Travel & Touring | Camping & Caravanning
By: Tatum Stafford
The wider Perth region is home to some of WA’s most beautiful campgrounds.
Nestled within reserves, townsites and national parks, they’re a great way to get closer to nature. And for city-slickers, they're nearby enough for a night or weekend away.
Here are 10 of our favourite campgrounds within two hours of Perth that are worth pitching your tent at.
1. Perth Hills Discovery Centre at Beelu National Park
Only a 40 minute drive from the Perth CBD, the Perth Hills Discovery Centre is an ideal spot for first-time campers and families with young children. There are twelve shady tent sites available, along with fire rings, outdoor picnic tables and high-quality amenities.
The site is bordered by a number of popular walk and cycle trails, and is also close to some of the Perth Hills’ most iconic attractions; including the Mundaring Weir and the Bibbulmun Track. The neighbouring Kookaburra Open Air Cinema is another great local haunt, and screens movies on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights from December to April.
- Amenities: Ablution block, picnic tables and a camp kitchen including electric barbecues.
- Cost: $15 per night for adults, $3 per night for children aged between 5 and 16.
- Pet-friendly: No.
2. Boddington Caravan Park, Boddington
Situated on the banks of the Hotham River, the Boddington Caravan Park is an hours’ drive from Perth or Mandurah, and is a great spot if you’re looking to travel a little further from the city. The quaint park is packed with great amenities, and is a short walk to some of Boddington’s cafes, service stations, grocery stores and even an arts and crafts centre.
Boddington is also home to one of Australia’s largest producing gold mines, with tours of the mine available through the park’s reception. The historic Quindanning Inne is another popular destination for visitors at just a 30 minute drive from the park.
- Amenities: Free WiFi, laundry, camp kitchen with barbecues and ablution block.
- Cost: $20 per night for unpowered tent sites, $5 per night for power. If you’re a member of the RV club CMCA, you can receive a 10% discount on fees, and if you’re a TAWKer, your children can stay for free for three nights.
- Pet-friendly: Yes.
3. Baden Powell Campground at Lane Poole Reserve, Murray
Ideal for families, the Baden Powell Campground features a whopping 42 camp sites, three undercover camp kitchens with gas barbecues and rainwater taps – however, you’ll need to bring your own drinking water with you.
The Murray River is a key feature of the popular reserve, and is great for canoeing, fishing, white-water rafting and swimming in warmer months. The Bibbulmun Track also runs through the reserve, and is a great hop-on, hop-off activity for those keen on hiking.
- Amenities: Camp kitchens with gas barbecues, ablution block and dining benches.
- Cost: $15 per night for adults, $3 per night for children aged between 5 and 16.
- Pet-friendly: Yes.
4. Henry White Oval at Yanchep National Park
Nestled in banksia and tuart woodlands, the Henry White Oval is a purpose-built campground that is great for families or first-timers. The campground consists of nine hard sites, 10 grass sites, a large group camping area and a communal fire pit that is open seasonally. There is no running water available, so you’ll need to bring your own.
As it’s located within Yanchep National Park, the campground is only a few hundred metres from some of the park’s famed wetlands, adventure climbing courses and animal sanctuaries. The Yanchep Lagoon is only a 10 minute drive from the campground, and is the perfect spot for swimming and sheltered snorkelling.
- Amenities: Ablution block and barbecue shelter area.
- Cost: $15 per night for adults, $3 per night for children aged between 5 and 16.
- Pet-friendly: No.
RELATED: National parks that are closer to Perth than you think »
5. Herron Point Campsite, Murray
Situated along the Harvey Estuary shoreline, Herron Point Campsite is a nature-based campground with 25 sites. There is no drinking water or power onsite, so you’ll need to bring your own water and generator (if desired). Sites at the campground are first come, first served.
Fishing and crabbing are popular pastimes at Harvey Estuary – or if you’d prefer to stay on land, a stroll on the path by the water will provide a view of some of the area’s hundreds of waterbirds and migrant shorebirds.
- Amenities: Amenities block, communal bush kitchen and fire pit.
- Cost: $7.50 per night for those over 16, $5.50 per night for concession card holders.
- Pet-friendly: Yes, but must be kept on a lead at all times.
6. Marrinup Townsite Campground, Holyoake
Just a few kilometres north-west of Dwellingup, the Marrinup Townsite Campground features 100 camp sites on an open grassed area. Pre-bookings cannot be made, and visitors should bring drinking water with them.
The camp was originally built to accommodate 1,600 German and Italian prisoners of war, and visitors can view remnants of the original campground scattered around the sites. The Marrinup walk and cycle trail also runs through the campground; as does the famous Munda Biddi mountain bike trail.
- Amenities: Tables, wood barbecues and longdrop toilets.
- Cost: $8 per night for adults, $3 per night for children aged between 5 and 16.
- Pet-friendly: Yes.
7. Yarragil Campground at Lane Poole Reserve, Dwellingup
With only two sites, Yarragil Campground is the smallest campground in the popular Lane Poole Reserve. Situated along the Murray River and 12 kilometres from the Lane Pool entry station, the size of the campground makes it ideal for families and day use.
The campground is particularly popular with canoeists, as it is the entry point for the 11.5km journey to Nanga Road Bridge. Swimming is also a popular pastime near the campground – just be careful when you enter the river, as submerged logs and foliage are common.
- Amenities: Picnic tables, eco-toilets and barbecue pits.
- Cost: $11 per night for adults, $3 per night for children aged between 5 and 16.
- Pet-friendly: Yes.
RELATED:
10 campsites by the water within two hours of Perth »
8. Stringers Campground, Nanga Brook
The Stringers Campground offers a tranquil, private camping experience on the banks of the Murray River. With just six camp sites, this secluded campground is not intended for group usage, as a maximum of only two cars can be parked at each site.
Campers can fish from the river, but note that you’ll need a fishing license from Fisheries WA before casting a line in. Kayak enthusiasts who stay at Stringers will be in for a treat, as this section of the river is renowned as one of the most picturesque.
- Amenities: Picnic tables, wood barbecues and toilets.
- Cost: $11 per night for adults, $3 per night for children aged between 5 and 16.
- Pet-friendly: Yes.
9. Dwellingup Chalets & Caravan Park
Set amongst beautiful Dwellingup state forest, the Dwellingup Chalets & Caravan Park offer a range of different accommodation types - but their pet-friendly camp sites are particularly popular for local travellers. The park is only a few minute's walk from the town centre, and also offers easy access to the famous Bibbulmun Track and Munda Biddi cycle trail.
- Amenities: Camp kitchen, laundry, showers and ablution blocks.
- Cost: Lakeside: $33 per night, per tent.
- Pet-friendly: Yes.
10. Pinjarrah Holiday Park, Pinjarra
Just three kilometres from the historic town of Pinjarra, the Pinjarrah Holiday Park farm camping area features 70 grass sites and plenty of amenities. The farm on the property is 600 acres and contains four kilometres of river, so it’s a great spot if you’re looking to get a little closer to nature.
This park is particularly ideal for bird-lovers, as multiple bird species including red-tailed black cockatoos are frequently spotted in the park – along with the odd rabbit or kangaroo.
- Amenities: Onsite laundry, camp kitchens with gas barbecues and camp fires (in season).
- Cost: $12.50 per night for adults, $7 per night for children.
- Pet-friendly: Yes.
Prefer comfort over camping? RAC members get exclusive discounts at our nine holiday parks and resorts in iconic locations across WA.* *Terms and conditions apply. RAC member discount not applicable on already discounted rates. Discounts available on direct bookings only made online or via phone. Visit our Parks & Resorts website for more information.
Last updated January 2021
