A station stay is more than your average getaway. Step onto a working cattle station or farm covering thousands of hectares and experience the lifestyle of a stockman.
Accommodation on an outback station can vary from a campsite and swag, to simple shearing quarters, to a cosy homestead offering the luxuries of champagne and a charcuterie board to match.
Your station hosts will know all the secrets of the land from the best places to view native birdlife and wildflowers to swimming holes and historical sites.
If swapping your smartphone and reception for a starlit sky and campfire sounds like a welcome change, a station stay may be just
Quobba Station
Quobba Station
Where the red dust of the outback meets the wild Indian ocean, Quobba Station offers a unique destination for travellers wishing to combine their love of the sea with the essence of a country lifestyle.
Hunt for shells at the beach, try your hand at a spot of land-based game fishing or take the time to spot sea turtles, manta rays and whales in one of Quobba’s many secret snorkelling locations.
The station has an expansive list of accommodation from beach-front campsites to palm frond shacks, bungalows, cottages and deluxe safari retreats. The recently restored shearers quarters offer backpacker style accommodation for large groups, sleeping up to 22 adults with a self-contained kitchen and entertainment room. For smaller groups, pack your linen and towels and set yourself up inside one of Quobba’s many quaint cottages which sleep 3 to 8 people a night. Quobba Station also understands the importance of man’s best friend and allows four-legged friends to join in on the fun in the outback.
Quobba Station is located 80km north of Carnarvon and a 10-hour drive north of Perth.
Nallan Station
Nallan Station
Halfway between Perth and the Karijini National Park lies the historic Nallan Station with its original structures still standing since construction in the 1920s. The ideal time to visit is from July to October when the winter rains transform the red plains into a lively palette of wildflowers.
Grab the family and set up a picnic at the historical Milly Soak well, or take off for an afternoon dip or kayak at Nallan Lake, 8km northeast of the station. If you’re wanting to experience true station life, there are plenty of animals to feed or pat on the property for kids eager to get their hands dirty.
Sleeping up to six guests with a fully equipped country-chic kitchen, TV and gas heating, enjoy the rustic charm and comforts of the Overseers Cottage. For larger groups, the Shearers Quarters sleeps up to 12 guests. For those wishing to light a campfire and soak up the simple pleasures in life, Nallan Station also offers unpowered sites at $12.50 per adult and $7.00 per child per night.
Nallan Station is located 15 kilometres from Cue off the Great Northern Highway and an eight-hour drive northeast of Perth.
Melangatta Station
Melangata Station
Melangata Station is a sheep station that boasts one of the most unique homesteads. Designed by Priest Architect Monsignor John Hawes, the station features its very own chapel and turret.
Camp in the comfort of your own tent on an unpowered site for $12.50 per adult per night or allow your hosts to do all the work for you with a night in an elegant bell tent located in a secret bush location for $70 a night. If camping is not your thing, no worries, Melangatta Station also offers cottage accommodation, sleeping up to four people for $60 a night. If you’re a couple looking for a child-free, no fuss, romantic stay try the adult-only homestead rooms for $320 per night. This option is perfect for a relaxing getaway, not to mention the scrumptious breakfast and lunch included with your stay.
During the day explore the culinary art of camp-oven cooking brought to you by your host, Jo, for $85 per person. Discover the region’s dramatic scenery on an escorted self-drive tour around the expansive property and surrounds. Bask in the late afternoon sun with a trip to the top of the homestead’s turret, indulging in a glass of champagne and nibbles to finish off a perfect day on the station.
You can find Melangatta Station 142 kilometres southwest of Cue and a 6.5 hr drive north of Perth.
Gabyon Station
Gabyon Station
At 271,500 hectares and approximately 90 kilometres across, there is a sheep load of work to be done at Gabyon Station. If you are up for getting your hands dirty, this is the ultimate immersive experience to live like a station hand. Stir up the dust beneath your boots, round up sheep on a quad bike or help the farmers hunt for pests to protect their livestock.
If working isn’t on your agenda, spend the day horse riding, clay shooting, prospecting for gold or hiking one of the many hundreds of tracks that cover the expanse of Gabyon Station. Hosts Mike and Helen are always up for a chat and love to offer guests a space at their dinner table to share in a slice of well-deserved woodfired pizza.
The property offers a variety of scenic non-powered campsites and camping gear for hire from $10 a night. Alternatively, you can opt-in for an authentic stay in the shearers quarters with basic kitchen amenities and hot showers starting from $20 per person a night. If comfort is required, Gabyon’s rustic cottage accommodation provides modern appliances and 24hr power for $50 a night per adult and $25 per child.
You can find Gabyon Station 200kms east of Geraldton and a 6hr drive north of Perth.
Wooleen Station
Wooleen Station
Nestled in an oasis of landscaped gardens and wide colonial verandas, Wooleen Station is like a picture out of any Aussie outback story. Listed by the Australian National Trust, the homestead is dedicated to the preservation of the unique ecology of the region.
Wake up to the smell of freshly baked bread and enjoy breaky with your hosts before jumping on a bike to peddle across the outback. Take a guided eco-tour to learn about the rich Indigenous history and delicate biodiversity that surrounds the property. Sign up for a 4WD tour or put on your cossies for an afternoon swim in the Murchison River.
The station offers an array of outback campsites equipped with their own fire pits at $30 per vehicle per night. Wooleen’s guesthouse sleeps up to five starting from $199, with fresh linen and complimentary toiletries. For those looking for a little luxury, sip on WA cellar wines and enjoy the convenience of a fully catered stay with free wi-fi and bike hire included from $249 a night.
Discover the secrets of Woolleen Station, 195 kilometres northeast of Mullewa and an 8-hour drive north of Perth.
Where the twinkling lights of the milky way are guaranteed to be the last lights you see before you hit the hay, a homestead stay in the Outback is an essential trip on every Australian traveller's bucket list.
Header Image Credit @nic_duncan_photographer