LEFT: The beach
gives way to a
surf-pounded rocky
shore.
BELOW LEFT: Time
for a sit-down coffee
in the shade.
FACTS
GETTING THERE
To reach Red Bluff, turn off the North
West Coastal Highway 24km north of
Carnarvon and continue for 50km to the
blowholes. Turn north and follow the coast
for 9.5km to Quobba Station’s homestead
campground, and continue another 54km to
Red Bluff.
ACTIVITIES
your adventure leads you here, you
can volunteer to assist with research
programs during your stay.
While facilities at Red Bluff are
undoubtedly basic, the spacious
campsites nestled up the cliff are
positioned in lovely, private nooks, some
shaded and each with a fire pit.
All offer incredible ocean views and
there are 15 drop toilets housed in little
thatched humpies dotted around the
camping area, so it’s never a long trip to
the loo. That’s pretty much the extent of
facilities, unless you splurge on one of
the canvas-tented bungalows that come
with access to a shared kitchen area.
Firewood is available from the camp
office but you’ll need to bring plenty of
water for drinking and washing.
One thing you can get on site is a
great coffee and an easy meal, thanks
to Monique and Reid Durant, who have
been satisfying appetites at Red Bluff
for 20 years. Their mango milkshakes
and Saturday night pizzas are
legendary, and there are few places as
tranquil as the store’s ocean-view deck
to enjoy a caffeine fix.
The pair bought Red Bluff Store
back in 1995 after a few years spent
migrating between the equally magnetic
Margaret River and Red Bluff.
They went on to transform the tiny
timber store into a stellar little cafe and
built a completely self-sufficient home
while raising their ever-growing family
of eight kids. Now aged between eight
and 22 years, six of the Durant kids
still live at Red Bluff and the two who
have left come back regularly to surf
the barrel.
Along with groceries and hot snacks,
Red Bluff Store sells Monique’s fabulous
beach-inspired jewellery and I still find
it amazing that you can get a great
coffee so far off the grid.
Head here for a breakfast latte and to
meet the remarkable Monique.
Marvel at the power of the blowholes.
Relax and enjoy the peaceful off-grid
beachside camping experience.
Experience the rush of surfing the Bluff
Barrel.
Try your luck fishing if the sea is
calm.
MORE INFORMATION
Unpowered campsites at Red Bluff cost
$15 per person (pit toilets only, no drinking
water). Dogs on leads are permitted but
you’ll need to part with a $50 bond at the
office upon check-in. For camping at Red
Bluff, phone camp managers Jim and Bek
on (08) 9948 5001.
The Quobba Station homestead
campground provides hot showers, power
and drinking water, and campsites cost
$13/$16 (unpowered/powered). For
enquires phone (08) 9948 5098.
Visit www.quobba.com.au
Time your trip to catch the Carnarvon
TropiCool Festival (late May) or Gascoyne
Food Festival (mid-August).
Find out more about the region at
www.australiascoralcoast.com or www.
carnarvon.org.au or phone the Carnarvon
Visitor Centre on (08) 9941 1146.
ADVENTURES
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