10 Best Camping Spots in Western Australia for 2026

Western Australia is camping on a completely different scale. The distances are enormous, the landscapes are ancient, and some campgrounds are so remote you might not see another person for days. It's also home to some of the most stunning coastal and gorge country on the planet.

From the turquoise waters of Ningaloo Reef to the blood-red gorges of the Kimberley, these are our 10 favourite WA campgrounds.

Coral Coast & Ningaloo

1. Sal Salis Dunes — Cape Range National Park

Camp within the dunes of one of the world's best fringing reefs. The campgrounds in Cape Range National Park line the coast of Ningaloo Reef — walk from your tent into the water and you're snorkelling over coral within minutes. No boat required.

What makes it special: Ningaloo is Australia's other Great Barrier Reef, but more accessible. Snorkelling from shore over pristine coral gardens with reef sharks, turtles, and manta rays is an everyday experience here. Between March and July, whale sharks cruise the outer reef.

Facilities: Composting toilets at most campgrounds. No water, no showers, no power.

Price: $11/adult/night + park entry | Best for: Snorkellers and marine life lovers | 2WD accessible

2. Turquoise Bay — Cape Range National Park

Regularly voted one of Australia's most beautiful beaches, Turquoise Bay campgrounds put you within walking distance of a drift snorkel that rivals anywhere in the world. The current carries you along the reef edge over coral gardens teeming with tropical fish.

What makes it special: The drift snorkel is effortless — enter at the south end and let the current carry you 300 metres along the reef. The water colour is indescribable — layers of turquoise, jade, and deep blue over white sand and coral. Sunset from the limestone ridgeline behind camp is extraordinary.

Facilities: Composting toilets. No water, no showers, no power.

Price: $11/adult/night + park entry | Best for: Beach campers and snorkellers | 2WD accessible

Kimberley

3. El Questro Wilderness Park — Gibb River Road

A million-acre cattle station turned wilderness park with gorges, thermal springs, and some of the most spectacular scenery in Australia. El Questro Station campground sits beside the Pentecost River with access to the park's highlights. The Gibb River Road is one of Australia's best 4WD tracks.

What makes it special: The variety within a single property is staggering. Soak in Zebedee Springs thermal pools at dawn, hike Emma Gorge to a waterfall-fed swimming hole, then cruise the Chamberlain River through towering sandstone cliffs — all in one day.

Facilities: Hot showers, flushing toilets, fire rings, restaurant and bar on-site.

Price: From $20/adult/night + park entry ($22/adult) | Best for: Kimberley road-trippers | 4WD essential (Gibb River Road)

4. Mitchell Falls — Mitchell River National Park

One of Australia's most spectacular waterfalls, accessed by a full day's 4WD drive on one of the Kimberley's most challenging tracks, followed by an 8.6km return walk. Proper recovery gear is essential. Camping at the Mitchell Plateau gives you time to explore this extraordinary landscape.

What makes it special: The multi-tiered falls cascade over ancient sandstone into pools surrounded by livistona palms. Wandjina and Gwion Gwion rock art in the surrounding gorges dates back tens of thousands of years. Getting here is an expedition in itself.

Facilities: Composting toilets. No water, no showers. Carry everything.

Price: $11/adult/night + park entry | Best for: Serious 4WD adventurers | High-clearance 4WD essential

South West

5. Waychinicup Inlet — Waychinicup National Park

A hidden granite inlet on the south coast east of Albany. The campground sits on a sheltered bay surrounded by steep granite hills covered in coastal heath. Kayaking the inlet is the highlight — seals, dolphins, and eagles are frequent visitors.

What makes it special: The inlet is startlingly beautiful — dark granite walls plunging into deep green water, with coastal heathland blazing with wildflowers in spring. The isolation is real — you're likely to have the inlet to yourself on weekdays.

Facilities: Composting toilets, fire rings. No water, no showers.

Price: $11/adult/night + park entry | Best for: Kayakers and coastal explorers | 2WD accessible (gravel road)

6. Warren National Park — Pemberton

Camp among some of the tallest trees in WA. Warren National Park protects giant karri forest — these trees reach over 60 metres and their pale, salmon-coloured bark glows in the afternoon light. The Bibbulmun Track passes through the campground.

What makes it special: Standing at the base of a 300-year-old karri tree and looking up. The forest cathedral effect — immense straight trunks rising into a canopy far overhead — is humbling. Walk the Heartbreak Trail along the Warren River for the full old-growth experience.

Facilities: Composting toilets, fire rings, picnic tables. No water, no showers.

Price: $11/adult/night + park entry | Best for: Forest lovers and bushwalkers | 2WD accessible

Pilbara & Red Centre

7. Dales Gorge — Karijini National Park

Karijini is arguably the most spectacular gorge country in Australia, and Dales campground is the gateway. Ancient banded iron formations create narrow, sheer-walled gorges with waterfalls, fern-lined pools, and swimming holes of impossible blue.

What makes it special: Descending into Fortescue Falls and swimming through Fern Pool beneath overhanging rock walls streaked in red, orange, and black. The gorges here are over two billion years old — walking through them is walking through geological deep time.

Facilities: Flushing toilets, BBQs. No showers, no power. Solar lights in amenities.

Price: $11/adult/night + park entry | Best for: Gorge explorers and swimmers | 2WD accessible

8. Hancock Gorge — Karijini National Park

For those wanting a more challenging Karijini experience, camping near Hancock Gorge provides access to the Spider Walk and Kermits Pool — a narrow gorge passage where you brace between the walls above a deep, cold swimming hole.

What makes it special: The Spider Walk is one of the most exhilarating short adventures in Australia. Bracing your arms and legs against both walls of a narrow gorge above a deep pool, edging your way through to Kermits Pool, is unforgettable. The junction of four gorges at the bottom is otherworldly.

Facilities: Composting toilets, fire rings. No water, no showers.

Price: $11/adult/night + park entry | Best for: Adventure seekers | 2WD accessible to campground, 4WD for some gorge access

Perth & Surrounds

9. Lucky Bay — Cape Le Grand National Park

Camp on what's been repeatedly voted Australia's whitest sand beach. Lucky Bay, near Esperance, is famous for kangaroos lounging on pristine white sand beside turquoise water. The beach is genuinely as stunning as the photos suggest.

What makes it special: Kangaroos on the beach. They're there almost every morning, lounging on the white sand as if posing for Instagram. Beyond the novelty, the beach itself is extraordinary — the sand squeaks underfoot and the water colour defies description.

Facilities: Composting toilets, fire rings. Limited rainwater tanks. No showers, no power.

Price: $11/adult/night + park entry | Best for: Beach campers and photographers | 2WD accessible

Outback

10. Purnululu (Bungle Bungles) — Purnululu National Park

The beehive-striped sandstone domes of the Bungle Bungles are unlike anything else on the planet. The campground inside the park gives you time to explore Cathedral Gorge, Echidna Chasm, and the Piccaninny Creek walking tracks.

What makes it special: Cathedral Gorge is a natural amphitheatre — a narrow gorge that opens into a soaring domed chamber. The acoustics are extraordinary and the sense of ancient scale is humbling. The orange-and-black banded domes are over 350 million years old.

Facilities: Composting toilets, fire rings. No water, no showers. Carry everything including drinking water.

Price: $11/adult/night + park entry | Best for: Geological wonder and photography | 4WD essential (53km unsealed access track)

Tips for Camping in Western Australia

Distances are real. WA is enormous. The drive from Perth to Broome is over 2,200km. Fuel stops can be 300km apart in the Pilbara and Kimberley. Always carry spare fuel, extra water, and a satellite communication device in remote areas. See our camping checklist for remote touring essentials.

Seasons matter. The Kimberley and Pilbara are inaccessible during the wet season (November-April) — roads close and temperatures are extreme. Plan Kimberley trips for May-September. The south west is best from September to May.

Carry water. Most WA campgrounds have no water supply. As a minimum, carry 10 litres per person per day in the Pilbara and Kimberley — more if you're walking. A quality water filter is a smart addition for longer trips where you can top up from natural sources.

Essential Gear for WA Camping

Western Australia's vast distances and remote campgrounds demand serious self-sufficiency:

• Cooling: A 12V fridge is non-negotiable in WA. Distances between towns can be 500km+ in the Kimberley and Pilbara, and heat destroys food fast.
• Power: Portable solar panels are essential for extended WA touring — abundant sunshine makes solar incredibly effective.
• Recovery: Recovery gear is critical for the Kimberley, Pilbara tracks, and any beach driving on the Coral Coast. Carry a full kit including MAXTRAX recovery boards.
• Communication: A satellite communicator is genuinely life-saving gear in WA. Phone coverage disappears outside major towns and may not return for days.
• Shelter: A rooftop tent is popular for WA touring — quick setup after long driving days, and gets you off the ground in croc country up north.
• Water: Carry maximum water capacity. A water filter extends your range by allowing you to filter from natural sources.