Hi everyone. I hope you and yours are doing well.
As promised last time, I am back with the first of a series of posts showcasing our recent three week caravanning trip to Geraldton, Coral Bay, Exmouth, Shark Bay, and a few places in-between. Including this week - Bullara Station Stay. (You can click on the links to find out more)
Bullara Station is located on Burkett Road, at the bottom of Exmouth Gulf, on the North West Cape, approximately 1170 kilometres north of WA's capital Perth and 90 kilometres south of Exmouth and 68 kilometres north of Coral Bay. Here is a map. Bullara Station is just a few kilometres along Burkett Road from the Minilya-Exmouth Road.
Our last stop had been Exmouth so it was a relaxed get-up and a relatively easy drive to Bullara Station and we arrived just before midday. We had been to Coral Bay and Exmouth a number of times, but had never visited Bullara, but we have had several friends recommend it to us.
Nestled in 250,000 acres of land, known as Punurrba (sea breeze) by the local Yingarrda people, we found that Bullara Station Stay is very popular, and has plenty to do for a 2 or 3 day stay. Due to the very hot summer the station stay is only open April to October. The best time to visit is during down-south's winter. There are powered and unpowered sites suitable for tents, campers and caravans (drinking water to sites). Accommodation options also include safari huts and various cabin options.
There are walk trails, you can drive to the Exmouth Gulf (4WD only), indulge at the Woolshed cafe, restaurant or bar, play Boccie with the kids, and enjoy Bullara's famous Friday burger night with entertainment (part proceeds donated from every burger). There is lots to experience at Bullara.
Originally established in the 1920s to raise Merino sheep for wool production, the Shallcross family purchased the station in the late 1950s and transitioned to Damaras meat sheep, and in the early 2000s to Droughtmaster cattle. Around 2010 the family developed Bullara Station as a tourist destination. You can read an interesting 2021 article about Edwina Shallcross here - RRR Network news-edwina-shallcross-bullara/
After setting up our camp and lunch we explored the Tin Can / Windmill Walk - approx 2.2km circuit. It is an easy walk - just follow the tin cans!
Below is the Split Jack flower - Capparis lasinantha. A flower new to us and so lovely. It is a twining shrub or creeper with white flowers turning yellow. I love finding flowers we haven't seen before. Its range is from Broome to Carnarvon and it flowers May to October.
Below is the Corkwood tree - Hakea lorea - also known as bootlace oak. It has needle like leaves and can grow to about 6 metres. Corkwood is from the Proteaceae family found in central and northern Australia. It has needle-shaped leaves, yellow, white or green flowers and hard corky bark.
Then back through the camp to check out the cafe and restaurant in old the shearing shed. The scones with jam and cream were delicious and they make pies with Bullara Beef daily. Try The Table Restaurant for a special dinner.
It rained overnight and next day we decided not to drive out to the Gulf (4WD only - about 20km each way) because of the rains and the risk of it being boggy. That will have to wait for another time and another reason to come back! Oh well, cloudy weather is great for bush walking, but please wear a hat and carry water.
So instead we had pancakes for breakfast and then did the Sandhill Sunset walk - in the morning... The walk is about 2.6kms return. If you do this in the late afternoon to see the sunset you need to take a torch to find your way back. We took snacks and enjoyed them on the red sand hill.
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Along the way we came across the Bower Bird bower. This is not a nest - it is a bower that the male birds build to attract a mate. They decorate the entrance with all sorts of pretty rocks, stones, pieces of glass, pottery etc. This one had white stones and what we thought might be the small fruit of the native fig tree. Some years ago we saw a bower with a teaspoon obviously taken from someone's camp! You can see the male bower bird and the bower below.
Crested Pigeon, Western Bower bird, Western Bower bird, Mudlark (also known as Magpie Lark), Pink and Grey Galah, and a Miner bird.
I was very surprised and happy to see masses of Green bird flowers - Crotalaria cunninghamii - on top of the hill. These are a favourite of mine. I had never seen them growing in red sand hills before and in such numbers. The photos with the non-red background are from around Exmouth and Wooramel Station during the same trip.
Here you can see the buds forming and the seed pods
The flowers look like little birds - so unique and gorgeous. Can you see them in the photo below?
This is another wildflower we had never seen before - Silky pimelea - Pimelea ammocharis. Many thanks to the Wildflower Society of Western Australia on Facebook for the identifications.
And some other flowers from around the sand hill walk
That night we went to Bullara's famed Burger night - held every Friday - with live entertainment - and part proceeds to charity. They cooked about 400 burgers the night we were there. The Friday before they had cooked 520! You need to pre-book. Bookings can be make from the 15th day of the month prior to your arrival by ringing 08 9942 5938. In-house guests only.
The burgers are delicious and it was an enjoyable night!
Will we be back to Bullara? Most definitely. Thank you Bullara.
For more information:
Stay tuned over the coming weeks when I take you along the Coral Coast of Western Australia, and I bring you Coral Bay, Exmouth and Shark Bay.
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Thank you so much for stopping by. I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week.
I am linking up to the link-ups below. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!
I am linking up to the link-ups below. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!
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Until then, enjoy your day...Life only comes around once, so do what makes you happy, be kind, and be with people who make you smile.
...I went to college in Georgia which is a land of red soils. When it was dry there was red dust on everything and when it rained mud was everywhere. It amazing how much life your landscape supports. Jill, thanks for taking me along to see the sights.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your trip. I especially liked the flower that looks like birds. Now that's unique!
ReplyDeleteHello Jill
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading about your camping trip! Looks like a fabulous place with lots to do and see.
I loved all your photos of the landscapes, the flower images and the pretty variety of birds you were able to see. The Green Bird Flower is lovely, very unique. I would love a yummy burger. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a great day and a happy week ahead. PS, thank you for leaving me a comment.