Camping on Australia's North West

Australia's North West takes in the Pilbara and the Kimberley, country of red gorges, white beaches and long, empty roads. The distances between towns are big, so trips here are planned around a few bases, and the season matters as much as the route.

Where is the best place to camp on Australia's North West?

In the Pilbara, Karijini National Park is the heart of it, and Dales Camp Ground puts you near Dales Gorge, with Tom Price the nearest town. Millstream Chichester National Park, about 120 km south of Karratha, has spinifex hills and tree-lined watercourses to camp beside. In the Kimberley, Broome is the base for Cable Beach, and Cable Beach Caravan Park is close to the sand. Out east, Kununurra's parks sit on Lake Kununurra, and Lake Argyle Resort is out on the big lake itself.

What is there to do on Australia's North West with kids?

Karijini's gorges are the reason to go: Dales, Kalamina, Joffre, Knox and Hamersley gorges cut through some of the oldest exposed rock on the continent, with waterfalls along the way. In Broome, Cable Beach is 22 km of white sand with camel rides at sunset, the Broome Historical Museum is a short walk from town, and Sun Pictures is nearby. Off Karratha, the 42 islands of the Dampier Archipelago are used for boating, fishing and snorkelling, and Lake Argyle is the largest body of fresh water in northern Australia.

• Don Rhodes Mining Museum – Museums and history, Port Hedland. Closest campground: McGregor Recreational Field, 1 km
• Sun Pictures – Museums and history, Broome. Closest campground: Discovery Parks (Broome), 2 km
• Dalgety House Museum – Museums and history, Port Hedland. Closest campground: McGregor Recreational Field, 4 km
• Broome Historical Museum – Museums and history, Broome. Closest campground: Discovery Parks (Broome), under 1 km
• Onslow Visitors Centre and Museum – Museums and history, Onslow. Closest campground: Ocean View Caravan Park, under 1 km
• Newman Museum – Museums and history, Newman. Closest campground: Yurlu Caravan Park, 2 km
• Pearl Luggers – Museums and history, Broome. Closest campground: Discovery Parks (Broome), 2 km
• Courthouse Museum – Museums and history, Wyndham. Closest campground: Wyndham Caravan Park, 3 km
• Six Mile Railway Museum – Museums and history, Gap Ridge. Closest campground: Balmoral Holiday Park, 6 km
• Comet Gold Mine Museum – Museums and history, Marble Bar. Closest campground: Marble Bar Holiday Park, 7 km
• Ganalili Centre and Juluwarlu Aboriginal Corporation – Museums and history, Roebourne. Closest campground: The Cove Caravan Park, 17 km
• Onslow Aquatic Centre – Swimming, Onslow. Closest campground: Ocean View Caravan Park, under 1 km
• Fitzroy Crossing Swimming Pool – Swimming, Fitzroy Crossing. Closest campground: Tarunda Caravan Park, under 1 km
• Kununurra Leisure Centre – Swimming, Kununurra. Closest campground: Ivanhoe Village Caravan Resort, under 1 km

What are the best walks and waterfalls on Australia's North West?

In Karijini, the Gorge Rim Walk looks down into Dales Gorge, Fortescue Falls tumbles into it, and Joffre Waterfall drops into its own gorge a short walk from the Eco Retreat. In the Kimberley, Kellys Knob is the lookout at Kununurra.

• Joffre Waterfall – Waterfall. Closest campground: Karijini Eco Retreat, under 1 km
• Fortescue Falls – Waterfall. Closest campground: Dales Camp Ground, under 1 km
• Gorge Rim Walk – Walk, Karijini National Park. Closest campground: Dales Camp Ground, 1 km
• Kellys Knob – Lookout. Closest campground: Hidden Valley Caravan Park, under 1 km
• Homestead Falls – Waterfall. Closest campground: Lake Argyle Resort, under 1 km
• Demboong Banan Lookout – Lookout. Closest campground: Hidden Valley Caravan Park, under 1 km
• Lynas Lookout – Lookout. Closest campground: Nullagine Carvan Park, under 1 km
• Derdbe-Gerring Banan Lookout – Lookout. Closest campground: Hidden Valley Caravan Park, under 1 km
• Reservoir Lookout – Lookout. Closest campground: Lake Argyle Resort, under 1 km
• Sandy Beach Sunset point – Lookout. Closest campground: Windjana Gorge Campground / Bandilngan Campground, under 1 km

When is the best time to go camping on Australia's North West?

Go in the dry. The Pilbara is hot and dry, so most travel happens in the cooler months, and in the Kimberley the wet season, roughly November to April, closes many national parks and unsealed roads. Western Australia's official cyclone season runs from 1 November to 30 April and can bring flooding across both regions.

Is it safe to swim on Australia's North West?

Only where it is safe to. On entering the Kimberley or Pilbara you are in crocodile country: Parks and Wildlife WA say to assume every water body in the Kimberley holds dangerous crocodiles, read and obey the signs (no sign does not mean no crocodile), keep away from the water's edge, and if in doubt, do not swim. The town pools, such as Fitzroy Crossing's, are the easy answer.

Do you need to book campsites on Australia's North West?

For Karijini's Dales Campground, yes: bookings are essential, made through Explore Parks WA up to 180 days ahead, and it is in high demand from June to September. Karijini Eco Retreat also needs a booking.

Are there powered sites on Australia's North West?

Yes. 12 campgrounds here have powered sites confirmed, including Nanutarra Roadhouse Caravan Park, Broome's Gateway Caravan Park and Cable Beach Caravan Park. For the rest we are still confirming, so check with the park or holiday park before you book a powered site.

Facts from Explore Parks WA, Dales Campground, Parks and Wildlife WA, natural area hazards, DBCA, Kimberley national parks season update, Wikipedia, "Karijini National Park" (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikipedia, "Broome, Western Australia" (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikipedia, "Lake Argyle" (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikipedia, "Pilbara" (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikipedia, "Millstream Chichester National Park" (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Map of campgrounds on Australia's North West

81 campgrounds

• House Creek — Nanutarra, WA. accessible toilets, caravan sites, dump point, picnic shelter, picnic tables, tent sites, toilets
• Karijini Eco Retreat — Karijini, WA. caravan sites, drinking water, showers, tent sites, toilets, wheelchair accessible
• Nanutarra Roadhouse Caravan Park — Nanutarra, WA. accessible toilets, drinking water, picnic shelter, picnic tables, powered sites, toilets
• Beasly Creek — Nanutarra, WA. accessible toilets, dump point, picnic shelter, picnic tables, toilets
• Broome's Gateway Caravan Park — Roebuck, WA. camp kitchen, laundry, powered sites, showers, toilets
• Cable Beach Caravan Park — Cable Beach, WA. drinking water, dump point, powered sites, toilets, wifi
• Cockburn — Wijilawarrim, WA. accessible toilets, dump point, picnic shelter, picnic tables, toilets
• Dunham Rest Area — Durack, WA. accessible toilets, dump point, picnic shelter, picnic tables, toilets
• Ellendale — Mount Hardman, WA. accessible toilets, dump point, picnic shelter, picnic tables, toilets
• Goldwire — Lagrange, WA. accessible toilets, dump point, picnic shelter, picnic tables, toilets
• Kimberley Entrance Caravan Park — Derby, WA. drinking water, dump point, powered sites, toilets, wifi
• Leychesters Rest — Ord River, WA. accessible toilets, dump point, picnic shelter, picnic tables, toilets
• Ngumban Cliff — Kupartiya, WA. accessible toilets, dump point, picnic shelter, picnic tables, toilets
• Nillibubblica — Waterbank, WA. accessible toilets, dump point, picnic shelter, picnic tables, toilets
• Pardoo Roadhouse — Pardoo, WA. accessible toilets, picnic shelter, picnic tables, tent sites, toilets
• Robe River — Fortescue, WA. accessible toilets, dump point, picnic shelter, picnic tables, toilets
• Sandfire Roadhouse Caravan Park — Eighty Mile Beach, WA. accessible toilets, picnic shelter, picnic tables, powered sites, toilets
• Spring Creek — Ord River, WA. accessible toilets, dump point, picnic shelter, picnic tables, toilets
• Stanley — Eighty Mile Beach, WA. accessible toilets, dump point, picnic shelter, picnic tables, toilets
• Yannarie River — Yannarie, WA. accessible toilets, dump point, picnic shelter, picnic tables, toilets
• Blackrock Tourist Park — South Hedland, WA. drinking water, powered sites, toilets, wifi
• De Grey River Rest Area — De Grey, WA. caravan sites, dump point, tent sites, toilets
• Fitzroy River Lodge — St George Ranges, WA. drinking water, dump point, powered sites, toilets
• Heavy Vehicle Rest Area (Karijini Dr) — Juna Downs, WA. accessible toilets, picnic shelter, picnic tables, toilets
• Kimberleyland Caravan Park — Kununurra, WA. drinking water, dump point, powered sites, toilets
• Major Rest Area (Great Northern Hwy) — Marble Bar, WA. accessible toilets, picnic shelter, picnic tables, toilets
• Major Rest Area (Victoria Hwy) — Lake Argyle, WA. accessible toilets, picnic shelter, picnic tables, toilets
• Mary Pool — Mueller Ranges, WA. accessible toilets, dump point, picnic tables, toilets
• Private Auski — Karijini, WA. accessible toilets, picnic shelter, picnic tables, toilets
• Private Fortescue — Mardie, WA. accessible toilets, picnic shelter, picnic tables, toilets
• Private Karratha — Cooya Pooya, WA. accessible toilets, picnic shelter, picnic tables, toilets
• The Cove Caravan Park — Point Samson, WA. drinking water, dump point, powered sites, toilets
• Whim Creek Free Campsite — Whim Creek, WA. caravan sites, tent sites, toilets, wifi
• Discovery Parks Onslow — Onslow, WA. dump point, powered sites, wifi
• West Peawah River Rest Area, 24 hour stopping — Sherlock, WA. caravan sites, tent sites, toilets
• Willare — Willare, WA. picnic shelter, picnic tables, toilets
• Karijini Overflow Campground — Karijini, WA. caravan sites, tent sites
• Miaree Pool — Maitland, WA. picnic shelter, picnic tables
• RIP Lookout — Mount Sheila, WA. caravan sites, tent sites
• Udialla Springs — Geegully Creek, WA. caravan sites, tent sites
• Banana Well Getaway — Dampier Peninsula, WA. tent sites
• Burkett Road Rest Area — Yannarie, WA. toilets
• Lake Argyle Resort — Lake Argyle, WA. powered sites
• Pilbara Karratha Holiday Park — Baynton, WA. wifi
• Tom Price Tourist Park — Tom Price, WA. tent sites
• Wyndham Caravan Park — Wyndham, WA. powered sites
• Yurlu Caravan Park — Newman, WA. pets allowed
• Angelo Exploration (RTIO) - Private — Newman, WA
• Balmoral Holiday Park — Gap Ridge, WA
• Bell Gorge Wildernesss Lodge — King Leopold Ranges, WA
• Dales Camp Ground — Karijini, WA
• Discovery Parks (Broome) — Broome, WA
• Discovery Parks Lake Kununurra — Kununurra, WA
• Eighty Mile Beach Caravan Park — Eighty Mile Beach, WA
• gravel pit campsite — King Leopold Ranges, WA
• Hidden Valley Caravan Park — Kununurra, WA
• Ivanhoe Village Caravan Resort — Kununurra, WA
• Kalumburu Mission Caravan Park — Kalumburu, WA
• Karratha Caravan Park — Karratha Industrial Estate, WA
• Kooljaman at Cape Leveque — Dampier Peninsula, WA
• Manning Gorge Campground — King Leopold Ranges, WA
• Marble Bar Holiday Park — Marble Bar, WA
• Mary Pool (Mary River) — Kupartiya, WA
• McGregor Recreational Field — Port Hedland, WA
• Miaree Pool Rest Area — Maitland, WA
• Middle Lagoon — Dampier Peninsula, WA
• Miliyanha Campground — Millstream, WA
• Nullagine Carvan Park — Nullagine, WA
• Ocean View Caravan Park — Onslow, WA
• Parry Creek — Wyndham, WA
• Peedamulla Camp Ground — Peedamulla, WA
• Port Smith — Lagrange, WA
• Roebuck Plains Roadhouse Caravan Park — Roebuck, WA
• Stargazers Campground — Millstream, WA
• Stretch Lagoon Camping Area — Sturt Creek, WA
• Tarangau Caravan Park — Cable Beach, WA
• Tarunda Caravan Park — Fitzroy Crossing, WA
• Two Camel Creek Rest Area — Marble Bar, WA
• Warmun Roadhouse and Caravan Park — Warmun, WA
• Windjana Gorge Campground / Bandilngan Campground — King Leopold Ranges, WA
• Wolfe Creek Campground — Sturt Creek, WA

Region boundary: ABS ASGS Edition 3 Tourism Regions 2021 (Tourism Research Australia), CC BY 4.0.