It doesn’t get much more authentically Australian than a Station Stay. It’s more than just a bed for the night - your friendly hosts welcome you onto their farms, cattle stations and homesteads for a taste of country life in Australia’s Golden Outback.
Cattle stations and homesteads are scattered throughout the ruggedly beautiful plains of the Golden Outback and especially the northern Gascoyne Murchison. Accommodation ranges from luxury rooms in grand station homesteads to rustic shearing quarters and camping facilities on huge cattle stations. Here are some of our favourite in the Gascoyne Murchison.
Wooleen Station is a working cattle station in the outback of Western Australia. Your hosts the Pollock family will make your stay comfortable, educational and enjoyable in the National Trust listed homestead, otherwise the self-contained rammed earth guest houses or the remote bush camping spots offer peaceful respite. David and Frances Pollock have created a network of walking trails and hiking trails across Wooleen and even have mountain bikes you can hire to undertake the journey. The guided sunset tour is the highlight activity where David will take you to visit the gorgeous surrounds and inspire you with their journey of sustainability and regenerative agriculture. Finish the tour learning about Wajarri culture at sundown enjoying some drinks and snacks.
Cath, Dave and family welcome you to their working cattle station, conveniently located on the Great Northern Highway, 12kms north of Cue along the Miners' Pathway and close to Milly Soak and other historic and natural attractions. There are Shearers’ Quarters, self contained cottages and spaces for caravans and campers. Nallan Lake is a nature reserve and other than in times of drought, is a haven for a huge array of plant and birdlife including black swans. During periods of heavy winter rains Lake Nallan transforms into a favoured picnic spot. The surrounds will become covered with carpets of colourful everlastings and other flowers.
Historic Mellenbye Station is a working cattle station, located just 6.5 kilometres off the sealed Morawa-Yalgoo Road in the district of Yalgoo.. There are two entrances to the station, the first of which at the southern border is a private entrance, so head up towards the second which is located just after the cattle grid crossing at the Morawa and Yalgoo shire border. During wildflower season Mellenbye Station offers visitors the chance to see the famous wreath flower - Lechenaultia macranta. Many other flowers, including everlastings and orchids, can be seen on walks or drives around the property. Mellenbye offers a wide range of options including camping grounds, shearers quarters, cabins, cottages and homestead rooms.
Melangata Station is situated 70kms north of Yalgoo in Western Australia. The station has always been a sheep station running Merino sheep until the early 2000s, now running Damara, Dorper cross meat sheep. Melangata Homestead is famously designed and built by the priest architect Monsignor John Hawes in 1917 and is heritage listed. Hosted and catered rooms are available at the homestead, otherwise bring your camping gear and set-up in the Melangata camp ground. Your host Jo Clews is dubbed the ‘camp oven queen’ and has a published cook book Australian Camp Oven Cooking. Why not grab a copy during your visit and ask Jo for some tips and tricks?
Robert and Leanne Lefroy have managed this working sheep station since 2018. The station is located approximately 70km north of Paynes Find - 17km off the highway on a well graded dirt. There is plenty to do at Nalbarra Station with amazing breakaway country for artists, birdwatching, bushwalks and self-drives through the gorgeous countryside. Nalbarra gives guests the opportunity to camp under the Stars or take a room in a tradition shearers quarters with accompanying shearers kitchen complete with pots, pans and cutlery.