Best camp spots Cape Range (Ningaloo)

Submitted: Sunday, Feb 19, 2017 at 19:32
ThreadID: 134326 Views:6124 Replies:12 FollowUps:2
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We have 4 nights to camp in the Cape Range National Park. Looking for suggestions of the best camp spots (hopefully we have not left it too late). Obvious preferences are fishing, fishing and fishing, though we may do a little snorkeling! Seriously, snorkeling off the beach would be brilliant.

Another point (and query, if I may) is we will not have a fridge (we will grab an ice box to use once there). Is ice available close to the park (Yardie Station perhaps)?

If so would we probably be best staying at one of the northern camp spots and going for a drive each day to see the others?

Cheers,

Mark
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Reply By: Sigmund - Sunday, Feb 19, 2017 at 21:01

Sunday, Feb 19, 2017 at 21:01
IMO the sites are all pretty similar.

As for getting ice you should check on the state of the ford. I heard it was impassable a while back.
AnswerID: 608714

Reply By: Clayton C1 - Sunday, Feb 19, 2017 at 21:16

Sunday, Feb 19, 2017 at 21:16
Yes best to stay at caravan parks on west side and do day trips if you running on ice and a esky .
AnswerID: 608715

Reply By: gerard m2 - Sunday, Feb 19, 2017 at 21:20

Sunday, Feb 19, 2017 at 21:20
I would stay at one of the caravan parks if no fridge and using ice. Osprey camp site is very good.
AnswerID: 608716

Reply By: gerard m2 - Sunday, Feb 19, 2017 at 21:22

Sunday, Feb 19, 2017 at 21:22
I should have added that snorkelling at Turquoise Bay is amazing and a must do.
AnswerID: 608718

Follow Up By: Motherhen - Monday, Feb 20, 2017 at 00:18

Monday, Feb 20, 2017 at 00:18
Oyster Stacks even better for snorkelling as I remember them from some years back. Right close to the shore.

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FollowupID: 878438

Reply By: Member - silkwood - Sunday, Feb 19, 2017 at 21:27

Sunday, Feb 19, 2017 at 21:27
Thanks for the quick replies. Osprey looks good (and there are still spots available!). Does anyone know if ice is available at Yardie Creek Homestead/Caravan Park?
AnswerID: 608720

Follow Up By: Member - silkwood - Sunday, Feb 19, 2017 at 21:31

Sunday, Feb 19, 2017 at 21:31
Sorry people, answered my own question. Yardie Creek Homestead does have ice. We will stay at one of the National Park sites and have a drive each day to collect ice. Cheers,

Mark
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Reply By: Peter_n_Margaret - Sunday, Feb 19, 2017 at 22:12

Sunday, Feb 19, 2017 at 22:12
Osprey.

Cheers,
Peter
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AnswerID: 608722

Reply By: Member - Wildmax - Sunday, Feb 19, 2017 at 23:20

Sunday, Feb 19, 2017 at 23:20
Have you considered camping at Ningaloo Station, instead of (or as well as) in the national park?
Fantastic spot and a lot less crowded - you can drive onto the beach and camp just up from high water mark (eg, at South Lefroy).
River crossing from bottom end of Cape Range into Ningaloo is pretty hairy though (and often impassable), so you're best to come back to the bitumen and take the Ningaloo access road.
Cheers
Wildmax
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AnswerID: 608726

Reply By: MEMBER - Darian, SA - Monday, Feb 20, 2017 at 03:31

Monday, Feb 20, 2017 at 03:31
We have been twice (a top region to visit) and chosen to stay with our van at Yardie Homestead...a day pass for a drive into the park is quite practical in my view. As for a swim with tropical fish...we drive down to South Mandu beach...the reef is closest there...we just snorkel along the reef edge in quite shallow water and see plenty of colorful fish...while there, look for the several prehistoric former shorelines on the range escarpment...ages back, the current facilities were under several different levels of ocean. Suggest you phone Yardie re ice. Can't report on the fishing opportunities...Yardie staff would know.
AnswerID: 608728

Reply By: Motherhen - Monday, Feb 20, 2017 at 22:48

Monday, Feb 20, 2017 at 22:48
Back when there were no camping fees (around 1995 I think, probably in May), we spent two or three days stopping at different campsites. There was one campground in the southern section where there was a group of caravans set up in a lovely spot overlooking the ocean, and looked like they were set up for a long hoiliday. The road in was so rough at that stage, I wondered how they got their caravans there in one piece. We had the spots we chose to ourselves. A gorgeous piece of coastline.
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AnswerID: 608750

Reply By: Member - graeme W (WA) - Thursday, Feb 23, 2017 at 16:50

Thursday, Feb 23, 2017 at 16:50
Hi Silkwood. One of the best snorkelling beaches is behind the visitor centre and called lakeside. Its a small sanctuary about 500m south of the parking area. You walk across a small creek so low tide is best as is either low or high at any of the other places because that means less water movement. The current at all spots is deceiving. Lakeside has some big bommies and more fish than any of the other spots. Also less people as its not advertised.
Any of the beaches open to fishing hold fish depending on tides, structure etc. I fish as close as possible to the structure when using bait and target bluebone only but it takes a year or two to work it all out.
cheers Graeme
AnswerID: 608840

Reply By: Member - pete g1 - Saturday, Feb 25, 2017 at 12:50

Saturday, Feb 25, 2017 at 12:50
Neds beach/camp ground
bay 8 I think it was, most northern bay , well shaded in arfternoons
superb area
enjoy
AnswerID: 608879

Reply By: Member - silkwood - Monday, Feb 27, 2017 at 20:24

Monday, Feb 27, 2017 at 20:24
Thanks everyone. I've booked Osprey (plus a couple of extra nights at Mesa). Looking forwards to the trip, only taking 3 rods with me though (withdrawal symptoms here we come?).

Cheers,

Mark
AnswerID: 608994

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