The most incredible places to go glamping in Margaret River

Camping, but make it chic: from sleeping among olive groves to hitting the hay in a geodesic dome, here are six of the best places to go glamping in Margaret River.

If you’re plotting an escape to this bucolic pocket of WA and toying with the idea of staying somewhere a little bit special, this is the guide for you. Over the past decade, a glut of great glamping spots have opened up in Margaret River, promising guests the wholesome fulfilment of communing with nature while also offering a few more creature comforts (and plenty more convenience) than camping ever could.

But perhaps best of all, glamping in the Margaret River means you can get up close and personal with the region’s dreamy landscapes, located right on your tent’s doorstep – gentle valleys laced with small creeks, paved with vineyards, and visited by local wildlife, verdant patches of farmland, and white sand beaches lapped by glassy waters with few souls in sight.

There are some seriously luxe glamping options in Margaret River. (Image Willow Wood Glamping Retreat)

Hole up in one of these glamping retreats and enjoy the simple pleasures in life: stargazing from your private deck, waking up to chirps of birds, cosy nights under canvas listening to the rain pitter patter on your rooftop, sundowners around a crackling fire pit, hearty homemade dinners cobbled together with local produce and cooked atop the barbecue.

Below, find the best glamping Margaret River has to offer.

1. Willow Wood Glamping Retreat

Located 35 minutes from the Margaret River town centre, Willow Wood Glamping Retreat takes glamping up a notch with its romantic adults-only accommodation. Each of these luxurious eco-tents offers a Queen bed, bathroom, kitchenette, electric fire, air conditioner, a table and chairs, and a deck. A complimentary breakfast board with local produce is also provided for guests on the first morning.

A point of difference for this glamping retreat is the dedicated eco tent for spa treatments in partnership with Larn’wa Australia . There are five treatments to choose from including the Larn’wa Kodo Full Body Massage, a 60-minute treatment inspired by healing techniques and essences from Aboriginal community Elders.

2. RAC Margaret River Nature Park, Wooditjup National Park

modern safari tent at RAC Margaret River — This modern safari tent caters to larger groups of up to six people. (Image: RAC Margaret River Nature Park)

Sure, you can go the old classic route of camping or caravanning at this holiday park (and let’s be honest, a national park is a pretty fine spot for it) but why pitch your own poky tent in the dark when you can have someone else do all the hard work for you? Enter RAC Margaret River Nature Park’s ‘safari tents’. Sleeping a maximum of six, these permanent canvas tents feature one double bed and two bunks.

And while there’s nothing fancy about them, they have pretty much everything you could need for a comfy night’s sleep in the bush – think linens, lamps, a heater during winter and a fan during summer, plus power so you don’t have to fret about where to charge your phone overnight.

Choose from the modern or traditional tents, the only real difference between them being aesthetics. And naturally, all campers get access to the site’s facilities, from the camp kitchen to the fire pits, communal barbecues, a shared amenities block, a nature playground and a guest laundry.

3. Two Blind Cows, Osmington

luxury tent at Two Blind Cows — Stay in a luxury tent right next to the Margaret River. (Image: Two Blind Cows)

Easily the most boutique glamping experience in the Margaret River region, the attention to design detail at Two Blind Cows is admirable, the stylish interiors of its four canvas tents offering a genuine safari camp vibe. The bathroom features a rough-hewn stone sink, brass tap and marble tabletop alongside handmade soaps and lotions.

And the bedroom/lounge features hardwood furnishings, a rattan bedhead, a leather armchair and beautiful linens. Each tent also has its own small private deck that’s the perfect spot for drinking up the night sky views, and a fully equipped kitchenette with locally roasted plunger coffee.

Situated on Osmington hill, in the middle of a private farm, this sizable patch of land is delightfully free from light pollution, yet surprisingly only a 12-minute drive from Margaret River town.

4. Olio Bello Lakeside Glamping, Cowaramup

Olio Bella — An idyllic stargazing spot to ponder constellations. (Image: Olio Bello Lakeside Glamping)

The six safari-style bungalows at this organic farm in Cowaramup are about as close to a luxury hotel room dropped into the middle of the great outdoors as you can get. Really, the word ‘tent’ is underselling it quite some. Situated on yet another olive grove, Olio Bello is home to 8,000 trees spread across a whopping 130 hectares and boasts both an onsite cafe/bistro and a farm shop too. But the scenic backdrop to your glamping bungalow is in fact a lake.

Except for the setting (lakefront or lakeview), all of the tents have the same features – a king-size bed, a private en-suite, a kitchenette, reverse cycle air-con, even bioethanol fireplaces come winter – as well as access to shared barbecues and lawn games. But the piece de resistance here is the daily breakfast hamper, best enjoyed on your tent’s spacious deck.

Whatever your needs, the team at Olio Bello can probably take care of them… The bungalows are child-friendly (BYO cot), feature a sofa bed that can sleep a further two guests (pending a surcharge), and one of the bungalows has been modified to accommodate those with restricted mobility.

5. Mile End Glamping, Yelverton

A kooky alternative to your regular, run-of-the-mill glamping options, at this Yelverton accommodation you can bed down in a geodesic dome. Nuzzled among the gum trees and boasting sweeping valley views, this glamping option in Margaret River is primed for those who love the great outdoors but aren’t yet ready to give up their creature comforts.

Each dome comes with reverse-cycle air conditioning and remote-controlled gas fires, a kitchenette, a four-poster bed, an ensuite bathroom, and a private deck that features a barbecue and an outdoor bath that’s not a bad spot for stargazing.

Originally written by Chloe Cann with updates by Rachael thompson

Discover the best things to do in Margaret River

This remote corner of Australia is one of the world’s last frontiers. This is how to see it properly.

Vast, rugged and deeply spiritual, the Kimberley coast in Australia’s North West feels a world away from everyday Australia – and there are countless ways to explore it. But if you want to reach ancient rock art, hidden gorges and lonely waterfalls, it has to be by boat. Whether you’re aboard a nimble expedition vessel or a luxury yacht with all the trimmings, exploring by the water brings exclusive experiences, shows unique views and makes travel easier than any other mode. And that’s just the beginning of Australia’s North West cruises.

The True North Adventure Cruise in between sandstone cliffs. — Adventure starts where the road ends.

1. Discover Broome, and beyond

Explore your launchpad before you set sail: Broome. Here camels and their riders stride along the 22 kilometres of powdery Cable Beach at sunset. That’s just the start.

At Gantheaume Point, red pindan cliffs plunge into the turquoise sea, whose low tide uncovers fossilised dinosaur footprints. Broome’s pearling history runs deep. Japanese, Chinese, Malay and Aboriginal divers once worked these waters, and their legacy lives on in boutiques where South Sea pearls still shine.

If the moon’s right, you may catch the Staircase to the Moon over Roebuck Bay. Or simply kick back with a cold beverage and a film under the stars at Sun Pictures , screening since 1916.

Ride a camel along Cable Beach as the sun sinks into the Indian Ocean, casting golden light across the sand and sea. — Ride a camel along Cable Beach. (Image: Nick Dunn)

2. Unmatched access to The Kimberley

Once you’re onboard, expect a backstage pass to some of the most isolated places on Earth. No roads. No ports. No phone reception.

At Horizontal Falls/ Garaanngaddim, 10-metre tides surge through twin gorges like a natural waterpark ride that’ll make your palms sweat. Then there’s Montgomery Reef/ Yowjab: a giant living platform of coral and seagrass, where the sea pulls back to reveal waterfalls, sea turtles and ospreys.

Up north, King George Falls/ Oomari rage 80 metres down red cliffs. Zodiac boats often nudge in closer so you can feel the spray on your sun-warmed cheeks. You might even fly in to reach Mitchell Falls/ Punamii-unpuu, a four-tiered cascade where you can swim in freshwater pools above the drop.

Come spring, some itineraries veer west to Rowley Shoals: an atoll chain of white sand and reef walls. Then it’s up the winding Prince Regent River to King Cascade/ Maamboolbadda, tumbling over rock terraces, and into a Zodiac to view the Gwion Gwion rock art, whose slender, ochre-painted figures are older than the pyramids.

A cruise drifts beneath King George Falls, where sheer sandstone cliffs frame the thunderous plunge into turquoise waters. — Get closer to the Kimberley than ever before.

3. Taste the Kimberley with onboard hospitality

You might spend your days clambering over slippery rocks or charging past waterfalls. But when you’re back on the water, it’s a different story. Meals are chef-prepared and regionally inspired: grilled barramundi, pearl meat sashimi, mango tarts, and bush tomato chutney. One night it’s barefoot beach barbecues with your shipmates; the next, alfresco dining on the ship.

Small expedition ships each have their own personality, but many carry just 12 to 36 guests, making being out on the water a whole other experience. You might sink into a spa on the foredeck or sip coffee in a lounge while watching crocodiles cruise by. It’s choose-your-own-relaxation, Kimberley style.

4. Expert-led excursions through the Kimberley

These voyages are led by people who know the Kimberley like the back of their sunburnt hand. Attenborough-esque naturalists might gently tap your shoulder to point out rare birds or tell the story beneath a slab of rock. Historians can explain exactly how that rusted World War II relic came to rest here.

If your ship has a helipad, you might chopper straight to a waterfall-fed swimming hole. If not, you’ll still be hopping ashore for that wet landing at a secret creek.

Then come the evenings: songlines shared by Traditional Owners under the stars, or astronomy sessions that link what’s overhead with what’s underfoot and what’s within.

A small group glides through Kimberley’s rugged coastline by boat, passing ancient cliffs. — Explore with naturalists and historians by your side.

5. Relax in luxurious lodgings

Just because you’re off-grid doesn’t mean you have to rough it. These Kimberley vessels are small in size, but mighty in luxury. True North’s ships come with their own helicopters and a no-sea-days policy, so you’re always in the thick of it. Try the luxurious offerings from Ocean Dream Charters for exploration in style. Kimberley Quest offers a fast boat for easy, off-ship adventures. On the larger end of the scale, Coral Expeditions has open-deck bars and curated wine cellars. And then there’s Ponant’s luxury yachts – sleek and incredibly stylish French sailing yachts.

A helicopter soars above the sea, with a sleek cruise ship gliding in the distance. — See the Kimberley from sky to shore.

6. The adventure continues with pre- and post-cruise experiences

You’ve already come this far – so, why not go further? Broome makes it easy to ease in before you board, or wind down when your voyage ends, and there is no reason to stop there.

Head an hour and a half south to Eco Beach to stay off-grid and off the clock. Join a Yawuru guide for a mangrove walk or ocean forage. Dive even deeper into Broome’s pearling past at Willie Creek or Cygnet Bay, where divers and craftspeople still pull the seawater-slicked gems from the deep.

If you’re still craving adventure, it’s time to go further. Soar over the Buccaneer Archipelago, or detour inland with a 4WD trip along the Gibb River Road. Book a scenic flight over the Bungle Bungles. Or – because you never know when you’ll be back – do all three.

aerial of people walking on eco beach in the kimberley western australia — Stay off grid at Eco Beach. (Image: Tourism WA)

Find out more about your trip to Australia’s North West at australiasnorthwest.com .