Ring of Stones, Stone circle near Woodada Coast, Western Australia.
The Ring of Stones is a circular arrangement of rocks on the coast of Western Australia, situated between Woodada Well and the shoreline. The stones are placed in a deliberate pattern that stands out clearly against the surrounding scrubland.
Alfred Burt came across the stone formation in 1875 during an Admiralty survey and reported it to Western Australian authorities in 1930. This report triggered a wave of treasure-hunting activity in the following years, as people suspected the site was connected to an old shipwreck.
The stones are arranged in a way that recalls Aboriginal ceremonial sites found across the continent, where rock placements often marked star positions or gathering points. Standing at the site today, visitors can observe how each stone relates to the others and to the open sky above.
Getting to the site requires walking through dense scrubland, so sturdy footwear and enough water are important to bring along. Visitors should check whether a permit is needed before heading out, and should avoid the area after heavy rain when the ground can become very muddy.
In the 1930s, many people believed the stones marked the spot where the Vergulde Draak, a 17th-century Dutch vessel lost in 1656, went down. This belief led to so much digging around the formation that the ground in the area still shows signs of those searches today.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
