The 6 Best Camping Spots in Western Australia

The 6 Best Camping Spots in Western Australia

Western Australia has some of the most beautiful places to explore if you’re ever planning on going on a camping trip. Seriously, we would recommend you put it into your bucket list immediately if you haven’t already done so. With the natural landscape and wildlife that surrounds Western Australia, the best way to see it all is through camping in the big outdoors.

Camping is the ultimate therapy to be one with nature. You can enjoy nature in all its tranquillity, secluded from the world. You get to wake up to the sound of birds chirping and see the stars in the night sky as you fall asleep. Just for that alone, we feel that it’s worth it to sacrifice some of life's little luxuries in the name of getting an epic view and a dose of tranquillity. 

Western Australia has the best of both worlds with an awe inspiring outback and a beautiful coastline. Western Australia’s campsites offer you a wide range of experiences, from the sound of the ocean, to the prehistoric scenery surrounded by gorges a million years in the making. 

When it comes to finding somewhere to camp for the night there’s no shortage of places to choose from, so we’ve listed down a few of the must visits for your next camping trip. 

Before you start, check out some of the new arrivals in our store to get you going on your next camping or hiking trip!

1. Millstream Chichester National Park

The Millstream Chichester National Park near Karratha is a fantastic place to go for your camping trip. Located about 1 and a half hours away from Karratha, the whole national park is a literal oasis just sitting in the middle of the desert, and dotted with spinifex and snappy gums. 

The pools are the main draw here, fed by underground springs within porous dolomite rock. It is a fantastic place for you to go for a swim, or to fish. There are incredibly scenic hiking and walking trails as well, like the Deep Reach Walking Trail and the Cliff Lookout Link. One of the more popular walking trails is where you can find out more about the aboriginal Yinjibarndi people’s resourcefulness, as well as the diversity of the ecology there. There are over 120 species of birds as well, if birdwatching is more of your thing. 

We would recommend the Stargazers Campgrounds, which have barbeque pits, picnic tables and chairs as well as toilets. However, do take note that you will have to make prior bookings before you go, and there is a small fee charged for camping in these campgrounds. 

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2. Cape Range National Park

As one of Western Australia’s most iconic national parks, the Cape Range National Park is home to 11 beachfront campgrounds. Located only 38 minutes away from Exmouth, this is the place should you ever feel like camping alongside the beach, adjacent to the vibrant, colourful Ningaloo Marine Park. There are a diverse range of activities like diving, snorkelling, kayaking, swimming, surfing, fishing, bushwalking, boating; there really is no limit to the things you can do here. 

A highlight to any Cape Range experience is a trip to Yardie Creek, which flows between sheer cliffs. You can really enjoy the tranquillity of the gorge and view the wildlife in its natural setting. For those who prefer a walking or hiking trail, Cape Range offers walks through deep gorges such as Mandu Mandu and the Badjirrajirra Loop Trail across the scenic high country at Charles Knife Canyon.

The campgrounds here have very basic amenities like toilets and a few picnic tables, so you will have to bring most of your own camping gear. Booking your spot is recommended, since this is one of the more popular campsites in Western Australia. Since you’ll be camping in a World Heritage Area, you have to be extra careful and respect and take care of the environment. 

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3. Cape Le Grand National Park

The Cape Le Grand National Park is within 45 minute drive of Esperance, and it is as majestic as you would imagine. With spectacular coastal scenery, sweeping heathlands, rugged coastal peaks, this is one of the most picturesque spots you can have your camping trip to. Plus, it has white sandy beaches that are voted the best in Australia.

If you’re looking for the best coastal scenery, look no further than the southwest corner of Cape Le Grand National Park. It has the massive granite peaks that rise from the coastal plain, dotted with a diversity of colourful wildflowers and dense thickets of banksia. 

If you’re more into walking and hiking trails, the Le Grand Coastal Trail is a great place to start. It links many of the park’s most spectacular coastal sections between Le Grand Beach and Rossiter Bay. If you want something a little more exciting, try a hike up Frenchman Peak at 262m high, for panoramic views of the park and islands. Dunn Rocks on the eastern side of the park is also a picturesque and popular fishing spot.

The iconic Lucky Bay campgrounds has campsites which straddle the beach, and is perfect for beautiful views of the wide sea where you can swim, fish and snorkel. Similarly, you can also opt for the Cape Le Grand Campground, which has campsites with kitchens, gas barbecues, picnic tables and toilets for you to fully appreciate that white sand and turquoise water.

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4. Francois Peron National Park

Francois Peron National Park is a visual dream, known for its red cliffs, white sand and blue waters. If you’re into getting one with nature, this is the place for you to be. 

Activities you can explore to fill your time include canoeing, snorkelling, swimming, fishing and bushwalking. You can hike up to Cape Peron, at the park’s northerly tip which offers scenic views of the white sand and blue waters. An impressive array of marine life can be seen from two lookouts perched on the cliff at nearby Skipjack Point Lookout.

The campgrounds, like Big Lagoon, Gregories and Bottle Bay offer very basic amenities only, like toilets and some public shared barbeque pits, but that’s about all. However, that’s all you need to make your camping experience a pleasurable one. We would recommend you take plenty of drinking water and camping gear to prepare yourself well, as the nearest town is around 4km away. 

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5. Lane Poole Reserve, Dwellingup

The Lane Poole Reserve is one of the most popular camping destinations in Western Australia. It is only 1 hour and 20 minutes away from Perth, and has plenty of activities for you to choose from. 

Whether you’re here for the white water rafting, canoeing, downhill mountain biking, freshwater fishing, or bushwalking, this is the place for you to be. The Murray River, the longest permanent river and one of the few major rivers in the jarrah forest remaining undammed, provides a range of canoeing opportunities.

For walking trails, Lane Poole offers walks of varying length and difficulty including the Island Pool, Chuditch, Nanga Brook and King Jarrah walk trails. The Les Couzens Bridle Trail is a loop trail that begins and ends in Dwellingup and passes through the northern part of the park. Of course, the Bibbulmun Track and Munda Biddi Trail both pass through the area as well, so that can be one of your options as well. 

Lane Poole Reserve is very popular for camping with nine different campgrounds available. We recommend the Baden Powell Campgrounds. It has 42 campsites available, and has fire pits, picnic tables and benches as well as camping kitchens with gas barbecues and running water collected from rain water. Booking is not necessary, but you have to pay a small fee to rent a camping site upon arrival. 

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6. Karijini National Park

Karijini National Park is Western Australia’s second largest national park, and it is truly a natural wonder. A 14-hour drive northeast of Perth, it’s no surprise why this is one of Australians’ favourite spots. The high plateau overlooks its breathtaking gorges, surrounded by truly magic waterfalls with the beautiful landscape carved from over 2.5 million years of terraforming and erosion. It can get pretty hot in the National Park, with temperatures topping 40°C, so the most ideal time to visit is during late autumn, winter and early spring. 

We recommend the Dales Campground within Karajini National Park. As a great base to start exploring the rest of the National Park, it’s close to the picturesque spots of Fortescue Falls and Fern Pool and there are loads of walking trails. Fern Pool is an absolute must go for a short walk. It’s got amazing scenery, and you can go for a refreshing swim too. The Dales Campground also has barbecues, picnic tables and toilets available. You will need to make bookings as the campsites are in high demand from June to September. 

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So, quit daydreaming of campfires and looking at the starlit skies. It’s time for you to take a camping trip to some of these camping sites all around Western Australia. Spending a few sun-filled days and star-lit nights is bound to give you a new perspective on life.

What did you think about our article? We’d love to hear from you. Share your thoughts in the comment section below! Take a look at our list of essential camping gear for 2020 to help you better plan out your next camping trip. Or check out our store for more camping gear!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What do I need to prepare before going on a camping trip?

There are a few things which you need to have a successful camping trip. 

It is essential to research the area in which you wish to go camping. An understanding of the area will allow you to prepare for the conditions you are likely to encounter. If you’re travelling to the beach, you will need to bring the relevant tools suited for beach camping. 

Some spots in Western Australia, for example, may be around the coast, and some coastal areas can be windier than inland areas. You will need to prepare for extra ropes, pegs, so that your tent won’t suddenly be taken away by the wind. You should also have some knowledge of what the temperatures can be expected at night, so that you can determine what rating sleeping bag you will need.

Make sure that all your camping gear is in order. You can use our camping checklist to help you with knowing what you need to bring. 

2. Is there anything I may need to know before leaving my campsite? 

There are a few things you may need to do before departing from your campsite. 

• Wait until your tent is completely dry before you dismantle it, as this will reduce the formation of mildew that is caused by wet or damp conditions. 

• Check all your tent poles and pegs are dry before storing them, to prevent rusting. 

• Make sure all rubbish is kept properly for disposal. You should always leave your campsite cleaner than you found it. Remember, leave nothing but footprints.