About Us
Welcome to Yardie Creek Boat Tours, the perfect way to explore the magnificent Yardie Creek. We are Mikhali and Amelia Kaleyias, a husband-and-wife team who have been guiding these memorable tours since October 2024.
For 35 years, these tours have delighted visitors, initially run by local family the Mc Gregors', then the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) and later by local favourites, Peter and Mandy Maier. Now with Mikhali at the helm he is ready to showcase the breath taking scenery to our guests.
Having called Exmouth home for 15 years, Mikhali began his journey as a dive instructor at the Navy Pier. He fell head over heels for the town and, of course, Amelia, his wonderful wife. Together, they’re raising their adorable daughter, Poppy. With extensive experience from working in the tourism industry for 10 years and 12 years in the offshore commercial industry, Mikhali is eager to share the creek’s incredible wildlife and stunning landscapes with you.
Our Ethos
Educate, Protect, Connect
At Yardie Creek Boat Tours we believe that through providing an educational and unique experience to our guests we may encourage a deeper connection to the natural environment which we hope can contribute to fostering a sense of respect and stewardship for natural wonders like Yardie Creek. Our business is dedicated to building meaningful connections with all of our guests as well as our partners including the Joint Management Body and the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA). Through this collaborative approach, we strive to ensure that Yardie Creek remains a pristine and protected environment for future generations to enjoy. Our ongoing commitment to protecting this area are highlighted in our ongoing accreditations as an EcoStar and Sustainable Tourism Accredited business.
History & Location
Traditional Owners
The Baiyungu, Thalanyji, and Yinigurdira people are the traditional owners of the country along the Nyinggulu (Ningaloo) Coast. They have a strong connection and deep respect for country, as well as for the flora and fauna of the area, ensuring that it is preserved for future generations to continue to enjoy.
Yardie Creek or Yardi holds special and significant importance for the traditional owners. There was a permanent clan that lived at the Creek, and it served as an essential gathering place for other clans due to its abundance and variety of food, bush medicine plants, and nearby fresh water sources.
Our tour guides provide a snapshot of the significance of Yardie Creek and what it was like when it was inhabited by the traditional owners and we recognize that we all play a vital role in ensuring the preservation of natural wonders such as Yardie Creek.
The Cape Range National Park
The Cape Range National Park is located in the Ningaloo Coast World Heritage area which was given its heritage status in 2011 due its diverse and incredible natural features.
The limestone parapets and wave- cut terraces of the Cape Range provide a unique insight into the area itself showcasing the history of coral reefs that existed during the last 26 million years. The fascinating processes that have occurred here are the result of the ancient sea floor being thrust upwards by movements of the earth’s crust. The area is home to an incredible variety of plants, birds and reptiles some of which are found nowhere else in the world.
Another feature of the Cape is that it is home to an extensive underground karst system- an area of caves and water bodies. The caves of the Cape Range are renowned for their diverse land based (troglofauna) and aquatic animals (stygofauna) which thrive in the stable humid temperatures of deeper caves and those containing water. Blind species such as millipedes, crickets, spiders, fish, and eels can be found in these caves. Among them, the blind gudgeon fish (Milyeringa veritas) which is exceptionally rare and unique to the southern hemisphere which is known to have existed 5 million years ago.
A cave in Mandu Mandu Gorge once used by the Yinigurdira people, the area's original inhabitants revealed 22 shell beads and hundreds of stone artefacts dated to approximately 34,000 years old, making it one of the oldest forms of jewellery found in the world.
Accreditations
