WA Outback Stations-Hamelin station, Wooramel River Retreat, Bullara station

WHO: The Smith Family – Carol, Adam, Logan & Luke @barefoot_and_breastless

VAN: Jayco Journey Outback Pop Top

LOCATION: Outback Station Stays, WA

Have you ever fancied a huge outback property, with acres for cattle or sheep and a huge barn for entertaining surrounded by raw nature and red dirt? This has appealed to us from the beginning and a lot of our favourite locations have been farm stays and rural properties. However, we had never stayed on a station until this year, and I can tell you we are addicted!

The coral coast of WA has many stations stays, each one offering something truly unique for everyone to enjoy. We were surprised to find that they also offer all the creature comforts you miss when you are beach camping, like hot showers, camp kitchens and even sometimes a cafe!!

Hamelin station

Sometimes you pull up somewhere and it instantly calms you. Hamelin station did just that. The beauty of the red dirt contrasting with the white shell paths thoughtfully laid throughout the station was a perfect combination. It is camping in red dirt without getting red dirt through your caravan!

These shells can be found all along the shore at Hamelin pools near the station. The cockle shells, wash up on the shore due to the extra high salinity of the bay. There is also an old shell quarry nearby where blocks of compressed shells were cut into blocks to build local buildings years ago.

Hamelin Pool is also home to the world’s best example of Stromatolites. Described as living fossils, Stromatolites were the very first life form on earth and were found all over the world producing oxygen which after many thousands of years lead to other forms of life. These structures could be seen from a wooden walkway, which was badly damaged by hurricane Serioj, but plenty can still be seen from the shore.

Hamelin station is a perfect base to visit Steep Point, the westernmost point of mainland Australia, which we visited for an overnight stay. Steep Point is roughly 160kms from the station on a corrugated road winding through the dunes, across beaches, and over cliffs of the Edel Land National Park. The area is also famous for fishing and is located opposite Dirk Hartog Island. The beach of Shelter Bay has groups of camping spots and is perfect for an overnight in the swag or tent. It is not recommended to tow caravans to steep point although people do tow camper trailers and boats to the area. We stayed at Wellard, spot number 1. There were 4 spots where we were camped, and national park drop toilets for public use. There is a Rangers Station which is manned 24/7 and it’s useful to check in when you arrive as you might be able to switch camping spots. We were originally booked to stay on the cliffs due to availability but were swapped to the beach after a quick chat with the ranger.

Returning to Hamelin station after our adventure was like returning home. The facilities are impressive for an outback station with a great camp kitchen and communal area, beautifully hot showers, and flushing toilets.

The 202,000-ha property is owned by Bush Heritage Australia,  which means they often have researchers and ecologists staying at the homestead to do studies. On our last night, they organized a tour of the historic homestead, which was built from shell blocks quarried down on the shore at Hamelin Pool. We were told about the history of the station, the artisan bore on-site and the type of studies that are carried out there now. Hamelin Station is an absolutely beautiful place to which we would return in an instant.

WHERE: Hamelin Station Stay

COST: $15.00 per night/per adult $6.00 per night/per child – Unpowered Caravan Site

FACILITIES: BBQ, Large Camp Kitchen area with stone fireplace, onsite historic shearers quarters accommodation, unpowered caravan sites, communal fire pit, fantastic amenities.

NOTE: Filling of caravan water tanks is unavailable at the station. If need be, there is a rainwater tank where you can fill jerry cans however it is encouraged you arrive with your drinking water. We recommend filling your water tanks either at Geraldton or Kalbarri prior to travelling north to Hamelin.

Wooramel River Retreat

This beautiful riverside station covers 1430 square kilometres and is known for its naturally heated, therapeutic artesian bore baths. The baths are accessible 24/7 and are the perfect way to relax at any time of the day.

The station itself is a family-owned working cattle, sheep, and goat farm as well as a River Retreat and even though the river only flows around 2 or 3 times a year, the riverbed is lined with huge trees perfect for camping under. Each site has a campfire and toilet/showers located nearby. We loved our shady spot, and our 2 boys had a ball exploring the river bed which was essentially a giant sandpit for them to run wild in, even a game of cricket with other travelling families was played! There was also a tiny amount of water to splash about in for when it got too hot.

We stayed 2 nights (cost) and were lucky enough to be around for their pulled beef and BBQ corn night under the stars! $25 a head

The boys were also fascinated by the historical tip, a walk-through generation of discarded rubbish! It is basically an open-air museum crossed with an art gallery with interesting and amusing junk sculptures. A fantastic “distance education field trip” to grow kid’s imaginations!

Our trip here was super relaxing, we were able to leave the kids pretty much to their own devices digging and building roads in the giant sandpit and individually sneak off the bore baths for a little alone time! A perfect retreat from the constant adventures of a travelling family or a weekend sanctuary.

WHERE: Wooramel River Retreat

COST: $16.00 per night/per adult $7.00 per night/per child – Riverside Camp Site

FACILITIES: Camp Kitchen area, all sites are unpowered, fire pits, water available for cooking and cleaning only, you must bring with you your own drinking water.

NOTE: Fellow caravaners, we need to fill up our drinking water tanks prior to arrival at Wooramel. We recommend filling your water tanks either at Geraldton or Kalbarri prior to travelling north to Wooramel.

Bullara station

Bullara is a friendly red dirt station that comes with a barista and resident damper man! Music to our ears! The barista can be found in the cafe where you can sit outside in the garden and enjoy the green grassed outback oasis while you eat homemade scones with jam and cream (gluten-free available).

Camping spots come with power and bore water (undrinkable but fine for washing and showering) The sheep roam free and visit throughout the day and there is a resident Emu who lives with a goat near the station entrance!

Bullara is famous for its ‘Lava trees’, beautifully rustic open-air showers heated by a fire which is lit twice a day. The station’s facilities also include toilets and indoor hot showers, camp kitchen, laundry, washing lines, fire pits, playground, walks, and themed nights. We were lucky enough to be there for both damper night around the communal-fire (free) and burger night, $12.50 a head.

There are several marked walks on the station including the beer bottle walk and tin can walk. These are a great way to explore the red dirt and see a little of the local wildlife. There is a small playground for the kids and plenty of rusted sculptures and quirky features for everyone to explore. Being a working cattle farm Bullara is the perfect place to stock up on reasonably priced meat before heading out to the Ningaloo coast beach camps. We will be stopping in again just for that!

From Bullara we visited Coral Bay which has fantastic snorkelling on a calm day and a fantastic bakery. You can have your gas bottle refilled at Coral Bay Foodworks and fill up with water before heading out to the beaches or the station. Bullara sells their own cuts of beef, so we recommend calling ahead to ask them to put some aside for you, the prices being much better than in town supermarkets and is very delicious.

WHERE: Bullara Station

COST: $53.00 per night – powered caravan site

FACILITIES: Camp Kitchen area, fire pits allowed water available for cooking and cleaning only, you must bring with you your own drinking water, powered and unpowered caravan and camping sites.

NOTE: Fellow caravaners, we need to fill up our drinking water tanks prior to arrival at Bullara Station.

• If you are arriving from the south, we recommend filling up your tanks at the Bayview in Coral Bay. Water is $2 for 10Litres if you are not staying at the Bayview. If you are staying at the Bayview, it will cost you $1.00 for 10Litres and the first 20Litres are free.
• If you are arriving from the North, we recommend filling up your tanks in Exmouth at the water facility on Murat Rd in town.