Shothole Canyon
A dry riverbed gorge on the eastern slope of the Cape Range, where a gravel road runs between layered rock walls. At the end, a picnic area and short trail lead to a lookout.
Shothole Canyon is named after the seismic survey blasts carried out in the gorge during oil exploration in the 1950s. A roughly 12 km gravel track follows the dry riverbed into the canyon, flanked by layer upon layer of red limestone cliffs. At the end, a picnic area has a trail that climbs to a lookout overlooking the gorge and the bay beyond. Parts of the road run along the riverbed, and vehicles are not allowed in after rain, so a high-clearance vehicle is recommended. There is no entry fee and there are no facilities. A visit takes about 1.5–2 hours and can be combined with Charles Knife Canyon on the same day.
Opening hours
All day (closed after rain)
Nearby sights
- Charles Knife Canyon
- Milyering Discovery Centre
- Lakeside Snorkel Area
- Cape Range National Park
- Mangrove Bay Bird Hide
- Turquoise Bay
- Oyster Stacks
- Mandu Mandu Gorge