Last updated: 8 September 2026. We update this page every time the Parks and Wildlife Service makes an announcement about the Ningaloo Station campgrounds. If you have landed here asking “is Ningaloo Station open?”, the short answer is below.
Is Ningaloo Station Open?
No. All five campgrounds in Nyinggulara National Park (ex-Ningaloo Station) are closed and there is no confirmed reopening date.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle crossed the coast near Exmouth on 27 March 2026. Every campground on the old Ningaloo Station lease sustained significant damage and, in the words of the Parks and Wildlife Service, requires complete rebuilding. Current status by campground:
- Winderabandi: closed, no reopening date
- South Lefroy Bay: closed, no reopening date
- North Lefroy: closed, no reopening date
- Point Billie: closed, no reopening date
- Janes Bay: closed, no reopening date
The park’s radio tower was also destroyed in the cyclone. That matters because there is no mobile coverage at these camps, and the radio tower was the emergency communications link for the park. Until it is rebuilt, the Parks and Wildlife Service has said there are no emergency communications in Nyinggulara National Park at all, which is one of the reasons the camps cannot simply be reopened as they stand.
These five campgrounds were left out of the 1 September 2026 booking release (stays from 26 February to 31 March 2027), so at this stage you cannot book them for any date. The Parks and Wildlife Service has said an announcement will be made when a reopening date can be confirmed. Existing bookings were cancelled through to 25 September 2026 and affected campers were emailed.
Day use of the coast is a different story. Day use areas and public moorings in the Ningaloo reserves are open, and Ningaloo Marine Park itself is open, so you can still drive in for the day where tracks are open. Just do not plan to camp overnight anywhere in Nyinggulara National Park, and do not set up an informal camp on the beach. Camping in a closed park is an offence, and it makes the rebuild harder for everyone.
How to Check the Latest Status
The official source for closures is the Parks and Wildlife Service alerts page at alerts.dbca.wa.gov.au. It is updated before anything else, including this page. The Nyinggulara National Park page on Explore Parks WA carries the same notice, and Australia’s Coral Coast keeps a broader travel update for the whole region. If you need to talk to someone, the Exmouth Parks and Wildlife office is on (08) 9947 8000.
Where to Camp Instead
The rest of the Ningaloo Coast is open, and the honest advice is to book one of these instead of waiting on a reopening date that nobody has yet. All of the national park and reserve camps below are booked through Park Stay WA under the monthly release trial, so read our booking release dates guide before you try.
Cape Range National Park (north of Ningaloo Station, closest to Exmouth)
Cape Range reopened on 27 April 2026 after the cyclone clean-up and is the closest like-for-like alternative: beachside camps on the reef with a dump point and not much else. The camps are Osprey Bay, Yardie Creek, Mesa, Neds, Kurrajong, North Kurrajong and T-Bone, Boat Harbour, One K, Bungarra, North Mandu and Tulki Beach.
Two things to know. Boat Harbour and One K were the last Cape Range camps to come back after Narelle, so check the alerts page for their current status. And Bungarra, North Mandu and Tulki Beach close for the low-demand season from Sunday 1 November 2026 and reopen on Monday 15 March 2027, so they are not an option over summer. Osprey Bay is the most in-demand camp on the whole coast and goes first at every release.
Warroora Coast (south of Ningaloo Station, closest to Coral Bay)
The Nyinggulu Coastal Reserves on the old Warroora Station lease are the other close alternative, and the feel is very similar to Ningaloo Station: soft sand, remote, self-sufficient. Open campgrounds are The Ridge, Lagoon, Elles Beach, Sandy Point, Maggies, Nicks Camp, Amherst Point, Black Moon Cliff, Stevens Camp and Stans Camp (overflow only).
14 Mile is the exception. Campsites 12 to 28 were badly damaged by Narelle and have to be relocated and rebuilt, and the whole of 14 Mile Campground closes for works from Thursday 29 October 2026. If you have a 14 Mile booking after that date, expect it to be cancelled. If you are looking at 14 Mile, our guides to getting there, 2WD vs 4WD setups and tyre pressures still apply.
Station stays and Bruboodjoo
Bruboodjoo (9 Mile) near Coral Bay is run by the Baiyungu Aboriginal Corporation rather than the Parks and Wildlife Service, so it is booked separately and is not part of the monthly release. Bullara Station, on the highway between Coral Bay and Exmouth, and Warroora Station’s own homestead camping are also outside the Park Stay system and worth a look if the reserves are full.
Coral Bay and Exmouth caravan parks
If you want power, water and a shower, the towns are the answer. Coral Bay has two parks, Ningaloo Coral Bay Bayview and Peoples Park, and both book out well ahead in the dry season. Exmouth has several, including the Ningaloo Caravan and Holiday Resort in the middle of town and Yardie Homestead out near the Cape Range park entrance, plus the Shire’s emergency overflow camping area that was set up after the cyclone. Exmouth is still rebuilding, so confirm with your park before you drive up. Coral Bay is fully open. From either town you can still day-trip to the reef and join the whale shark, humpback and manta tours that run out of both.
What We Know About the Rebuild
Not much yet, and we would rather say that than guess. The Parks and Wildlife Service reopened 311 campsites across Cape Range and the Warroora Coast within a month of the cyclone, which shows how quickly they can move when the damage is repairable. The Ningaloo Station camps are in a different category: the campgrounds themselves and the radio tower all have to be rebuilt from scratch. When a date is announced we will put it at the top of this page, update the locations pages and note it in our booking guide.
For the bigger picture on the cyclone and what to do if one is forecast while you are on the coast, read our cyclone season guide.
Update Log
- 8 September 2026: All five Nyinggulara campgrounds closed, no reopening date. Campgrounds excluded from the 1 September release. 14 Mile to close for works from 29 October. Bungarra, North Mandu and Tulki Beach to close for the low season from 1 November.
- 27 April 2026: 311 campsites across Cape Range and the Warroora Coast reopened. Nyinggulara campgrounds, Boat Harbour, One K and 14 Mile sites 12 to 28 remained closed.
- 27 March 2026: Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle crossed the coast near Exmouth. All Ningaloo Coast campgrounds closed.
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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.