Dirk Hartog Island - WA

Located in the north of Western Australia, 830 km from Perth, Dirk Hartog Island forms the western boundary of the Shark Bay World Heritage Area. The Resort can be reached by flying to Denham and then transferring by boat for a one hour journey across Shark Bay. Private air charters can also be arranged from Perth to the Island’s own airstrip.

Dirk Hartog has a unique place within Australia’s European history, as it is the site of the first recorded European landing on Australian soil. Captain Dirk Hartog arrived on the “Eendracht” on 25th October 1616 and announced his arrival by nailing an inscribed pewter place to a wooden post at the site now known as Cape Inscription, just north of Turtle Bay.


Services & Facilities

The Homestead has five double/twin rooms and two twin rooms all with en-suite facilities. There is also a bar/games room that has panoramic views of the bay and is the central living area. A library with many flora and fauna books, early explorer books and maps dating back to 1697 are also on display. There is satellite TV, a CD and DVD player, wireless internet connection and a pool table available.

Guests can start the day with a continental breakfast with the option of a cooked breakfast every second morning. Throughout the day guests can snack on some of our homemade cakes and biscuits, with our banana cake and ANZAC bikkies always popular choices.

Guests can sit outside and watch the sun go down as they enjoy delicious gourmet dinners, all made with the freshest ingredients by resident Homestead chef Tory. Fresh seafood is always on the menu, though non seafood and vegetarian options are always available. A typical evening meal might start with an entree of seared Yellow fin Tuna sashimi, followed by a main course of fresh pink snapper fillets on a bed of mushroom risotto with greens. The meal is then concluded with sticky date and walnut pudding served with hot caramel sauce and cream.

The Homestead’s size makes it perfect for families, fishing and corporate groups to book out the whole Homestead for any given week. This means that guests can truly let their hair down and enjoy quality time with their friends and families, with everything taken care of for them. Fishing groups love our relaxed atmosphere and the option of early breakfasts and packed lunches, giving them even more time out on the water trying to catch the ‘big one’. Corporate groups can make the most of our exclusive surroundings and informal meeting areas.

One of the Homestead’s major drawcards is our staff. Offering hosted accommodation with such small group numbers gives the Homestead a very relaxed and friendly atmosphere. There are normally three to four staff members working a the Homestead at any one time and all staff are highly trained and knowledgeable about the island and its surroundings, as well as being friendly, outgoing and offering a high level of hospitality.

Dirk Hartog Island is a huge place to explore and most guests just don’t have time to explore the whole island during one visit. This is why the Homestead is able to provide guests with guides during their stay. No one knows the island like our guides and they are always willing to share their local knowledge and experiences with guests on any number of adventures.

Our dedicated, friendly and knowledgeable team are always available to offer advice on a new fishing knot, a bit of information on the island’s history or environment, or just relax and share a yarn about the day’s adventure.

Fishing

The relatively unexplored depths off the west coasts of Dirk Hartog Island are tuning up more surprises to the anglers who are willing to put in the time and effort. While the continental shelf lays some 60 m off Cape Inscription, various other attractions bring game fish to the waters of Dirk Hartog. One of the main reasons for the amazing selection of game fish at Dirk Hartog is the flow of warm water from the north, otherwise known as the Leeuwin current. This highway of warm blue water can, at times, lick the sands of the west coast and bring with it game fish. Bait is, as always, an important factor. When the bait is present the fish are never far away. Bait balls under attack from tuna, cobia and trevally are a good starting point for any larger piscatorial predator.

The edges of Cape Inscription and the Pinnacles have turned up Sail Fish, Black Marlin, Wahoo, Yellow fin Tuna, Northern Bluefin, Dolphin Fish and Mackerel and while still relatively uncharted, the waters of Dirk Hartog are an exciting location to pursue these ocean nomads.

Our 48 foot catamaran, Eendracht is available for charter for up to 20 guests. Contact us to book for either a full day of game fishing or an overnight charter.

One of the reasons Shark Bay, and in particular Dirk Hartog Island, is such a popular fishing destination, is the year long sport fishing that is available. Whether you like to throw poppers to menacing Giant Trevally on dusk or jig up the monster Flathead in the protected shallows around the Homestead, Dirk Hartog Island has it all.

The east coast is a plethora of sheltered bays with rocky headlands and gutters, which to a Tailor hunter is heaven. Full tides, coinciding with sunsets are the recipe for disaster when bait casting or retrieving minor style lures.

The deep edge at Cape Inscription is an excellent spot for catching Spanish Mackerel – up to 30kgs on live bait.

Catch and release is common practice and crushed barbs on all trebles and hooks is mandatory.

Costs