Are you ready for a weekend away from the city?
With the world’s best beaches, gorgeous national parks, tranquil bush camps, cherished caravan and holiday parks – there’s a new place to discover just about every weekend. With most a short drive from Perth, getting away just got a lot easier.
For more tips and ideas about camping and caravan trips in Western Australia.
Here’s some of the best places to go, especially for long-weekends – like WA Day in June. Make sure you book early to avoid disappointment.
There are so many wonderful weekend camping escapes to experience, these are just a few to provoke your mind.
Moore River
North of Perth, the Moore River region is a favourite for a long-weekend of camping or caravanning.
Guilderton Caravan Park is a full service caravan park, regarded as one of the best you’ll come across in WA, right at the mouth of the Moore River. We recommend staying here for a trip to town.
The park is clean, friendly and conveniently located with showers, camp kitchens and other great amenities. Hours will fly by like minutes sand boarding on the steep white dunes, or cooling off in the river on hotter days.
In fact, Guilderton is a great base to explore this dynamic and beautiful region, just 100km outside of Perth.
The Pinnacles – the world famous limestone formations of the Nambung National Park – a one-hour drive up the road. Sand dune adventures extend to Lancelin and surrounds, with a number of boarding and 4WD tours to enjoy.
The historic Gingin township is just 30 minutes away, inland. While the Gravity Discovery Centre – perfect for an evening of stargazing, astronomy and physics – is just 20 minutes away in the same direction. Night visits are offered Friday and Saturday, with occasional weekday events.
Explore the wider Moore River region, home to some wonderful wineries. For lovers of beautiful flowers, spring time is the best, with extraordinary wildflower blooms cover this amazing region.
Location: 2 Dewar St, Guilderton
Website: //www.mooreriverregion.com.au/
Distance from Perth: 1 hour, 20 minutes north of Perth.
Cervantes
The small fishing village of Cervantes offers a great Indian Ocean weekend getaway, the gateway to Western Australia’s Coral Coast.
The newly redeveloped RAC Cervantes Holiday Park is a top place to stay, with powered camping and van sites starting from $38, all with access to shared facilities, including showers, laundries, campers’ kitchens and barbecues. The park is close to the beach, with easy access to boat ramps and fishing. Seashells Café is open daily for meals and a small store is open for basic goods.
Hangover Bay and Kangaroo Point are renowned fishing hotspots nearby for fishing. The Indian Ocean Rock Lobster Factory is a must-visit for seafood lovers, the home of Rock Lobster in Western Australia. Seashells Cafe is right on the beachfront, so a visit for lunch is a must. Lake Thetis is home to ancient stromatolites, dating back millions of years – a special place to visit.
The region is teeming with amazing ocean life. Just 25-minutes north of Cervantes is Jurien Bay and Jurien Bay Marine Park. Thanks to the warm Leeuwin current, the area is home to a unique marine habitat, including a large limestone reef system parallel to the shore with a shallow lagoon home to Australian sea lions, dolphins and dozens of species of fish.
There are several caravan parks and holiday villages for caravans and camping to choose from in Cervantes and in Jurien Bay and surrounds to choose from. Australia’s Coral Coast website is great guide on where to stay and how to explore this region.
Location: Cervantes, Western Australia, off Indian Ocean Drive.
Website: //parksandresorts.rac.com.au/park/cervantes-holiday-park/
Distance from Perth: 2 hours north.
Busselton
For generations, Busselton has developed a reputation as Western Australia’s holiday park capital. There are several well-known and wonderful places to pitch a tent or park your caravan for a weekend away in ‘Busso’ and the Geograph Bay Region.
Mandalay Holiday Resort and Tourist Park, Busselton Villas and Caravan Park, Kookaburra Caravan Park, BIG4 Beachlands Holiday Park, Amblin Holiday Park, RAC Busselton Holiday Park are six of the most popular and highly regarded.
Bussletton is an old favourite for WA holidaymakers, with great cafes and restaurants, beaches and the gateway to the Margaret River region.
The famous Busselton Jetty is the longest wooden jetty in the southern hemisphere – stretching 2 kilometres out to sea. At the end of Busselton Jetty is an awesome underwater aquatic observatory, a must-see for any weekend trip.
Location: Busselton, Western Australia.
Website: //www.margaretriver.com/towns/busselton/
Distance from Perth: 2 hours 30 minutes from Perth.
Lane Pool Reserve
100km south of Perth, Lane Pool Reserve is one of WA’s favourite camping spots. The area is a really convenient weekend getaway from Perth, just outside of the small town of Dwellingup.
Covering over 50,000 hectares, Lane Pool is the largest park in the northern jarrah forest ecosystem of WA’s southwest. Sleep in a swag under the canopy of a billion stars and treat your eyes to the awe of star-lit skies miles from any light pollution.
Lane Pool is the perfect place to go for car camping with access for camper vans,with some sites dog friendly.
The area is perfect for bushwalking and mountain bike riding, including parts of the Munda Biddi bike riding trail. Nearby is the Waterous Trail cycling loop. For those looking for weekend fishing adventures, the Murray River and associated tributaries offer trout, redfin perch, cobbler and marron. Canoeing is also a great activity for your weekend getaway to Lane Pool Reserve, the 11.5km journey from Yarragil to Nanga Road Bridge is very popular.
Some of the camping sites include Baden Powell campground, Charlies Flat, Chuditch, Stringers, Tonys Bend and Yarragil can be booked online, while Nanga and Nanga Mill are perfect for larger groups and are first-come, first-serve.
Location: Banksiadale Road, Dwellingup
Website: //parks.dpaw.wa.gov.au/park/lane-poole-reserve
Distance from Perth: 1 hour 30 minutes drive south of Perth
Martin’s Tank
Located in the Yalgorup National Park, south of Mandurah, Martin’s Tank is a little-known campsite off the Forrest Highway.
Perfect for a two or three day adventure, Martin’s Tank offers spots for camping, camper vans and caravans large and small.
The campsite is nestled among peppermint wood trees and tuart forest, right near Martin’s Tank lake.
The small town of Preston Beach is just 8km away, perfect for a day trip to the beach, for swimming, surfing or fishing. Some campers take boats to access the coast nearby. Also not far away is Lake Clifton, with its famous thrombolites -amongst the oldest living organisms on the planet.
The Martin’s Tank campsite has recently undergone refurbishment and offers a large sheltered camp kitchen, featuring gas burners and sinks, food preparation benches and picnic tables.
The site also includes a shared campfire, however fire restrictions over summer, spring and autumn may apply. Campsite bookings cost $10 per night for adults. There’s no running water so you must provide enough drinking water for your group. Pets are not allowed.
Location: Yalgorup National Park, Preston Beach
Website: //parkstay.dpaw.wa.gov.au/camp-finder/viewproperty/martins-tank/92/
Distance from Perth: 1 hour, 30 minutes south of Perth City.
Honeymoon Pool
Honeymoon Pool is located right on the Collie River, one of WA’s campsite jewels. Located in the Wellington National Park 2 hours south of Perth, Honeymoon Pool is a popular swimming, camping and outdoor adventure spot.
Honeymoon Pool is a really beautiful spot, tranquil and calm, surrounded by peppermint trees and singing birds, including many kookaburras. The regions’ famous jarrah and marri trees are also dotted around the area. There are about 20 campsites, however bookings can’t be made – pay on arrival with sites costing about $10 per night, per adult.
Fishing is popular, with fresh water trout caught in the river and marron crawling on the riverbed. There are restrictions, so be aware. There are plenty of picnic tables and beautifully crafted wooden steps leading to the river’s edge. There are gas bbq’s and designated fire rings, however fire restrictions are in place much of the year.
Location: Wellington National Park, River Rd, Worsley
Website: //parkstay.dpaw.wa.gov.au/camp-finder/viewproperty/honeymoon-pool/73/
Distance from Perth: 2 hours 20 minutes
Gracetown
Gracetown – in the Margaret River Region – is a lesser known, but amazing holiday town for a weekend getaway out of Perth.
Located on Cowaramup Bay, Gracetown is famous for its spectacular outer surf breaks and epic tube rides, while the main beach is protected from the larger breaks, so it’s great for swimming.
Off Caves Road, the Gracetown Caravan Park is an ideal spot to stay for a few days. The park offers playgrounds, a bouncy castle and sports recreation – tennis, mini golf, basketball courts. There are even movies under the stars on some evenings.
You’ll likely spot plenty of wildlife, including kangaroos grazing nearby in the early morning or at dusk. A van often comes offering park attendees fresh pizza, coffee and French-style baked goods.
Gracetown is an excellent spot to explore the rest of the Margaret River region, from the wineries and fresh produce, pristine forest, art galleries, restaurants and cafes. Don’t forget to make time for the Margaret River Chocolate Factory and Margaret River Dairy Company.
Location: 744 Cowaramup Bay Rd & Caves Rd, Gracetown
Website: //www.gracetowncaravanpark.com.au/
Distance from Perth: 3 hours drive south.
D’Entrecasteaux National Park
One of Western Australia’s prettiest National Parks, D’Entrecasteaux is home to some of the best camping spots in Australia. The park covers 130 kilometres between Augusta and Walpole.
From pristine, turquoise beaches, to smooth rock formations and tall, lush forests – a visit to D’Entrecasteaux will never disappoint for a weekend adventure.
There are campsite facilities at Banksia Camp, Yeagarup Lake, Yeagarup Beach, Carey Brook, Crystal Springs, Leaning Marri Campground, Moore’s Hut, Humpback Hallow Campground. Finding the right campsite will depend on which access route you take to D’Entrecasteaux.
There is access via the towns of Pemberton, Northcliffe and Windy Harbour.
Camping fees apply and some are based on a first come basis, while others have to be pre-booked. Many parts of the park are only accessible by 4WD, so do your research online depending on your interests and capabilities.
Location: Warren Beach Road, Pemberton, Western Australia, 6260
Website: parks.dpaw.wa.gov.au/park/dentrecasteaux
Distance from Perth: 3.5 hours drive
Hamelin Bay
One of the most beautiful, picturesque spots in the South-West, Hamelin Bay is high on the list of weekend getaway opportunities.
Located in the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park, Hamelin Bay Holiday Park is the destination to aim for. There are nearly 100 powered sites and 25 unpowered sites here for weekend escapes.
There plenty of amenities, including hot showers, camp kitchens with gas cooking and microwaves, bbq’s, picnic tables and a kiosk selling essential items.
Hamelin Bay itself is great for boating, fishing and swimming. Enjoy the company of the friendly groups of large stingrays, visiting close to shore for fish scarps during the day, or swing a hammock up and just relax.
Location: Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park, Hamelin Bay Rd, Hamelin Bay
Website: hamelinbayholidaypark.com.au/facilities-rates/camping-caravans
Distance from Perth: 3 hours, 20 minutes south of Perth.
Perth Hills Discovery Centre
Looking for something close to the city?
Perth Hills Discovery Centre, just a 40 minute drive out of town, is a small, but well-equipped campground great for young families and inexperienced campers.
There are 12 small campsites on offer, with camp kitchens and hot showers. The site is located in the Beelu National Park, close to C Y O’Connor Lake and Mundaring Weir.
The area is great for bushwalking and mountain biking, with lots of trails to explore. During Summer and Autumn the Kookaburra Open Air Cinema is open nearby on weekend nights.
Bookings can be made by calling the centre, see details on the website. Cost starts from $2.20 per night for kids, $10 per might for adults.
Location: 380 Allen Rd, Mundaring
Website: //www.dpaw.wa.gov.au/get-involved/nearer-to-nature/camps/282-perth-hills-discovery-centre
Distance from Perth: 40 minutes drive east of the Perth CBD.
To book your caravan or camping site visit:
caravanwa.com.au/parks
parkstay.dpaw.wa.gov.au
Other Articles You’ll Find Interesting:
- Best Beach Camping Trips in Western Australia
- Top Glamping Trips in Western Australia
- Camp & Caravan in Western Australia
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