The most beautiful campsites in Western Australia

Leah McLennanBy Leah McLennan
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Let’s face it, Western Australia has an abundance of picture-perfect spots where you can doze under a canopy of stars.

From the dramatic Kimberley region in the north to the talcum-white beaches of the South West, you’ll be spoiled for choice in this 2.6-million-square kilometre open-air playground.

 

To help you on your way, we’ve compiled a list of WA’s most beautiful camping spots that’ll have you driving to your local camping store quicker than you can say ‘eureka’.

 

You can also follow along on the map below.

 

1. Osprey Bay Campground

Ningaloo Reef

 

Forget paying top dollar to sit around at the nearby exclusive safari camp: your own slice of paradise awaits at Osprey Bay for just $11 a night. Locals call this place ‘the aquarium’ and we promise you – it lives up to its nickname.

 

Situated above a rock-shelf shoreline, this campsite couldn’t boast a dreamier view: turquoise waters lapping at squeaky-clean sand. While away the time snorkelling, swimming, kayaking – or snoozing in the hammock. If you visit between late March and late June, you have the opportunity to swim with whale sharks.

 

Site facilities are basic – bush toilets and picnic tables. There’s no water or showers, so make sure you’re well stocked (and washed) before you arrive.

 

Cost: $11 adult per night, $3 child per night.

Osprey Bay
A slice of paradise awaits at Osprey Bay.

2. Dales Campground

Karijini National Park

 

With over 6000 square kilometres of natural real estate, the Pilbara’s Karijini National Park really knows how to make the adventure seeker blush: a medley of gorges, massive mountains rising out of flat valleys and 2500-million-year-old rocks.

 

Situated 1200 kilometres from Perth, the park is about as remote as you can get – it won’t suit those who can’t live without mobile phone coverage. Dales Campground is one of two locations in the park where you can stay overnight. Site facilities are basic – bush toilets, barbecue sites and a small kiosk at the visitor’s centre.

 

From the campground you can walk to Dales gorge, where you can swim in the Fern Pool, stand under Fortescue Falls or hike to Circular Pool. Visit the park over the cooler months (between June and September).

 

Cost: $11 adult per night, $3 child per night.

3. Kooljaman at Cape Leveque

Dampier Peninsula

 

Kooljaman at Cape Leveque is the oceanic host with the most! Situated on the Dampier Peninsula, 220 kilometres north of Broome and accessed via the partially unsealed Cape Leveque Road, Kooljaman is one of those magical WA coastal spots where red rock meets turquoise water.

 

Set up camp beneath a wooden shelter with palm-frond walls, ditch the shoes and watch the swoon-worthy stretches of sand and turquoise water as you poke the campfire.

 

With no mobile reception there’s no possibility of scrolling social media – instead spend your days swimming, fishing or reading a good book.

 

Cost: $50 unpowered campsites, $120 camping beach shelter.

Kooljaman at Cape Leveque
Kooljaman at Cape Leveque is your ocean host with the most.

4. Lucky Bay Campground

Cape Le Grand National Park

 

Within 45 minutes’ drive of Esperance, Cape Le Grand National Park oozes white sandy beaches voted the best in Australia. You’ve probably seen those Tourism Australia photos of chilled out kangaroos that pose with tourists on the beach at Lucky Bay. Now you know where to get your own selfie with a roo.

 

The Cape Le Grand Campground has shared kitchen facilities, barbecues, picnic tables, solar-heated showers and flushing loos. Spend your days swimming, fishing or hiking.

 

The park’s rolling heathlands are home to pygmy possums and an array of wildflowers. Top tip – don’t miss the great coffee van on the beach over the peak Christmas season.

 

Cost: $15 adult per night, $3 child per night.

lucky bay campsite
An aerial view of lucky bay campsite.

5. Elachbutting Rock Campsite , near Westonia

The Wheatbelt

 

Situated four hours east of Perth, the bewitching Elachbutting Rock is a tad smaller than the more well-known Wave Rock near Hyden but it’s still super impressive – and well worth the drive. Plus Elachbutting has the added intrigue of a 30-metre tunnel, Monty’s Pass (which was caused by one helluva rock slide).

 

Plan your visit during wildflower season (mid-July to late October) and you’ll get to see the brilliant wildflowers – as well as the beauty of this multi-coloured granite rock.

 

Campsite facilities at the rock are basic – barbecues, fire pits, picnic tables and a bush loo. And best yet? It’s all for free.

 

Cost: Free

Camp in the shadow of Elachbutting Rock
Camp in the shadow of Elachbutting Rock.

6. Mitchell Falls Campground

Mitchell River National Park

 

Situated 560 kilometres from Kununurra, getting to the Mitchell Plateau takes time, a 4WD and dedication. It’s an adventure in its own right, and it’s well worth the effort. The thundering Mitchell Falls are among the most photographed attractions of the rugged Kimberley region.

 

This is no-frills camping suited to the most adventurous of travellers – there are bush toilets, but no showers. The four-tiered falls are a six-kilometre walk from the huge Mitchell Falls camping area, which is separated into a generator and a quiet area.

 

In the Kimberley, prime travel time is from June to August where temperatures hover around 30°C and there’s not a cloud in the sky.

 

Cost: $11 adult per night, $3 child per night.

Mitchell Falls campground puts you right among the action
Mitchell Falls campground puts you right among the action.

7. Hamelin Station

Near Shark Bay

On the doorstep of Shark Bay World Heritage area, Hamelin Station offers a taste of Aussie history, stunning landscapes and distinctive adventures.

 

Conveniently located on World Heritage Drive (the only road into and out of Shark Bay, nearby you can investigate the ancient stromatolites at Hamelin Bay or take a day trip to Denham and see the Monkey Mia dolphins.

 

At the Station, a 202,000-hectare property set on 32 kilometres of Shark Bay coastline, you can sleep in the comfy shearers quarters or pitch a tent (all sites have fire pits and are separated by nature corridors).

 

Camping facilities are top-notch and include camp kitchens with gas burners and barbecues, modern showers and laundry facilities (also includes disabled facilities).

 

Cost: $14 adult for camping, $6 children, Station Stay accommodation range $80-$180

Stromatolites at Hamelin Pool, south east of Denham
Take a short drive from Hamelin Station to see the stromatolites at Hamelin Pool. Photo: Tourism Western Australia.

8. Conto Campground

Near Margaret River

You’ll find this gem just outside Margaret River, a region known globally for its wine and beaches, all tucked away in Australia’s south-west corner.

 

Conto Campground is not far from the stunning Conto Springs Beach, a popular place to take a dip in the ocean, bodyboard, surf or just slap on the sunscreen and relax. From here you can also walk a portion of the 135-kilometre Cape to Cape track that runs between the lighthouses of Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin.

 

With 116 campsites nestled among the coastal peppermint woodland, the campground had an upgrade in 2015. There are several different areas you can camp in and they all have different facilities. Some of the areas have washing up areas, barbecues and each camp area has long-drop toilets.

 

Cost: $15 adult per night, $3 child per night.

Sunset at Conto Campground
Sunset at Conto Campground.
Leah McLennan
Leah McLennan is a freelance writer based in Darwin. She was a journalist in Sydney for over a decade and counts her time as travel editor for Australian Associated Press as one of the highlights of her career. From exploring remote campsites in the Top End with her family, to seeking out new art galleries in faraway cities, she’ll grab an adventurous or arty travel experience within her reach.
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6 reasons the best way to experience the Kimberley is by cruise

    Kate BettesBy Kate Bettes
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    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 .