Travel: Wave Rock,WA

By Colin Kerr

Situated near the small wheat belt town of Hyden, about 340km east of Perth, the remarkable Wave Rock was, until the 1960s, known mostly only to a few locals, but in 1963 the wheels were set in motion for all of this to change. It was in this year that Perth photographer Jay Hodges entered a photograph of Wave Rock in a worldwide amateur photographic competition at the New York International World Fair. His entry won a major award and the picture was subsequently published in National Geographic magazine – and the rest is history.

Even though it was well off the main tourist routes, Wave Rock has these days been placed well and truly on the map, with up to 100,000 visitors coming every year to view this magnificent, perfectly formed wave, some 15 metres high and over 100 metres long.

Believed by geologists to be around 2700 million years old and among the oldest structures in the world, this ancient granite rock has been carved out over the aeons of time in the shape of an ocean breaker by the erosive action of wind and rain, simulating the rolling movement of the sea.

Also featured along this fascinating concave wall are strong and very distinct vertical bands of rusty red, black, grey and coloured sand tones created by the action of water, which dissolves minerals (carbonates and iron hydroxide) as they seep through this huge, granite outcrop.

As the water evaporates, the minerals deposited on the sloping rock surface, together with a black algal growth, have formed into bands of striking colour, streaking down the wave-like slope. Like a massive, colourful breaker frozen in stone, complete with a rounded wave lip about to break, this is a powerful, even artistic sight sculptured and painted by the forces of nature over millions of years.

To stand under this massive wave is truly a magnificent experience. In some lights it is even quite eerie – with just a little imagination, this king-size monolith could easily come to life, engulfing all before it!

In reality, however, this wonderful structure is only a small overhang wall measuring 110m long on the northern side of a huge granite boulder covering some 65 hectares, known as Hyden Rock. Although seen as quite a large structure, it is even more daunting to realise that it is only the tip of a truly massive granite outcrop, most of which is buried deep beneath the land surface.

This enormous structure just 4km from the town of Hyden also features another not-quite-so-natural creation.

Back in 1928, long before its tourist possibilities were even dreamt of, Hyden Rock’s potential as a water catchment area was realised – a novel idea was born on how to harvest the wasted water run-off from the rock after rain. In that year a 67m catchment wall up to around one metre high was built on a section of the rock to divert water run-off into a small dam, as an emergency supply for stock. It also became a popular swimming hole for the local children.

With an average annual rainfall in the area of only 337mm the effective water collection system created by this man-made wall (locally referred to as the Great Wall of Hyden!) was, in 1951, significantly extended around the outcrop and the dam size increased to serve as a much-needed main water supply for the Hyden township, a system which still operates today. In more recent times it has been supplemented by another dam created at ‘The Humps’ further north. The water catchment area at Hyden Rock now extends over an amazing 23.3 hectares, diverting run-off into the dam that now has a capacity of over 60,000 cubic metres of water.

A climb to the top of Hyden Rock is a popular pastime for many visitors, both to enjoy the splendid views out over the flat, expansive Wheatbelt countryside, as well as to see, close-up, the engineering creativity that forms the catchment wall and the run-off dam high up on the rock surface.

There are also other nearby options (including in Hyden) ranging from backpacker hostels, bed and breakfasts, a hotel, motel and a new lakeside resort, just one kilometre from Wave Rock on the edge of a natural gypsum lake known as Lake Magic.

Intriguing rock shapes out here do not end at the Wave Rock formation. In what is generally flat, open countryside where there is little else to see from horizon to horizon, the sudden emergence of a series of humps, bumps and lumps is certainly worthy of investigation. While Wave Rock is undoubtedly the most spectacular, for those with a little time to explore the area, other rocky creations to be discovered along a well formed walk trail include ‘The Breakers’, ‘The Waterfall’ and ‘Hippo’s Yawn’. Not far by car are King Rocks, Graham Rock and Mulka’s Cave (with an intriguing Aboriginal legend). All are worth checking out on any visit to this quite unique WA location.

And don’t forget that even on the calmest day, the surf’s always up at Wave Rock!

Wave Rock Fast Facts
There is a visitor entry fee at Wave Rock of $5 per car or $2 per person if travelling by coach.
The best time to visit is in spring when wildflowers in the area are a real bonus. The region is hot and dry in summer.
Advance accommodation bookings essential during Oct and Nov, the peak tourist period.
Wave Rock Caravan Park (two-star): Enquiries phone (08) 9880 5022.
Hyden Tourist Information Centre/Wave Rock Wildflower Shop: (08) 9880 5182, fax (08) 9880 5165.
Hyden Wave Rock Hotel (three-star): 2 Lynch St, Hyden WA, (08) 9880 5052
Turrama Farm Guesthouse, Pingaring, Hyden WA, (08) 9866 8066.