About Tamala


Tamala station is located in Western Australia and is part of the Shark Bay World Heritage Area. Tamala and the Shark Bay areas are renowned for their camping, fishing and tourist activities year round, its a popular destination for the grey nomads to relax and enjoy the unspoilt beauty.

Tamala is an active pastoral station with a lot of history back to the late 1800’s. The limestone homestead was constructed in 1896.

What and where is Tamala?

Tamala Station is in the southern part of the Shark Bay World Heritage Area and forms part of the limestone dominated landscape between Steep Point and Kalbarri. One of the attractions is the low lying coastline and adjacent waters of Henri Freycinet Harbour.

Visitor access takes a back seat to the running of the pastoral businesses. Many tourists use Tamala Station as an easy stop-over to visit Steep Point, the most westerly point of the Australian mainland. Small numbers of people spend time here camping, fishing and exploring the prongs and peninsulas which jut out into the bay..



How to visit Tamala

If you wish to visit Tamala you need to obtain permission from the station managers. Locked gates control access and keys are issued when you check in. Station staff can inform you of camping options – most sites are near beaches and provide access to the water for small boats.

Access is via the Useless Loop /Steep Point Road, a well formed gravel road that links Useless Loop with the main Shark Bay Road. Tamala Station entrance is on the left, 43 km from the turn off.

There are a number of prearranged camping areas on the Prickly Point and Boorabuggatta peninsulas, which are mostly accessible by 4WD (limited sites have 2WD access).



Facilities around Tamala

To visit Tamala Station you will need to be self sufficient as there are minimal facilities.

Ensure you have enough water, fuel and food to last your stay. Pets are allowed.


Tamala station will remain closed for camping until further notice.

Tamala’s request for a new camping licence has been declined.

We have been advised that we need another Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) that specifically includes the camping area before any application will be considered. Acquiring an ILUA involves extensive consultation and a protracted legal process. This means we will have to remain closed to the public for the duration of the process that may well take two years to resolve.

We are committed to engaging with the relevant government department to meet the necessary requirements and regain a camping licence if possible.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

Jon Warren

Manager, Tamala station

July 2023