CAPE ARID

The park was named 'Cap Arride' by French explorer D'Entrecasteaux in 1792. Mathew Flinders anglicised the name in 1892.

The park features some of the most beautiful coastal scenery you will ever see.  There are over 160 bird species known to inhabit the park. Camping is permitted in five designated areas, Thomas River, Thomas Fishery, Seal Creek, Jorndee Creek and Mount Ragged. Special scenic areas include Yokinup Bay and  Little Tagon Bay.

In 1931 amateur naturalists discovered an unusual colony of ants in this area and when specimens were sent for identification it was discovered that they were in fact Nothomyrmecia Macrops, which to most of us doesn't mean much but to those 'in the know' it was like finding a living dinosaur. These insects were from a time when some ants had begun to evolve into wasps.

A follow up expedition was organised to try and relocate the colony but it was never found. 50 years later yet another expedition was en-route to the area when just by chance they discovered another colony of these strange insects in South Australia. The second colony was discovered purely by accident when one of the expedition vehicles broke down and the party made an unplanned stop for the night.

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