Gnaraloo Beach

Well off the beaten track, Gnaraloo is on the stunning Coral Coast, reached along a lonely dirt track road 150km north of Carnarvon. A 4WD vehicle is recommended if you want to get here in one piece. The nearest landmark is the 90,000 hectare Gnaraloo Homestead and Sheep Station.

The dramatic location and unspoilt natural beauty is what appeals to those who make the journey to Gnaraloo, where the sandy desert meets the ocean. Plus it is on the southern tip of the Ningaloo Reef. The contrast between the barren inhospitable land and the red rock cliffs plunging into the clear turquoise waters is truly dramatic, especially at sunset.

Gnaraloo Beach is home to the third largest population of Loggerhead Turtles in the world. In calm waters, snorkelling is like putting your head into an aquarium as there is so much marine life. Part of the Ningaloo Reef Marine Park, you’ll find staghorn, fan and other corals are frequented by an amazing variety of fish, rays, sea turtles, sponges, squids and sharks.  Dolphins, whales and schools of tuna are also common.

Gnaraloo has attracted surfers since the 1960s and provides world-class waves including the classic walling waves at “Tombstones”. It has an exposed reef break and the winds ensure a dependable surf with groundswells from the southwest. The breeze also makes it a great spot for windsurfing and kitesurfing. On calmer days spearfishing is popular too.

If you plan to stay at Gnaraloo Three Mile Camp, it has toilets, freshwater showers and a shop providing basics including milk, ice, water, cold beer, wireless internet and power to recharge your fridge. It is part of the Gnaraloo Station.

With no light pollution, it’s an amazing place for stargazing. You are more likely to meet wild goats, kangaroos and emus than people, and the area is also home to an assortment of lizards, crabs, enormous spiders and snakes, so be warned.