National park · Australia
Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Do not plan a trip here: no airstrip, no camping, no shops, and Cartier Island is closed for unexploded ordnance. Only West Island Lagoon's east beach and west corridor are open, reached by your own yacht on designated moorings; most travellers should read this as a permit and access page, then go to Christmas Island or the Coral Sea Islands instead.
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
750 km²290 sq mi
approximate
Established
1983
Best months
Jun–Aug
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 7
- Oceania ↗Oceania's island states guard their farms and reefs at the border: tick 'yes' on the arrival card for any food, plant, animal product, soil or used outdoor gear, and let the officer decide.
- Oceania ↗Across the tropical South Pacific, cyclones are possible from November to April: choose insurance that covers weather delays and keep one spare night before a long-haul departure.
- Australia and New Zealand ↗Both countries drive on the left, with long distances between fuel stops in the outback and on New Zealand's back roads; fatigue causes more visitor crashes than speed.
- Australia ↗Almost every visitor needs a visa or an electronic authorisation (ETA or eVisitor, depending on passport) before boarding: apply only through the official Department of Home Affairs site or the official AustralianETA app, and check the rules for your passport.
- Australia ↗Declare all food, plant material, seeds, wood and animal products on your arrival declaration; undeclared items can bring on-the-spot fines or visa cancellation. When unsure, declare it.
- Australia ↗Drive on the left. An overseas licence in English (or with an official translation or International Driving Permit) is accepted for visitors; check the state rules and your rental contract.
- Australia ↗Swim between the red and yellow flags on patrolled beaches; rip currents cause most beach drownings.
At a glance
- Country
- Australia
- Area
- 750 km²290 sq mi
- Reef limits: Ashmore Reef about 583 km² and Cartier Reef about 167 km²; land is only a few dozen hectares (check).
- Established
- 1983
- Best months
- Jun–Aug
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Broome
Ashmore and Cartier Islands are an Australian external territory in the Timor Sea, about 320 km off the Kimberley coast of Western Australia and far closer to Indonesia's Roti than to any Australian city. Ashmore Reef holds West, Middle and East Islands plus two lagoons; Cartier Reef holds one tiny cay. The islands are uninhabited, have no airstrip, no jetty, no shops and no accommodation, and only the east beach and a west corridor of West Island Lagoon are open to the public. Cartier Island is closed outright because it was a bombing range and unexploded ordnance remains. Most of the territory is a Commonwealth marine reserve managed for corals, sea snakes, turtles and seabirds, not for visitors: 255 reef-building coral species are recorded at Ashmore, along with at least 13 sea snakes and 93 bird species. Access is by private or chartered yacht, on visitor-designated moorings, with a permit needed for everything outside the two open areas. Read this as a permit, mooring and weather page rather than a holiday plan, and use Christmas Island or the Coral Sea Islands if you want an Australian island territory you can actually land on.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- Ramsar wetland · 2002Ashmore Reef listed as a wetland of international importance (check).
- Special national site · 1983Declared a nature reserve; Cartier Reef became a marine reserve in 2000.
Size and age
750 km²290 sq mi · national park since 1983
Reef limits: Ashmore Reef about 583 km² and Cartier Reef about 167 km²; land is only a few dozen hectares (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Broome.
Why go
- One of the richest coral and sea-snake habitats off the Western Australian coast, with 255 reef-building coral species recorded at Ashmore.
- A working example of how remote Australian marine reserves are patrolled and managed, if you are already cruising the Timor Sea.
- Ashmore's seabird and turtle numbers are the reason the reserve exists; a visit is a permit-and-mooring exercise, not a holiday.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebAvoid
- MarAvoid
- AprCaution
- MayGo
- JunBest
- JulBest
- AugBest
- SepGo
- OctGo
- NovCaution
- DecAvoid
- JanWet season; cyclones and rain
- FebWet season; cyclone risk
- MarWet season; squalls
- AprWet season ends; seas still unsettled
- MayDry season starts; calmer seas
- JunDry, steady trade winds
- JulDry; best sailing window
- AugDry; strong winds at times
- SepDry; winds easing
- OctDry; hot build-up
- NovWet season approaching; heat
- DecWet season; cyclone risk
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea snakes (at least 13 species recorded)All year · More species here than anywhere else recorded; look, do not handle. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Breeding and feeding sea turtlesAll year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Seabirds and migratory shorebirds (93 species recorded)Mar–May, Sep–Nov | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no |
| DugongAll year · A small population at Ashmore, possibly distinct from other Australian groups. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
From Broome
No scheduled service; private or chartered yacht across the Timor Sea, arriving at the visitor moorings in West Island Lagoon.
Multi-day passage
Open the page →
From Darwin
Private yacht passage; check weather windows and patrol movements before departure.
Multi-day passage
From Air
There is no airstrip and no landing strip on the islands; boats only.
From Australia travel guide
Country-level planning, visas and getting around the mainland.
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| West Island Lagoon open zone | The east beach and a west corridor of the lagoon, the only areas open to the public. | Open, by boat, on visitor-designated moorings. |
| Rest of Ashmore Reef | West, Middle and East Islands, lagoons and reef flats outside the open zone. | Permit only. |
| Cartier Reef and Cartier Island | A former bombing range, now a marine reserve. | Closed; unexploded ordnance. |
| Surrounding marine reserve | The wider Commonwealth marine reserve and its no-take and mooring rules. | Regulated; check current zoning before anchoring. |
Sketch map
- 1West Island Lagoon visitor moorings · Ranger station≈-12.233, 123.050Approximate; the only public access point.Map ↗
- 2East Island · Beach≈-12.233, 123.083Approximate.Map ↗
- 3Middle Island · Beach≈-12.250, 123.033Approximate.Map ↗
- 4West Island · Beach≈-12.233, 122.983Approximate.Map ↗
- 5Cartier Island · Beach≈-12.533, 123.550Approximate; closed for unexploded ordnance.Map ↗
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry to the open zone (West Island Lagoon) | Free | person | No ticket is sold; access is by permit and mooring rules, not a gate fee (check). |
| Permit application for closed zones | Free | application | No published fee; approval is discretionary and slow (check). |
| Own-vessel cost to get there | Free | trip | No commercial service; budget your own fuel, provisions and crew from Broome or Darwin (check). |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Open-zone access (east beach and west corridor, West Island Lagoon) no permit
Permit for any other part of Ashmore or any part of Cartier permit or guide
Cartier Island permit or guide
Park rules
- Cartier Island
- Off limits entirely because of unexploded ordnance from its use as a bombing range.
- Moorings
- Use visitor-designated moorings in the lagoon; if none are free, anchor in sand only, clear of coral. Authority moorings may not be used.
- Camping
- Not allowed; your boat is the only place to sleep.
- Fires
- Campfires are not permitted.
- Fishing
- Subsistence fishing for immediate consumption and one day of sailing is allowed, restricted to certain species and methods, and may need a general permit.
- Water
- The beach well and any rainwater may be contaminated; bring your own water.
Where to stay
In the park
Your own vessel
The only option in the territory; no camping and no accommodation ashore.
Near the park
Broome or Darwin
Mainland bases for provisioning and crew changes before a Timor Sea passage.
Safety
Unexploded ordnance on Cartier high
Navigation over low-lying reefs high
Cyclones and monsoon squalls high
Contaminated water medium
Timor Current medium
Accessibility
- There are no facilities, paths, jetties or toilets; access is by dinghy and swimming.
- The islands are not suitable for travellers with limited mobility, and there is no assistance available.
Visiting lightly
- Stay inside the two open areas and use the visitor moorings so coral is not damaged by anchors.
- Keep well clear of nesting seabirds and turtles; the reserve exists for them, not for visitors.
- Carry out everything you bring; there is no waste collection and no shops to resupply.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Ashmore and Cartier Islands?
There is no ticket price. The open zone at West Island Lagoon has no entry fee, but you must arrive by your own boat and use the visitor moorings. Any other part of Ashmore, and all of Cartier, needs a government permit with no published fee, and approval is discretionary. Your real cost is the passage from Broome or Darwin.
What are the best hikes in Ashmore and Cartier Islands?
There are none. The islands are low sand cays with no trails, no paths and no camping. The only walking is a short stretch of the east beach in the open zone, and Cartier Island is closed because of unexploded ordnance.
When is the best time to visit Ashmore and Cartier Islands?
The dry season, roughly May to October, with June to August the steadiest window. December to May is the wet monsoon period with cyclone risk. Even in the dry season there is no shelter, no rescue service and no guarantee of calm seas.
Can I visit Cartier Island?
No. Cartier Island is off limits to visitors because it was used as a bombing range and unexploded ordnance remains. Permits are not issued for landing there.
Do I need a permit for Ashmore Reef?
Only the east beach and the west corridor of West Island Lagoon are open without a permit. Everything else at Ashmore, and all of Cartier, requires a permit from the Australian government marine reserves authority, applied for before you sail.
Is there anywhere to stay or eat?
No. There are no shops, no accommodation and no camping. Your boat is the only place to sleep, and you must bring all food and water; the beach well may be contaminated.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go