Top Camping Spots Near Perth

Personally, nothing beats packing up your gear on a Friday and heading on a camping trip in the outback.  Regardless of whether you like to camp by the river, on the beach, or in the mountains, being able to reach your destination in only a couple of hours gives you plenty of time to enjoy a full weekend of outback glory.

As running a business takes most of my time, I love to find new and exciting camping spots close to the city. Among the most beautiful parts of Australia to go camping is indeed the west coast of Australia, where magnificent camping spots are aplenty. I’ve had the pleasure of spending many years finding the best camping sites near Perth, so to give you some insight, here are my top 3 camping spots that are perfect for a weekend getaway.

Belvidere Beach

If you’re like me, fishing and camping go together like cheese and wine and you won’t find many places like Belvidere Beach. Tucked between Leschenault Inlet and Belvidere Beach (about 20 kms from Bunbury), this campsite is located a little over an hour and a half from Perth. Belvidere is significantly quieter than Myalup and Preston beach and the sand is ideal for 4WD trips.

One of the main reasons why people come here is simply because the fishing is fantastic. Depending on the time of year, you’ll be able to catch a vast range of fish, from herring, tailor, mulloway, skippy, whiting, and salmon. There are 11 campsites at Belvidere beach and each is very spacious with its own personal BBQ area. Firewood is generally available at the campsite, however fires aren’t permitted between 10am and 6pm. As it's a DPAW campsite, the fees are $7.50 per person per night.

Lane Poole Reserve

The very popular Lane Poole Reserve is one of my favourites, located near Dwellingup about an hour and a half south of Perth. The best part about this camping spot is that there are roughly 10 different campsites, ranging from enormous open spaces to private areas that can only fit a couple of 4WDs. The beautiful Murray River passes right through the reserve making this campsite perfect for swimming, canoeing, white-water rafting, and fishing.

Fires are allowed on the reserve but only when the fire warning is low. Bear in mind that it can get quite cold on winter nights so make sure you bring appropriate clothing. If you’re keen on 4WD and mountain bike tracks, Lane Poole Reserve has heaps of them in the surrounding area. Your standard National Park and camping fees apply at this campground, which is $12 per vehicle and roughly $7.50 to $10 per night, depending on which campsite you stay.

Walyunga National Park

Walyunga National Park is probably the closest place to the city where you can camp in the bush, situated only an hour north east of Perth. Ideal for weekend getaways and even day trips, this campsite is where the Brockman River meets the Anon River to create the Swan River. There’s a couple of areas where you can watch the Anon descent and naturally, canoeing down the river is heaps of fun!

In season, the Walyunga National Park is filled with picturesque wildflowers and there are a range of walking tracks to enjoy the scenery. Hiking trails vary from 45 minutes to 5 hours for the entire loop. One of the perks about this National Park is that there are heaps of free gas BBQ’s and picnic tables burrowed by the river where you can try to catch some fish for lunch or go for a swim with the birds. 

As this campsite is quite popular, make sure you book well in advance by calling one of the park rangers on 08 9260 6100. Costs are $12 per vehicle and $7.50 per night.

There’s a myriad of other beautiful camping spots just outside Perth, but these are my personal favourites that are perfect for a weekend getaway with family and friends. It’s important to remember though, that you should always be hoping for the best and prepared for the worst when planning a camping trip. If you need any 4WD products and accessories or some new camping gear and equipment, get in touch with TJM Kewdale on 08 6454 2200.