National park · Australia
Red BluffRed Bluff (Quobba coast)
Go only if you have your own vehicle and a full water and food supply: entry to Red Bluff is free, but camping is run by Quobba Station and rates change — check with them before driving out. It is a surf and camping beach about 100 km (62 mi) north of Carnarvon, reached on Blowholes Road then unsealed Gnarlaroo Road; the last tracks need 4WD, and there is no mobile signal after Highway 1.Go only if you have your own vehicle and a full water and food supply: entry to Red Bluff is free, but camping is run by Quobba Station and rates change — check with them before driving out. It is a surf and camping beach about 62 mi (100 km) north of Carnarvon, reached on Blowholes Road then unsealed Gnarlaroo Road; the last tracks need 4WD, and there is no mobile signal after Highway 1.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
1 km² (0 sq mi)0 sq mi (1 km²)
approximate
Established
1950
Best months
May–Sep
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 13
- Oceania ↗Oceania's island states guard their farms and reefs at the border: tick 'yes' on the arrival card for any food, plant, animal product, soil or used outdoor gear, and let the officer decide.
- Oceania ↗Across the tropical South Pacific, cyclones are possible from November to April: choose insurance that covers weather delays and keep one spare night before a long-haul departure.
- Australia and New Zealand ↗Both countries drive on the left, with long distances between fuel stops in the outback and on New Zealand's back roads; fatigue causes more visitor crashes than speed.
- Australia ↗Almost every visitor needs a visa or an electronic authorisation (ETA or eVisitor, depending on passport) before boarding: apply only through the official Department of Home Affairs site or the official AustralianETA app, and check the rules for your passport.
- Australia ↗Declare all food, plant material, seeds, wood and animal products on your arrival declaration; undeclared items can bring on-the-spot fines or visa cancellation. When unsure, declare it.
- Australia ↗Drive on the left. An overseas licence in English (or with an official translation or International Driving Permit) is accepted for visitors; check the state rules and your rental contract.
- Australia ↗Swim between the red and yellow flags on patrolled beaches; rip currents cause most beach drownings.
- Western Australia ↗No fresh fruit, vegetables, seeds, cuttings, honey or bee products across the state border; checkpoints are enforced at airports and on the Eyre Highway.
- Western Australia ↗UTC+8 all year, no daylight saving; two hours behind Sydney in winter, three in summer. Towns east of Caiguna on the Eyre Highway run UTC+8:45.
- Western Australia ↗National park entry is per vehicle; a multi-park pass (5 days to 4 weeks) pays off from the second park. Camping fees are separate.
- Gascoyne ↗WA national park entry is a per-vehicle day pass (2026 estimate A$15–17); multi-day and annual passes exist. No charge on foot or by bike.
- Gascoyne ↗You need a car. Rentals are available in Carnarvon and Exmouth; book ahead in peak season.
- Gascoyne ↗Fuel gaps are long on the inland Highway 1 and the coastal Highway 60. Fill up whenever you can.
At a glance
- Country
- Australia
- Area
- 1 km² (0 sq mi)0 sq mi (1 km²)
- Red Bluff is a coastal camping and beach area on the Quobba–Gnarlaroo coast, not a gazetted national park, so no park gazettal year or surveyed park area is claimed here: the figures above are placeholders for the site schema (check). The coast at Gnarlaroo is part of Ningaloo Marine Park; the rest is not within a designated park but is protected by government and by the landowners.
- Established
- 1950
- Best months
- May–Sep
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Carnarvon
Red Bluff is not a national park and has no marked trails: it is a free, self-sufficient surf and camping beach on the Quobba coast of the Gascoyne, roughly 100 km north of Carnarvon, reached on sealed Blowholes Road and then unsealed, regularly graded Gnarlaroo Road. The last side tracks to the northern beaches and camps are rough and steep, where 4WD is safer, and there is no mobile signal once you leave Highway 1. The draw is the coast itself: a renowned break for experienced surfers, the Point Quobba blowholes and Aquarium snorkelling area, the HMAS Sydney memorial cairn, the Korean Star wreck at Cape Cuvier, and humpback whales moving south from June to September. Come in May to September with all your food, water and fuel; avoid December to February for heat and cyclone risk.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1950.
Size and age
1 km² (0 sq mi)0 sq mi (1 km²) · national park since 1950
Red Bluff is a coastal camping and beach area on the Quobba–Gnarlaroo coast, not a gazetted national park, so no park gazettal year or surveyed park area is claimed here: the figures above are placeholders for the site schema (check). The coast at Gnarlaroo is part of Ningaloo Marine Park; the rest is not within a designated park but is protected by government and by the landowners.
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Carnarvon.
Why go
- A free, self-sufficient beach camp on the Quobba coast, roughly midway between the Quobba and Gnarlaroo homesteads.
- Surf and snorkelling straight off the sand, with no resort, no queue and no entry fee.
- The blowholes at Point Quobba and the HMAS Sydney memorial cairn are on the same road, so one drive covers the coast's main sights.
- Night skies with no light pollution and wildlife close inshore: dolphins, turtles, reef sharks and, from June to September, migrating humpback whales.
When to go
- JanCaution
- FebCaution
- MarCaution
- AprGo
- MayBest
- JunBest
- JulBest
- AugBest
- SepBest
- OctGo
- NovCaution
- DecCaution
- JanPeak heat; camp shade is scarce (check)
- FebHot and humid; cyclone season (check)
- MarStill hot; cyclone risk tails off (check)
- AprWarm days, cooler nights
- MayDry, mild; ring ahead for camp space
- JunWhales moving south; comfortable days
- JulCool nights, clear skies; school holidays busy
- AugWhale season; ring ahead for camp space
- SepWarm, dry, whales still passing
- OctHeating up; quiet again
- NovHot; carry extra water (check)
- DecHottest month; cyclone season (check)
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Humpback whales migrating southJun–Sep · Watch from the shore; do not approach by boat or board. | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Dolphins, turtles and reef sharks close inshoreAll year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Wallaroo, echidnas and bungarras (sand goannas) on landAll year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Waterbirds on Lake Macleod after flood yearsAll year · Irregular; the lake is mostly dry. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Carnarvon
Take Highway 1 about 10 km (6.2 mi) north, turn west on Blowholes Road, then join unsealed Gnarlaroo Road at Point Quobba; the Red Bluff turn-off forks back south to hug the shore (check the turn-off).Take Highway 1 about 6.2 mi (10 km) north, turn west on Blowholes Road, then join unsealed Gnarlaroo Road at Point Quobba; the Red Bluff turn-off forks back south to hug the shore (check the turn-off).
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Open the page →
From Point Quobba
Continue north on Gnarlaroo Road and take the Red Bluff turn-off; the side track is rough and steep in places (check).
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From Three Mile Camp
The coast road runs north past Turtles to Three Mile Camp, then ends at the Gnarlaroo Homestead gate; there is no through road.
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From Perth
Drive or fly to Carnarvon first, then approach on Blowholes Road; there is no public transport to the coast.
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Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Red Bluff camp and beach | A steep descent to a surf beach with a basic camping area above it. | Open; self-sufficient camping only. |
| Point Quobba | Lighthouse, blowholes and the Aquarium snorkelling area, with the main camp and station shop. | Open; sealed road from Highway 1. |
| Cape Cuvier and Korean Star wreck | Small cove, working salt jetty and the scattered wreck of MV Korean Star 56 m offshore. | Beach and shore dive open; jetty off limits. |
| Gnarlaroo Turtle Beach and Three Mile Camp | The northern beaches and last accessible camp before the homestead gate. | Open; rough tracks, 4WD safer. |
| Ningaloo Marine Park (Gnarlaroo section) | The marine park begins on the Gnarlaroo coast; the rest of this coast is not in a designated park but is protected. | Marine park rules apply where signposted. |
Sketch map
- 1Carnarvon · Town≈-24.883, 113.659Approximate; last full services.Map ↗
- 2Point Quobba · Viewpoint≈-24.478, 113.408Lighthouse, blowholes and Aquarium.Map ↗
- 3Cape Cuvier · Beach≈-24.224, 113.391Korean Star wreck offshore.Map ↗
- 4Red Bluff · Sleep≈-24.031, 113.448Camp and surf beach.Map ↗
- 5Gnarlaroo Turtle Beach · Beach≈-23.967, 113.471Map ↗
- 6Three Mile Camp · Sleep≈-23.876, 113.497Last accessible camp north.Map ↗
Take the points offline
6 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Approximate positions along the Quobba–Gnarlaroo coast, for orientation only; tracks and turn-offs are not surveyed here.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry to Red Bluff and the Quobba coast | Free | person | No gate and no entry fee; this coast is not a fee-charging park. |
| Camping at Red Bluff (own tent) | Free | night | 2026 estimate: Quobba Station manages the Red Bluff camp and sets the rate, which changes — check with the station before you drive out. |
| Quobba Station chalets, cabins and tents | Free | night | 2026 estimate: price on enquiry — check with the station. |
| Fuel, food and water in Carnarvon | Free | trip | Buy everything before leaving Highway 1; the station shop is not a grocery store. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
No park permit no permit
Camping arrangement permit or guide
Cape Cuvier jetty no permit
Park rules
- Self-sufficiency
- Bring all food, drinking water and fuel; the Quobba Station shop carries only a few items and is not a grocery store.
- Dogs
- Allowed in most outdoor areas but must stay on a lead; loose dogs harry livestock and can eat rat poison.
- Cape Cuvier jetty
- The salt and gypsum jetty is off limits to the public.
- Tell someone your plans
- Distances are long and there is no mobile signal after Highway 1; let someone know before a day trip or longer.
- Camping and fishing etiquette
- Follow local camp, surf and fishing etiquette; take out all rubbish.
- Rubbish at Red Bluff
- There are no bins at the Red Bluff camp; carry out everything you bring in (check bin availability at Point Quobba and the station camps).
Where to stay
In the park
Red Bluff camp
Basic camping area above the beach, managed by Quobba Station; no booking for camping, ring ahead May–September.
Near the park
Quobba Station
Chalets, cabins and tents, plus the shop, about 1 km (0.6 mi) north of the memorial cairn.Chalets, cabins and tents, plus the shop, about 0.6 mi (1 km) north of the memorial cairn.
Near the park
Point Quobba camp
The main coastal camp by the blowholes and Aquarium.
Near the park
Gnarlaroo Station camps
Three Mile Camp and Turtles, managed by Gnarlaroo Station.
Near the park
Carnarvon
Full range of motels, caravan parks and supermarkets, 100 km (62 mi) back on Highway 1.Full range of motels, caravan parks and supermarkets, 62 mi (100 km) back on Highway 1.
Safety
Heat and no water supply high
No mobile signal high
Rough side tracks medium
Surf and shore break medium
Cyclones and flooding medium
Snorkelling at low tide low
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- Red Bluff beach is reached by a steep descent and is not suitable for wheelchairs or limited mobility.
- The Point Quobba lighthouse, blowholes and memorial cairn are close to the road with short, mostly level walks.
- The Aquarium and Cape Cuvier involve sand and uneven rock.
Visiting lightly
- Take out everything you bring in; there are no bins or services along this coast.
- Keep distance from whales, turtles and reef sharks, and never chase wildlife for a photo.
- Use the station camps and shop so the grazing properties keep benefiting from visitors.
- Stay on existing tracks; the vegetation between the beaches is fragile.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Red Bluff?
Nothing. There is no gate and no entry fee for Red Bluff or the Quobba coast. You pay only for camping or accommodation through Quobba Station, and for your own fuel, food and water bought in Carnarvon.
What are the best hikes in Red Bluff?
There are no marked hiking trails. The walking here is short: the steep descent to Red Bluff beach, the level paths around the Point Quobba lighthouse and blowholes, the memorial cairn, and the sand and rock at Cape Cuvier and the Aquarium. Treat it as a beach and coast stop, not a walking destination.
When is the best time to visit Red Bluff?
May to September: dry, mild days, cool nights and humpback whales moving south from June. December to February is avoid — extreme heat and cyclone season. Ring ahead for camp space in the May–September peak and in school holidays.
Do I need a 4WD to reach Red Bluff?
Not for the main approach. Blowholes Road is good tarmac and Gnarlaroo Road is unsealed but regularly graded, so 2WD and caravans can get in and out. The side tracks to the northern beaches and camps are rough with gradients, where 4WD is safer.
Is there mobile phone signal at Red Bluff?
No. Signal drops once you turn off Highway 1, so tell someone your plans before heading out and carry water, fuel and supplies for the whole stay.
Can I camp at Red Bluff?
Yes. Quobba Station manages the Red Bluff camping area, with chalets, cabins and tents also available. There is no booking for camping; ring ahead in May–September to confirm availability.
Can I see the HMAS Sydney wreck?
No. The wreck lies in deep water about 300 km west of Carnarvon and was located in 2008. The memorial cairn on the coast is the accessible site.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go