Post on 20-May-2020
Fold
Bird WatchingThe park is home to a variety of wonderful birds. You can
see beautiful silver-gulls, fascinating but please don't feed
them, kestrels and black-shouldered kites using the
updraft on cliff faces to hover motionless, ospreys
and crested terns plunging from high to snatch fish
from the sea, pied cormorants hanging their wings
out to dry after diving for food, pink-and-grey
parrots (galahs) feeding on beach plants and
migratory birds such as the bridled tern,
resting between flights. Contact Birds
Australia (93837749) to find out more
about bird watching and special tours.
Fishing
The park is a great place to catch crabs, rock lobsters, abalone,
herring, skippy and tailor. You can line fish most places in the park,
except in Sanctuary Zones which are closed to all fishing and the
Waterman Observation Area, which is restricted to line fishing from
the shore only. Make sure you obey all size and bag limits. No nets
may be used in the park, except crab drop nets. Spearfishing is not
allowed within 1.8 km of the shore. Beyond 1.8 km, you may not use
any underwater breathing apparatus to spear fish. You need a
licence to fish for rock lobsters or abalone (all other shellfish are
totally protected in the park). The rock lobster season is November to
June. Only pots or snares may be used to catch them.
There is usually a short abalone season in
summer, depending on stocks.
Be aware that under the terms of the
park management plan some commercial
fishing is allowed. If you see illegal
fishing phone Fishwatch
1800 815 507.
Picnic AreasClarko Reserve, adjacent to Trigg Island, has a picnic area with
barbecues but parking is limited. Watermans, Sorrento, Pinnaroo
Point, Mullaloo, Beaumaris and Burns Beach all have grassed picnic
and barbecue areas with plenty of parking. The largest picnic area is
at Whitfords Nodes, which is partially sheltered behind the dunes.
Here you will find ample parking, barbecues, change-rooms, toilets
and a large grassy open-area suitable for games. There is also a small
picnic area near the swimming beach at Hillarys Boat Harbour.
Reef WalkingWhen there is a low tide and a slight swell, you can walk out onto the
inshore reefs and watch live marine creatures such as sea stars, bristle
worms, urchins, whelks, shore crabs, beche-de-mer (sea cucumbers)
and anemones. North Trigg, North Beach, Watermans Beach
and Burns Beach are usually good for reef walking. Wear
shoes but take care not to trample the fragile reef
creatures. Do not collect or touch reef animals, some
of them can sting and others may bite (see "Safety").
BeachcombingIf you go beachcombing in the park you might find a
mermaid's purse (skates and rays egg case), the
spiral egg case of a Port Jackson Shark, cuttlefish
"bones", an iridescent abalone shell, a slate urchin, a brilliant orange
starfish, some gooseneck barnacles on driftwood or perhaps a dead
seadragon. The sea washes up many other curiosities, especially after a
storm. If you would like to know more about the flotsam and jetsam of
the sea, come to one of FOMMP’s guided beach walks or use the
Beachcombers Guide listed at the end of
this brochure.
Animal Exercise Areas
Dogs are not allowed on most beaches, however, there are some
designated animal exercise beaches in the park. You can exercise
your dog between North Trigg and Bennion Beach, between North
Beach Jetty and south of Watermans Beach or at Hillarys Beach. Dog
exercise areas are well signed. You should keep your dogs on a lead
when walking on footpaths and under your control when they are on
the beach. All dog exercise beaches provide
bags and bins for dog litter, please use
them. Contact the City of Joondalup for
details of horse beaches.
Dual–Use Pathway:Walking and CyclingA dual-use path for pedestrians and cyclists runs the length
of the park. There are lots of resting spots and lookouts with
spectacular views along the way. You are sure to see some of the
many birds and animals that inhabit the park, including osprey and
terns, dolphins, whales and sea lions. Looking further out to sea you
might be able to see Little Island or Rottnest Island or a ship heading
for or leaving Fremantle. Along the path keep an eye out for fl owering
native plants, the slow moving “bobtail” lizards and the tiny blue
wrens.
There are plenty of places to stop for a drink or a swim and most
beaches have cycle racks.
Bus stops and cafes are located at both ends of the pathway as well as
many places in between. Cyclists can access the path from a number
of train stations or hire a bike (and snorkelling equipment)
at Hillarys Boat Harbour. Helmets are
compulsory and using your
bell will help prevent
accidents.
Marm
ion
Maritim
e Histo
ry M
armion
Marin
e Park is nam
ed after Patrick
Marm
ion w
ho operated a whalin
g
station at Sorren
to between
1849 an
d 1854. You can
see a
comm
emorative plaque in
Gen
eff Park, Sorrento. There
is also a sculpture depicting
the changin
g relationship
between
human
s and w
hales near
the Sorren
to Surf Life Saving Club.
The iron brig Cen
tau
r, wrecked in
1874 on
Centaur R
eef,
is remem
bered by a boat shaped mon
umen
t found overlookin
g
Ham
ersley Pool.
Mt Flora R
egional M
useum in
Elvire St Waterm
an is an
excellent local history m
useum overlookin
g the park. It is
worth a visit for its local history collection
and for the
panoram
ic view of the park from
the roof with its splen
did
circular fish mural. The m
useum is open
from 2-5pm
on
Sundays or by appoin
tmen
t (phone 9345 8
555).
Geo
logy
Marin
e life has played an im
portant role in
the formation
of
the sandy beaches an
d coastal sand dun
es. Some of the beach
sands con
tain as m
uch as 60% crushed seashells m
ixed with
the quartz washed dow
n from
the Perth hills. The num
erous
rocky outcrops and reefs in
the park were form
ed thousands of
years ago from sim
ilar sands. The seashells w
ere dissolved by
rainw
ater to form a "cem
ent" w
hich holds the material
together to form lim
estone.
If you look at rocks along the shorelin
e you
can see an
cient dun
es turned
to stone, fossilised roots, hollow
solution
pipes and fossil shells an
d corals. The
corals can be seen
in the little cove
south of Waterm
ans B
each. Look
also for signs of form
er higher
sea levels (around 6,0
00
years
ago) when
shells were
"cemen
ted" onto older rock
platforms. These old shorelin
es are
several metres above curren
t sea level.
Park
Etiquette
•
Respect other park users. K
now the designated areas and
rules for your activities.
•
Avoid taking unnecessary risks, others may have to take
risks to rescue you.
•
Put rubbish into a bin or if you are on a boat use the rubbish
bins provided at the marinas or boat ram
ps.
•
Help prevent pollution of groundw
ater systems and
drains that flow into the sea. W
ash your car on the
lawn and never put pollutants dow
n street drains.
Be sparing with fertilizers in the garden.
•
Conserve all plant and animal life. O
bserve sanctuary zone
rules and fishing regulations.
•
Protect vegetation and conserve dunes. Stay on m
ade paths.
•
Respect w
ildlife. Don’t disturb anim
als.
•
Anim
al owners keep your pets under control and clean up
after them.
•
Dogs and cats are not perm
itted on Little Island.
•
Fires are not permitted on beaches.
Som
e Safety Hin
tsK
no
w yo
ur o
wn
limits. Learn all you can about safety in your
chosen activities. Clubs are the best source of information.
Thin
k safety first. Sw
im carefully, boat sensibly, plan your
dives and use dive fla\gs when diving or
snorkelling.
Sun
burn
and h
eat exhau
stion
. Wear
protective clothing, a hat and sun-protection
lotion. Carry a bottle of water.
Weath
er can ch
ange q
uick
ly. Check weather
forecasts and tell someone w
here you plan to go
and when you plan to return.
Stings. Stingrays are com
mon. Their tail spines can
give a painful sting. Shuffle your feet when w
ading and
look before jumping into the w
ater. Very hot water w
ill
relieve the pain of a sting. Make sure the w
ater is not so hot that
it burns, by testing the water w
ith an unaffected finger at the
same tim
e. This treatment is for im
mediate pain relief only and
you should seek medical attention as soon as possible after
being stung. Small box-shaped stinging jellyfish appear in large
numbers from
late summ
er to autumn especially in calm
, sandy
areas. They come to the surface in the m
orning and afternoon
but spend the rest of the day closer to the bottom. Avoid
jellyfish stings by wearing protective suits, thick sunscreen (e.g.
zinc cream) on sensitive areas and sw
im goggles. If stung pour
vinegar over any adhering tentacles to prevent further stinging,
then seek medical attention. The larger bluebottle or Portuguese
Man-o-W
ar, appear usually in autumn and w
inter. They have a
more severe sting w
hich will require m
edical attention.
Bluebottles can sting in the water or on the beach so don’t w
alk
barefoot when you see them
on the beach. Treat stings with hot
water for at least 20 m
inutes or medication such as
“Stingose”. Never rub the tentacles, this stings
more.
Sea snak
es and lan
d sn
akes are
sometim
es found on the beach. Avoid
all snakes and never touch them. Live
snakes can appear dead and even
dead sea snakes may have venom
on
them w
hich can enter through small
cuts in your skin.
Blu
e-ringed
octo
pus are very sm
all and comm
on but bites are
extremely rare. Their tiny beak contains a nerve-disabling toxin.
If bitten wash the bite prom
ptly and apply a pressure bandage.
Ensure continuous artificial respiration for bite victims unable to
breathe before seeking medical attention. D
on’t take empty
shells or other hollow things from
the water as these are
favourite octopus homes. The "blue-rings" are only flashed
when the octopus is alarm
ed.
Sea lion
s sometim
es rest on beaches and islands in the park.
You are required to stay at least 5 metres from
them and never
pass between them
and their escape route to the sea.
Sandban
ks an
d submerged ro
cks can be dangerous. W
ear shoes
on rocky beaches and never jump or dive into unfam
iliar waters.
Remem
ber also that sandbanks can change shape and position or
disappear completely, som
etimes w
ithin hours.
Rip
s are strong currents of water m
oving out to sea which can
carry even good swim
mers far offshore. They can form
quickly,
especially if there are large waves. Sandy discoloured w
ater out
beyond the surf zone indicates a rip. Rips are not usually very
wide. If you get caught in a rip, don’t panic or try to sw
im
against it. Swim
at a 45 degree angle across it towards the shore
until you are out of its pull. If there is a beach patrol and you
need help, signal by raising your arm. A
lways sw
im or surf
between the red and yellow
flags on patrolled beaches.
Ro
ckfalls can occur w
ithout warning. Lim
estone crumbles or
breaks easily so avoid cliffs, caves and over-hangs.
Yo
ur
guid
e to
Mar
mio
n
Mar
ine
Par
k
Ma
rmio
n M
ari
ne
Pa
rk,
loca
ted
on
Per
th’s
doo
rste
p,
wa
s
dec
lare
d a
Ma
rin
e Pa
rk i
n 1
987
. S
tret
chin
g fr
om T
rigg
Isla
nd
nor
th t
o Bu
rns
Roc
ks a
nd
ou
t to
sea
for
5.5
km
,
the
clea
r sh
all
ow l
ago
ons,
ree
fs a
nd
sm
all
isl
an
ds
pro
vid
e h
abi
tats
for
sea
bird
s, m
ari
ne
ma
mm
als
an
d
oth
er r
ema
rka
bly
div
erse
ma
rin
e li
fe.
Wh
eth
er y
ou s
wim
, su
rf,
sail
, sn
orke
l, d
ive,
boa
t, f
ish
,
wa
lk,
pic
nic
, ri
de,
ska
te,
win
dsu
rf,
bea
chco
mb
or d
rive
,
this
bro
chu
re w
ill
hel
p y
ou t
o fi
nd
th
e be
st s
ites
in
th
e
pa
rk a
nd
to
enjo
y yo
ur
act
ivit
ies
safe
ly.
Wha
t Is
A M
arin
e Pa
rk?
Mar
ine
park
s ar
e le
gally
dec
lare
d a
reas
whi
ch h
ave
spec
ial
cons
erva
tion
fea
ture
s su
ch a
s to
uris
m, p
ublic
rec
reat
ion,
hist
oric
sit
es, s
cien
tifi
c in
tere
st, e
duca
tion
al v
alue
, nat
ure
cons
erva
tion
or
fish
ing
indu
stri
es.
In W
este
rn A
ustr
alia
, mar
ine
park
s ar
e ve
sted
in t
he M
arin
e
Park
s an
d N
atur
e Co
nser
vati
on A
genc
y an
d m
anag
ed b
y th
e
Dep
artm
ent
of E
nvir
onm
ent
and
Cons
erva
tion
(D
EC).
The
beac
hes
abov
e hi
gh t
ide
are
not
part
of
the
park
. The
y
are
vest
ed in
the
Cit
y of
Sti
rlin
g to
the
Sou
th a
nd t
he C
ity
of
Joon
dalu
p to
the
Nor
th, o
f Be
ach
Roa
d.
Sanc
tuar
y Zo
nes
The
park
has
thr
ee s
anct
uary
zon
es, B
oyin
aboa
t R
eef,
Lit
tle
Isla
nd a
nd T
he L
umps
. Eac
h zo
ne is
mar
ked
by y
ello
w m
arke
r
buoy
s. S
anct
uary
zon
es a
re "
look
but
don
’t t
ake"
are
as w
hich
have
bee
n ch
osen
to
cons
erve
and
mon
itor
spe
cial
fea
ture
s.
Ther
e is
als
o an
Obs
erva
tion
Are
a at
Wat
erm
an e
xten
ding
fro
m
Mal
colm
St
to E
lsie
St
and
out
300
met
res
from
the
hig
h-w
ater
mar
k. O
nly
line
fish
ing
from
the
sho
re is
per
mit
ed in
thi
s ar
ea.
Frie
nds
of M
arm
ion
Mar
ine
Park
(FO
MM
P)*
The
Frie
nds
of M
arm
ion
Mar
ine
Park
is a
vol
unta
ry g
roup
whi
ch w
orks
clo
sely
wit
h th
e D
epar
tmen
t of
Env
iron
men
t an
d
Cons
erva
tion
to
furt
her
the
cons
erva
tion
inte
rest
s of
Mar
mio
n
Mar
ine
Park
by
educ
atin
g th
e us
ers
of t
he p
ark.
FO
MM
P f
ulfi
lls
this
rol
e by
org
anis
ing
beac
h w
alks
, tou
ch p
ools
, dis
play
s,
educ
atio
nal s
peak
ers,
soc
ial g
athe
ring
s an
d sn
orke
lling
and
divi
ng e
xcur
sion
s. F
or m
embe
rshi
p in
form
atio
n or
oth
er
enqu
irie
s P
h: 9
342
8684
.
Portugese
Man
’O W
ar
Sea Lions Dolphins Whales Australian sea lions are frequently seen in the park and occasionally
on the beaches. Little Island and Burns Rocks are their favoured
‘hauling out’ areas. Admire sea lions from a safe distance, 5 metres on
land and 10 metres in the water. If you visit there, please anchor your
boat in sand offshore and keep your visit to less than 10 minutes (see
also "Safety"). Small pods of dolphins hunt fish in the park and
Southern Right and Humpback Whales are regular visitors during
spring. You can go on whale watching tours from Hillarys Boat
Harbour. Humpback Whales usually stay offshore but you might be
lucky enough to see a Right Whale close inshore. If you are in a boat
please stay at least 100 metres away from any whales. Injured or
stranded sea mammals should be reported to DEC, 9336 0100.
Turtles Snakes Lizards The park and beaches are
home to many species of
reptiles. You can see their tracks
in freshly blown sand. Look for lizard
tracks, snake trails and the subsurface
burrowing of "legless" lizards. Large long-
tailed skinks and other lizards live in the rocky shore areas. If you
picnic there you may find skinks stealing your food. They can bite but
the bite is usually harmless. Occasionally yellow-bellied sea-snakes
and young loggerhead turtles, carried south by the Leeuwin Current,
come ashore, or you may find a long-necked tortoise from a
freshwater swamp which has been carried to the sea via a storm-
water drain. Contact DEC if you find a stranded turtle or tortoise.
Just Looking Looking for something less energetic? Stroll around Hillarys Boat
Harbour for an hour or two. Why not learn more about the marine
environment and the park by visiting The Naturaliste Marine Discovery
Centre or AQWA, the Aquarium of Western Australia? Park at a beach
and be amazed by the skill of the surfers, windsurfers and kite surfers.
If you want a little exercise walk up the steps to the lookout on the
roof of Mt Flora Regional Museum or to one of the lookout towers
at Whitfords Nodes or North Mullaloo. And at the end of
the day be sure not to miss a golden Sunset Coast
sunset from one of the beaches.
FOMMP 11/99
Yellow-bellied
Sea Sn
ake
Seagrass
West Australian Dhufish
Sea Lion
WeedySeadragon
CowrieShell
Turba
n Sh
ell
Roe’s Aba
lone
Hairy Starfish
Snorkellingand Diving
A snorkel or dive over reefs, lagoons
and seagrass beds in the park will reveal
ledges, swimthroughs and colourful sea life.
Most sea life will be southern temperate species,
however, there are also some tropical species, thanks to the
warm Leeuwin Current. This is a current that originates in the
tropics and flows southwards down the Western Australian coast. It
keeps sea temperatures in the range 16o to 23o C, warm enough for some
coral to grow, and to bring some tropical visitors (like turtles) to the park.
Two of the most spectacular fish found in the park are the leafy
seadragon and the weedy seadragon. If you are lucky enough to see a
seadragon let Dragon Search (a community monitoring project) know
when and where you saw it. You can report your sighting via the Dragon
Search website.
You are most likely to find good conditions for your snorkel or dive if you
plan for an early morning start on a day with a forecast for fine weather
and light winds.
Dive and snorkel sites with beach access are Mettams Pool, Hamersley
Pool, Marmion Angling and Aquatic Club and Burns Beach. At Boyinaboat
Reef, a 100 metres
swim from the
southern rock wall of
Hillarys Boat
Harbour, there is a
dive trail marked
with 10 plaques. Little Island is
another excellent
site but you need a boat to
get there. Anchor outside the Sanctuary Zone
and seagrass meadows. For more information about
dive sites ask at a dive shop or a dive club such as SCUBA 2
(also see References).
Swimming and Surfi ngThe park is fringed by some great beaches ranging from small
protected coves to long stretches of golden sand. These cater for
all ages and levels of experience. You will fi nd protected beaches
(weather permitting) suitable for children and inexperienced
swimmers at North Trigg, Mettams Pool, Hamersley Pool, Granny’s Pool
(South of Watermans Beach) and Hillarys Boat Harbour. Access ramps
are provided at North Trigg, Mettams Pool, Watermans and Hillarys.
For those who like body surfi ng, bodyboarding or just playing
in the surf, Mullaloo and Sorrento have beaches that are
patrolled by local surf life saving clubs during the
summer. Remember to swim between the red and
yellow fl ags.
Board Surfi ng and Wave Skis
Perth’s most popular beach for board
riders is Trigg Beach just South of the
park. Within the park smaller waves
can found at North Mullaloo. The
beach to the North of Mettams Pool is
favoured by long boarders.
Wind Surfi ng andKite Surfi ng
If wind and water is your thing then you are welcome in the park
but be aware that designated beach launching and landing areas
may apply and some offshore
areas may be totally
excluded.
As local
councils try to
accommodate
multiple
recreational activities
these areas are always
subject to change. It is advisable to
contact the local council for the latest information.
Offshore from Pinnaroo Point and North of Mullaloo Beach are
popular spots for kite surfi ng.
BoatingThe offshore reefs provide protected waters ideal for
boating and sailing. There are public boat launching
ramps at Hillarys Boat Harbour and at Ocean Reef.
All boats and jet skis must stay 200 metres
or more from shore when travelling faster than
8 knots and anchor outside Sanctuary Zones and
seagrass meadows. No boats are allowed at Boyinaboat
Reef or between the reef and harbour wall. Boat pens at Hillarys Boat
Harbour are arranged with the Dept. of Transport*. Always check
expected boating conditions before going to sea. Let someone know
where you plan to go and when you expect to return. Whitfords Sea
Rescue* should be advised if you expect to go very far offshore.
There is a designated water skiing area north of Pinnaroo Point.
Jet skis may be used in the park except within 300 metres of the
sanctuary zones and must obey all other boating rules. Fancy a sailing
trip? Yachts can be hired at the Hillarys Boat Harbour or if you are
competitive, keel boats race out of Hillarys and Ocean Reef Marina
while small catamarans race at Pinnaroo Point.
Tele
ph
on
e Co
nta
cts
& U
sefu
l Web
site
sFr
iend
s of
Mar
mio
n M
arin
e Pa
rk
9342
868
4
Dep
artm
ent
of E
nvir
onm
ent
and
Cons
erva
tion
(Mar
ine)
93
36 0
100
w
ww
.dec
.wa.
gov.
au
Dep
artm
ent
of F
ishe
ries
(Hill
arys
) 92
03 0
111
w
ww
.fi sh
.wa.
gov.
au
Dep
artm
ent
of T
rans
port
(Hill
arys
) 94
48 7
544
w
ww
.tra
nspo
rt.w
a.go
v.au
/mar
ine
City
of
Joon
dalu
p 94
00 4
000
w
ww
.joon
dalu
p.w
a.go
v.au
City
of
Stir
ling
9345
855
5
ww
w.s
tirl
ing.
wa.
gov.
au
Bird
s A
ustr
alia
93
83 7
749
w
ww
.bir
dsau
stra
lia.c
om.a
u
Wes
tern
Aus
tral
ian
Mus
eum
92
12 3
700
w
ww
.mus
eum
.wa.
gov.
au
Whi
tfor
ds V
olun
teer
Sea
Res
cue
Gro
up
9401
375
7
ww
w.w
hitf
ords
sear
escu
e.or
g.au
Wea
ther
w
ww
.bom
.gov
.au
w
ww
.sea
bree
ze.c
om.a
u
Dra
gon
Sear
ch
ww
w.r
eefw
atch
.asn
.au
Wan
t to
Kn
ow
Mo
re?
som
e us
eful
ref
eren
ces
A fi
eld
guid
e to
cru
stac
ean
s o
f A
ust
rali
an w
ater
s,D
. S. J
ones
& G
. J. M
orga
n, W
este
rn A
ustr
alia
n M
useu
m, 2
002.
Aust
rali
an m
arin
e li
fe :
th
e pla
nts
an
d a
nim
als
of
tem
per
ate
wat
ers,
G
. J. E
dgar
, New
Hol
land
, 200
8.
Aust
rali
an s
eash
ore
s,I.
Ben
nett
& W
.J. D
akin
, Col
lins/
Ang
us &
Rob
erts
on, 1
992.
Bea
chco
mbin
g P
erth
an
d S
outh
-wes
t bea
ches
, DEC
200
6.
Coas
tal
pla
nts
: P
erth
an
d t
he
South
-wes
t re
gio
n,
E. R
ippe
y, U
WA
Pre
ss, 2
004.
Div
e an
d s
no
rkel
sit
es i
n W
este
rn A
ust
rali
a, V
ols.
1&
2, C
ALM
.
Mar
ine
pla
nts
of
the
Per
th r
egio
n, J
. Hui
sman
& C
. Par
ker,
DEC
200
7.
Mar
mio
n M
arin
e Par
k M
anag
emen
t P
lan
, CA
LM 1
992.
Per
th b
each
com
ber
s ed
uca
tio
n k
it, D
epar
tmen
t of
Fis
heri
es, 2
010.
Rec
oll
ecti
on
s fr
om
a s
ho
reli
ne,
L N
ewel
l & H
Wel
ler,
Art
look
, 198
0.
Sea
Fish
es o
f So
uthe
rn A
ustr
alia
: com
plet
e fi
eld
guid
e fo
r an
gler
s an
d di
vers
,B.
Hut
chin
s, &
R. S
wai
nsto
n, S
wai
nsto
n P
ublis
hing
,199
9.
Seas
hel
ls o
f W
este
rn A
ust
rali
a,F.
E. W
ells
& C
. W. B
ryce
, Wes
tern
Aus
tral
ian
Mus
eum
, 198
8.
Sea
Stin
gers
–an
d o
ther
ven
om
ous
and p
ois
on
ous
mar
ine
inve
rteb
rate
s o
f W
este
rn A
ust
rali
a,L.
M. M
arsh
& S
..M. S
lack
Sm
ith,
Wes
tern
Aus
tral
ian
Mus
eum
, 201
0.
Un
der
so
uth
ern
sea
s: t
he
eco
logy
of
Aust
rali
a’s
rock
y re
efs,
N. A
ndre
w,
UN
SW P
ress
, 199
9.
Wo
nder
s o
f W
este
rn w
ater
s: t
he
mar
ine
life
of
South
wes
tern
Aust
rali
a,S.
Mor
riso
n &
A. S
torr
ies,
CA
LM, 1
999.
Loggerhead Turtle
Silver Gull