8 Station Stays in the mid-west of WA
Outback colours as the WA sun sets on Wooleen Station Stay
Travelling Western Australia offers a multitude of unique opportunities, and we believe the chance to stop at a WA Station Stay is one of the best. Stations offer a vastly different experience and way of life to other tourism experiences which are available. Sheep and cattle stations have been the backbone of WA’s outback for over 130 years and have an entrenched place in our hearts. The vast open spaces offer unlimited opportunities to relax and breath-deeply. Self-driving and hiking, bird watching or horse trekking are just some of the many options available at a station stay. We regularly get asked at Wooleen if anyone else in the Mid-West is also involved in station stay tourism. So we've put together the following list of other great places to stop and experience the outback. Each property has a unique attribute or feature which you can read about below. Take the time to explore their websites and consider booking into one of these station stays on your next trip through the Mid-West, and don't forget to book in and visit us as well!
Also, don't forget to visit Outback Station Stays WA (wastationstays.com.au)
Murchison House Station
Experience
Visit a 350,000 acre working station with over 150 years of history just a short drive from the coastal resort town of Kalbarri. Murchison House has over 60 km of rugged Indian Ocean shoreline and over 30 km of Murchison river floodplains. Because of the plentiful supply of water, with many permanent soaks and springs, the wildlife and bird life is abundant. The terrain is rugged, spectacular and varied, ranging from coastal sand plains and dunes to river gorge country. Activities include fishing, swimming, kayaking, 4WD tracks, self-guided homestead walk, self-drive 4WD access, and wildflower tours (seasonal). Open each year from April to October.
Accommodation
- Camping and Caravan sites - homestead sites and bush sites
Contact details and hosts:
Belinda and Calum Carruth
Phone: (08) 9937 1998
Email: murchisonhouse@hotmail.com
Web: www.murchisonhousestation.com.au
5618 Ajana Road, Kalbarri, WA
GPS: 27° 38’ 44” S 114° 14’ 17” E
Gabyon Station
Experience
Gabyon Station Stay is a working sheep station located in striking red earth country of the Murchison. Adjacent to the ‘Miners’ Pathways’ self-drive trail guests can enjoy the peace and tranquillity of the Outback. Accommodation options include rustic shearers’ quarters, homestead rooms, caravan and camping sites all situated 200km east of Geraldton and 54kms from historic Yalgoo. Activities include horse and motorbike trail rides, self-drive on the windmill tracks, see wildflowers, birdlife, and historic relics. Outback BBQ area and fire pit provided for guest use.
Accommodation
- Homestead Rooms - 3 queen rooms inc. a single bed
- Shearers Quarters - 7 double rooms inc. a single bed
- Camping and Caravanning
- Meals available at cost
Contact details and hosts:
Name: Helen and Gemma Cripps
Phone : (08) 9963 7993
Email: gabyonstationstay@gmail.com
Web: http://www.gabyon.com.au/
Gabyon-Tardie Road Yalgoo WA 6635
GPS: 28° 14’ 58” S 116° 20’ 27” E
Hamelin Station Stay
Experience
Hamelin Station is an environmentally sustainable WA pastoral property purchased by Bush Heritage Australia in March 2015 which offers station stay. It offers a quiet and relaxed stay in an outback location where guests share a unique lifestyle experience. It offers a high standard of accommodation in rustic surrounds. The historic shearer’s quarters are newly renovated and the corrugated iron and stonework mirror the colours of the landscape. Located 5kms from the site of the Stromatolites (the oldest form of life on earth), Hamelin Station is on the door step to the Shark Bay World Heritage area.
Accommodation
- Shearer Quarters: family, standard and twin rooms with communal facilities.
- Camping and Caravan sites
Contact details and hosts:
Bush Heritage Australia
Phone: (08) 9948 5145
Email: hamelinoutbackstationstay@bushheritage.org.au
Web: www.hamelinstationstay.com.au
Denham-Hamelin Rd, Shark Bay, WA
GPS: 26° 25’ 32” S 114° 11’ 34” E
Family at Hamelin Station Stay, in the Shark Bay World Heritage Area, WA.
Kirkalocka Station
Experience
Outback everything - history, hospitality, and nature! Explore the station surrounds, visit the creek, birdwatch or meet the station pets. Spend time around the campfire and enjoy the stars at night. Kirkalocka hosts enjoy sharing their stories about this special place in the outback - and hearing others' from all over Australia and the world. You will be warmly welcomed!
Accommodation
- Homestead rooms – double, single and twin
- Shearers quarters – double, single and twin
- Camping and caravan sites
- Fully equipped kitchens and BBQ areas.
- Meals available with prior notice - dinner and cooked breakfasts.
Contact details and hosts:
Ann & Geoff Pilkington
Phone : 08 99 635 827
Email: kirkalocka@bigpond.com
Web: www.kirkalocka.com
The Great Northern Highway, 60 Kms south of Mount Magnet
GPS: -28.557479, 117.779513
Nalbarra Station
Experience
A working sheep station nestled in stunning breakaway country. Set on 161,000 hectares, a perfect stopover for holidaymakers travelling the Great Northern Highway. Shearers Quarters style accommodation with fully self-contained kitchen, wood stove, dining room, showers & toilets and BBQ area, caravanners and campers are most welcome. Enjoy a day of birdwatching, bush walks, amazing sunsets, self-driving or use the tennis court and dart board which is always popular with guests. Ideal for large groups, clubs and touring companies and is pet-friendly. Located 70kms north of Paynes Find, 17kms off Great Northern Hwy on Burnabinmah Nalbarra Rd.
Accommodation
- Shearers Quarters - 7 double rooms some inc. a single bed and 2 twin share
- Camping and Caravanning
- Meals available at cost
Contact details and hosts:
John and Karen Wainwright
Phone : (08) 9963 5829
Email: nalbarra7@bigpond.com
Web: www.nalbarra.com.au
Burnabinmah-Nalbarra Rd, Mount Magnet, Western Australia
GPS: -28.649677, 117.609027
Melangata Station Stay
Experience
Melangata Station Stay is a working sheep station located near the town of Yalgoo. The historic homestead was built by the famous Monsignor John Hawes, a renowned priest architect, in 1917. Jo and Ken have spent a lot of time lovingly restoring the homestead to its former glory. Melangata Homestead was the only private residence constructed by Hawes and boasts an internal chapel and turret. You can participate in escorted self-drive tag along tours, historic homestead tours or camp oven cooking classes. Melangata boasts many different varieties of birds and marsupials as well as carpets of wildflowers in season.
Accommodation
- Homestead Rooms – King and Queen rooms inc meals
- Unpowered camping and caravanning
- Elegant bell tent
Contact details and hosts:
Name: Jo Clews
Phone: (08) 9963 7777
Email: melangatastationstay@gmail.com
Web: http://www.joclewscooking.com/melangata
Melangata Road, Yalgoo WA 6635
GPS: 27°48'12.2"S 116°53'06.7"E
Nallan Station
Experience
Nallan Station Stay is a 98,886Ha working station providing ample opportunities to explore or relax, whichever your heart desires. You can experience your natural surroundings with birdwatching, explore the geological wonders or enjoy the vast uninterrupted vista of the night sky. Of interest are also the historical sites such as local aboriginal art at Walga Rock or Milly’s soak. Nallan is an aboriginal word meaning “good eating” which is a reference to the bountiful lake environment, Nallan Lake, a large clay pan lake on the station where wildlife water.
Accommodation
- Self-contained cottage
- Shearers Quarters
- Bunk House
- Unpowered camping sites
Contact details:
Phone: (08) 9963 1054
Email: nallanpastoral@outlook.com
Web: http://www.nallanstation.com
Great Northern Highway, Cogla Downs-Taincrow Rd, Cue WA 6640
GPS: 27°18'58.2"S 117°58'21.1"E
Field of everlastings on a WA Station Stay
Tamala Station
Experience
Tamala Station is in the southern part of the Shark Bay World Heritage Area and forms part of the limestone-dominated landscape between Steep Point and Kalbarri. Most camping sites on Tamala are near beaches and provide access to the water for small boats. To visit Tamala Station you will need to be self-sufficient as there are minimal facilities. Ensure you have enough water, fuel and food to last your stay. Basic toilets are available at some sites. Pets are allowed.
Accommodation
- Unpowered camping – beach camps
Contact details and hosts:
Ron and Teresa Reid
Phone: (08) 9948 3994
Email: info@tamalastation.com.au
Web: http://www.tamalastation.com.au/
Useless Loop Road, Shark Bay, WA 6532
GPS: -26.696719, 113.714958
thanks David and Frances Always looking for new and interesting locations.
Not a problem Ailsa! Enjoy 🙂
Wonderful info as we are coming over July/August 2018, will certainly be staying at some sites.
Glad we were able to help Rob. Hope to see you later in the year!
After Africa, it will be back to WA to discover some of those gems over there & Wooleen is definitely on the cards. Love Western Australia, by far our favourite state & so much more to seek out.
Western Australia has a lot of real gems! Hope you get a chance to visit some of these station Colleen and that we meet you at Wooleen Station sometime 🙂
Thanks fir this list well hopefully be in the road soon meanwhile will pass on to our travellers heading your way
Thanks Veronica. Hope your guests can get some value, and that we see you up this way sometime.
We are travelling to broome today and want to know if there are any station accomm along the way. We are in Dampier now.
Hi Aileen, unfortunately, you are a bit far north for us to give an accurate recommendation. I suggest joining the Station Hoppers facebook group and asking the members there. They always have great suggestions. All the best with your travels.
Great informative site, always good to get info on pet regulations, thanks
Hi Frances. Among in the list, which is the best spot to see wildflowers? We are planning to visit WA this July. Hope to hear from you soon.
Hi Allan,
Just about all the stations are great for wildflowers. In particular: Gabyon, Kirkalocka, Nalbarra, Melangata, Nallan and Wooleen. However, July might be a fraction early for wildflowers. Typically flowers bloom from late July to early September if we’ve had sufficient rain. If you are planning your trip during the last week of July you might just catch the beginning of the season. Let me know if we can assist in any way!