Not logged On  Setup your Visitor profile  Logon to ExplorOz now 
Font Size AdjusterDecrease Font SizeIncrease Font Size   Print this page

Quobba Coast
Red Bluff is located on Quobba Station, along the rugged Gascoyne Coast, north of Carnarvon. The spectacular headland provides a sheltered bay and camping area ideal for swimming, snorkelling, fishing and surfing.

This trek is located in the WA Coast region.

Start Finish Distance Min Days Rating
Carnarvon Red Bluff (Quobba Station) 133 1 Trek rating 2 of 5 - Click for detailsTrek rating 2 of 5 - Click for details
» Description
» Preparation
    Fuel Information, Best Time to Visit
    Permits, Supplies/Facilities, General
» Things to See & Do
» Environment
» History
» Driving Notes
» Related Shop Items
  
Read or Submit Feedback on this Trek
1 on File		 View or Submit a Fuel Usage update for this Trek
None on File		 View, Map or Download the plot files available for this trek
No Plots
Researched By Member - Rachel   Latest Update 18 Nov 2005

 Description

Red Bluff is a private camping area located on Quobba Station approximately 45 kilometres north of the homestead. The station operates under a pastoral lease running sheep and goats, in addition to providing tourist accommodation at the Homestead and Red Bluff.

Red Bluff is renowned for its surf break, however, is appealing for many other reasons. Fishing in the area is popular and often fruitful and fish feeding frenzies can be witnessed from the shore. Marine life including turtles, dolphins and whale sharks can also be spotted along the coast. The bay is protected by a headland and a shallow reef and on calm days swimming and snorkelling can be enjoyed.


Spectacular Sunset on the Quobba Coast


The road in to Red Bluff may be rocky and corrugated but generally a 4WD is not required. Once there, a couple of days is recommended to completely relax and enjoy the Red Bluff experience.

Other attractions along the route between Carnarvon and Red Bluff include the Blowholes and Dampier Salt, which operates from Lake McLeod and loads at Cape Cuvier. Beyond Quobba Station is Gnarloo Station, which also provides a camping area on the coast.

It is noted that through access to the north does not exist and the route out to the highway is only via the Blowholes Road (the way you came in).


Quobba Point Blowholes

 Preparation

Fuel Supplies

Carnarvon

Best time to visit

April - October

Permits

No permits required. Camping fees apply at Blowholes, Quobba Station and Red Bluff.

Supplies/Facilities

Major supplies (including fuel and water) from Carnarvon. Limited supplies at Quobba Homestead (bait, ice, tackle, refreshments) and Red Bluff.

General

There is no fresh water supply at Red Bluff or fuel beyond Carnarvon, so both should be obtained prior to departure. Enough food and supplies are required to be taken for the duration of your stay.

In busy periods it may be difficult to obtain a site with shade so some sort of shade structure is strongly recommended.

Flies in this area can be particularly prolific and most people sport a fly net.

FACILITIES

The camping sites at Red Bluff are ideally dispersed and very picturesque. Basic palm frond huts are also available for an additional fee and vary in style and structure. A small shop, drop toilets, a fish cleaning area and rubbish collection are provided, beyond that services are limited. Firewood is sometimes available from the caretaker and may be collected in the area, however, this is subject to change. Dogs are not permitted.

The Shire of Carnarvon operates a camping area on the road south of the blowholes. Facilities are limited and include toilets and a boat ramp. The area provides opportunities for safe snorkelling and diving. No firewood collection is permitted in the area.

A pay phone is located at both the Blowholes and at Red Bluff.


Great beaches

 Things to See & Do

Rugged coastline with blowholes and opportunities for fishing, surfing, snorkelling, diving.

 Environment

The section of the Gascoyne coastline extending between Carnarvon and Red Bluff is mostly rugged and rocky. As the sign at the Blowholes states “King Waves Kill” and caution should be exercised when experiencing the coastal areas. People have been washed off and killed along this section of coast.

Very little rainfall is experienced in this area and as a result the inland areas are particularly arid and barren with limited vegetation. 1200ha of the fragile coastal dune system have been fenced off from the Quobba grazing lease to exclude domestic and feral animals to assist with rehabilitation.

As with all camping, every attempt should be made to reduce the impact of your vehicle and yourself on the natural environment.

 History

A memorial erected to recognise those who perished on the HMAS Sydney is located a couple of kilometres south of the Quobba homestead. A battle between the HMAS Sydney and the German raider HSK Kormoran in 1941 resulted in the loss of more than 700 lives. Controversy still surrounds the exact circumstances leading to the loss, given there were no survivors from the HMAS Sydney.

 Driving Notes

SO=straight on, SP=sign post, TR=turn right, TL=turn left, VR=veer right, VL=veer left, KR=keep right, KL=keep left, T/O=turn off
Alternative Route

An alternate route exists between Carnarvon and the Blowholes Road when the Gascoyne River crossing is open. The turn off is directly east of the Caltex Service Station in Carnarvon on the left and a sign at the beginning of this road advises if this route is open. This road provides alternative access avoiding the main highway, however, the duration of the trip is the same.
ForwardInformationReverse
0 kmStart at Carnarvon (KCD Fuel Suppliers) 
Finish at Carnarvon (KCD Fuel Supplies)133 km
 (1.6 km)
 
1.6 kmSO
Alternate route to Blowholes Road on the left, open subject to river crossing.		 
SO
131.4 km
 (6.4 km)
 
8 kmSO
“Kenedy Range – Mt Augusta” turn off on the right.
 
SO
“Kenedy Range – Mt Augusta” turn off on the left.		125 km
 (1.9 km)
 
9.9 kmSO
Bridge over Gascoyne River.		 
SO
Bridge over Gascoyne River.		123.1 km
 (10.1 km)
 
20 kmTL
 
 Blowholes Sign 
TR113 km
 (9.5 km)
 
29.5 kmSO
Access to Boolathana Station on the right		 
SO
Access to Boolathana Station on the left		103.5 km
 (22.8 km)
 
52.3 kmSO
Quobba Station south boundary		 
SO
Quobba Station south boundary		80.7 km
 (9.6 km)
 
61.9 kmSO
Access to Dampier Salt on the right		 
SO
Access to Dampier Salt on the left		71.1 km
 (6.9 km)
 
68.8 kmT Junction with King Waves Kill sign and photo opportunity. Sealed road ends here.
TR - Access to Quobba Station and Red Bluff
TL for Blowholes		 
TL at Junction with King Waves Kill sign and photo opportunity. Sealed road start here.
SO for Blowholes.		64.2 km
 (7.5 km)
 
76.3 kmSO 
 HMAS Sydney Memorial 
SO56.7 km
 (1.8 km)
 
78.1 kmSO 
 Quobba Homestead with accommodation and basic supplies 
TR - Quobba Homestead54.9 km
 (46.9 km)
 
125 kmTL - Follow road through to Red Bluff. 
 Seven livestock grids between homestead and turnoff 
SO - Follow road through to Quobba Homestead8 km
 (8 km)
 
133 kmFinish at Red Bluff Campsite and shop 
Start at Red Bluff Campsite and shop0 km
  
 

 Related Shop Items

Outback & Regional
1. Pilbara and Coral Coast  $8.95 Add the item Pilbara and Coral Coast to your Cart
Click here for full page preview
Scale 1:1,250,000  5th Edition  
One of the last great frontiers in Australia, the Pilbara is real 4WD country. This map has been field-checked using Hemas GPS mapping system and includes tracks and roads that have never before appeared on maps. The information side of the map presents all the points of interest, the history, and all the important information a person needs to know in order to safely traverse this remote countryside.
Full Description (inc coverage) Member Reward Product Dimensions 250 x 140 x 2mm
ItemID E53 Weight 57grams
Shipped from ExplorOz
2. Gascoyne  $7.95 Add the item Gascoyne to your Cart
Click here for full page preview
Scale 1:750,000  4th Edition  
Excellent, detailed map including camping areas, caravan parks, picnic areas and covers major towns and attractions. Includes town maps and street indexes of Exmouth, Coral Bay, Carnarvon and Denham.
Full Description (inc coverage) Member Reward Product Dimensions 225 x 115 x 3mm
ItemID E179 Weight 74grams
Shipped from ExplorOz
3. Pilbara - Streetsmart  $7.95 Add the item Pilbara - Streetsmart to your Cart
Click here for full page preview
Scale 1:1,200,000  3rd Edition  
Detailed map including camping areas, caravan parks, picnic areas and covers major towns and attractions in the Pilbara area. Covers Dampier, Karratha, Newman, Onslow, Port Hedland, South Hedland, Tom Price and Wickham to Point Samson.
Full Description (inc coverage) Member Reward Product Dimensions 200 x 172 x 2mm
ItemID E182 Weight 54grams
Shipped from ExplorOz