Thistle Cove to Lucky Bay

How to get there

1. Drive the sealed park roads from the entry station. Park at one bay and walk to the other only if you have a shuttle or are happy to reverse.
2. Lucky Bay car park fills in peak summer and holidays — have a Plan B bay (Hellfire / Thistle / Le Grand Beach).

How to do it (step by step)

1. Walk Thistle → Lucky for the “arrive at the icon” feeling, or Lucky → Thistle if Lucky’s car park is already ugly.
2. Whistling rock at Thistle Cove is a granite feature — listen, don’t climb for a better audio angle.
3. This is still a no-dogs, 1080, carry-water walk.

The section most people should actually walk

If you want “we walked the Coastal Trail” without an 8-hour granite day, this is the honest slice: Class 3, about 2.5 km, vehicle access both ends, Thistle Cove’s whistling rock at one end and Lucky Bay at the other.

It still needs shoes, water and a reverse plan. It is not a boardwalk.

Shuttle, reverse, Lucky Bay full

Walk Thistle → Lucky for the “arrive at the icon” feeling, or Lucky → Thistle if Lucky’s car park is already ugly. Out-and-back from Thistle if Lucky’s lot is full.

Do not add Hellfire–Thistle Class 5 “because it’s next door” with tired kids. That pairing ban is the usual failure.

Map (orientation)

Pin may be approximate. Confirm trailheads, parking and track status on Explore Parks WA / DBCA before you drive.