Conto’s Beach and its surrounding bays are part of the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park.This freshwater spring makes Conto’s unique – it flows out onto the sand, icy cold and filtered clean by the limestone it passes through.
Nearest Address
Off caves road, lake cave turnoff Conto Rd Boranup WA 6286.
Directions from Nearest Address
From Margaret River head south along caves Rd to the Lake Cave turnoff on the right, turn in here. Before the kiosk and cave turn left onto a well signposted dirt road to conto springs. Carry on past the camping area toward the beach. Just before descending to the beach are 2 footpaths on the right marked with pine poles. These lead to the take off. To drive to the bottom landing carry on down the road and turn right to the beach parking area.
so happy perth is hear! and also so happy to see others hear too! we need to let the people of this land for the last fucking 50 thousand years give us guidance no crown throne and sceptre is gonna achieve anything but ego static rub yourself up the wrong way 😉
There are freshwater springs on the beach at Trigg Island – the little beach where the babies go. About 2 or 3 meters below the rock in the middle of the beach, and also to the far right hand side of the beach.
When I first came to WA 30 years ago, the springs were higher up the beach, but as the water table has lowered, the springs have moved down – now they are often underwater.
You can see where they are because the water looks “greasy” or “oily” – its the fresh and salt water mixing. If you dig down, fresh water will bubble up 🙂 Try going at low tide and looking for wet streaks in the sand close to the water line.Also: There’s a similar spring on the far right of Geordie Bay on Rottnest. You have to look for it, but its there….
Neither would be a good supply of drinking water, but its nice to know they’re there, and the seagulls appreciate them being dug out…
Also; re the Spring at Mt Eliza (Kings Park) – that is a really, really sacred spot. I certainly wouldn’t be drinking from it without explicit permission from the local Elders!
Hi there Molly
I would love to know more about the spring at Trigg Island (even though it is submerged now) and have been googling away but unable to find any info – can you point me to any websites that may tell us more about it?
Looking forward to exploring the Conto’s spring in the school holidays 🙂
Many thanks
Hi Karen – Conto’s spring is still active from my recent visits. On the beach down there, can’t miss it. Back in the day I used to camp there for the summer and enjoyed the fresh water immensely! Give it another go you should find it. On the main beach down there. 🙂
There was a Natural Spring under Kings Park, down near the Old Brewery site call Gooniniup. This is now closed (1990s) this is a very spiritual place for the Aboriginal people of the Swan river the Mooro Nyoongars. A fountain was constructed there in 1861 and named ‘Kennedy’s fountain’, after the governor of the time. History provided on this area explains how it was an important source of water in the early days of the colony, providing Perth with the first public water supply. However there is scant recognition of its history, prior to colonial times.
It is the surfacing place of The Waugal (derived from waug which means soul, spirit or breath) The Waugal is believed to have surfaced near to the fresh water spring in the area. The Waugal is associated and equivalent to ‘living water’ or a vital force of water and is represented in the form of a ‘water snake’.
Goonininup and an adjacent camp called Goodinup, is a recognised meeting place for Nyoongars. It is a place where inland Nyoongar met with the coastal Nyoongar. It was a place associated with male initiation, economic exchange and a recognised trade route for red ochre. It was one of a number of sites of importance to the Nyoongars.
Kate Gryguc
REFERENCED from: Hughes-Hallett, D. (2010) Indigenous history of the Swan and Canning rivers Student work placement : Curtin University : Various works compiled and presented by: Debra Hughes‐Hallett.
Hi Kate,
Can I just ask what you mean when you say the kennedy spring at kings park is ‘closed’? How can you close a spring? I was there yesterday and there was some water trickling out, not a very heavy stream though.
Has anybody found a spring closer to Perth? maybe theres one in Perth Hills?!
Thanks,
Leah
Was on the quest to find Conto’s Spring on the weekend. I couldn’t find it but some younger people were there the week before clibing over all the rocks until they found it. So it is around.
There must be more places around as people have lived on this land for millennia and we need fresh water to live.
I actually typed hear twice wowza, now I have typed here twice he he keep up the great work! ground yourself! don’t get lost up in the stars! be mindful but not too much so it’s the heart where we find ourselves feeling the earth
Dec 2013 I travelled to contos spring. No water was found.
I did the cave tours & was told there was a spring there that helped form the caves but with drought etc there hasn’t been a spring there for about 40yrs.
Not sure if there is something else but the beach there is magical. One of my most favourite spots in WA.
Drinking pure spring water is one of the most important things we can do for our health. Our bodies are over 99% water at the molecular level, so water affects every aspect of our biology. Yet, not all water is created equal. Almost all the bottled spring water available is pasteurized for shelf stability, which neutralizes many of the powerful health benefits such as increased hydrogen, healthy probiotics, and crystalline structure. For more about why unprocessed spring water is the best water to drink, read this.
The best way to guarantee you are getting real unprocessed spring water is to collect it yourself. This is a short and simple guide filled with information about how to gather spring water. We will cover how to find a spring, how to collect the water, how to honor the spring, how to store the water properly and other tips.
FindASpring.org is the best resource for locating a spring near you. However, not all springs are on the map. First, check the map to see if there is a spring in your local area. If there is, look at the reviews and comments. Has anyone shared helpful information about flow rate or posted a water test result? Is the spring in a pristine area? Do a bit of research and make sure the spring is safe to drink from. If you have any doubt about the purity, don’t risk it and get a water test, HERE. If you don’t see a spring on the map in your area, there still might be some that aren’t listed yet. First, ask the older generation who have lived in your area a long time if they know. You can also ask people in your community who might already get spring water such as people at a health food store or at a farmers market. Another great option is to view A US forest service map, where many springs have been marked. You can view these maps through the Gaia GPS or All Trails hiking apps on your phone. The map overlay you want is USGS Topo. Not all are easily accessible or ideal for drinking, but some are and it can be a fun adventure to find them. We have found over half a dozen great springs this way.
Once you’ve found your spring, figure out how you are going to gather the water. Is it right on the side of the road and easy to access or do you have to hike to it? We recommend storing spring water in glass instead of plastic to preserve the purity of the water. It is better for the environment, your body, and the water. Even BPA free plastic has toxic chemicals that can leach into water and cause health issues. If you do want to use plastic for safety reasons when filling at the spring, we recommend transferring the water to glass as soon as possible. FindASpring is sponsored by Alive Waters, which offers beautiful reusable glass. They have a 2.5 gallon option, which is a convenient size for carrying that isn’t too heavy. They also sell handles that you can use to transport the jugs even more easily. If you have to hike to access the spring, we recommend putting the water jugs into an extra large backpack to hike the water out with ease. We use Osprey packs that hold 2 jugs each. You can also use a wheelbarrow or even a stroller depending on how easy a walk it is.
Filling 2.5 Gallon Alive Waters Jug
When you get to the spring, remember to first give back before you take. Springs are considered sacred in indigenous cultures around the world for their life giving water and also as a connection to the inner earth. A powerful and simple way to give back is to clean up. Is there any trash that needs to be collected? Could you move any dead leaves or sticks to improve the flow rate? Show up in service. Some other wonderful ways to give is with a moment of expressing verbal gratitude, singing songs to the water, offering the water an ethically sourced crystal, a feather, or some other physical gift. Flowers are a popular and beautiful thing to offer, but please be careful to source organic ones as most flowers from the store are sprayed with pesticides and can be toxic to put near a spring. Also, flowers can attract bugs as they decay, so it can be best to offer them to the flowing water directly or a little downstream from the spring head.
When gathering the water, fill the jug as close to the spring head as possible, never gather downstream. Be very careful as wet glass is extremely slippery. Make sure the lid is securely fastened. When transporting the spring water home, the jugs can sometimes slide around the car. Secure them in place or wrap them with towels or something so they don’t crash into each other.
How you store your spring water is essential. It is not pasteurized like spring water from the store, so it will start growing algae if left in direct sunlight. This is good because it means it’s alive! If the water you drink can’t even support the most basic life forms, how do you think it will support your body? Store your water in a cool, dark place such as a dark corner, pantry or closet. The fridge is ideal if you have room. Some people prefer to filter their water through a Berkey filter before drinking, but if the spring is pure, it’s not necessary. We drink our spring water completely unfiltered.
How long the water stays good for depends on how cold a temperature it’s stored at. Spring water is best fresh. We personally do not prefer to drink spring water past 2 weeks old. However, we know other people that will drink it at a month old. It’s great to get in a rhythm where you know how long the water lasts you and put your collection day on the calendar in advance.
I believe that water is calling us to reconnect with her in the deepest way, to gather our own water. Just like our ancestors did. Our ancestors didn’t have fancy water machines. They also didn’t create villages or settle where there was no water. Water was revered as the center of the community and the nodal point around which life could spiral out and take root.
Here’s to restoring the sacred connection with the waters of life.
Written by Dakota Chanel. Water Priestess and Ceremonialist. DakotaChanel.com
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Conto's Spring, Margaret River Region, Western Australia
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so happy perth is hear! and also so happy to see others hear too! we need to let the people of this land for the last fucking 50 thousand years give us guidance no crown throne and sceptre is gonna achieve anything but ego static rub yourself up the wrong way 😉
There are freshwater springs on the beach at Trigg Island – the little beach where the babies go. About 2 or 3 meters below the rock in the middle of the beach, and also to the far right hand side of the beach.
When I first came to WA 30 years ago, the springs were higher up the beach, but as the water table has lowered, the springs have moved down – now they are often underwater.
You can see where they are because the water looks “greasy” or “oily” – its the fresh and salt water mixing. If you dig down, fresh water will bubble up 🙂 Try going at low tide and looking for wet streaks in the sand close to the water line.Also: There’s a similar spring on the far right of Geordie Bay on Rottnest. You have to look for it, but its there….
Neither would be a good supply of drinking water, but its nice to know they’re there, and the seagulls appreciate them being dug out…
Also; re the Spring at Mt Eliza (Kings Park) – that is a really, really sacred spot. I certainly wouldn’t be drinking from it without explicit permission from the local Elders!
Hi there Molly
I would love to know more about the spring at Trigg Island (even though it is submerged now) and have been googling away but unable to find any info – can you point me to any websites that may tell us more about it?
Looking forward to exploring the Conto’s spring in the school holidays 🙂
Many thanks
Hi Karen – Conto’s spring is still active from my recent visits. On the beach down there, can’t miss it. Back in the day I used to camp there for the summer and enjoyed the fresh water immensely! Give it another go you should find it. On the main beach down there. 🙂
Hi David your comment was 2014, do you know if its there now please?
thanks. so glad there’s a wa spring on here!!!
hi monica,
have you found one in the metro area of Perth?
cheers
Fenn
Does anyone know where Cozy Corner is near Albany/Denmark? Apparently there is a freshwater spring there.
Thanks!
has anyone found one in the metro area?
cheers
Fenn
There was a Natural Spring under Kings Park, down near the Old Brewery site call Gooniniup. This is now closed (1990s) this is a very spiritual place for the Aboriginal people of the Swan river the Mooro Nyoongars. A fountain was constructed there in 1861 and named ‘Kennedy’s fountain’, after the governor of the time. History provided on this area explains how it was an important source of water in the early days of the colony, providing Perth with the first public water supply. However there is scant recognition of its history, prior to colonial times.
It is the surfacing place of The Waugal (derived from waug which means soul, spirit or breath) The Waugal is believed to have surfaced near to the fresh water spring in the area. The Waugal is associated and equivalent to ‘living water’ or a vital force of water and is represented in the form of a ‘water snake’.
Goonininup and an adjacent camp called Goodinup, is a recognised meeting place for Nyoongars. It is a place where inland Nyoongar met with the coastal Nyoongar. It was a place associated with male initiation, economic exchange and a recognised trade route for red ochre. It was one of a number of sites of importance to the Nyoongars.
Kate Gryguc
REFERENCED from: Hughes-Hallett, D. (2010) Indigenous history of the Swan and Canning rivers Student work placement : Curtin University : Various works compiled and presented by: Debra Hughes‐Hallett.
http://www.swanrivertrust.wa.gov.au/riverpark/culture/Documents/debra_hughes_hallett_indigenous_history.pdf
Hi Kate,
Can I just ask what you mean when you say the kennedy spring at kings park is ‘closed’? How can you close a spring? I was there yesterday and there was some water trickling out, not a very heavy stream though.
Has anybody found a spring closer to Perth? maybe theres one in Perth Hills?!
Thanks,
Leah
anyone visiting wa boranup forrest where this spring is
based is a spritual place that will stay with you
Hi there every one, here every one is sharing these know-how, thus it’s good to read this weblog, and I used to pay a visit this blog daily.
Was on the quest to find Conto’s Spring on the weekend. I couldn’t find it but some younger people were there the week before clibing over all the rocks until they found it. So it is around.
There must be more places around as people have lived on this land for millennia and we need fresh water to live.
Conto’s spring has been dried for a few years now. The place is beutiful but no spring anymore.
Beautiful place Conto Springs but we didn’t find any water. 🙁
I actually typed hear twice wowza, now I have typed here twice he he keep up the great work! ground yourself! don’t get lost up in the stars! be mindful but not too much so it’s the heart where we find ourselves feeling the earth
Dec 2013 I travelled to contos spring. No water was found.
I did the cave tours & was told there was a spring there that helped form the caves but with drought etc there hasn’t been a spring there for about 40yrs.
Not sure if there is something else but the beach there is magical. One of my most favourite spots in WA.