Red Bluff

Red Bluff

After our not so good time at Warroora, we headed into Carnarvon for a couple of nights at a caravan park. We badly needed to resupply & needed a few days of the luxury of showers & takeaway!  Feeling much better about the world we headed north again, we weren't sure where we were going to stay but there are a few options. It was bitumen until Point Quobba, there is a camping spot here that is very good, we checked it out but with school holidays about to start we decided we should get a spot further up the coast & stop on the way back if we wanted to. 

Point Quobba

Point Quobba camping area

The camping area at Point Quobba is large & runs along the coast & there are quite a few secluded spots, the beach area has big waves crashing in but there is also a lagoon area at one end, there are heaps of shacks built there as well, mostly just tin sheds, but lots of them, I am guessing the locals holiday shacks. Right near Point Quobba are some blowholes, definitely worth a look as the huge waves crash into the cliffs some enormous streams of water are pushed through the holes, very awesome. After some photos we continued further north. 

Blowholes

Coastline at the blowholes

We soon came to Quobba station homestead, there is camping available here & it looked ok, but we were keen to check our their other camping area Red Bluff. The coastline along here is again spectacular, ranging from big cliffs with huge waves to sandy beaches to lagoons you can snorkel in, there is really something for everyone. After a bit more corrugated rough track we came to the a Red Bluff turn off, the road isn't great but there are lots of surfer buses & even sedans that make the trip so they can catch a famous wave. We arrived at the camping area to have our breath taken away again, what a beautiful spot. The huge size of the cliff of Red Bluff itself, with white sandy beach & the bluest water. We were happy. We went to the office but it was closed, so we got to pick our campsite. The weather was supposed to get windy, so we decide against one of the sites right on the beach, but found a gorgeous spot up the hill a bit, but with some protection from the winds from some dunes, but with an amazing view. 

Red Bluff campsite

The campsite wasn't perfect, but after a number of tries to get the trailer right & a hole dug to help level it, we were set up. The set up took longer than usual as we both kept getting distracted by the view. A few beers where had that afternoon as we just soaked it all in. I got the binoculars out & checked out the surfers catching waves on the surf break at the bluff, crazy buggers. 

We stayed for  4 nights at Red Bluff & I swear there were surfers catching waves all day everyday, when we woke early in the mornings, to on dark at night. Watching them through the binoculars was addicting as we revelled in how crazy they were & how much some of their stacks must of hurt. 

Red Bluff above & below

The next day the weather was perfection, we didn't even leave the campsite, we were just happy to sit & stare for hours. Even better was watching whales & dolphins playing off shore every day, very captivating. 

Red Bluff

The next day we decided we should do something, so we went for a day trip up towards Gnarloo the last spot to camp in here area. We first went past the homestead, which had amazing views as well & headed out to Gnarloo Bay. What a find. Just gorgeous, a calm lagoon  with the reef just meters from shore (stupidly we forgot our snorkel gear). There were a few people there, fishing, paddle boarding, snorkelling, swimming & kite surfing. Just a great spot to hang out. 

Gnarloo Bay above & below

Once we tore ourselves away we headed back towards the Gnarloo camp 3 Mile. It was packed, I am guessing due to school holidays & the fact they have showers & toilets. It was in a beautiful spot with cliffs & big waves but also a little lagoon as well & a small beach. It was nice but the camping was a bit to packed in for us, so we decided not to go up there & camp after Red Bluff. 

3 Mile above & below

On the way back to Red Bluff we headed along the track that goes right along the coastline. It had some pretty good 4WDing spots with rocks & sandy dunes & you got to see some magical views. At one spot we stopped for a look over a lagoon & saw a manta ray swimming just off shore as big as a car, just amazing, we watched it swim around for about 10 minutes it was massive. 

Coast road view, Red Bluff off in the distance 

Back a Red Bluff we had another relaxing afternoon, we could get used to this place. 

The next day we checked out Red Bluff properly & walked along the beach & along some of the bluff. It was getting busier, but still not to bad. We got really lucky with our campsite as we couldn't see any other camps from it at all. While walking on the beach a whale came in really close to shore, it had everyone talking, unfortunately I didn't have my zoom lens on, but my luck held because that afternoon 2 mother & baby whales played just off shore from our camp for about half an hour & I got some photos, they are so fun to watch. 

We were really torn as to whether to stay a couple more days at Red. Bluff, we wanted to, but were also keen to keep moving. In the end we decided to go, our stay couldn't have got any better. The weather stayed perfect for our whole time there. We loved Red Bluff the vibe was awesome. There are pit sawdust toilets near every campsite that are cleaned daily & also rubbish bins. There is no water. The cost is $15 per person per night. The track in is pretty rough, so not many caravans come in, so it will mainly be you & the surfers! Pretty good.