Ningaloo Coral Bay - Bayview

After cleaning droppings off our belongings in the morning, we went to reception because we’d been told traps would be available. We were then told they were only for villa guests, even though campers seemed to be affected the most. The receptionist was polite, but the mouse problem felt like it was being played down. We spoke with several people camping nearby, and they all described the same issue, often much worse. Food had been ruined, and droppings were on clothes and bedding. People were shocked the site was open in that state. Mice were everywhere, on the ground and around the campsite. Everyone we spoke to had seen several, not just the occasional one. We followed the recommended precautions and extra advice we found online, but during the night multiple mice ran through our campervan and woke us up. We couldn’t sit or stand outside, and didn’t feel safe sleeping in the van, so we spent the rest of the night in the communal bathrooms until sunrise. Those bathrooms were filthy. On our first visit, a toilet had overflowed across the floor, with no warning or barrier. The kitchen was unhygienic too, and not somewhere I’d want to cook. We called the after-hours number for help and were spoken to in a patronising, dismissive way. We were called “darling,” “love,” and “sweetheart,” and told things like “well look where you are.” That was completely inappropriate. We didn’t have this problem at any of the other campsites on our two-week WA road trip. This seems like a management and hygiene issue, not an unavoidable part of camping. There was no clear warning at booking or check-in, just small signs that were easy to miss, despite the site describing it as a “small mouse problem.” Guests should at least be told plainly before they arrive, though I expect most would cancel. The campsite is unhygienic, poorly managed, and customer service is seriously lacking. Wouldn’t recommend this place at all. If you want mice getting into your belongings and to be treated like a source of money instead of a guest, book here.

The Reef Cafe was a real highlight, with seriously good food and cocktails, a great vibe, and it stays open late. We loved the beautiful grassy van sites, the pool, the kids’ spaces, and the location. The beaches here are incredible. The facilities are regular rather than five-star, and the ablutions were more than adequate for us. We’d just left the beautiful Monkey Mia RAC resort and, after reading reviews, weren’t expecting much. But after three nights, this ended up being our favourite stop on the three-week trip from Port Hedland down to Freo. Staff were lovely, and we saw only one dead mouse. It’s a remote place, so if hot, salty bore water and basic facilities aren’t for you, stay in the city ✌🏼

The room was very clean, had great views, and the customer service was great. It’s in a perfect location too. But the upkeep is poor, and I’ve added a photo as one example. It wouldn’t take much to make the room look half decent. I’ve never reviewed a place before, but I watched an older man spend all day painting one handrail. It was at most a 30-minute job. He took more smoke breaks than he worked, and the smoke blew into our room.

For what we paid, we expected more care with maintenance and basic comfort. We were seven people staying in the White House at Coral Bay’s Bayview Resort, and although the location was great, we wouldn’t consider returning until the property gets serious attention. The view was beautiful and the house was spacious, but the shower leaked and flooded the bathroom every time we used it. The windows and doors kept rattling, and the floorboards were badly fitted, with obvious gaps. The kitchen was short on basics: no oven mitts, just one sharp knife, and rubbish bags that didn’t fit the bin. There was no WiFi. The pillows were flat, the mattresses uncomfortable, and at night we heard something living in the walls.