Woody Island Nature Reserve

Woody Island is an island off the south coast of Western Australia, located just 15 kilometres from the town of Esperance.

It is part of the Recherche Archipelago and is listed as a nature reserve. The island itself is relatively small, with a length of about 1.5 kilometers and a total area of 240 hectares.

The island has a rich history; it has been used by settlers to graze sheep and collect wood since before 1896, and goods were transported to Esperance for sale. Sheep continued to be grazed on the island until 1954, when the Recherche Archipelago was declared a nature reserve. Woody Island is the only island in the archipelago that is open to visitors, and it is accessible by daily island cruises. Accommodation is also available for visitors.

Tour operator Dan MacKenzie was granted permission to land passengers on the island in 1973. The MacKenzie family built the jetty on the island that was used for visitors to disembark from tourist boats. Since then, a new jetty has been constructed to accommodate larger boats, with the older jetty still visible on the opposite side of the cove. A license to operate overnight tourism on Woody Island was granted to the MacKenzies in 1985, and a visitor centre worth A$500,000 was opened on the island in 1999. Around 16,000 tourists visit the island every year.

Facilities on the island include an interpretive centre where you can learn more about the island's history and ecology. If you feel hungry, the island has a cafe where you can enjoy some light refreshments. There is also a swimming platform with a slide and a