Green Head is a small Australian coastal town in the Shire of Coorow.
Green Head is a small Australian coastal town in the Shire of Coorow. The town is situated between Geraldton and Perth in the Mid West region of Western Australia along Indian Ocean Drive. Itsbeaches andlifestyle provide a relaxed holiday atmosphere. It is the home of what was a significant, but now declining, rock lobster industry.
History
The first Europeans known to visit the Green Head coast were Dutch sailors in the 1600s, sailing to Indonesia for trade. Several Dutch ships were wrecked on the Western Australian reefs, among them the Vergulde Draeck (Gilt Dragon). Abraham Leeman and crew from the Waeckende Boey, while searching in the ship's small boat for survivors of the Vergulde Draeck, were marooned on Fishermans Island just south of Green Head in 1658.The town was named after the nearby headland, which was originally named in 1875 byStaff-Commander William Edwin Archdeacon R.N., who was in charge of theAdmiraltysurvey of the coast ofWesternAustralia. The name is descriptive. Land was set aside for a camping reserve in 1946 and the popularity of the area led to a demand for building blocks in the 1950s. Lots were surveyed in 1959 and the townsite was gazetted on 7 January 1966.
Weather
Things to do
Green Head is a popular tourist destination and has a number of accommodation choices.
Local attractions include sea lions a short boat ride off the Green Head coastline at North Fishermans Island, which hosts the second largest population of sea lions on the Mid West coast. Numbers fluctuate between 40 and 80,depending on the breeding cycle. Interaction can be experienced with these inquisitive mammals by a government licensed charter.Green Head has numerous vantage points for beach fishing, where catches include whiting, herring, tailor, skippy, and cobbler. Two recreational boat ramps service the town, one near the jetty in Anchorage Bay and the other at South Bay for smaller boats. A boat provides access to a variety of fish as well as the local crayfish (rock-lobster).
There is one main paddle-out surf break at Point Louise, best suited for beginners or malibu riders when the swell is under two metres.Swells bigger than 2 metres create a more powerful wave that suits intermediate to advanced surfers. Green Head has many options to explore off-shore reefs for waves but require use of a boat.
Green Head is a well known sailboarding destination thanks to the strong sea breeze that blows from December until February. Although popular amongst the windsurfing community it still remains relatively uncrowded. Sandboarding is another activity available with specific beaches to sandboard where sand erosion is not a problem.
The Green Head town site is surrounded by nature reserves and a national park. Lesueur National Park covers 2,700 hectares and is renowned for its diversity of wild flowers. 1200 species have been identified but not surprisingly there are still over 300 species to be identified. The Department of Environment and Conservation improved infrastructure by installing a bitumen loop road for access to the unique flora and fauna. The best period to see the wildflowers in bloom is from August through until October.
A 2.5 km walk trail "3 Bays Walkway" interconnects the three main bays from South Bay at Cliff Park, to Dynamite Bay and continues on to Anchorage Bay in the north. This walk trail has large limestone rock lookouts at strategic viewing locations, numerous interpretive signage along the trail which depict cultural, historic & indigenous information of the area while also allowing providing safe beach access. This walk trail is constructed predominately of concrete to allow for greater usage regardless of age or abilities.