Last Updated on 21 July 2024 by Ariana Svenson
Our time at Bullara Station Stay was one of the highlights of our trip to the Coral Coast. This is a working cattle station located roughly half way between Coral Bay and Exmouth. Bullara Station provides a wonderful experience for anyone who wants a taste of the Aussie bush! This was the first of our cattle station holidays but it certainly won’t be the last (more about that in the second part of the post).
Yes, it is true that, Bullara Station has an extensive campground. However, they also have a range of non-camping accommodation options if you are travelling in a multi generation family like we were. So our review is not focused on Bullara camping – whereas most of the other reviews on the web are!
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Why Stay at Bullara Station?
I’ll go as far as to stay every kid should stay on a cattle station once in their life! Lucky for them, cattle station holidays in Western Australia are becoming popular!
For us, the contrast between the red dirt and endless expanses of outback, with the white beaches and turquoise waters of the Ningaloo Coast was crazy! In fact, it was out of this world. The feeling of sitting around the campfire at night, looking up at the stars, watching the sunset come in over the saltbush, this was a perfect way to experience pastoral life.
While camping and outdoor life is available to families who have caravans, RVs or camper trailers, on this trip to Exmouth we had first flown to Learmonth and then stayed in Exmouth for a week. Our time at Bullara Station Stay was our final couple of days. Better Homes and Gardens have called them ‘the essence of Australia’ and we have to agree!
We booked the Kapok Cottage which was once the family’s own residence on the station – and we truly and unreservedly loved it. It is beautifully and tastefully restored, and sitting on the wide romantic verandas in the morning light was like we stepped back in time. Bullara Station’s outdoor bucket shower is Insta-famous; I’ve seen so many pictures of Instagram of this shower. This outback artesian shower is stunning at any time of the day, or under the stars at night.
The extra activities and meals at Bullara are also very well-known and a good reason to linger for a few days.
Here you will find roaming cattle, amazing sunsets, friendly locals and a whole community of Bullara staff waiting to blow your expectations right out of the water.
Bullara Station Accommodation
First and foremost, Bullara Station has spacious bush camping, and – with a choice of powered and non-powered sites. We’ve read that the powered sites book out quickly, so it’s worth getting in as soon as you can. There is a no generators policy.
Nearly everyone describes Bullara Station as an oasis in the outback. Whatever type of accommodation you choose, you wake up to chatter and song of birds in the gum trees dotted around and have plenty of interaction with the kangaroos, sheep, horses and cows that are frequent visitors around the main station house, sheds, and camp area.
In our case we were non campers traveling with 3 generation. We prefer to stay in cabins or glamping. If you are not camping at Bullara Station, the options are two beautiful self-contained cottages or the traditional Shearers Lodge. We stayed in the Cappock or Kapok Cottage. It has wide timber verandas, a lounge with games and books, and a well set up equipped kitchen. Outside there is a BBQ, fire pit, seating and hammock to soak up the stunning sunsets. There are three bedrooms, and the cottage sleeps six.
Hale Hut is private 3 bedroom cottage. It sleeps up to 6 nestled in the bush past the main station house and café. There is a 1 x queen room, 1 x double and 1 with 2 x singles with an extra stretcher bed that can be added.
The newest style of Bullara accommodation is the glamping experience. Here you camp in a Tepee style canvas tent, made up with comfortable foam mattresses, battery and solar powered lamps and lights. Bullara provides crockery and cutlery, a kettle and towels. Also, glampers are welcome to use the communal camping facilities. These include the fire pits, the Insta famous artesian showers and toilets and also the camp kitchen.
Food and Dining at Bullara Station
The famous Bullara café that serves up amazing scones is not the only dining experience at Bullara. There is also a restaurant located in the shearing shed.
Dinner nights are popular! The Bullara crew have done a great job creating fine dining in a rustic experience. It’s clear to see that everyone is really happy to be there. You can choose to share a long table under the night sky or cosy up at tables hidden beneath the trees adorned with fairy lights.
Friday Burger Night is a total highlight on the Bullara program. With rich sumptuous beef patties made from Bullara’s own Droughtmaster beef barbecued on some awesome cook plate. The live music amongst the wood smoke, and with a good crew, was a total highlight. No wonder it’s popular amongst the long term caravaners.
Also famous at Bullara is John’s damper which is served in the camp kitchen at happy hour from 5pm, Monday, Weds, and Friday.
For more information and to confirm the information provided, we would advise ringing Bullara Station directly. Our information was correct at the time of publishing.
Things to do at Bullara Station
Meet the Local Animals
As soon as you leave your campsite you’ll see some local wildlife. Across from Kapock Cottage (where we stayed) there was an animal pen. There was a humorous pet goat Buckley, Emmit the emu, and some Damara sheep. Station horses came up to cattle grid in the evenings on the lookout for treats. There are also some friendly rescue animals who wander around the campground.
Star Gazing
It’s impossible to not see the stars at Bullara Station. With no light pollution, and fairly flat horizons, all you can see above you is the most amazing expanse of starry skies. Everyone in the whole family will love watching sunsets, the arrival of the first star and as the darkness falls.
Bullara Station Walk Trails
Sunset Beer Bottle Walk
Heading out to some very red dunes in the distance, the Beer Bottle walk is guided, by Beer Bottles. Our kids love running along ahead following the trail and I’d estimate it was an easy 2km in all. Take your beers, cheese and biscuits for a beautiful sunset drink out on the dunes.
The Windmill Walk
The Windmill walk is also easy to follow and marked with “This Way” signs. For us, visiting in mid-August, there were still quite a lot of wildflowers to see, as well as the bird life – Butcher Birds, Rainbow Bee Eaters, Willy Wagtails, Pink & Grey Galahs and many more!
Playground
there is also a nice kids playground that kids will enjoy.
Four Wheel Driving
Keen fishermen and four wheel drivers, you can the Exmouth Gulf at low tide from Bullara Station. You will need to check the most up to date details at the Station office. Also, you need to log your intention to drive to the gulf beforehand.
Bullara Station History
The area occupied by Bullara Station (some 250,000 acres) is known as Punurrba by the local Yingarrda people, or ‘Sea breeze’. The name Bullara comes from an early government service boat that sailed up the coast in the 1900s
Bullara Station was established in the 1920s. The current owner Tim Shallcross’ great grandfather Victor Shallcross and a partner purchasing the station in the late 1950s. Starting out with Merino sheep for wool production the Shallcross family later moved into running meat sheep (Damaras) due to market forces. Currently the family breed Droughtmaster Cattle (and you can purchase their beef in the Bullara Station shop/café).
In addition, the family has diversified to offer nature-based outback accommodation which has been a resounding success. We say this because of the popularity of the station and booked out accommodation.
When is the Best Time to Visit Bullara Station?
Bullara Station Stay is closed for half the year, (due to the hot weather and off season). The ONLY time to visit is between the months of April and October.
If it works with your itinerary, I would recommend arriving on the Friday and staying until the Monday. This way you will get to experience the Friday night burger night and the Damper as well.
Where is Bullara Station Located?
You will read that Bullara Station is one of the highlights of the Coral Coast. However, his is not the Ningaloo Coast as we know it! This is a unique taste of the outback! Bullara Station is located on Burkett Road. It is 83 kilometres south of the centre of Exmouth and 60 kilometres East from Coral Bay.
If you are also visiting Exmouth, read our Best Things to do in Exmouth WA.
Distances from Bullara Station to Other Major Towns on the Coral Coast
Bullara Station to Exmouth 59 min (91.1 km) via Minilya-Exmouth Rd
The Bullara Station to Learmonth Airport 37 min (55.6 km) via Minilya-Exmouth Rd
Bullara Station to Coral Bay 45 min (68.6 km) via Minilya-Exmouth Rd
Bullara Station to Karijini National Park 6 hr 37 min (530.1 km) via Nanutarra Rd/State Route 136
What We Did/ How we Visited Bullara Station
We landed at Learmonth Airport, and hired a car. We didn’t hire a 4WD as we noted that the nothing that we wanted to see was off road. Therefore we saved quite a bit by opting for a medium sized family car. We spent 5 nights in Exmouth. We used it as a base to explore Exmouth, the Cape Range National Park and Ningaloo Reef. If you are going to travel as far as Bullara Station, you are going to want to plan at least a few days in Exmouth or camping out at Cape Range National Park or at Yardie Station.
There are a number of great car hire options, and we find it always pays to use a comparison site to work out which is your best option. We use Discover Cars to do our comparison searching and find the best deal. Another useful option is Rental Cars.com.
After staying at Exmouth we headed out to Bullara Station for 2 nights. Then flew home from Learmonth. Bullara made a great base to visit Coral Bay, which has great snorkeling right off the beach.
Our day trip to Coral Bay confirmed one thing – we would love to go there for a longer family holiday, and just snorkel, swim and enjoy the cute little town.
Other Western Australia Station Stays
My brother always said “half the fun of travel is in the planning” and my computer is full of ideas for when we take X trip or Y trip. And, our road trip north in Western Australia is no exception. It’s something I have dreamed about doing for years. I am keen to stay at as many of the Western Australia station stays possible, feel free to check out our guide about the best station stays in Western Australia to compare! Feel free to check out our guide about the best station stays in Western Australia to compare!
Mellenbye Station Stay
Mellenbye Station Stay is located just 50 kilometres north of Morawa on the sealed Morawa Yalgoo Road. It is about 4.5 hours driving north of Perth. It was once a sheep station of around 251,000 acres. Now it is a working cattle station that has an abundance of seasonal wildflowers.
On Mellenbye there are new, self-contained cottages and two cabins which mean that guests who desire a little luxury and the comforts of home can still experience life on a station. Set away from the other buildings, the cottages and cabins wonderful for those who like to birdwatch.
Mellenbye also have motel accommodation and camping, and make an excellent base for wildflower viewing during Western Australia’s amazing Wildflower season. For example, it is just over an hour from Mellenbye Station to Coalseam Conservation Park, the site of the amazing carpets of everlastings.
Wooleen Station Stay
Wooleen Station is located 680kms north of Perth. The nearest town, Mullewa, is 193 kms away. It would take 8 hours to drive from Perth to Wooleen station, if you didn’t stop!
Like Bullara Station-Wooleen Station is huge; over 250 000 acres. The Wooleen Homestead was built in 1918. It is listed by the Australian National Trust. As such, it offers a very memorable way to experience the Australian outback. In addition, the homestead offers a cellar full of Western Australian wines, billiard room, library, swimming pool and gorgeous garden to wander.
For other accommodation types, the station also offers recently built self-contained two-bedroom guesthouses with fully equipped kitchens facilities, open fireplaces, and more.
Check for current availability and pricing on Booking.com
Check for current availability and pricing on Agoda.com
We would recommend taking our Perth to Kalbarri Road Trip and then continuing north. Kalbarri to Wooleen station is 4 hours / 289 km.
Melangata Station
Melangata Station is situated in the Yalgoo area, some 563 km or 6.5 hours’ drive north east of Perth.
Smaller than the other stations on the list, 45,122-hectare (111,499-acres) Melangata station has always run sheep, mostly Merino until the early 2000. They are now running Damara, Dorper cross meat sheep.
The station has a unique homestead that was designed by the Priest Architect, Monsignor John Hawes, including its own tiny chapel nestled within the walls of the main building. Monsignor John Hawes spent over 20 years in the Geraldton Diocese and is responsible for the design, construction and overseeing of many Catholic churches and buildings in the area, most of which are still being used today.
In addition to the historic homestead, Melangata Station offers dog friendly camping and cottage / shearers’ quarters’ accommodation (which is in the process of being renovated). You can also have dinner at the homestead. Lovely food and a great way to pick the brains of the hosts, who are welcoming company and a mine of useful, practical information for tourists.
The unpowered bush campsite situated near the shearing shed with access to hot showers and flush toilets. If you are looking for a glamping option, why not spend a night in the elegant Bell Tent with all camping gear provided.
Quobba Station, North of Carnarvon
Quobba Station is right on the coast and definitely high on our station stay bucket list! Like all the stations the landscape is rough and red, but in the case of Quobba station, you can visit the southern part of the UNESCO World Heritage listed Ningaloo Reef Marine Park as the station has 80km of coastline.
The property was established in 1898, with the Meecham family taking care of it for the past 40 years. Its 10,000 Damara sheep roam over 35,000 hectares (about 86,000 acres), making it much smaller than Bullara or Wooleen stations on this list.
On Quobba station you go fishing, visit isolated beaches, go surfing, snorkeling, whale watching and delight in the marine and native wildlife!
For those looking for non-camping accommodation, you can choose from safari tents, fishing shacks and cottages to chalets beautifully situated overlooking the Indian Ocean. Please be aware that while the homestead is easily accessible by 2WD (10km of unsealed road into the campsite), 4WD’s are recommended if you are looking to explore the coast.
Unpowered caravan and camping sites are scattered throughout Red Bluff. There are 15 long drop toilets located near every camp spot and a waste dump point near the entrance of the camp. Using private chemical toilets (that is, BYO toilet) is strongly encouraged on Quobba station as it reduces the impact on communal toilets.
Quobba Station does not take bookings for camping and there is a 3 night camping minimum from July 1st through October 31st.
The Verdict – Our Bullara Station Stay Experience
Without a doubt our Bullara Station stay was one of the highlights of our time on the Ningaloo Coast. We loved our time at Kapock Cottage, doing the walks around the station and soaking up the feel of what life on a station might be like. We thoroughly recommend that you book some time at Bullara Station, or one of the other Western Australian station stays on our list!
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