Ningaloo Station V Waroora Station

I would normally say Waroora, but Sept is traditionally the start of the winds and can be more exposed, Ningaloo is probably better because places like for example Winderabandi you can get out of the wind, water is close by at a well south of Winderabandi and not far off the main track the Coral Bay/Yardie Creek Road.

With young children Winderabandi would suit them for a swim because it is sheltered and shallow.

Cheers
Mark

Just back from Waroorra 14 mile camp & the winds have started already. Please be aware DEC (New CALM name) is trying to take over all the stations rights to let people camp - there has been protests re rubbish, toilets ect so please take a Chem Toilet with you. At Warra you can not camp overnight without one. Not really suitable for young kids & have not been to Ningaloo. Cheers Heather

to rate them by kid swimming safety

First. Gnaraloo - the lagoon at 3 mile camp and gnaraloo bay.

Second - Ningaloo - many swimming locations - better in the north of the station than the south.

Last - Waroora - hard to find safe swimming places. small shore break to the north - no lagoons, shallow tidal reef areas in the middle - no easy access to safe swimming, shore break to the south.

there will be plenty of wind (in the afternoon). pack a kite.

have fun

Have to say Ningaloo - South Lefroy Bay and tell them we sent you. You must have a chem toilet here also. Wind about 1 week out of 3. Just a case of take wind breaks and enjoy the good with the bad - when its good there is no beter place in the whole world - seriously, people rate it to the Maldives, and cannot compare. Stayed with a couple up from Gnarloo who sad it was better - they didn't think it would be possible but the beachfront camping and kid safe swimming was far superior. Sheltered 2m depth 1km out to reef. Just came back from 1month there - go every 2 years now, love it but currently subject to closure by DEC - give to fighting fund and enjoy it may be your last chance to enjoy the most unique experience every to be found in Oz.

MM

DECs grand plan for Ningaloo Station is a lot worse that that! They have claimed 48% of the station - this includes their airstrip, removal of all their stock holding pens, their watering points, the homestead itself (tin shack) etc. They are claiming the land for "public purpose" - now remember this is DEC. They are building 500 bed accommodation nodes - $440/night Eco Tents in serviced "villages". Camping will be still allowed but not as it is now. All camping will be restricted to 28 day stays (currently unlimited), no camping will be beachfront as it is now - all camping will be 2km back on the limestone and will be in designated and numbered bays of 10m x 10m as it is in Cape Range National Park and holds only 1 vehicle - if you have a boat it will need to be parked in a communal parking bay, if do wish to use a boat you will need to launch and retrieve it (no mooring as you can do now), oh and no dogs and no motorbikes (which are currently allowed). No point in bringing your chem loo - they don't like those either - you will need to use long-drop pits. The tourism volume would increase to these areas dramatically - hence the masssive shift away from wilderness, self-sufficiency. Ningaloo Station were due to be taken over on 1st July this year whist we were there. They have only been able to keep DEC at bay by an injunction - they have used the last 4 years of camping fees (savings to cover cost of building campers toilets and other improvements) to pay for the cost of the lawyers to fight this. The only way Ningaloo Station will remain in private hands is if the public want to support them - they have set up a Fighting Fund and are desperately seeking donations. See their Blog on ExplorOz for details of where to send money etc.

I am due to update my Blog and write some magazine articles from our recent trip there - I videod the 2 campers meetings where Ningaloo Station advised all what was going on and will put up a UTube segment in my blog along with my notes. Leonie from Wararoora was there too and explained how DECs claim has been removed from their property - as she has a grandchild buried in the area they planned to develop and left her alone after realising that.

MM