Wave Rock – just out of Hyden.

Wave Rock is a natural mainly granite rock formation, just 3 km from Hyden, is 15 metres high and 110 metres long. It gets its name from the fact that it is shaped like a large smooth wave ready to crash onto the beach.

The shape of the wave is not caused by a wave phenomenon, but by gradual weathering and water erosion of the softer rock beneath the upper edge, over many centuries. There are actually several examples of such "waves" in the Hyden area. Believed to have formed over 2700 million years ago, Wave Rock is part of the northern face of Hyden Rock.

The colours of the Wave are caused by the rain washing chemical deposits (carbonates and iron hydroxide) down the face. The darker streaks are algae growing on the surface as dark black stains which change to brown during the dry season. At different times of the day the changing sunlight alters its colours and appearance.

In addition to being an impressive tourist attraction, the rock has been converted in to a catchment for the town's water supplies, with a foot-high concrete wall around the upper edge of Hyden Rock directing rainfall into a storage dam.

Have a look here where Wave Rock is part of our Worlds Longest Golf Course and our 5 day Best of the South tour.

Have a look at where our other Tours go in Western Australia.