Due to the sandy nature of many of the tracks, much of the park is accessible only to [[four-wheel drive]] vehicles, although all vehicles may reach the popular Shelley Beach where a campground is located.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://parks.dpaw.wa.gov.au/site/shelley-beach|title=Department of Parks and Wildlife - Shelley Beach|year=2013|access-date=21 October 2013}}</ref> Shelley Beach also has a look-out, toilet and [[barbecue]] launching  facilities for [[hang-gliders]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://parks.dpaw.wa.gov.au/park/west-cape-howe|title=Department of Parks and Wildlife - West Cape Howe|year=2013|access-date=21 October 2013}}</ref> The nearby Golden Gate Beach is also a popular location for [[Surfing|surfers]].

Western Australia's long-distance walking trail, the [[Bibbulmun Track]] passes through the park. The park has many facilities for bushwalkers, with a {{convert|15|km}} return trip spur-trail from the track to Torbay Head and a boardwalk section of the track.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rainbowcoast.com.au/areas/albany/westcapehowe.htm|title=Rainbow Coast WA - West Cape Howe |year=2009|access-date=21 October 2013}}</ref> In the West of the park, there is an overnight shelter for walkers that sleeps 12-15 persons, named "West Cape Howe Campsite".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bibbulmuntrack.org.au/trip-planner/track-sections/denmark-albany/|title=Bibbulmun Track Denmark-Albany Section|year=2013|access-date=21 October 2013}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==See also==
* [[Protected areas of Western Australia]]
* [[West Cape Howe]]

{{National Parks of Western Australia}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:National parks of Western Australia]]
[[Category:City of Albany, Western Australia]]
[[Category:Protected areas established in 1985]]
[[Category:1985 establishments in Australia]]
[[Category:Warren bioregion]]