Last updated: 2 November 2026. Information checked against Park Stay WA and the Parks and Wildlife Service Guide to booking a campsite in the Ningaloo Coast World Heritage Area (information current at September 2026).
Booking a campsite on the Ningaloo Coast is not like booking anywhere else in WA. Campsites in Cape Range National Park, Nyinggulara National Park (the former Ningaloo Station) and the Nyinggulu Coastal Reserves are released in monthly blocks, demand is through the roof, and the whole thing runs through a randomised online queue. Turn up unprepared and you can lose your spot in seconds.
This guide walks you through exactly how the system works, what to sort out before release day, and the do’s and don’ts that make the difference between a beachfront campsite and a long wait for nothing. Quick reminder: we are an independent travel guide, not the booking office. All bookings are made directly with the Parks and Wildlife Service through Park Stay WA.
Ningaloo Coast Camping Bookings at a Glance
- Bookings open monthly on the first Tuesday of the month at 10:00am AWST (Perth time).
- Book now for stays departing on or before Friday 30 April 2027.
- Next release: bookings for Friday 30 April to Tuesday 1 June 2027 open at 10am AWST on Tuesday 3 November 2026. Demand for this period will be very high.
- Everywhere else in WA: bookings continue to open 180 days (approximately six months) before arrival for all Parks and Wildlife Service campgrounds except those on the Ningaloo Coast.
- Where to book: online at parkstay.dbca.wa.gov.au.
- Official guide: Guide to booking a campsite in the Ningaloo Coast World Heritage Area (PDF, Parks and Wildlife Service).
When You Can Book Your Stay
Ningaloo Coast campsites are released at 10:00am AWST on the first Tuesday of each month, roughly six months before your stay. The monthly release started as an eight-month trial in February 2026 and was adopted permanently in September 2026, so it is now simply how Ningaloo Coast bookings work. Use the table below to find the date bookings open for your trip.
| Stays in | Bookings open (10am AWST) |
|---|---|
| April 2027 | Tuesday 6 October 2026 (released) |
| May 2027 (Fri 30 April to Tue 1 June 2027) | Tuesday 3 November 2026 |
| June 2027 | Tuesday 1 December 2026 |
| July 2027 | Tuesday 5 January 2027 |
| August 2027 | Tuesday 2 February 2027 |
| September 2027 (to 24 September) | Tuesday 2 March 2027 |
| October 2027 (and from 24 September) | Tuesday 6 April 2027 |
Release blocks do not always line up neatly with calendar months. To make sure weekends, public holiday weekends and WA school holiday periods open for booking on the same day, the Parks and Wildlife Service sometimes brings the last date of a block forward. That is why the current release runs from Friday 30 April to Tuesday 1 June 2027 rather than 1 to 31 May. Always check the exact dates on Park Stay before release day. For the full history of past releases and what has already opened, see our booking release dates guide.
Before Bookings Open: 8 Steps to Get Ready
Demand for Ningaloo Coast campsites is extremely high. Most of the work happens before release day, and preparing properly is the best thing you can do to improve your chances and avoid the common mistakes that get bookings cancelled.
1. Check for Campground Updates
Every campground along the Ningaloo Coast was affected by Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle in 2026, some much more than others. As at 2 November 2026, Park Stay WA lists the following:
- Nyinggulara National Park (former Ningaloo Station): all campsites at Janes Bay, North Lefroy, Point Billie, South Lefroy Bay and Winderabandi are closed until further notice, and bookings are unavailable until reopening is confirmed.
- 14 Mile Campground (Warroora Coast, Nyinggulu Coastal Reserves): campsites 12 to 28 are closed, and the entire campground will be closed from 1 January 2027 for cyclone recovery works.
- Cape Range National Park: Bungarra, North Mandu and Tulki Beach close for the low-demand season from 1 November 2026, reopening 15 March 2027 (per the Parks and Wildlife Service’s August 2026 update).
Check Park Stay WA for the latest before bookings open, and keep an eye on our campground status page, which we update whenever the Parks and Wildlife Service announces changes.
2. Avoid School Holidays If You Can
Demand is highest during the 2027 WA school holidays:
- 10 to 26 April 2027
- 3 to 18 July 2027
- 25 September to 10 October 2027
If your dates are flexible, travelling outside these windows gives you a much better shot on release day.
3. Know the Maximum Stay Limits
- Up to 14 nights in a park if any night falls during a WA school holiday period.
- Up to 28 nights at other times.
Bookings that exceed these limits may be cancelled.
4. Travelling With Family or Friends
You must not book a campsite you will not be camping on yourself. If your group needs more than one campsite, each extra campsite has to be booked by someone staying on it, using their own Park Stay customer account. Bookings may be cancelled if you book more than one campsite for the same date. Bookings are not transferable.
5. Create Your Park Stay Account Early
If you do not already have a Park Stay WA customer account, set one up well before release day. It saves precious minutes when your turn comes. Select Login from the Park Stay WA main menu to get started.
6. Research Your Options and Have Backups
- Have alternative travel dates ready.
- Decide whether you would be happy to move between campsites or campgrounds during your stay.
- Research the different campgrounds and their facilities by selecting More Details on each campground page in Park Stay. Our campground guides are also a good place to compare spots before you commit.
7. Practise Using the Availability Search
Campsites vary a lot, and as vacancies run low it can be tricky to find one that suits your setup. Practise before release day:
- Open a campground page.
- Select the number of nights you want, using dates that are currently open for booking and within the maximum stay limit.
- Enter the actual number of campers and vehicles, including caravans and camper trailers. If you skip this step, unsuitable campsites will not be filtered out of your search.
Park Stay then sorts the campsite list in this order:
- Available campsites that match your requirements appear first, with a green Book Now button.
- Campsites that match your requirements but are not available for your dates come next.
- Campsites that do not match your requirements are shown last.
If a campsite suits you but is not available for your dates, select the full range of dates you could stay (open dates only, within the maximum stay), then select Check Availability to see the calendar for that campsite only. It does not show availability across the whole campground. Adjust your dates to an available period and the Book Now button will appear. Or use the website’s own Back button (not your browser’s) to return to the map and try another campground.
8. Get Help Early If You Need It
If you need assistance, contact the Parks and Wildlife Service as early as possible, not on release day or the days just before. Extra support staff are on hand when bookings open, but there can be a long wait.
It can be quicker to ask a friend or family member to help you set up your account and make your booking, as long as they do it on your account. They must not book for you using their own customer account.
- Milyering Discovery Centre: open 9:00am to 3:45pm, 7 days a week. Phone 08 9947 8070.
- Submit an enquiry online with the Parks and Wildlife Service.
On the Day Bookings Open
Park Stay WA closes from midnight AWST on release day. If you visit the website before bookings open, you may be placed in a queue or get a “queue full” message.
At 10:00am AWST, any existing queue is cleared, new queue positions are allocated at random, and bookings open. Joining the queue before 10:00am will not improve your position. There is no prize for being up early.
Do
- Be prepared for a potentially long wait. (Need something to do? Our Reef Buddies game was made for exactly this. Just keep the queue tab in view.)
- Have your travel dates, number of campers and vehicles (including caravans and camper trailers), and payment card ready.
- Use one browser tab, one browser and one device only to reduce the risk of errors.
- Be ready when your turn arrives. The queue can move quickly and in big jumps, and if you are not ready you may miss your turn.
- Watch your session timer and stay active once you reach the front of the queue. If your session expires, you go to the back of the queue.
- Use the website’s Back and Quit buttons rather than your browser controls.
- Make sure the campsite fits your campers and vehicles (including caravans and camper trailers) before you proceed.
- If you spot a mistake or change your mind after entering your card details, let the payment finish and wait for the booking to be confirmed on screen. Then use Change Booking or Cancel Booking to fix it. This reduces the risk of payment errors.
- Be considerate and exit the website once you have your booking so the queue keeps moving.
Don’t
- Don’t refresh or reload the page, or look away from the queue for too long. You may lose your place.
- Don’t book more than one campsite for the same date or exceed the maximum stay limits. Your bookings may be cancelled.
Important Things to Know
- Until you select Book Now on a specific campsite, availability can change as other people make, change, cancel or abandon bookings.
- Once you select Book Now, that campsite is held for you while you recheck your dates, campers and vehicles, add vehicle registration numbers and enter your card details. It is only released to others if you use the website’s Back or Quit buttons, or your session expires.
- Cape Range National Park: when you add your vehicle registration numbers you can remove the “pay park entry fee” option if you would rather buy a park pass separately. Park entry fees do not apply at the other parks on the Ningaloo Coast.
- You cannot search for another campsite while one is held for you. Complete or quit that booking first. Trying to get around this by opening the website in multiple places may stop you completing a booking at all.
- Each booking must be completed and paid for individually. Multiple bookings cannot be combined into one cart or payment.
- You can change or cancel a booking through My Bookings any time before your arrival date. While you are making changes your campsite and dates are not released, and any dates you remove only become available to others once your new dates are confirmed.
- Lost queue places and bookings that are not completed cannot be recovered.
- Bookings are monitored for breaches of conditions and other behaviour that affects other people’s chances of getting a booking.
Booking Campgrounds Outside the Ningaloo Coast
The monthly release only applies to campgrounds in the Ningaloo Coast World Heritage Area. For every other Parks and Wildlife Service campground in WA, bookings still open at midnight AWST, 180 days (approximately six months) before arrival. Park Stay WA is one system for the whole state, so if you are booking somewhere else (or managing an existing booking), the Parks and Wildlife Service suggests doing it after a Ningaloo Coast release day to avoid a long wait in the queue.
Quick Answers
Can Ningaloo Station take my booking?
No. Ningaloo Station no longer exists as a camping operator. The area is now Nyinggulara National Park, managed by the Parks and Wildlife Service, and every booking on the Ningaloo Coast goes through Park Stay WA. We can’t make, check or change bookings for you.
Does logging on early help?
No. The queue is cleared at 10:00am AWST and positions are allocated at random, so being online at 9am gives you no advantage.
Can I book a campsite for my mates?
No. Each campsite must be booked by someone camping on it, using their own Park Stay account. You can sit beside them and help, but not book on their behalf.
What if I miss out on release day?
Availability keeps changing after the release as people change and cancel bookings, so it is worth checking Park Stay WA again for your dates. Having backup dates and campgrounds ready makes a big difference.
Can I book Ningaloo Station campgrounds like Winderabandi or South Lefroy Bay?
Not at the moment. All five Nyinggulara National Park campgrounds are closed until further notice after Cyclone Narelle, and bookings are unavailable until a reopening date is confirmed. Check our campground status page for updates.
Official Sources
- Park Stay WA – make, change or cancel bookings and check campground alerts.
- Guide to booking a campsite in the Ningaloo Coast World Heritage Area – Parks and Wildlife Service, information current at September 2026.
- Milyering Discovery Centre – 08 9947 8070, 9:00am to 3:45pm daily.
Booking rules and dates can change at short notice. Always confirm the latest details on Park Stay WA before you book.
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More Locations
Check out the rest of the Locations available
14 Mile Beach Camp
14 Mile Beach Camp is a remote, off-grid beachfront campground near Coral Bay with white sand, turquoise water, big skies and epic sunsets.
It’s dog-friendly (on lead) and well-priced, but you need to arrive prepared because there are no toilets, showers, or water on site.
Boat Harbour Campground
Secluded 4WD-access campground with basic amenities near Ningaloo Marine Park.
Bruboodjoo Campground
Bruboodjoo Campground is a large, off-grid coastal camping area north of Coral Bay suited to self-contained travellers, especially fishers and boat owners.
Expect big open sites, beach launching access, and a remote feel rather than structured campground facilities.
Bungarra Campground
Bungarra Campground is a small inland campground set slightly back from the shoreline, offering a quieter and more sheltered stay than the beachfront sites.
With only a handful of camps and a short walk to the water, it suits travellers who want proximity to the coast without being directly exposed to wind and salt.
Janes Bay Campground
Janes Bay Campground is a remote coastal campsite suited to travellers who want space, simplicity and a proper off-grid stay.
There are no built facilities, just open camps, ocean views and plenty of wind. The journey in can be rough, so it’s best suited to well-prepared campers with capable vehicles and everything they need on board.
Kurrajong Campground (Cape Range)
Kurrajong Campground is a quieter Cape Range campground with easy dune access to the water, clean facilities and a laid-back feel.
It’s a solid choice for travellers who want a more peaceful base, simple amenities, and quick access to swimming and reef time.
Mesa Camp
Mesa Campground is a popular coastal campground with spacious sites, beach access and easy launching for small boats.
Facilities are simple but well maintained, and some sites have shade. Generators are permitted during set hours.
Neds Campground
Neds Campground is a small, peaceful campground tucked behind the dunes with a short walk to a quiet swimming beach and excellent sunset views.
Sites are spacious, some with tree cover, and facilities are simple but well maintained.
North Kurrajong & T-Bone Campground (Cape Range)
North Kurrajong Campground is a spacious coastal campground set just behind the dunes with easy access to reef and swimming areas.
Facilities are basic but well maintained, and the location is known for wildlife sightings, snorkelling and peaceful surroundings.
Best suited to self-sufficient travellers wanting nature, quiet and proximity to the reef rather than a serviced camping area.
North Lefroy Campground
North Lefroy is a spacious beachfront campground with large private sites and excellent access to fishing and boating.
Facilities are basic and the access track can be rough and sandy, so a capable 4WD and lowered tyre pressures are essential.
North Mandu Campground
North Mandu is a small, secluded campground with only a handful of sites tucked behind the dunes.
Facilities are simple but generally well maintained, and the location offers peaceful camping close to some of the best beaches and snorkelling areas in Cape Range.
One K Campground
One K is a quiet and remote campground suited to self-sufficient travellers looking for space and solitude.
Facilities are basic and access requires some preparation, including lowering tyre pressures before arrival.
Osprey Bay Campsite
Osprey Bay Campsite is one of the standout campgrounds on the Ningaloo coast, with big, well-spaced sites right by the water, spotless long-drop toilets, and unreal snorkelling straight off the beach.
Point Billie Campground
Point Billie Campground is a big, off-grid Ningaloo Station campground best suited to boaters and fishos, with huge sites, cracking sunsets, and plenty of wildlife. Expect wind, exposure and a rough corrugated 4WD approach.
Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef
Sal Salis offers an exclusive, eco-luxury safari camp set within the dunes of Cape Range National Park, overlooking Ningaloo Reef.
With just 16 wilderness tents and one honeymoon tent, the experience blends barefoot comfort with guided nature-based activities and all-inclusive hospitality in a remote coastal setting.
South Lefroy Bay Campground
South Lefroy Bay Campground is a seriously special Ningaloo Station beach camp with clear, calm turquoise water and reef access straight off the sand.
Stans Camp (Overflow Camp)
A basic Ningaloo Station overflow campground sitting inland from the reef line. It’s open, exposed and self-contained only, often used when nearby beachfront camps are full.
The Ridge Campground
Remote bush campground south of Coral Bay with unpowered sites and basic facilities.
Tulki Beach Campground
Tulki Beach Campground is a small, well-kept Cape Range National Park campground known for its peaceful feel and proximity to some of Ningaloo’s best snorkelling areas.
Not directly on the reef edge, but close enough to paddle or walk to the water with ease.
Winderabandi Point Campground
Winderabandi Point Campground is a remote beachfront campground on Ningaloo Station offering one of the most immersive reef and wildlife experiences along the coast.
Expect true off-grid camping, soft sand access and wide-open ocean views. It rewards preparation – and punishes complacency.
Yardie Creek Campground
Yardie Creek Campground is a small, beachside Cape Range National Park campground near the Yardie Creek gorge walks. People rate it highly for the location, sunsets, stargazing and the camp host vibe, but it’s basic and books out fast.
Bring water, expect long-drop toilets, and plan around the creek crossing if travelling south.