Free camping in WA

By: Brendan Batty

Get the lowdown on what it’s really like, the rules you need to abide by, and where to find the best spots.

The free camps across WA are so varied that almost any traveller can make the most of them. There are free camping sites in bushland, across the outback, on beaches, and even in some towns.

But as it goes with most free things, there’s a small catch.

There are rules. You can't do it just anywhere. More on this in our free camp FAQs.

And the experience varies. Many sites are little more than gravel pits, designed as rest stops for caravans and other RVs on long-haul road trips.

The more aesthetic free campsites often have few to no facilities and are offered on a first-come, first-served basis, so there’s no guarantee you’ll get a spot.

If you’re still keen try your luck, pack the car and hit the road to seek out these 14 free camping spots across WA.

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Perth and Peel

Most free camps in the Perth and Peel area are for RVs, not tents. However, if you’re the kind of camper who doesn’t mind a hike, there are some picturesque sites dotted along the Bibbulmun Track.

These campsites are only accessible on foot—you’ll need to carry your camping gear in with you. Those in-the-know also recommend bringing your own toilet paper as these free camps can get busy.

1. Hewett’s Hill Campsite

Hewett’s Hill Campsite is accessible via a 5.5km walk starting from the Trail Head Café on Paulls Valley Road. This free camp in the bush is well worth the hike—you’ll be sleeping under a canopy of jarrah and marri forest, and wake to spectacular views of the Darling Range. As the first shelter on the Bibbulmun Track, this is a particularly popular spot. The site has a drop toilet, shelter, picnic tables and fire pits.

2. Ball Creek Campsite

Another scenic free camp along the Bibbulmun Track, Ball Creek Campsite is accessible via a 5km walk through jarrah and wandoo bushland. Park at the Perth Hills Discovery Centre car park and follow the Bibbulmun Track trail signs to reach this free camp. The campsite is equipped with a drop toilet, a sheltered area and firepits.

Wheatbelt

3. Katrine Crossing Camp Ground (also known as Katrine Viveash Reserve), Northam

Camp under the trees on the banks of the Avon River at this free camp just off Northam-Toodyay Road. It can get a little noisy with the main road close by, but come evening things quieten down enough for a good rest under the stars. The campsite has toilets, picnic tables, mobile reception, and it’s pet friendly. While you’re in the area, visit the nearby Northam Silo Art to grab some aesthetic evidence of your adventure.

4. Gwambygine Ascent Free Camp, Gwambygine

About 10-minutes south of York you will find an underrated little free camp by the Avon River. Gwanbygine Ascent Free Camp is an RV rest stop that has plenty of flat, shady spots where you can pitch a tent. This site has toilets, potable water, a barbeque, picnic tables and has the added perk of being pet-friendly.

5. Kwolyin Campsite, Bruce Rock

This free camp in the bush is well maintained and has excellent facilities. There are flush toilets, a camp kitchen, shelters with picnic tables, and spots for tent camping and caravans. Plus, you can have a campfire or use the barbeque plate (from April to September). Visit Kwolyin Camp site to enjoy bushwalking and wildflower spotting.

6. Wubin Rocks Camp Area, Wubin

This lesser-known free camp offers a true taste of the Golden Outback. The site is not much more than red dirt, a few trees, and some boulders, but visit in spring and you’ll be camping amongst a carpet of wildflowers. Facilities at this free camp are limited to a fire ring and a rubbish bin. It’s also a small spot, best suited to smaller vehicles.

South West

7. Bettys Beach, Albany

Overlooking Two Peoples Bay, east of Albany, this is a simple campsite with access for all campers. It's pet-friendly, and you can fish or whale watch from the beach. There is a seven-day limit, and facilities are limited to toilets. There are only six spots, so it fills up quickly, but it's not the only option in the region - there are also free campsites at East Bay and Norman's Beach.

8. Peak Charles Campground, Peak Charles National Park

Peak Charles is a small mountain with 360° views from the top in one of WA's more remote national parks. Below, its simple campsite among the open woodlands is a great place to take it all in. It's also one of the state's few free national park campsites. Facilities are limited to toilets and fire pits.

9. Lake Ballard, Ularring

Famous for The Salt People, the art installation of statues across the salt lake by Antony Gormley, the free campsite on its shore is flat, open, and the epitome of outback campsites. It's pet-friendly, allows campfires, and has toilets. It's also a popular stop for people doing the Great Central Road shortcut from Yulara.

Mid West

10. 24-hour self-contained RV Stop, Geraldton

Free campsites in the middle of major towns are rare, making Geraldton’s RV stops so good. There's an obvious time limit, and you must be in a self-contained RV, although there is a second stop for non-self-contained vehicles (i.e., roof-top tenters or campervans without an inbuilt toilet and grey water tank) around the corner. Neither are suitable for tents or camper trailers, however.

11. Granite and Woodlands Discovery Trail, Norseman to Hyden

This isn't a single campsite. Along the 300km Granite and Woodlands Discovery Trail, which stretches between Norseman and Hyden, including Wave Rock, there are 16 points of interest, many of which allow camping. None have much more than flat space and fire pits, but they're free, and the birdlife is spectacular. The trail is gravel the whole way so is better suited to four-wheel drives. Camping in tents is also allowed.

12. Peace Gorge, Meekatharra

If you’re after an epic red-dirt campsite in the outback, Peace Gorge, a few kilometres west of Meekathara, is just perfect. Big, flat, and in the shade of giant red boulders. There are no facilities, but you are allowed fires and pets.

North West

13. Albert Tognolini Rest Area, Juna Downs

Chasing a pet-friendly free camp near Karijini National Park? Try this rest area on the eastern side of the national park, a stone’s throw from Albert Tognolini Lookout. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by this humble gravel pit, which offers sweeping views of Munjina Gorge below. There’s plenty of space here but you’ll need to be self-sufficient, as there are no facilities other than a few fire pits. This site is also only suitable for vehicle-based camping.

14. Barred Creek, Dampier Peninsula

If you have a four-wheel drive and don't mind camping on the beach underneath pindan-red cliffs, the beaches north of Broome, accessed via Manari Road, are as epic as camping gets. Bring everything you'll need, including a contained toilet, as there are no facilities here. There is a 72-hour limit.

Free Camping FAQs

Free camping sounds awesome. Can I do it anywhere?

Definitely not. You need to be in a spot that’s been designated as a free camping site. Western Australia has around 1000 of them, from the dunes overlooking the Great Australian Bight at the South Australian border to every corner of the Kimberley. But a word of warning – some of these campsites aren't worth what you pay. Others are everything a campsite should be, so you’ll need to choose wisely.

Where you can free camp is one of the most common topics among campers and caravanners anywhere they gather long enough to chat. It's also the entire purpose of apps like WikiCamps or books like Camps Australia Wide. The former is a crowd-sourced directory of campsites across Australia, and the latter is a curated guidebook to the same. Both are good, although WikiCamps, as a collection of people's experiences, doesn't always represent legality.

There are various reasons why camping, free or otherwise, is restricted in many places. Environmental concerns often exist, as camping can damage or degrade important ecosystems. Other times there are safety concerns.

Counter to that, some businesses, towns or shires have set up designated free camping sites to encourage tourists to visit and spend money. For example, the Harvey Regional Council has set up three free camping grounds in its towns, often across the road from the local shops and cafes, to encourage visitation.

Can anyone free camp?

If you’re hoping to visit some of WA’s bucket-list destinations while free camping every night of your trip, you will either be left disappointed, or you'll do a lot of extra driving to ferry yourself back and forth from your chosen free camps to the best attractions.

Many free camps, or at least those supported by councils, also restrict who can camp there. Often, unless you're in a caravan, campervan, or motorhome that's fully self-contained, you're not allowed to set up camp there. Other camps are just too remote or located on a track that’s simply too rugged to be heavily visited.

The vast majority of free camps are little more than a clearing, and if there are facilities, they're limited to simple toilets and, sometimes, a tap. Many also have stay limits, often 24, 48, or 72 hours. Rules vary, but Camps Australia Wide and WikiCamps are often reliable sources of information on what is and isn't permitted.

If you’re on a longer trip, free camping sites are definitely a great way to lower your overall travel costs if you use one or two for short stays in between your major stops or even just as an excuse to visit a small town you'd otherwise drive through.

What setup do I need to free camp?

Presuming most free camps have little to no facilities, you'll need to be self-sufficient. For most people, that means having enough power in their caravan or RV to keep everything running for the duration of your stay. Fortunately, most modern caravans come ready-made for short stints without power. You’d probably have everything you need if you can also carry water and have somewhere to go to the toilet that doesn't degrade the surrounding environment.

If you're just starting out, any RV that has a 100-130Ah auxiliary battery, 150-180W of solar charging, and nothing more energy-sapping than a small fridge and some LED lights should allow you to free camp for as long as you have enough water to drink and food to eat.