Whale Bone Point Airfield

Shark Bay, AU 🇦🇺 Closed Airport

ICAO

AU-0757

IATA

-

Elevation

- ft

Region

AU-WA

Local Time

Loading...

Loading...

Airport Information

GPS Code: Not available

Local Code: Not available

Location: -26.20587° N, 113.70204° E

Continent: OC

Type: Closed Airport

Terminal Information Not Available
Terminal arrivals and departures are only available for airports with scheduled commercial service and IATA codes.

External Links

Nearby Points of Interest

What Travelers Say

AI-Generated Summary Based on web research

Based on recent traveler reviews and experiences, there is no public information available for Whale Bone Point Airfield (AU-0757) as a conventional airport with traveler facilities, security, or customs. The search results predominantly refer to Whalebone Bay, a coastal camping area in Shark Bay, Western Australia, known for its natural beauty and basic amenities. Travelers visiting the Shark Bay area by air typically fly into Monkey Mia, which is mentioned as an arrival point for scenic flights from Perth.

Therefore, a summary based on typical airport review criteria cannot be provided for AU-0757 as an airfield. Information found pertains to Whalebone Bay as a campsite, which offers a very different experience.

What Travelers Love (Whalebone Bay Campsite):

  • Scenic Location: Reviewers appreciate the beautiful views, including sunsets, and the opportunity to spot marine life like rays and sharks from the beach.
  • Seclusion and Quiet: The campsite offers a relatively quiet experience with sites distanced from one another.
  • Accessibility: The site is generally accessible by two-wheel drive vehicles via unsealed roads, with some areas requiring 4WD for deeper sand.

Common Complaints (Whalebone Bay Campsite):

  • Lack of Amenities: There are no facilities at Whalebone Bay campsite, meaning no toilets or running water, requiring campers to be self-sufficient and use chemical toilets or port-a-loos.
  • Permit and Booking Restrictions: Camping requires a permit, which can only be issued on the day of camping, is restricted to one night only per site, and has a maximum of four persons per vehicle.
  • Unsealed Road Conditions: While accessible by 2WD, the unsealed roads require caution, especially for larger vehicles.

In summary, Whale Bone Point Airfield (AU-0757) does not appear to operate as an airport with public traveler reviews in the traditional sense. The area known as Whalebone Bay is a popular, albeit basic, camping destination for those seeking natural beauty and a secluded experience in Shark Bay. Travelers should be prepared for a complete lack of amenities and adhere to strict camping regulations.

Generated 5 days ago
Loading...

Researching traveler experiences online...

Unable to generate sentiment summary. Please try again later.
This summary is automatically generated by AI based on web research of traveler reviews and experiences. AI-generated content may not always be 100% accurate.

Current Weather Conditions

Loading weather data...

Loading weather data...

For Pilots

Designation Length Width Surface Status

Type Description Frequency

Ident Name Type Frequency

Airport Closure Information

Last updated: Nov 21, 2025
Closure Date

Approximately 1990-1991. The airfield was not officially decommissioned on a specific date but fell into disuse following the cessation of pastoral activities at Peron Station in 1990.

Reason for Closure

The closure was a direct result of a change in land use. In 1990, the Western Australian government purchased the Peron pastoral lease to incorporate the land into the Shark Bay World Heritage Property. The sheep station was destocked, and the area was gazetted as Francois Peron National Park. The airstrip, which existed solely to service the remote station, became redundant and its continued operation was incompatible with the conservation objectives of the new national park.

Current Status

The site is now located within the boundaries of the Francois Peron National Park. Satellite imagery clearly shows the faint outlines of two intersecting runways, but they are heavily overgrown with native scrub and are completely unusable for any aviation activity. The land has reverted to its natural state as part of the park's conservation and ecological restoration efforts. There is no remaining aviation infrastructure such as hangars, windsocks, or buildings at the site.

Historical Significance

Whale Bone Point Airfield was a private, unsealed airstrip that served as a vital logistical hub for the remote Peron Sheep Station. Its primary operations involved light, general aviation aircraft (such as Cessna and Piper models) used for:
- Transporting station staff, owners, and workers.
- Flying in mail, equipment, and essential supplies from regional centers like Carnarvon or Denham.
- Providing critical access for the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) during medical emergencies.
Its significance was purely functional, providing an essential lifeline that connected the isolated pastoral station to the outside world before its conversion to a national park.

Reopening Prospects

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening the Whale Bone Point Airfield. Its location within a protected National Park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site makes any future development for aviation purposes highly improbable. The aviation needs of the Shark Bay region are fully served by the public Shark Bay Airport (IATA: MJK, ICAO: YSHK) located near the town of Denham, rendering this remote strip unnecessary.

Nearby Airports

Shark Bay Airport
MJK • YSHK
Denham, AU
Medium Airport Scheduled Service
~36 km away
Carnarvon Airport
CVQ • YCAR
Carnarvon, AU
Medium Airport Scheduled Service
~146 km away
Shark Bay Airport
MJK • YSHK
Denham, AU
Medium Airport Scheduled Service
~36 km away
Carnarvon Airport
CVQ • YCAR
Carnarvon, AU
Medium Airport Scheduled Service
~146 km away
Useless Loop Airport
USL • YUSL
Useless Loop, AU
Small Airport
~31 km away
Carrarang Airstrip
AU-0756
Useless Loop, AU
Small Airport
~33 km away
Tamala Airport
YTML
Shark Bay, AU
Small Airport
~49 km away
Hamelin Airstrip
AU-0755
Hamelin Pool, AU
Small Airport
~56 km away
Dirk Hartog Island Airstrip
AU-0639
Dirk Hartog Island, AU
Small Airport
~59 km away
Overlander Airport
AU-0113
Hamelin Pool, AU
Small Airport
~78 km away
Coburn Station Airstrip
AU-0591
Coburn, AU
Small Airport
~81 km away
Billabong Road House Airport
YBLB
Meadow, AU
Small Airport
~113 km away
Distances are approximate and calculated as straight-line distances.