Camping on Australia's South West

Australia's South West runs from the calm beaches of Geographe Bay round the capes to the wild south coast, with karri and tingle forests in between. It is the part of Western Australia where you can go from a beach to a cave to a forest canopy walk in one weekend.

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

For calm water with younger children, stay around Busselton and Geographe Bay, where the parks sit on bay beaches and Yallingup Beach Holiday Park is at the end of the bay. For surf and caves, head down the Margaret River coast, where Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park has bush camps such as Conto. Inland, Pemberton is the base for the tall karri forests, and on the south coast, Walpole sits by its inlet near the Valley of the Giants, with Albany further east.

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

Near Walpole, the Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk climbs 40 metres into the canopy of rare red tingle trees along a 600-metre path with a gentle slope that suits children and wheelchairs. The Leeuwin-Naturaliste park holds more than 300 limestone caves, from lit show caves with guided tours at Ngilgi, Lake and Jewel caves to self-guided unlit caves like Calgardup. In Busselton, the jetty runs 1,841 metres out to sea, the longest timber-piled jetty in the Southern Hemisphere, with the Busselton Museum close by.

• Power Up Electricity Museum – Museums and history, Manjimup. Closest campground: Manjimup Central Caravan Park & Backpackers, under 1 km
• Timber museum – Museums and history, Manjimup. Closest campground: Manjimup Central Caravan Park & Backpackers, under 1 km
• The Historic Hamlet – Museums and history, Manjimup. Closest campground: Manjimup Central Caravan Park & Backpackers, under 1 km
• Princess Royal Fortress – Museums and history, Mount Clarence. Closest campground: Middleton Beach Caravan Park, 1 km
• Yongergnow Australian mallee Fowl Centre – Animals, Ongerup. Closest campground: Ongerup Caravan Park, under 1 km
• Bunbury Wildlife Park – Animals, South Bunbury. Closest campground: Bunbury Glade Caravan Park, 2 km
• Schoolhouse Museum – Museums and history, Pingrup. Closest campground: Pingrup End of the Line Caravan Park and Outback Accomodation, under 1 km
• Nannup Historical Society Inc – Museums and history, Nannup. Closest campground: Nannup Caravan Park, under 1 km
• Collie Museum – Museums and history, Collie. Closest campground: Collie River Valley Tourist Park, under 1 km
• Gnowangerup Heritage Museum – Museums and history, Gnowangerup. Closest campground: Gnowangerup Caravan Park, under 1 km
• Age of Steam Museum – Museums and history, Manjimup. Closest campground: Manjimup Central Caravan Park & Backpackers, under 1 km
• Busselton Museum – Museums and history, Busselton. Closest campground: Busselton Holiday Village, under 1 km
• Leschenault Inlet Eco Museum – Museums and history, Australind. Closest campground: Australind Holiday Park, under 1 km
• Collie Railway and Mining Museum – Museums and history, Collie. Closest campground: Collie River Valley Tourist Park, 1 km
• Margaret River and Districts Historical Society – Museums and history, Margaret River. Closest campground: Riverview Caravanpark, 1 km
• Carnaby's Collection – Museums and history, Boyup Brook. Closest campground: Boyup Brook Flaxmill & Caravan Park, 1 km
• National Anzac Centre – Museums and history, Mount Clarence. Closest campground: Middleton Beach Caravan Park, 1 km
• Augusta Historical Museum – Museums and history, Augusta. Closest campground: Turner Holiday Park, 1 km
• Wellstead Museum – Museums and history, Bremer Bay. Closest campground: Bremer Bay Beaches Resort Tourist Park, 2 km
• King Cottage – Museums and history, South Bunbury. Closest campground: Bunbury Glade Caravan Park, 2 km
• Simmo's Mini Golf – Play, Quindalup. Closest campground: Dunsborough Lakes Holiday Resort, 1 km
• Margaret River Maze – Play, Margaret River. Closest campground: Margaret River Tourist Park and Country Cottages, 4 km
• Gnowangerup Community Swimming Pool – Swimming, Gnowangerup. Closest campground: Gnowangerup Caravan Park, under 1 km
• Margaret River Recreation Centre – Swimming, Margaret River. Closest campground: Margaret River Tourist Park and Country Cottages, under 1 km

What are the best walks and caves on Australia's South West?

The Cape to Cape Track runs 123 km along the Leeuwin-Naturaliste coast, and at Yallingup the 6.3 km Wardanup Trail loop passes Ngilgi Cave and finishes at the beach. Near Walpole, the Ancient Empire walk has a pram-friendly section among the giant tingles, near Pemberton, Gloucester National Park has a 10 km loop through karri forest, and in the Stirling Range, the Bluff Knoll walk is a steep 6.8 km return for older, fit kids.

• Wardanup Trail – Walk. Closest campground: Yallingup Beach Holiday Park, under 1 km
• Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk – Walk, Walpole-Nornalup National Park. Closest campground: Peacefull Bay Caravan Park, 8 km
• Bluff Knoll walk – Walk, Stirling Range National Park. Closest campground: Stirling Range Retreat, 9 km
• Emu Point Beach – Swimming spot. Closest campground: Rose Gardens Caravan Park, under 1 km
• Lake Cave – Cave, Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park. Closest campground: Conto Campground - Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park, 1 km
• Mammoth Cave – Cave, Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park. Closest campground: Conto Campground - Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park, 3 km
• Jewel Cave – Cave, Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park. Closest campground: Turner Holiday Park, 8 km
• Rotary Lookout – Lookout. Closest campground: Middleton Beach Caravan Park, 1 km
• Ancient Empire ground-level walk – Walk, Walpole-Nornalup National Park. Closest campground: Peacefull Bay Caravan Park, 8 km
• Ngilgi Cave – Cave, Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park. Closest campground: Yallingup Beach Holiday Park, under 1 km
• Giants Cave – Cave, Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park. Closest campground: Conto Campground - Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park, 3 km
• Calgardup Cave – Cave, Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park. Closest campground: Conto Campground - Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park, 4 km
• Wellstead sand bar – Lookout. Closest campground: Bremer Bay Caravan & Camping Park, under 1 km
• Delaney Lookout – Lookout. Closest campground: Coalmine Beach Holiday Park, under 1 km
• Cosy Corner Lookout – Lookout. Closest campground: Cosy Corner (East), under 1 km
• Jays Beach – Lookout. Closest campground: Turner Holiday Park, under 1 km
• Mt Melville Lookout – Lookout. Closest campground: Albany Gardens Holiday Resort, under 1 km

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

The caves and forests work in any weather, but Bluff Knoll, the highest peak in the south-west, is one of the few places in Western Australia where it sometimes snows, so pack warm layers for the Stirling Range in winter.

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

For the Leeuwin-Naturaliste campgrounds, yes: Conto, Point Road, Boranup and Jarrahdene are booked through Park Stay WA. Waychinicup Inlet, about 65 km east of Albany, is first come, first served, has no fresh water and does not suit caravans.

Are there powered sites on Australia's South West?

Yes. 19 campgrounds here have powered sites confirmed, including Frankland Caravan Park, Kirup Tavern Caravan Park and Stirling Range Retreat. For the rest we are still confirming, so check with the park or holiday park before you book a powered site.

How far is Australia's South West from Perth?

Walpole-Nornalup National Park is about 430 km south of Perth, and the Stirling Range is about four and a half hours' drive from Perth and an hour and a half from Albany.

Facts from Explore Parks WA, Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park, Explore Parks WA, Walpole-Nornalup National Park, Explore Parks WA, Bluff Knoll, Explore Parks WA, Waychinicup Inlet, Wikipedia, "Busselton Jetty" (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikipedia, "Gloucester National Park" (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Map of campgrounds on Australia's South West

92 campgrounds

• Frankland Caravan Park — Frankland River, WA. camp kitchen, caravan sites, dump point, laundry, powered sites, showers, tent sites, toilets
• Kirup Tavern Caravan Park — Kirup, WA. camp kitchen, caravan sites, laundry, powered sites, showers, tent sites, toilets
• Stirling Range Retreat — Amelup, WA. camp kitchen, caravan sites, laundry, powered sites, showers, tent sites, toilets
• Donnybrook Transit Park — Donnybrook, WA. caravan sites, dump point, powered sites, showers, tent sites, toilets
• Manjimup Central Caravan Park & Backpackers — Manjimup, WA. caravan sites, powered sites, showers, tent sites, toilets, wheelchair accessible
• Pingrup End of the Line Caravan Park and Outback Accomodation — Pingrup, WA. caravan sites, dump point, laundry, powered sites, tent sites, toilets
• Prevelly Caravan Park — Prevelly, WA. drinking water, dump point, powered sites, showers, tent sites, toilets
• Kendenup Agricutural Grounds Nature Based Campground — Kendenup, WA. caravan sites, powered sites, showers, tent sites, toilets
• Peacefull Bay Caravan Park — Peaceful Bay, WA. caravan sites, laundry, showers, tent sites, toilets
• Camp Kennedy — Torbay, WA. caravan sites, showers, tent sites, toilets
• Cape Riche Campground — Wellstead, WA. bbq, showers, tent sites, toilets
• Coalmine Beach Holiday Park — Walpole, WA. dump point, powered sites, wheelchair accessible, wifi
• Conto Campground - Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park — Boranup, WA. caravan sites, drinking water, tent sites, toilets
• Cosy Corner (East) — Kronkup, WA. caravan sites, showers, tent sites, toilets
• Fonty's Pool Chalets and Caravan Park — Jardee, WA. caravan sites, showers, tent sites, toilets
• Jerramungup Caravan Park — Jerramungup, WA. accessible toilets, picnic tables, powered sites, toilets
• King River Palms Caravan Park — Willyung, WA. caravan sites, pets allowed, showers, tent sites
• Kookaburra Caravan Park — Busselton, WA. drinking water, dump point, powered sites, toilets
• Lake Brockman Bush Camping — Hoffman, WA. caravan sites, showers, tent sites, toilets
• Ocean Beach Holiday Park — Ocean Beach, WA. caravan sites, showers, tent sites, toilets
• Potters Gorge — Worsley, WA. caravan sites, dump point, tent sites, toilets
• Quinninup Eco Tourist Park — Quinninup, WA. caravan sites, showers, tent sites, toilets
• Riverside Cabins, Caravans & Camping — Eaton, WA. dump point, powered sites, tent sites, wifi
• ALBANY LAKE GRACE ROAD HEAVY VEHICLE TRUCK BAYS — Stirling Range National Park, WA. accessible toilets, picnic tables, toilets
• Bremer Bay Beaches Resort Tourist Park — Bremer Bay, WA. dump point, powered sites, wheelchair accessible
• Gnowangerup Caravan Park — Gnowangerup, WA. dump point, laundry, powered sites
• Harvey Rainbow Caravan Park — Harvey, WA. dump point, powered sites, toilets
• Jinung Belgabup Camp Site — Scotsdale, WA. tent sites, toilets, wheelchair accessible
• Minor Rest Area (Brockman Hwy) — Darradup, WA. accessible toilets, picnic tables, toilets
• Normans Beach — Manypeaks, WA. caravan sites, tent sites, toilets
• RAC Busselton Holiday Park — Abbey, WA. dump point, powered sites, wifi
• Bettys Beach — Manypeaks, WA. tent sites, toilets
• Big Brook Arboretum Campsite — Channybearup, WA. tent sites, toilets
• Booner Mundak Campsite — Trent, WA. tent sites, toilets
• Busselton Holiday Village — Busselton, WA. powered sites, tent sites
• East Bay — Manypeaks, WA. tent sites, toilets
• Karta Burnu Camp Site — Glenoran, WA. tent sites, toilets
• Kwokralup Beela Campsite — North Walpole, WA. tent sites, toilets
• Nala Mia Camp Site — Jarrahwood, WA. tent sites, toilets
• Nglang Boodja Camp Site — Wellington Forest, WA. tent sites, toilets
• Pemberton Caravan Park — Pemberton, WA. showers, toilets
• Rest Point Caravan Park — Walpole, WA. powered sites, wifi
• Torbay Inlet — Torbay, WA. tent sites, toilets
• Yarri Camp Site — Mornington, WA. tent sites, toilets
• Yirra Kartta Camp Site — Shannon, WA. tent sites, toilets
• Borden Rest Area — Borden, WA. toilets
• Bremer Bay Caravan & Camping Park — Bremer Bay, WA. powered sites
• Bridgetown Caravan Park — Bridgetown, WA. toilets
• Kalgan River Caravan Park and Chalets — Kalgan, WA. tent sites
• Peppermints campsite — Broke, WA. tent sites
• RAC Margaret River — Margaret River, WA. caravan sites
• Waychinicup Inlet Campground — Cheynes, WA. tent sites
• Albany Gardens Holiday Resort — Centennial Park, WA
• Australind Holiday Park — Australind, WA
• Ayr Saileon Campground — Bow Bridge, WA
• Beachlands Holiday Park — West Busselton, WA
• Boyup Brook Flaxmill & Caravan Park — Boyup Brook, WA
• Bunbury Glade Caravan Park — South Bunbury, WA
• Bush Park — Wellstead, WA
• Busselton Baptist Camping Centre — Siesta Park, WA
• Collie River Valley Tourist Park — Collie, WA
• Cranbrook Caravan Park — Cranbrook, WA
• Crusoe — King River, WA
• Dunsborough Lakes Holiday Resort — Quindalup, WA
• Flinders Bay Caravan Park — Augusta, WA
• Geographe Bay Holiday Park Broadwater — Broadwater, WA
• Green — King River, WA
• Hamelin Bay Caravan Park — Hamelin Bay, WA
• Happy Days — King River, WA
• Jarrahdene Campground — Boranup, WA
• Lazy Days Caravan Park — Broadwater, WA
• Leaning Marri — Yeagarup, WA
• Mandalay Holiday Resort — Broadwater, WA
• Margaret River Tourist Park and Country Cottages — Margaret River, WA
• Middleton Beach Caravan Park — Seppings, WA
• Minor Rest Area (South Western Hwy) — Roelands, WA
• Molloy Caravan Park — Kudardup, WA
• Mount Trio Bush Camping & Caravan Park — North Stirlings, WA
• Mozzie Central — King River, WA
• Myalup Beach Caravan Park — Myalup, WA
• Nannup Caravan Park — Nannup, WA
• Ongerup Caravan Park — Ongerup, WA
• Porongurup Campground — Porongurup, WA
• Riverview Caravanpark — Margaret River, WA
• Rose Gardens Caravan Park — Emu Point, WA
• Saddle — King River, WA
• Seagull — King River, WA
• Seal — King River, WA
• Turner Holiday Park — Augusta, WA
• Waterloo Village Caravan Park — Picton East, WA
• Windy Harbour Camping Ground — Windy Harbour, WA
• Yallingup Beach Holiday Park — Yallingup, WA

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