Elephant Rocks, William Bay National Park, Western Australia

The Elephant Rocks in William Bay National Park are giant granite boulders next to a pretty cove beach near Denmark, WA. Be careful when swimming, and don’t attempt to climb them.

What is Elephant Rocks?

Elephant Rocks is a somewhat bizarre geological formation located in William Bay National Park, near Denmark in Western Australia. Made of granite, the rocks look like a herd of elephants wallowing in the waters of the Southern Ocean.

The Elephant Rocks are large, rounded granite boulders that have been shaped by the ocean and the wind over millions of years.

The rocks are surrounded by reasonably steep cliffs and bushland-covered hills.

Where is Elephant Rocks?

Elephant Rocks is in William Bay National Park, 19km south-west of Denmark, WA. The car park is a 73km drive from Albany or a 432km drive from Perth. The rocks are just around the headland to the east of William Bay National Park’s other main attraction – Greens Pool.

Elephant Rocks walk

From the Greens Pool car park it’s a roughly 10 minute walk to the rocks themselves. There’s a decent chance of seeing western grey kangaroos along the way.

There is also a short walk along the coast linking Greens Pool to Elephant Rocks.

Is it safe to swim at Elephant Rocks?

There is a tiny, protected cove beach at Elephant Rocks that is broadly safe for swimming. However, there is no lifeguard service, and there can occasionally be strong, surging currents. Greens Pool is safer.

Speaking of safety, don’t attempt to climb on the rocks. They are big, slippery and potentially unsafe – particularly for children.

The best time to visit William Bay National Park

The best time to visit Elephant Rocks is during the summer months – December to February – when the weather is warm and the water tends to be at its clearest. Come in the spring months, however, and you can enjoy the wildflowers within William Bay National Park.

For more information, visit the Explore Parks site.