Point Quobba
Driving 75 Km north of Carnarvon in West Australia is Point Quobba, a calm coral filled lagoon abundant with fish and shells. It is the southern gateway to the Ningaloo World Heritage area and as such offers visitors the opportunity to snorkel along reef systems and view the amazing colourful sea life such as tropical fish, corals and sea turtles.
Snorkelling at Point Quobba
The white sandy beaches of Point Quobba make it a much favoured area for safe swimming, sun bathing and a great family picnic area. There is a fantastic camping area located amongst the coastal sand dunes overlooking the beach which is where we stayed for four wonderful days.
Point Quobba
Nearby is the natural phenomenon of the Quobba Blowholes which is caused by powerful ocean swells forcing water through sea caves and up out of narrow holes in the rocks causing jets of water to erupt up into the air.
The Blowholes, Quobba
During our stay at Quobba we did a 60 Km day trip to Red Bluff along gravel roads passing by the salt mine operations at Lake Macleod, a huge dry salt lake, along some very rough dirt tracks at times to Red Bluff. After such a bumpy ride, we were not disappointed when we first caught sight of this remote piece of paradise. There was not only an abundance of beauty on this gorgeous white sandy stretch of beach but marine life leaping out of the clear aqua blue waters.
Red Bluff
This hideaway is an Eco Retreat like no other. There are luxurious Eco-Safari tents or Seascape Bungalows which have panoramic views over the white sandy beach and turquoise waters. Plus there are campsites available or rustic palm fronded humpies for the more adventurous. So remote and so blissfully magical, that I couldn’t think of a better place to revitalize your mind and body.
Eco Retreats at Red Bluff
After we took a leisurely stroll along the shoreline we had a refreshing swim and a body surf in the waves of the pristine water that looked so inviting. Afterwards we saw sharks swimming in close to shore and watched some youngsters catching huge Spanish Mackerel fish offshore on a kayak. After talking to the managers of the resort they informed us that sharks were often seen close into shore and that the point break off the bluff was a famous surfing spot known as the ‘Bluff Barrel’ for the dedicated surfers.
Red Bluff Beach
This magnificent stretch of coastline boasts towering cliffs, rugged coastline and sandy white deserted beaches. Ideal for fishing, surfing, windsurfing, kite surfing, swimming, snorkelling and seasonal whale watching. Three Mile and Gnaraloo are only another 10 Kms further north from Red Bluff along the gravel road.
Quobba Coastline
Gnaraloo Station also is a protected nesting site for the local marine turtles that come onto station lands to nest each year. Camping sites at nearby Three Mile are popular during the winter months as surfers chase the swell of the warmer northern waters. There are also very good snorkelling areas along the Ningaloo Reef systems at Three Mile Lagoon and Gnaraloo Bay.
Gnaraloo Bay
Fishing is extremely popular all the way along the coastline from the Blowholes all the way up the Quobba coastline through to Gnaraloo. Here it is renowned for its ballooning fishing – perhaps the most exhilarating and interesting form of land based game fishing. Bait is attached to a hook on a piece of line on the balloon and it soars into the air where the huge Spanish Mackerel leap as far as 8 feet clear of the water to eat the bait!
Anchor Point for Fisherman at The Blowholes, Quobba
The Quobba coastline provided me with many wonderful experiences: Adventure, interaction with a bounty of marine species such as sea turtles, endless serene and untouched beaches and the most gorgeous sunsets over the Indian Ocean and clear starry night skies. It made me realize that the more remote and harder to get to places are fully worth the effort. It took paradise to another level!
Comments are closed.
Rae Hilhorst
April 20, 2016How ignorant I’m feeling of my knowledge about my home state. I’m learning so much from you x
Kathy
April 20, 2016I doubt whether many people would have heard of Quobba. It is very remote and does not have any facilities apart from a couple of smelly toilets and a grass top open-sided beach hut! I’m glad I’m educating you!! :)
Kim Richardson
April 20, 2016Spectacular photos! What a stunning corner of our beautiful country! I’ve not been up there as yet but it’s long been on the list :)
Kathy
April 20, 2016I doubt whether anyone would have heard of Quobba before, because we certainly hadn’t. That is one of the joys of road trips and just travelling free and easy. You get to discover some remarkable places. :)
Johanna
April 20, 2016I’m so glad that you were diligent in your photography and detail of the North West because we are longing to do a trip up there soon and you’re opening my eyes to places we might perhaps not think about going. Quobba was not on my radar, but it certainly is now. As you say, paradise at another level.
Kathy
April 20, 2016Thanks Jo, it was such a pleasure capturing the “true Australia” with my camera. When I look at these images I am still blown away by the beauty of the places we visited on our around Australia trip. The North West is amazing and I really do hope I get to visit again. :)
Peter & Alison
April 20, 2016Nice photo of the swimming turtle. Who took that! …… Cheers, Peter & Alison
Kathy
April 20, 2016That swimming turtle is the best underwater shot! Thank you Peter for supplying it. Sometimes I wish I was back at Quobba snorkelling with those turtles. Hope you are enjoying Carnarvon Gorge. :)
Janet Camilleri (@middleagedmama1)
April 20, 2016It looks amazing! The north west of WA and Darwin are two places I definitely want to explore one day, as we didn’t get to them when we were travelling around Australia – ran out of time :-(
Kathy
April 20, 2016Australia is such a big country so I can understand that. The North West is pretty special and like you I would like to travel the Gibb River Road in The Kimberleys and also spend a bit of time in Darwin in the near future. We have only been to Darwin once for a 2 day visit and I know there is heaps more to explore up there. :)
Ann Bennett (@AnnBennett12)
April 20, 2016What a lovely place. Thanks for sharing. I’m visiting from A to Z.
Kathy
April 20, 2016Thank you for visiting Ann. I hope I’m educating people about all the wonderful places in Australia there are to see! :)
Art Partners
April 20, 2016What an inspired idea for a series of blog posts – A to Z! Love the sound (and look) of Point Quobba. It’s not that far away, so who knows!
Kathy
April 20, 2016The A to Z challenge has certainly been hard work, but I am enjoying bringing our beautiful country to the rest of the world. Quobba is somewhere you should definitely put on your must see list in WA!
Michelle Weaver (@pinkypoinker)
April 20, 2016A palm fronded humpie on a secluded beach is where I wish I was now :)
Kathy
April 20, 2016Ha ha! It might be alright in the dry season, but not when the rain comes! You must be doing it tough at the moment. Things will get better. xx
budgettraveltalk
April 20, 2016I’m loving the sound of Point Quobba and I adore snorkelling with turtles. It happened for me at Lady Musgrave Lagoon off the coast of Queensland. It is such a quiet and slow motion affair. Great turtle photo!
Kathy
April 21, 2016Snorkelling with marine life would have to be up there as one of the most exciting things to do in life. We loved this part of the WA coast as we got to snorkel every day for weeks and we saw so much awesome stuff, even a reef shark! You would love Quobba and WA Jan. :)
Rosa
April 20, 2016How breathtaking. My niece and nephew are travelling and coming to your part of the world soon – lucky them!
Rosa
@RosaT_Author
Rosa Temple writes…
Kathy
April 21, 2016Thanks Rosa. You niece and nephew will love Australia. It is a beautiful place. :)
Rhonda Albom
April 22, 2016Quobba looks beautiful, I would love to go snorkelling there.
Kathy
April 22, 2016I would love to be there right now Rhonda snorkelling with those turtles! :)