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Travel & Touring| WA Things To Do
By: Fleur Bainger
Western Australia's vast outback stations offer a unique travel experience and the chance to spend time on a working property in some of the State's most stunning and remote locations.
For city dwellers it can be difficult to appreciate the scale of WA's sprawling station and farming properties. The total size of some are equivalent to small countries.
Hidden within those boundaries are some incredible natural wonders, authentic outback experiences, true-blue country folk, peace and tranquillity. If you're keen to get a look inside, many WA stations are now opening their doors to share those experiences.
RELATED: Unique and unusual places to stay in WA »
Station stays within a day or two's drive from Perth
1. Bullara Station, Ningaloo
1170km from Perth
Owned and operated by the Shallcross family since the late 1950s, the sprawling Bullara Station is an outback cattle station set on nearly a quarter of a million acres between Coral Bay and Exmouth.
The station is a popular holiday destination for families and first-time station stayers thanks to its wide range of interactive activities and station experiences. Many guests start at the homestead garden for a coffee or sweet treat before heading out for a day of fishing off tidal creeks, walking sand dune tracks, petting the friendly sheep, kangaroos, horses, goats and cows, or attending the station's yearly mustering event.
Station campers will be treated to an additional range of communal activities including free daily damper tastings and camp fires near the camp kitchen. Friday night burgers with the Bullara team are also a hit with families.
What to do: Fishing, stargazing, farm animal feeding, hiking.
When to go: Open annually from April to October.
Accommodation: Ranges from large sleeping quarters to smaller huts and campsites. The bush campground offers a choice of powered or un-powered sites, with plenty of shared amenities, including Instagram-worthy bush showers.
Getting there: A one-hour drive from the Exmouth township, or a 3km drive from Exmouth Gulf.
2. Cheela Plains Station
1432km from Perth
Cheela Plains Station is so big, you rarely see any evidence of the 3500 head of cattle that graze the 188,000-hectare property. While it's very much a working station, keeping livestock numbers low to allow the rangelands to regenerate is a major focus at Cheela.
One of the more unexpected inhabitants is Robin Pensini, a Texan woman who came to Cheela in search of work experience a few decades ago. She met her now-husband Evan, and despite her initial impressions, fell as much in love with the Pilbara as she did with him. "He had long hair, sleeveless shirt and bellbottom pants and I thought oh my gosh, who is this person?" she remembers.
Make sure you scale the hill by the station accommodation at sundown for endless views, and drive to The Wall, where you'll find vertical slabs of rock that are jagged like a Game of Thrones altar.
What to do: Four-wheel driving adventures, gorge walking, river swimming, bird watching, sunset lookouts, stargazing.
When to go: April to October.
Accommodation: Basic, air conditioned rooms with shared amenities, a 15-site station campground and nature campsites. Home-style dinners available.
Getting there: Cheela Plains is 90km north-west of Paraburdoo and about a 550km drive north-east of Carnarvon.
3. Dirk Hartog Island, Shark Bay
822km from Perth
It's hard to imagine sheep roaming the land on this former station, especially when you're facing a turquoise ocean teeming with marine life. Dirk Hartog is WA's largest island and sits at the westernmost point of Australia. The island's last sheep were removed in 2016, and since then, numerous native threatened and endangered species have been returned to the 63,000-hectare isle.
Kieran and Tory Wardle quit their pastoral business when Dirk Hartog Island was turned into a national park in 2009. These days, you can camp oceanside on communal or private suites, stay in an eco villa or spoil yourself at the rustic luxury eco lodge in ensuite rooms. Fill your days with snorkelling, marine safaris, self-drive or guided four-wheel drive adventures and more.
When to go: April - June
Getting there: Drive or fly to Shark Bay, then take your four-wheel drive on the barge across the island. Scenic light aircraft can also land on Dirk Hartog.
4. Melangata Station, Gascoyne Murchison
548km from Perth
A priest monsignor who was also an architect designed the Melangata Station homestead in 1916 - before any of his churches were built - and today it's possible to tour it, and even stay inside it. Guests are fully catered to by owner and manager Jo Clews, whose cooking credentials see her run camp oven cooking classes throughout the season. Otherwise, stay in the campground with your own tent, camper trailer or caravan with access to flush toilets, hot showers and basic facilities.
While you're there, join a guided tagalong tour of the station, looking at its regenerative efforts. "We're only long-term leasing the land, so we want to leave it better than we found it," says Jo.
Wildflowers are a drawcard from August onwards but are dependent on rain. "When it happens it's literally carpets everywhere, it's amazing," says Jo. "There's a lot of things that impact what's the best time of year to visit. The best thing to do is ring the station first and ask what conditions are like."
When to go: April - May and August - September
Getting there: Drive
5. Carnegie Station, Goldfields
1305km from Perth
This 500,000-hectare working cattle station lies about halfway between Perth and Alice Springs, bang in the middle of WA. It's the last station on the Gunbarrel Highway before open desert.
You might see dingos, wild brumbies and roaming camels, as well as mustering helicopters overhead (it's big). The birdlife is diverse and kangaroos create silhouettes at sunset.
There is also a donkey, calves and sheep to pet. The outback station offers campsites and station rooms with a communal kitchen, and meals and fuels can be provided.
When to go: June - September
Getting there: Drive
6. Mt Augustus Tourist Park, Gascoyne Murchison
1038km from Perth
You can see what’s fondly called “the world’s biggest rock” from Mt Augustus Tourist Park. Mt Augustus, or Burringarrah in the Wajarri Aboriginal language, looms from the countryside, glowing cinnamon tones at sunset.
Campers and caravanners can stay on powered, grassed sites or unpowered campsites. There’s also a range of onsite units accommodating singles, couples and families.
Everyone has access to a barbeque area, laundry and toilet facilities, hot shower facilities and fuel and gas supplies. While away the days exploring the Mt Augustus loop drive, visit numerous lookouts, and ancient Gnamma holes and go bush walking.
When to go: May - August
Getting there: Drive
7. Murchison House Station, Kalbarri
574km from Perth
Only 12km from Kalbarri, this station stay is on one of the oldest pastoral leases in WA. The homestead was established in 1858, its shearers quarters were built by convicts and its shearing shed dates to the 1860s.
“Innovation, conversation and preservation are the three focuses of our business,” says custodian Belinda Carruth, who runs the now-rangeland goat station with husband, Callum.
Visitors can stay at the dog-friendly homestead’s unpowered, two-wheel-drive-accessible campground, where there are toilets, showers and a camp kitchen, or fully self-contained bush campers can find their own piece of paradise beside the Murchison River. Numbers are limited to ensure seclusion.
Tours explore the station’s rock formations, its red dirt landscapes and native bush. The Murchison Experience tour treats you to gourmet meals in between river canoeing, or hop on a quadbike with Kalbarri Quadbike Safaris. Belinda says the location is hard to beat. “It’s so close to Kalbarri, there’s the historical aspect and the wilderness – it’s a really varied landscape. We’ve got everything from coastal scrub to rocky gorge country.”
When to go: June - September
Getting there: Drive
8. Quobba Station, Ningaloo
966km from Perth
This desert-meets-the-sea property north of Carnarvon is split between the main homestead site, and its coastal outpost of Red Bluff. The latter is home to several large, hard-floored canvas eco tents on stilts, bare basics shacks and unpowered campsites – surfers especially love the curling waves right out front.
The station has several accommodation options, from shearers quarters and cottages to beachfront chalets and self-contained houses, as well as caravan and bush camping sites – some powered, most unpowered. The station is on the southern edge of the Ningaloo Reef Marine Park.
What to do: Surf, fish, swim, snorkel, relax, whale watch, go four-wheel driving, see the blowholes.
When to go: Good to visit all year round.
Accommodation: Station cottages, shearer's quarters, bush camping with powered and unpowered sites, and, on the property's coastal stretch, unpowered fishing shacks, seascape bungalows, safari-tent style chalets and camping. BYO water and fuel.
Getting there: One-hour drive north of Carnarvon. Drive, or via Denham or Learmonth airports.
9. Warroora Station, Ningaloo
1077km from Perth
So close to the Ningaloo Coast you can almost touch it, Warroora’s focus is on swimming, fishing, snorkelling, and surfing adventures in the glass-clear waters. If salt water isn’t for you, take a bushwalk or see what wildlife you can spot on observation expeditions.
You can stay in a variety of fully setup accommodation, from the homestead to the ocean-view villa. The unpowered campsite has access to artesian toilets and showers. A small station shop sells firewood, ice, bait, ice-creams and basic supplies. The homestead can be accessed by two-wheel drive, weather-depending, but otherwise you’ll need a four-wheel drive to access such remote beauty.
When to go: April - October
Getting there: Drive, or fly to Learmonth Airport, then drive
10. Wooleen Station, Gascoyne Murchison
640km Perth
For many, a visit to Wooleen is as much about perspective shifting as it is about soaking up the endless outback plains punctuated by river and rocky outcrops. “On our sunset tour, we’re focused on sharing an understanding of how to produce food on the rangelands,” says Frances Pollock, one half of the family-owned operation, with husband David. Our walking tours are focused on appreciating and connecting to country.”
Conservation and sustainability are top of the hierarchy here, and visitors leave with a far better understanding of what goes into producing their food. Accommodation ranges from a stay at the homestead under the same roof as your hosts, to fully-equipped guesthouses, and a number of remote campsites – the only place dogs are welcome. Come for the wildflowers and stay for the birdlife and walks.
What to do: Land regeneration education, wildflower walks, canoeing, wildlife watching, four-wheel drive adventures, mountain bike trails, walk trails, sunset tours, stargazing.
When to go: May and August
Accommodation: Full-board homestead accommodation, self-contained guesthouses, nature camping with fire pits.
Getting there: Drive nearly 300km north-east of Geraldton.
11. Wooramel River Retreat, Shark Bay
774km from Perth
The Wooramel River runs mainly beneath the surface of this family-owned working cattle, sheep and goat station that stretches across 1430 square kilometres. A large chunk of it faces the Indian Ocean, with 60km of coastline on one edge. Visitors travel 2km off the North West Coastal Highway to get there and can stay in eco-cabin tents with real beds, well-equipped quarters and units, pre-set up tents, or dog-friendly, unpowered campsites with firepits.
There’s proper coffee and evening meals at the station café. Diverse birdlife, river walks and starry night skies are highlights, once you pull yourself away from the hot baths. They access artesian water that travels 240m to the surface and sits at approximately 33 degrees – the magnesium content is said to relax aching muscles.
Station stays in greater WA
12. Nallan Station, Cue
Built in 1920 from timber and iron, the historic Nallan Station was one of the earliest pastoral stations within the Cue district. Named after the Aboriginal word for "good eating", the station is renowned for its bountiful lake environment where plenty of animals and flora still thrive to this day.
Situated half way between Perth and the iconic Karijini National Park, the station is a popular stop-off for those with an interest in Western Australia's gold rush history. It's also home to several historic and natural attractions of note, including ex-freshwater well Milly Soak, the aforementioned Nallan Lake nature reserve, and the rocky Outback Pathways.
Nallan Station is also a fantastic base for stargazing. The Gascoyne Murchsion region boasts clear night skies and is dubbed a 'radio quiet zone' by local astronomers, so the station is in a prime position for those interested in constellations and star-searching.
What to do: Birdwatching, stargazing, wildflower-spotting, kayaking, gold prospecting.
When to go: July to October.
Accommodation: Private, air conditioned rooms with plenty of facilities, or unpowered lawn camp sites with shared amenities. Dogs (on leads) welcome at campground.
Getting there: Nallan Station is just 13km (or a ten-minute drive) from the Cue township.
13. El Questro Station, west of Kununurra
At WA’s iconic El Questro Wilderness Park and pastoral station you can immerse yourself in the raw beauty of the North West. Located within the property that spans nearly a million acres are gorges, waterfalls and thermal springs. The park is home to three resorts: Emma Gorge, The Homestead and The Station.
Because of its sprawling campground, unique wildlife and spacious grounds, The Station is one of El Questro’s busiest accommodation spots. It’s also a short walk from the onsite restaurant, bar and a peaceful swimming hole.
What to do: Fishing, walking trails, sunset tours, gorges, thermal springs, horse riding and four-wheel drive trips.
When to go: April to October.
Accommodation: El Questro's resorts offer full-board homestead accommodation, cliff-side villas, bungalows, raised eco tents and camping..
Getting there: The Station is 120km west of Kununurra along the Gibb River Road.
RELATED: Your ultimate guide to exploring El Questro Wilderness Park »
14. Kirkalocka Station, south of Mount Magnet
Dubbed the ideal 'outback stopover', the quaint Kirkalocka Station is one of the most authentic outback experiences on offer in WA.
Hosts Jared and Blair Ridley will ensure a memorable stay by showcasing the station's pastoral activities, the 'Creek' watering hole, the thriving local birdlife and the station's beloved pets.
The spacious Homestead is the true heart of the station, and features a fully equipped kitchen with barbeque facilities and plenty of room to eat and interact with fellow travellers.
What to do: Birdwatching, stargazing, interact with farm animals and visit the Mud Hut Museum.
When to go: May to October.
Accommodation: Self-contained options at the homestead or shearers' quarters, or use space for your own caravan, camper trailer or tent.
Getting there: 60km south of Mount Magnet, and 500m off the Great Northern Highway.
15. Mount Elizabeth Station, east of Derby
The working Mount Elizabeth Station is surrounded by two epic gorges, creeks harbouring freshwater crocodiles and grounds dotted with wallabies.
The outback gem came to life in 1945 and is one of the Kimberley's longest-running cattle stations. It now stretches across more than 200,000 hectares, allowing visitors space to recharge and explore.
Tackle a challenging four-wheel drive journey in low range to Wunnamurra Gorge and be rewarded with seasonal waterfalls and ancient Aboriginal rock art paintings. Otherwise, take the easier 10km road to the small Warla swimming holes, where green water contrasts with the region's characteristic sun-baked red rock and pale, sandy edges.
Throw in a line then return to chill out in the homestead garden and meet other travellers around the campfire.
What to do: Splash in gorges, gaze at waterfalls, observe wildlife, go on four-wheel drive adventures, admire Aboriginal rock art, watch the operating cattle business.
When to go: May to September, subject to weather and access.
Accommodation: Basic dinner, bed and breakfast homestead accommodation (some ensuite, some shared facilities, all air conditioned), camping. Packed lunches available.
Getting there: You'll need a four-wheel drive. Find the station 30km off the Gibb River Road, with the turn off 340km east of Derby and 365km west of Kununurra.
Image credit: Dan Avali, Fleur Bainger
Last updated: May 2024
