CAMPSITE # 120 - Hamelin Station Stay - One of the best yet!

The drive to Monkey Mia is via one road and one road only. So, as you can imagine, the places to stay are fairly limited and they can therefore charge as much as they really feel like.

We originally planned to scoot straight to Monkey Mia and had hoped to arrive there before their office closed at 8pm. But, setting up camp in the dark is one of our most dreaded tasks so, once again we gave into temptation and took the turn off 150kms before Monkey Mia at a sign marked "Hamelin Station Stay".

I've noticed in our Camps 5 book that homestead stays seems to be all the rage in WA. For the owners of the property, they're providing themselves with a second income and therefore not relying so heavily on the land - particularly during drought. Really, it's a win/win situation for all - we were paying close to half the price of Monkey Mia (Hamelin rates were $10p/p) and had much better facilities in a much nicer setting.

We were parked right amongst their 5000 acre property. During sunset, the entire sky was lit up by all of the vibrant yellow, orange, purple, blue colours appearing before us. At times like these you really can appreciate wide open spaces and the advantages of living on the land. 

Tom (the bird man) spotted a song from a native bird that was new to us both. It had a real electronic sound to it. After further investigation, we later learnt that it was the "Chiming Wedgebill" commonly nicknamed The Windmill Bird. When I was trying to find out its technical name and googled "Windmill Bird" all that came up are hundreds of articles about how wind turbines apparently kill birds. After consulting Tom's Field Guide to Australia Birds book, they write out the sounds that the bird makes. We always have a little laugh at how descriptive the book is. According to the book, the Windmill bird has a far-carrying, musical, wistful and rather lonely song. The first 3 notes high ringing, metallic, the last much deeper, metallic, 'tchip-chipity-chiep-tchonk', repeatedly, vigorously. Also, high-low, ringing, metallic 'WHI-whiet-WHI-wheit'. You can almost hear yourself singing it as you read it ;)

Site : Hamelin Pool Station Stay
Rating : 16 / 20
Facilities : Received two additional points from both of us for the 'emotional swing'. We loved it! It has a true rustic / outback charm. The facilities are top notch - an incredible 'camp kitchen' (more like one you would find in a restaurant), under cover BBQ facilities with eating area, indoor fireplace and outdoor bonfire area. Very clean and well maintained bathrooms with great showers. This place is an absolute must! Save your $$$ and stay here above any others in the area!


Photo courtesy of : Stephen Murray.