A few years ago, a friend told me she stayed up until midnight to secure a campground booking at the acclaimed Cape Range National Park, snagging a beachfront campground on the edge of the Ningaloo Reef. At the time, I thought, there’s no way that’s necessary!
Well, a year later, I found myself doing the exact same thing – staying up until midnight to secure a booking for August at the same campsite. Turns out, it’s true!
In my Western Australia Road Trips and Travel Tips Facebook group, there have been plenty of questions about how to find and book campsites, as well as how far in advance you need to plan. In this guide, I’ll break down everything you need to know about securing campsites in Western Australia – plus some tips for finding those rare free camping spots.
Where Can I Find Campsites?
There are three main options when it comes to camping in Western Australia:
Free camping / wild camping (free)
Free camping is limited in Western Australia – you can’t just pull up to a beach and stay overnight (at least, legally). It is illegal in Western Australia to camp anywhere other than designated campsites or permitted 24-hour roadside rest areas.
In popular tourist towns like Exmouth and Margaret River, rangers frequently patrol the areas, fining illegal campers. Fines vary but can range from $200 up to $1,000.
Download the WikiCamps app which is the best way to find these free camps across the country – it’s well worth the small one-off fee (about $10). It also shows all other paid camping options, as well as points of interest, water stops, bathrooms and day-use areas, making it a very handy resource if you’re planning to travel Australia.
National Park camping ($)
Camping in National Parks is strictly prohibited unless at designated campsites. These campsites usually cost around $10-17 per person, per night. Facilities will be limited, and are usually limited to long drop toilets, although some campsites may have a camp kitchen.
Bookings can be made online up to 180 days in advance on the Explore Parks website (with the exception of booking Ningaloo campsites – keep reading about the newest changes in 2026 to snagging these coveted coastal sites)
The website can be a bit tricky to navigate, and it can be frustrating to check availability on campgrounds – you have to check individual campgrounds instead of being shown what’s available in a particular region.
Please note a camping fee is payable, in addition to any National Park entrance fees that may apply.
Caravan Parks and Hipcamp ($$)
Privately managed caravan parks, with options for unpowered and powered sites. Facilities include a kitchen, laundry and sometimes a pool. Expect to pay anywhere from $35 to 50 a night, or sometimes more during peak season.
Hipcamp is another option to find campsites on private properties, these are usually a plot of land on a farm – much more serene than a caravan park but may have fewer facilities or be in more remote locations. I’d say Hipcamp is most common in the South West region, making it a great option for travellers looking for campsites in the Margaret River Region or near Denmark, where caravan parks and National Park campsites get quickly booked up during peak periods such as summer.
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How Far in Advance Do I Need to Book?
Bookings for campsites in National Parks (bookable through the Explore Parks website) are released 180 days in advance, at 12 am Australian Western Standard Time (AWST).
Crazily, campsites in popular national parks such as Cape Range National Park near Exmouth during peak season (June – August) book out very quickly. Case in point – I stayed up until 12 am a couple of years ago to secure a booking at Cape Range National Park for August!
Other peak periods to watch out for are school holidays, in particular Easter and Christmas holiday periods.
If you have your heart set on staying in a particular National Park campsite during these periods, I do recommend trying to secure a booking as close to 180 days in advance as possible. Otherwise, keep an eye out for cancellations in the week before your stay, as cancellations do often occur. I’ve had friends manage to snag last-minute bookings for Cape Range this way!
Where Should I Book in Advance?
Exmouth: Due to the limited supply and peak demand, I recommend booking for Exmouth before arriving if visiting during peak season (June to August), or during the Western Australia school holiday period.
Overflow camping is available when caravan parks reach capacity, generally from June – September (no advance bookings).
2026 Ningaloo Coast Update: Due to increased demand, the WA Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) have introduced a new three month booking system trial for the much coveted campgrounds along the Ningaloo Coast, including Cape Range National Park and Warroora.
Instead of bookings opening daily up to 180 days in advance, campsites will now be released in monthly blocks, six months in advance. Instead of releasing them at midnight, booking will open at 10am AWST on the first Tuesday of each month during the trial period.
Check here for the trial period and booking dates.
Esperance: Esperance is another very small and remote town, with limited camping options in town and National Park camping. If visiting from December – February, I recommend booking in advance (especially if you want to stay at the iconic Lucky Bay Campground!).
Overflow camping is available when caravan parks reach capacity, generally from December – January (no advance bookings).
Margaret River: The Margaret River Region is chockers during the WA school holiday periods of summer and Easter – there are no overflow camping facilities and rangers are targeting illegal campers. I recommend securing campsites in advance, whether that is a spot in the National Park, at a caravan park or one of the many Hipcamp properties in the region.
Sandy Cape: The Sandy Cape Recreation Park is a favourite for Perth locals in summer thanks to its stellar beachfront location and cruisy 2.5-hour drive along the coast from Perth. Mandatory online bookings were introduced in December 2024 for this popular coastal campsite, and it does book out during summer holidays and long weekend periods.
What If I Can’t Find Anywhere Available Online?
Firstly, try the trick of checking multiple times a day for any cancellations for National Park campsites in the week before.
You can also ring around at local caravan parks, sometimes they have waitlists or cancellations that don’t go up online.
I’d also check Hipcamps to see if there are any privately run campsites in the region.
Many towns will also have overflow camping – the towns of Esperance and Exmouth for example all have overflow camping facilities that open during peak periods. There may be limitations as to what types of campers (tents vs caravans) can stay here, so google first to check if it is suitable for you.
Best Camping Spots in WA
These are a few of my personal favourites:
Contos Campground, Margaret River
Tucked away near the karri forests of Cape Leeuwin National Park is the large bush camp Contos Campground, just 20 minutes south of Margaret River town.
It’s a short walk or drive to the spectacular coastline of Contos Beach, and many of the campsites are quite private and surrounded by nature. There are several different campground loops to choose from, but my favourites are Isaacs and Davies.
Lane Poole Reserve, Dwellingup:
Another beautiful bush camp set amongst the forest and among the banks of the Murray River near the charming town of Dwellingup. It’s only 90 minutes from Perth, making Lane Poole Reserve one of my favourite camping spots near Perth when you need a quick and easy nature getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city.
There’s a few different campgrounds to choose from, my favourites are Charlie’s Flat and Tony’s Bend.
Cape Range National Park, Exmouth:
It doesn’t get much better than this, camping on the shores of the world-renowned Ningaloo Reef at one of the campsites situated in Cape Range National Park. This is without a doubt one of the best campsites in Western Australia for nature lovers. Yes, you need to book basically 180 days in advance to secure a campsite, but it’s worth it.
Francois Peron National Park, Shark Bay:
Okay, I haven’t camped here as I don’t have a 4WD, but after doing a 4WD tour through Francois Peron National Park during my time in Shark Bay, I’m very keen to get back here one day soon. This National Park is an underrated gem in Western Australia, with its rich red sandy cliffs and shimmering crystal clear water – this is remote, rugged and off-the-beaten path camping at its best!
Final Thoughts
Securing the best campsites in Western Australia takes a bit of planning, but with the right strategy, you can lock in an epic spot – whether it’s an elusive beachfront site in Cape Range or a hidden gem on Hipcamps in the south west.
Be prepared, book early when needed, and stay flexible for those last-minute finds. And remember, if you’re going to be doing a lot of camping in Australia, the WikiCamps app will be your best friend!
Check out my other Western Australia road trip and travel guides for more inspiration and help in planning your adventures.
Western Australia Road Trip Guides:
- Start Here: The Ultimate Western Australia Road Trip Guide – with Suggested Itineraries & Maps!
- 7 Must-See Stops on a Perth to Margaret River Road Trip
- An Epic Perth to Kalbarri Road Trip Itinerary
- Ultimate Perth to Exmouth Road Trip Itinerary
- How to Easily Plan a Perth to Esperance Road Trip
- Best of South West WA: One Week Road Trip Itinerary
If you found this free guide helpful, and need more help planning your dream Western Australia road trip, you might be interested in my WA Road Trips Guide eBook!
It’s packed full of 90+ pages of detailed destination guides, essential tips and recommended itineraries for all trips from 1 to 4 weeks in duration. Check it out here.
