Western Australia spoils us when it comes to camping. One minute you’re pitching a tent behind a dune with the Indian Ocean crashing a few metres away. The next, you’re tucked into a forest beside a glassy river or a freshwater lake so quiet it feels untouched.
These are the kinds of places you plan a long weekend around. Some need a 4WD, some are easy 2WD access, and all of them are worth the drive.
Contos Campground, Margaret River
The Margaret River coastline needs no introduction. World-class beaches, rugged limestone cliffs and some of the best camping in the state sit side by side here.
Contos Campground is a Department of biodiversity, conservation and attractions site that’s had a solid upgrade in recent years. It’s close enough to the coast to smell the salt air, but far enough inland to be sheltered by peppermint trees.
Peppermint Trees at Conto's, Margaret River
There are 116 camp sites, spread across eight distinct areas:
Chuditch, Davies, Hamelin, Isaacs, Quenda, Wanil, Whalers and Whistlers.
Facilities include toilets, picnic tables and shared camp kitchens, making it an easy option for families or anyone easing into longer trips. All sites are 2WD accessible, with surfaces ranging from grassed and shady to open gravel.
Camping costs between $5 and $20 per person per night, and bookings are done online through DBCA up to 180 days in advance.
Camp kitchens and tables at Conto's in Margaret River
Margaret River itself is one of those places where you can fill a week without trying. Fine dining, caves, surf breaks, mountain bike trails, endless beaches and no shortage of 4WD tracks through Boranup Forest and beyond. It’s a brilliant base if you enjoy mixing comfort with adventure and suits most touring setups.
Boranup forest 4WD Tracks
Lake Jasper, D’Entrecasteaux National Park
Lake Jasper in the south west
Tucked away around two hours from Augusta, Lake Jasper is the largest freshwater lake in southern Western Australia and one of those places that feels properly remote the moment you arrive.
Access is high-clearance 4WD only, and camping is strictly tents only. No caravans, no camper trailers and no sleeping in vehicles. That limitation keeps numbers down and preserves the quiet.
Once popular for water skiing, the lake is now paddle-only. Kayaks and canoes are perfect here, and freshwater cobbler fishing is a favourite pastime. Birdlife is everywhere, and the surrounding tracks offer classic south-west bush driving. Just keep an eye on water crossings. They have a habit of biting back if you rush them.
Kayak and Canoe at Lake Jasper
Camping costs between $5 and $20 per person per night, fires are banned year-round, and a National Parks pass is required. Booking is available online through Park Stay WA. Facilities are basic but adequate, with a drop toilet, picnic shelter and information signage.
If you enjoy off-grid camps and places that reward a bit of self-sufficiency, Lake Jasper delivers in spades.
Camping at Lake Jasper
The Warren, Pemberton
Amazing wrens and birds in Pemberton
If you’re chasing postcard-perfect camping, The Warren is hard to beat.
Located about 30 minutes from Pemberton along the Heartbreak Trail, this tiny campground has just six sites and is tent-only. The sites aren’t huge, but they don’t need to be. Each one sits right beside the Warren River, which often looks more like polished glass than flowing water.
We camped here for several nights on a Yeagarup trip and didn’t see another soul. Just birds, the sound of the river and the occasional splash of fish mocking our fishing skills.
Amazing river along the Warren in Pemberton
Fires are permitted between April 15 and November 30, subject to conditions. You can book online through Park Stay WA, National Park fees apply, and there’s a single drop toilet.
If The Warren is full, Drafty’s Camp is just up the track. It’s larger and busier but has one of the best camp kitchens you’ll find in the region. Both are excellent options if you’re exploring the outback roads and forest tracks around Pemberton and Yeagarup.
Marron fishing in Pemberton
Big Brook Arboretum, Pemberton
Built in 1986 to supply water to Pemberton, Big Brook Dam has become a favourite camping and recreation spot for locals and travellers alike.
Located just 10 minutes from town, it’s incredibly accessible and suits all styles of camping, from tents through to caravans. The grassy areas, calm water and surrounding forest make it a relaxed place to spend a few nights.
Map of Big Brook Dam Pemberton
Trout and marron fishing are popular, there’s a small beach area for swimming, and several walking trails loop around the dam. Facilities include picnic tables, BBQs and toilets.
Fresh Water fishing in Pemberton
Camping costs between $10 and $15 per person per night, fires are allowed in season, and there are no National Park fees. It’s also a handy base if you’re planning to climb the fire lookout trees, tackle nearby tracks or head west towards the coast.
Amazing fire watch trees in Pemberton
Fire watch tree Pemberton
Parry Beach, Denmark
Sitting between Denmark and Peaceful Bay, Parry Beach is one of those campgrounds people return to year after year.
Run by the local shire, it has a strong connection to the area’s commercial salmon fishing history. The campsites are set beneath tall peppermint trees, offering good shade, though there’s a 2.7 metre height limit for larger vans.
Parry beach camping
Facilities are excellent. Hot solar showers, flushing toilets, BBQs and easy beach access all make it comfortable without feeling overdeveloped. The beach itself is perfect for fishing, long walks and watching the Southern Ocean do its thing.
Parry Beach fishing
Camping costs around $24 per night for the first two people,. plus $12 pp/night for extra adults and $3 per children 6-15 (under 6 free) per night, fires are permitted more freely than at DBCA sites, and firewood is often available from the on-site shop.
With Greens Pool just down the road and Denmark a short drive away, Parry Beach is an ideal mix of convenience and coastal escape.
Amazing beach at Greens Pool in Denmark
Waychinicup National Park, Albany
Waychinicup National Park 4WD Tracks in Albany
Around 50 minutes north-east of Albany, Waychinicup National Park packs an incredible amount into a relatively small area.
The coastline here is spectacular. Rugged headlands, protected beaches, a unique inlet and a network of 4WD tracks that keep things interesting without being extreme.
Margaret River rough coastline
Camping is basic, with picnic tables and a long-drop toilet. Sites are small and not suitable for caravans or camper trailers. Large tents can be tricky, though we did find a couple that comfortably fit an Oztent RV5.
Wildlife is everywhere. Quendas wander through camp at night, wrens flit around the scrub, and lizards bask in the sun during the day. Waychinicup Inlet is usually 2WD accessible, but after heavy rain it quickly becomes 4WD territory.
Waychinicup Bird Life
If you enjoy quiet, nature-heavy camps and don’t need fancy facilities, Waychinicup is a standout.
Quenda Bandicoot at Albany
Little Bay, Horrocks
Camping in Horrocks
Rounding out the list is Little Bay, just north of Horrocks, and one of the best-value coastal camps in the state.
There are three campgrounds, all tucked among trees and only metres from the water. Fees are around $5 per person per night, fishing is excellent, and small boats can be launched easily when conditions allow.
Enjoying Cobia fishing from Horrocks
There’s a toilet, plenty of shade and no shortage of sunsets that make you forget what day it is. It’s a simple setup, but that’s exactly why people love it.
If you’re travelling the coast, managing tyre pressure properly on sandy access tracks and keeping your touring setup light will make the stay even better.
Little Bay camping in Horrocks
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