Millstream Chichester National Park Park

Address: Millstream Chichester National Park, Western Australia

Website: https://parks.dpaw.wa.gov.au/park/millstream-chichester

Hours: Open year-round (no visitor center hours)

Admission: Free (park entry); fees may apply for some activities and permits

Millstream Chichester National Park is a protected area in the Pilbara region of Western Australia that combines arid ranges and permanent freshwater pools. It is notable for the Millstream wetlands on the upper Fortescue River and the adjacent Chichester Range.

The park’s main attractions are the permanent springs and pools on the Fortescue River, which provide year-round water and attract birds and other wildlife. Visitors also use short walks and lookouts in the Chichester Range and visit the pastoral-era Millstream Homestead precinct for interpretation and day-use facilities.

The park protects both natural and cultural values - including Aboriginal sites and pastoral station remains - and was established to conserve the region’s permanent water features and surrounding landscapes. Management has focused on protecting the springs and providing basic visitor facilities while conserving cultural sites.

The park sits in the inland Pilbara landscape of northern Western Australia, combining low ranges of banded ironstone with stretches of arid plains and the Fortescue River wetland system. It is located well inland from Western Australia’s north coast, within the Pilbara bioregion.

• Best time to visit: Best visited in the dry season - typically May to October - when roads and walking tracks are most accessible and wildlife congregates around permanent water.
• Heritage and access: Contains significant Aboriginal heritage and pastoral-era remains, so stay on marked tracks and follow signage at cultural sites.

What to See#

• Fortescue River pools: Contains a cluster of permanent springs and pools on the Fortescue River that form the park’s main wetland features and visitor spots.
• Millstream Homestead: A historic pastoral station complex with visitor facilities and interpretive displays about local European settlement.
• Chichester Range: A low mountain range of banded ironstone and gorges that frames parts of the park and contains walking routes and viewpoints.

The park is in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, roughly 150-200 km from Karratha depending on the route. Access is by sealed and unsealed roads; a high-clearance 4x4 is recommended. Visitors usually travel by car from Karratha or other regional centers.

• Park roads are rough and remote - a 4x4 vehicle is strongly recommended.
• The best access point is from Millstream town; allow long travel times and carry emergency supplies.
• Look for the permanent springs and rainforest pockets (The Millstream and Chichester rivers) which are cooler and biologically richest parts of the park.