Hamelin Station Stay

August 24, 2016

Shark Bay, WA

Located just over 700 km north of Perth, the World Heritage area of Shark Bay is a popular destination for an increasing number of travellers and holiday makers.

Sign at the gate to Hamelin Station Stay

The reception and shearers' kitchen area at the Hamelin Station Stay

These days famous for its Monkey Mia dolphins, ancient stromatolites, beautiful Shelly Beach, Australia’s most westerly mainland point at Steep Point (also a fishing mecca) and the region’s dramatic coastal scenery, Shark Bay indeed has plenty to offer. With such a wide variety of things to see and do, visitors need a base to stay from which they can head out to explore the region, and Hamelin Station has, in recent times, become a logical choice.

Conveniently located on World Heritage Drive (the only road into and out of Shark Bay), just 30 km off the North West Coastal Highway, this splendid station stay, now a conservation area owned by Bush Heritage Australia (who have sites all around Australia), is particularly popular with caravanners who leave their vans on site and do day or half-day trips to the many places of interest.

Hamelin Station, a 202,000 hectare property set on 32 km of Shark Bay coastline, has in recent times undergone extensive modifications and these days has a modern, well equipped communal shearers’ kitchen and dining area (with a fire place) and a large covered-in barbeque area which doubles as a splendid gathering point for happy hour get-togethers and dinner. Mobile phone and internet reception is also available in this area.

There is also a second, well-resourced campers’ kitchen area with barbeque, gas burners, hot and cold water, tables and chairs. A new, large, modern toilet, shower and laundry block, including disabled facilities, all add to the appeal of the place.

Accommodation options here include rustic, historic shearers’ quarters (with a variety of different room options including king size beds, family rooms and self-contained units) which have been tastefully modernised and a range of unpowered caravan bays suitable for all sized rigs and well spread out camping sites (on a level, crushed shell base) with natural bush corridors between each site. Another nice touch are two great fire pit areas, with wood and chairs supplied – ideal for happy hours and to watch one of the delightful sunsets for which the Shark Bay area is renowned.

Local attractions here on Hamelin Station include a lovely wetlands lake with seating provided where visitors can quietly sit and watch swans, pelicans, cormorants and many of the 127 plus other bird species which have been recorded. In July and August a walk around the property is rewarded with a wide variety of wildflowers which, at this time of the year, make a lovely, colourful sight.

A self-guided tour of Hamelin’s historic shearing shed only 100 metres away from your campsite is a ‘must do’ where sheep pens, wool bales, shearers’ stands, shears and other relics as well as a wool classing table and plenty of information boards covering the pastoral history here dating back over 135 years.

Another popular nearby attraction (5 minutes’ drive) is the World Heritage stromatolite boardwalk in the Hamelin Pool Marine Reserve. Here visitors can see examples of the earliest form of life on earth – complex ‘rock-like’ living organisms that relate back to life over 3.5 billion years ago. Nearby there is also an enjoyable 1.2 km coastal walk which includes a fascinating shell quarry and the historic old Hamelin Pool Telegraph Station.

Back at the Hamelin Station Stay, visitors have access to a range of excellent publications relating to the history of Shark Bay, its geology, wildlife, indigenous culture and its quite extensive pastoral history. And after you’ve taken all this in, it is time (with the guidance of the helpful staff if needed) to head off on day or half-day outings exploring all the other attractions to be enjoyed in Shark Bay. A minimum stay of 4 or 5 days is recommended to see and experience the best that this World Heritage area has to offer.

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