Carnarvon is big on coastal living, and thankfully, its campgrounds are well-positioned for you to enjoy the best of it. The region is home to three unique campgrounds, each offering something special besides all boasting pristine white shores and bubble-gum blue beaches. From station stays to having Ningaloo Reef’s colourful universe at your doorstep, there's plenty of beaches to pitch your tent and live a life of barefoot bliss.
To make it easier for you to choose where to mark your spot in the sand, we share the top beach camping spots around Carnarvon.
Blowholes Campground (Point Quobba)
This campground will blow you away.
Also known as Point Quobba, Blowholes Campground is located 75km north of Carnarvon. It is close to the region's two iconic attractions, the Insta-worthy photo-op 'King Waves Kill' sign and its namesake, the Blowholes.
The latter refers to the incredible natural phenomenon where mighty ocean swells force water through sea caves and narrow cracks to erupt metres into the air, each blow matched with a loud ocean roar. It's a natural spectacle and best observed at high tide.
An area that also needs to be seen is its nearby coral-filled lagoon, locally known as 'the aquarium', located one kilometre south of the Blowholes. The shell-strewn lagoon is a perfect spot for beginner snorkelers with its calm waters and marine life in abundance or picnics under its beach huts.
Blowholes campground offers unpowered sites only and is suitable for those who are self-sufficient, including chemical toilets. Ensure to bring plenty of water and supplies. Guests must pay online.
Find out more: Blowholes Campground
3 Mile Camp
Whether the adventure is on land or at sea, Gnaraloo Station's 3 Mile Camp is a coastal playground for all.
Sitting 150km north of Carnarvon, the 'desert meets sea' campground is the perfect springboard for epic days of snorkelling, fishing, swimming, and surfing along the station's vast coastline. It's unique, alright, with Ningaloo Reef only footsteps from your tent and a varied landscape best explored by 4wd.
Must-visit areas within the station include Tombstones or 'Tombies', a world-famous spot with board-riding enthusiasts; Midgies Beach, a protected snorkelling and fishing spot and Gnaraloo Bay, an exceptional snorkelling spot teeming with vivid coral gardens and marine life. Take a day trip to Red Bluff, just a 30-minute' drive south.
3 Mile Camp offers unpowered camping and caravan marked sites with shared toilet and shower blocks, each with a campfire. It is highly recommended to book in advance to avoid disappointment. Accommodation is also available at nearby Gnaraloo Homestead.
Find out more: Gnaraloo
Red Bluff
Camping next to dramatic rusty red cliffs opposing the southern tip of Ningaloo Reef sounds almost too picture-perfect, but at Red Bluff, you get to live the dream.
Besides swimming, whale watching and fishing, Red Bluff is one for the surfers, with the beach famous for its left point break with waves ranging from 1ft to 8ft. The best time to visit the surfing mecca is between May and August, where you can become mesmerised watching the surfers at play.
When it comes to recharging the energy levels, make sure to visit the local beach shack – the campground's social hub – for a refreshingly tangy mango smoothie or enjoy a pizza night under the stars.
Red Bluff offers unpowered and unmarked caravan and camping sites scattered along the coast, 125km north of Carnarvon and accessed via unsealed roads. Drop toilets are located near every camp spot; however, bringing a private chemical toilet is highly recommended. If seeking more creature comforts, accommodation is also available.
Find out more: Red Bluff
Comments