Stunning Camping Station Stays for the Ultimate Perth to Exmouth Adventure

These are real, well-known camping stations along WA’s Coastal camping route.

When planning our 2-week Perth to Exmouth road trip, we wanted to have the full blown Aussie experience and stay on some of the old farms Western Australia is known for. 

From basic amenities to glamping experiences, these suggestions offer camping spots with some facilities (you do not need to be self-contained) and most are accessible with a 2WD. All of these camping spots hug WA’s popular and stunning coral coast, passing through Kalbarri and Carnarvon, before arriving at our favourite spot in Exmouth. 

I’ve also included an inland station stay for campers driving inland towards Karijini National Park from Perth. This is an option you can do before looping over to Exmouth and following the Ningaloo Reef down south to Perth – this is actually the route we chose to do and you can view my recommended Karijini itinerary here: The Complete Karijini National Park Itinerary: Stunning Gorges & Best Campsites.

Before this trip we had never camped on a station stay, usually opting for bush camping or beach camping.

However I am so glad we incorporated a range of farm ranches and I’m excited to share our experiences with you! Note: this post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

So lets get into it…

Perth to Exmouth Camping Map

Big River Ranch (Perth to Kalbarri: 6 – 7 hours)

Our first camping stop north of Perth is Big River Ranch in Kalbarri. With the beautiful red dirt gorges and coastline hikes in Kalbarri National Park, Kalbarri has to be on your list.

Under four kilometres from Kalbarri town centre and 33 kilometres from Kalbarri National Park, Big River Ranch is a quaint farm house that hosts powered and unpowered sites, and self contained units. We stayed here for one night and it had everything we needed; a place to pop up the roof ten, a kitchen, BBQ, toilets and even a swimming pool.

We visited during the school holidays so it was busy, and our site didn’t have much privacy, but for a quick overnight stop and base to explore Kalbarri, it was perfect. 

The owner ‘Rex’ and his horses were super friendly and check in/out was easy!

Camping accommodation

For an unpowered site we paid $20 per adult for one night.

Wooramel River Retreat (Kalbarri to Shark Bay: 3.5 hours)

Next up is Wooramel River Retreat, the closest farm stay that I could find with access to Shark Bay and Francios Peron National Park (where you can regularly see dolphins!), another sure spot on your Western Australia itinerary. 

Although in the middle of nowhere, Wooramel River Retreat is a great stop off when driving Western Australia’s coast. Just off the main road and down a dirt track, you’ll find a remote riverside station that hosts basic powered and unpowered camping sites, but also has a lovely open bar and restaurant serving hot food and chilled drinks. 

Because of its remoteness, Wooramel’s main selling point has to be the two natural mineral hot springs that sit next to the riverbed. This was a unique experience and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to look up at the stars while bathing in the relaxing waters. Plus, when not indulging in the hot springs, there are dedicated walks and tracks around the farm.

I would like to mention that this farm stay was the only one we had a real issue with flies, we also visited in the dry season, so the river was less flowing water and more dry river bed. This may have increased the quantity of flies! 

Camping accommodation

We paid $40 total for one night on an unpowered site.

Quobba Station (Shark Bay to Carnarvon: 2 hours)

Then we have Quobba Roadhouse, a rugged coastal stop you’ll likely pass on your way towards Coral Bay and Exmouth. It’s a great base for visiting the nearby Quobba Blowholes, where waves crash through the cliffs and shoot high into the air – definitely worth a stop.

Such as, we were there during whale season (June – November) and ended up spotting loads of humpback whales while cooking eggs for brekkie by the coast.

There’s also a 4WD beach track running from here down to Coral Bay that we didn’t know about before planning our trip, but it looks unreal if you’ve got a 4WD set up. Furthermore, you may also need a 4WD to properly access some areas around the station.

Camping accommodation

Camping is simple but well set up, with unpowered sites from around $25 pp/night (a bit more for waterfront spots). Facilities include toilets, hot showers, a camp kitchen, BBQs and laundry.

Bullara Station Stay (Carnarvon to Exmouth: 3 – 4 hours)

Next up is Bullara Station Stay, one of the most modern and trendy farm stays we came across on the Coral Coast. It’s still a working cattle station, but with a really cool, social community vibe that makes it feel a bit different from your typical outback stop.

Located between Coral Bay and Exmouth, it’s a super convenient base for exploring both. That said, once you’re on the farm itself, there’s loads to do to soak up the atmosphere – red dirt walks, a few 4WD tracks, and plenty of space to switch off.

As a result, where Bullara really stands out is the food and community feel. There’s also a café and restaurant on-site, plus their famous pizza and burger nights (served from a truck under the stars) and regular live music.

Camping options range from unpowered bush sites to more set-up glamping-style stays, with clean amenities and great communal spaces.

Camping accommodation

We paid $43 per night and there was a two-night minimum stay. However, this could have been due to it being the school holidays and high season. 

Nallan Station Stay (Inland option) (Perth to Cue: 7 hours)

Finally, Nallan Station Stay near Cue makes for a perfect halfway stop between Perth and Karijini National Park, especially if you’re tackling the long inland drive and want somewhere quiet to break it up.

The farm stay sits roughly 650 km (6.5–7 hours) from Perth and 950 km (10–11 hours) from Karijini National Park,

An old sheep farm packed with history, Nallan has plenty of original buildings and artefacts dotted around the property that give it a really authentic outback feel.

For us, the standout was the night sky. With no light pollution out here, we saw some of the best stars of the whole trip – we ended up sitting outside for hours just looking up into the night.

Camping accommodation

Camping is simple and no-frills, with unpowered sites from around $20–$25 per night. Additionally, the facilities are basic but cover what you need, including toilets, showers and a camp kitchen.

Summary

If you’re planning a Perth to Exmouth road trip, adding a few station stays to your itinerary is one of the best ways to experience the real Western Australia. From coastal camps near Kalbarri and Shark Bay to outback farm stays, these stops offer a unique mix of comfort, character and connection to Australia.

Whether you’re chasing whale sightings, soaking in hot springs or just looking for a relaxed place to pull up for the night, the route we took along the Coral Coast delivers some of the most memorable camping experiences we had in WA.

Travel Update (May 2026)

Following Cyclone Narelle, some station stays and roads may still have temporary closures. I have seen that popular destinations such as Bullara Station Stay announced on their Instagram they have re-opened but please always check local conditions and destinations before traveling.