Silica Beach (Ngalangalangarr)

There are potentially 10,000 beaches on the 1,000 islands that make up the Kimberley’s Buccaneer Archipelago, but one trumps all the rest. Located on remote Hidden Island, Silica Beach is a rarity in these parts, revered for its turquoise sea and ivory sand. This is surely the whitest, squeakiest sand you’ll ever come across.

A stroll here feels like you’re walking on icing sugar, leading some to call this the Kimberley’s Whitehaven after the world-famous Whitsundays’ beach.

Other beaches in the Kimberley have yellow sand, but the water catchment behind Silica Beach is made up of very rare, almost pure silica quartzite with no other minerals to colour the sand. Silica is visited by privately owned yachts and commercial cruise operators who come to explore the 150m-long beach and to wade in the crystalline waters. A rocky outcrop provides an ideal croc-watching lookout and deep water makes it possible to moor quite close to the beach, allowing vessels to make a quick stopover while exploring the archipelago.

Mayala Country

Ngalangalangarr is part of Mayala Country and lies within Mayala Marine Park. For the Mayala people, the islands, reefs and beaches of this Country are deeply connected to culture, history and Lore. Ngalangalangarr is recognised as a special place, as well as a rare geological feature. Visitors are welcomed to Mayala Country but are asked to respect the Country and leave the beach exactly as they found it.