Last updated: 8 September 2026. This is our current guide to booking a campsite on the Ningaloo Coast. It replaces our earlier explainer on the fair access trial and covers the remaining release dates through to March 2027, the rules that trip people up on release day, and what to do if you are trying to book a Ningaloo Station campground while they are closed.
The Short Version
- Ningaloo Coast campsites are released in monthly blocks at 10am AWST on the first Tuesday of each month, not 180 days out like the rest of WA.
- The 1 September 2026 release (for stays 26 February to 31 March 2027) has already happened. The next announcement, covering stays from 1 April 2027 onward, is due from the Parks and Wildlife Service in September 2026.
- The five Ningaloo Station campgrounds (Janes Bay, North Lefroy, South Lefroy Bay, Point Billie and Winderabandi) are closed after Cyclone Narelle and are not being released for booking at all until a reopening date is confirmed.
- You book through Park Stay WA with your own account. Booking for a friend from your account is against the terms and can get the booking cancelled.
Release Dates: What Has Opened and What Is Coming
The Parks and Wildlife Service started the fairer access to camping trial in February 2026 and has since extended it through the low-demand season so the effect on cancellations can be properly measured. Here is the full schedule so far.
| Stay dates | Bookings opened | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Mon 3 Aug to Thu 27 Aug 2026 | Tue 3 Feb 2026, 10am | Released |
| Fri 28 Aug to Thu 24 Sep 2026 | Tue 3 Mar 2026, 10am | Released |
| Fri 25 Sep to Thu 29 Oct 2026 | Tue 7 Apr 2026, 10am | Released |
| Fri 30 Oct to Wed 16 Dec 2026 | Tue 5 May and Tue 2 Jun 2026 releases | Released |
| Thu 17 Dec 2026 to Sun 31 Jan 2027 | Tue 7 Jul 2026, 10am | Released |
| Mon 1 Feb to Thu 25 Feb 2027 | Tue 4 Aug 2026, 10am | Released |
| Fri 26 Feb to Wed 31 Mar 2027 | Tue 1 Sep 2026, 10am | Released |
| Thu 1 Apr 2027 onward | To be announced September 2026 | Pending |
Release periods deliberately end on a Thursday rather than at the end of a calendar month so that weekends, long weekends and WA school holidays are never split across two releases. Anything not taken on release day stays available afterwards, and cancellations go straight back on the site, so it is always worth checking Park Stay for the dates you want even if you missed the release.
The 1 April 2027 announcement is the one to watch. The Parks and Wildlife Service has said it will confirm in September 2026 how campsites for stays from 1 April 2027 will be released, which is also when a decision on the trial’s future is expected. We will update this page as soon as that is published.
Which Campgrounds Are in the Release (and Which Are Not)
All Parks and Wildlife Service campgrounds in the Ningaloo Coast World Heritage Area are part of the trial. What actually gets released each month depends on what is open.
Cape Range National Park: Boat Harbour, Bungarra, Kurrajong, Mesa, Neds, North Mandu, One K, Osprey Bay, Tulki Beach and Yardie Creek. Bungarra, North Mandu and Tulki Beach close for the low-demand season from 1 November 2026 to 15 March 2027, so they will not appear in releases covering those dates.
Nyinggulara National Park (Ningaloo Station): Janes Bay, North Lefroy, Point Billie, South Lefroy Bay and Winderabandi. All closed following Cyclone Narelle and not being released. See our current status page.
Warroora Coast (Nyinggulu Coastal Reserves): 14 Mile, Amherst Point, Black Moon Cliff, Elles Beach, Lagoon, Maggies, Nicks Camp, Sandy Point, Stans Camp (overflow), Stevens Camp and The Ridge. Some 14 Mile sites are closed from cyclone damage and the whole campground closes for works from 29 October 2026.
How Release Day Actually Works
The mechanics have been refined since the first release in February, and the details below are from the Parks and Wildlife Service’s August 2026 FAQ update.
The queue resets at 10am
Park Stay WA closes for bookings from midnight until 10am on release day. If you go to the site before 10am you will land in a queue, but that queue is wiped at 10am and new positions are handed out at random. There is no advantage in logging on early. Queue positions are limited, so if you get a “queue full” message, wait a few minutes and try again.
You get a 30-minute session
When you reach the front of the queue you are given a 30-minute session to complete a booking. The timer sits in the top right of the screen. If it runs out you can start again, but you go to the back of the queue or get the “queue full” message.
Do not go idle for more than a minute
If you do not interact with the site for one minute during your session, an inactivity warning pops up with a 30-second countdown. If you do not click to confirm you are still there before it hits zero, your session expires. Keep the page in front of you and keep moving.
One tab, one device
Opening Park Stay in multiple tabs, browsers or devices increases the chance of errors, lost queue positions and failed bookings. Do not refresh or reload the page while you are in the queue either, or you may lose your spot.
Availability changes between screens
Availability moves very quickly on release day. A site that showed as free on one screen can be gone by the next, and one that was gone can reappear when someone abandons their cart. That is normal. Have backup campgrounds and dates ready rather than starting your research once you are in.
Enter campers and vehicles before you click Book Now
Once you enter the number of campers and every vehicle, including caravans, camper trailers and other trailers with their registration numbers, Park Stay lists the suitable and available campsites first and only shows the Book Now button for those. Skipping this step is the fastest way to book a site your van will not fit on.
One campsite per payment
You cannot add several campsites to one cart and pay once. If you need to move between campsites or campgrounds to string together a longer stay, each leg is a separate booking and a separate payment.
The Rules That Get Bookings Cancelled
The Parks and Wildlife Service actively monitors for bookings that breach the terms and conditions and cancels them to free up sites for others. The ones to know:
- No booking for friends or family from your own account. You can help someone set up their own Park Stay account and sit beside them while they book, but every booking has to be made under the camper’s own account. The reason given is simple: the system cannot tell the difference between a genuine family trip and someone hoarding sites, so the rule applies to everyone.
- No more than one booking for any single date. Overlapping bookings from the same account are a breach and may be cancelled automatically.
- Maximum stay is 14 nights in any park if any night falls in WA public school holidays, or 28 nights at other times.
- Fees have not changed. Camping and park entry fees are the same as before the trial, and you pay by Mastercard or Visa at the time of booking.
You can change or cancel a booking up to the day before arrival through My Bookings. From the day of arrival you can only bring your departure date forward.
How No-Shows Are Handled
Every morning the volunteer campground hosts report any booked site that was empty the previous night to staff at Milyering Discovery Centre. Staff then contact the booking holder and, depending on the circumstances, may cancel the booking or shorten it so the site goes back online for someone else.
The Parks and Wildlife Service’s own analysis puts no-shows at about 2 per cent of booked campsite nights, which is lower than most campers assume. Part of the reason it looks worse on the ground is that people arrive late and leave early because of the distances involved, and campervans and rooftop tents leave no sign of occupation when they head off for the day. If you are going to be a day late, tell Milyering on (08) 9947 8070 so your site is not released.
Preparing for the Next Release
- Create your Park Stay account well in advance. Select Login from the main menu to start.
- Decide on first, second and third choice campgrounds. Osprey Bay is the most contested camp on the coast; the Warroora Coast camps generally have more availability.
- Work out how many nights you want and whether you would move campgrounds mid-trip to get them.
- Have the number of campers, every vehicle and trailer registration, and your card ready.
- Check the campground conditions and site descriptions before release day, not during your 30-minute session.
- Extra Parks and Wildlife support staff are on during releases, but wait times are long. Milyering Discovery Centre is open 9am to 3.45pm daily on (08) 9947 8070.
If you are not booking the Ningaloo Coast, avoid Park Stay from midnight to about midday on the first Tuesday of the month altogether. The whole site is closed for bookings until 10am and everyone joins the same queue afterwards, so your Karijini or Cape Le Grand booking will go through much faster the day before or the day after.
Why the Trial Exists
Under the old rolling 180-day system, the latest bookable arrival date moved forward by one day every midnight. That rewarded people who booked long stays and speculative dates they never intended to use, and it meant some dates were effectively only available to the handful of people online at midnight. Releasing a whole month at once at 10am on a Tuesday removes that midnight advantage, reduces the incentive to hold sites you will not use, and gives customer service staff a fighting chance of supporting the demand. The Parks and Wildlife Service has said early signs are more positive than negative, and further changes to improve fairness are being worked on.
Once you have a booking, our guides to fuel stops, choosing the right vehicle and cyclone season will help with the rest of the planning, and the Great Australian Travel Calculator will tell you what the drive will cost.
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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.