Wooleen Station

Those remote riverside campsites were extraordinary, with plenty of privacy and quiet, and an amazing night sky. We spent three nights there in camper trailers and enjoyed every moment. Wooleen Station had been on our bucket list since we read The Wooleen Way and saw the Australian Story reports, and it lived up to what we hoped for. The staff were welcoming, especially Sheryl, who greeted us at the cafe with a friendly, professional manner. The walks are lovely, and the small booklet explaining the points of interest is well worth buying. We also found the dingo talk really interesting. The sunset tour was already booked out, so we missed hearing David talk about Wooleen. Maybe next time. We felt lucky to visit and only wished we could have stayed longer.

The site itself was huge, and we loved the spectacular sunsets and stars, along with the peace and space compared with a crowded caravan park. Still, Wooleen wasn't a good fit for us, and we left a day early after booking three nights on a river site and staying two. We weren't told at booking that the river was almost dry. If we'd known, we would have chosen a site nearer the homestead. We were told it was 16 km away, but the badly corrugated track took an hour each way. Going faster felt like risking damage to our vans. We had disclosed that one van was semi off-road and the other wasn't, and were told that would be fine, but both had minor damage. That long drive meant we skipped the dingo talk and the self-guided walks and drives. The sunset tour wasn't running on any of our three booked nights either. We were also told at checkout to take our household rubbish to Murchison Settlement, despite the website saying we could leave it at the homestead. We needed diesel there anyway, so it wasn't a big issue, but it was in the opposite direction. Maybe Wooramel and Bullara spoiled us, but the museum felt more like a jumble of random things in an old building than a museum. Some sorting and labels would help a lot. I can imagine Wooleen being beautiful if you have a full off-road setup and know what to expect, but it wasn't right for us.

The hosted homestead was flawless, with comfortable, beautifully presented rooms, excellent facilities, and attentive service that never felt intrusive. The food was fresh, delicious, and thoughtfully made, and everyone on staff was welcoming and clearly cared about their work. David and Frances deserve real credit for preserving and sharing this distinctive part of outback Western Australia. Staying at Wooleen Station was wonderful, and it also gave me an inspiring look at life on a working station. I loved every moment and can't wait to come back in 2026.

Camping at Wooleen Station was such a good time. The sunsets were gorgeous, and the spacious camp area was great. The cafe coffee and focaccia were the best we've had in ages. The wildflower walks are simple, but the $5 booklet about the historic spots along the routes makes them much more enjoyable. We'll definitely stop by again on our next trip north.