^{One of my favourite experiences when travelling in the north of Western Australia during our winter is staying at Wooramel – an outback station (ranch) nearly 800 kilometres north of the State Capital, Perth – a further 300 kilometres from my home in the south of the State.}

^{Early mornings are usually chilly, ahead of pleasant days with the temperature warming to the mid twenties celsius. There’s a variety of accommodation here – camping and caravan sites alongside a wide river bed – sometimes with water, sometimes not – and some steel clad motel style units.There’s also eco luxury tents and other more basic tents for hire, along with private campsites.}

^{We have stayed here in renovated sheep shearer quarters, which I think are now used for staff. For recent visits we’ve stayed in the units, sharing kitchen spaces for cooking. The units resemble a big farm shed, adorned with the blades of an old Station windmill. I often sit outside on the verandah, writing my blog, checking social media or reading as flocks of pink and grey galahs descend noisily on massive river gum trees metres away from me. I love eating breakfast on the verandah here too – porridge I’ve cooked in the camp kitchen, topped with local honey and accompanied by a mug of hot instant coffee. Or maybe we will break out the eggs and bacon!}

^{Wooramel is a 356,000 acre working cattle, sheep and goat station, offering a unique visitor stay. The nearest town, Carnarvon, is over 100 kilometres away. I wrote about Wooramel in my May 5 2021 blog ‘Outback Aussie Station Stays’. If you haven’t read it, take a look as I’ll try not to repeat myself. That article provides a lot of background information about Wooramel and Justin and Rachel Steadman, the innovative couple who own the Station. I’m a repeat visitor here, enjoying amazing array of wildlife, sunrises and sunsets, and at night campfires.}

^{Most visitors are in caravans or tents, spread out along the Wooramel River with their own campfire pits. It’s a mixed group – grey nomads (travelling retirees), families, and young travellers.than I’ve seen travelling in these parts in previous years. For campers there are amenity blocks with toilets and hot showers, some created from old station water tanks. Don’t expect concrete caravan pads or personal electricity link ups. This is the Aussie outback after-all. But do expect a whole lot of nature including more than 40 bird species to spot!
There’s some delightful walking trails and you can also do a self guided drive around the Station. Special events such as Writers workshops and star gazing are also held from time to time.}

^{I’m not the only returnee to Wooramel. There was Neil from far away Phillip Island on Australia’s south east coast. He first came as a visitor with his wife for a short stay and fell in love with Wooramel. On a subsequent visit they volunteered to lend a hand to the Steadmans when they heard Justin had shattered his ankles in an accident while mustering when his aircraft caught a sudden downdraft, flipping over on landing.}

^{Turns out Neil was a pretty good handyman and of like mind to the Steadmans in his love of restoring old things that most people have sent to the junk yard. Which is fortunate as Wooramel Station has an abundance of interesting items in its tip … another fun place for visitors to roam.}

^{All of Wooramel’s accommodation is within a few minutes walk of the Wooramel River – most sites overlook it. Like the Gascoyne River, described in my last blog, the Wooramel is upside down, with water only surfacing a few times a year for a couple of weeks if there’s been good inland rain. I’ve lucked in on a few visits to see water flowing – though it doesn’t cover all of its massive river bed. I’ve trekked along the dry bed section, a sand pit in some sections and soft mud in others where you could sink up to your knees. A free mud bath for your legs!}

^{A luxury at Wooramel is a upmarket cafe for visitors. We were staying when it was built. A team of young builders would arriving every day from Carnarvon 120 k away, and leave in the early evening on the return commute.}

^{There’s plenty of opportunities to meet other travellers, especially at meal times around the cafe. The cafe is open from the April school holidays to the October school holidays.}

^{Oh, did I mention that Wooramel has its very own onsens? Naturally heated soak pools are available free, supplied with warm artesian from an aquifer on the property! They are popular, especially at sunset. Worthwhile to get out of bed early to soak and watch the sunrise. Unlike Japan, your bathers (swimming gear) are mandatory! As Arnie famously said: “I’ll be back” 😎}

Wooramel is open to travellers from 1st March to 1st December.