13 of the most beautiful camping spots near Perth

Kirsty PetridesBy Kirsty Petrides
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If you’ve found yourself in Perth and want to sleep under the stars (but not have to drive for hours and hours) you’re in luck.

Thanks to Perth being the most isolated capital city in the world, it’s filled with some of the country’s most bountiful landscapes – many of which are accessible a short drive from the city centre. There are a plethora of free and low-cost camping spots near Perth to unwind, unplug and get amongst the great outdoors. Here are 13 of our favourites.

1. Lake Leschenaultia, Perth Hills

Lake Leschenaultia camping
Lake Leschenaultia offers a picturesque escape for outdoor enthusiasts.

Distance from Perth: 55 minutes

Best for: Families and first-timers

Perth’s hills might surprise you, as the city’s coastline often steals the spotlight. However, camping at Lake Leschenaultia  immerses you in native bush, wildflowers and gentle valleys. It features a lakebed beach, canoe hire, and sheltered BBQ spots. Nearby Chidlow town adds to the charm with its bakeries, shops, and pubs. The campground itself offers 23 campsites spread across three distinct areas: Tent Campground, Main Campground, and Group Campground. Each area has its own bathroom, while BBQ, playground, kitchen, and kiosk facilities are shared. A three-kilometre walk around the lake provides opportunities to spot kangaroos, possums, and echidnas. For those seeking a longer adventure, an additional 12 kilometres of walking and mountain biking trails are available. Bookings can be made online, with some sites being unpowered and lacking onsite parking, so specify your needs when booking.

2. Perth Hills Discovery Centre at Beelu National Park

Distance from Perth: 40 mins

Best for: Families with young kids

Just a 40-minute drive from the Perth CBD, the Perth Hills Discovery Centre  is perfect for first-time campers and families with young children. The site offers twelve shady tent sites, fire rings, outdoor picnic tables, and high-quality amenities including an ablution block, picnic tables, and a camp kitchen with electric barbecues. It is surrounded by popular walking and cycling trails and is close to iconic attractions like the Mundaring Weir and the Bibbulmun Track. The nearby Kookaburra Open Air Cinema  screens movies on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights from December to April.

3. Henry White Oval at Yanchep National Park

the lush grounds of Yanchep National Park
The site is surrounded by tuart and banksia woodlands. (Image: Getty/Paola Giannoni)

Distance from Perth: 45 mins

Best for: Families and first-time campers

Henry White Oval Campground , nestled in Banksia and tuart woodlands, is a purpose-built campground ideal for families and first-timers. It features nine hard sites, ten grass sites, a large group camping area, an ablution block, a sheltered barbeque area and a communal fire pit that is open seasonally. However, there is no running water, so you’ll need to bring your own. Located within Yanchep National Park, it’s just a few hundred metres from the park’s renowned wetlands, adventure climbing courses and animal sanctuaries. The Yanchep Lagoon, a great spot for swimming and sheltered snorkelling, is only a ten-minute drive away.

4. Bald Hill at Avon Valley National Park

the campground at Bald Hill at Avon Valley National Park
Spend a couple of nights off the grid surrounded by nature. (Image: Bronwyn Wells)

Distance from Perth: 90 mins

Best for: Serene bush views

Avon Valley National Park spans nearly 5,000 hectares of lush bushland with panoramic views over the valley, a diverse range of flora and fauna and four campgrounds. Among these, Bald Hill  is one of the busiest. Situated atop its namesake hill, this spacious campground provides stunning views of the entire park and is well-equipped with facilities including picnic tables, fire rings, toilets and water. There are excellent bushwalking and cycling trails that meander through and around the campgrounds. Bookings cannot be made in advance, however, with spots designated on a first-come, first-served basis – so aim to arrive early.

5. Honeymoon Pool, Wellington National Park

the campground at Honeymoon Pool, Wellington National Park
Sleep among the shady peppermint trees. (Image: Jacki Baxter)

Distance from Perth: 2 hours

Best for: Beautiful lakeside views

Nestled on the banks of the serene Collie River, Honeymoon Pool  offers 20 campsites scattered among shady peppermint trees. Thanks to its waterside location, you can enjoy kayaking, swimming, and bushwalking. It’s conveniently 2WD friendly, and has picnic, BBQ and toilet facilities on site.

6. Potters Gorge Campground, Wellington National Park

the Potters Gorge Campground, Wellington National Park
The campsite is located on the shores of Wellington Dam. (Image: Kevin Smith)

Distance from Perth: 2 hours

Best for: Tranquility and relaxation
Potters Gorge Campground , situated on the shore of Wellington Dam, offers 59 individual campsites suitable for freestanding tents, swags, campervans, and camper trailers. Nestled among shady jarrah and marri trees, this campsite is renowned for its mountain bike track, bushwalking trails, fishing spots, and ideal conditions for canoeing. This is a basic bush camping experience, as the sites are unpowered campers need to BYO drinking water. However, there are no- flush pit toilets, double-gas barbecues, picnic tables, cold water dishwashing facilities and a dump station. There’s also a cafe at Wellington Dam, just a quick five-minute drive away, in case you forget any essentials. You will need to book your site in advance online.

7. Sandy Cape Recreation Park, Jurien Bay

Distance from Perth: 2 hours and 40 minutes

Best for: Beach camping

Sandy Cape Recreation Park  offers a quintessential beach camping experience in an unbeatable location with breathtaking views. This affordable camping spot is nestled beside a pristine beach, so you can wake up to the soft sands and turquoise water of Jurien Bay. Little ones can spend their days sliding down sand dunes and splashing in the water, while adults can indulge in fishing, snorkelling, kayaking, or scenic hike to the peak. You do need to be fairly self-sufficient, as the only facilities are longdrop or compost toilets – no BBQs or power (although you can BYO generators.)

8. Nanga Mill Campground in Lane Poole Reserve, Dwellingup

the Nanga Mill Campground in Lane Poole Reserve, Dwellingup
Head to Nanga Mill Campground for a well-deserved off-grid escape. (Image: DBCA)

Distance from Perth: 1 hour 40 mins

Best for: Campers with furry friends

Lane Poole Reserve  in Dwellingup features nine separate campgrounds, but Nanga Mill  is the largest open-style campground. This picturesque spot by the bank of the brook is unpowered, allowing you to truly reconnect with nature. The sites are suitable for tents as well as caravans and camper trailers, and the campground has a swimming area, a two-kilometre Nanga Brook Walk Trail and is also dog-friendly. Amenities include toilets and picnic tables, however, there is no running water. You also cannot book ahead, so if you prefer not to wing it, try one of Lane Poole’s bookable campgrounds.

9. Baden Powell Campground at Lane Poole Reserve, Dwellingup

view from the tent at Baden Powell Campground at Lane Poole Reserve, Dwellingup
Wake up to foggy mornings at the Baden Powell Campground. (Image: Rachel Hutton)

Distance from Perth: 1 hour 40 mins

Best for: Hikers and water-sports lovers

Ideal for families, the Baden Powell Campground  boasts 42 campsites and three undercover camp kitchens equipped with gas barbecues and rainwater taps (though you’ll need to bring your own drinking water) an ablution block and dining benches. The Murray River, a highlight of the reserve, is a great spot for canoeing, fishing, white-water rafting, and swimming during the warmer months. The Bibbulmun Track also runs through the reserve, providing a great hop-on, hop-off hiking experience. Pets are welcome at this one, too.

10. Martins Tank Campground in Yalgorup National Park, Preston Beach

a tent setup on Martins Tank Campground in Yalgorup National Park, Preston Beach
The entire site is unpowered, allowing you to disconnect from your gadgets. (Image: Kevin Smith)

Distance from Perth: 90 mins

Best for: A real unplugged experience

Martins Tank Campground  is nestled among peppermint and tuart woodland on the banks of Martins Tank Lake, offering easy access to the tranquil Yalgorup National Park. The 33-site campground accommodates swags, tents, and caravans. This is a real unplugged (and self-sufficient) experience, as the entire site is unpowered, lacks running water and is accessible via some unsealed roads. However, there are amenities such as no-flush pit toilets, gas and electric barbecues, picnic tables, and dishwashing facilities with seasonal rainwater. You can book your site online, or use the self-serve booth upon arrival.

11. Logue Brook Campground, Lake Brockman

the Lake Brockman within Logue Brook Campground, Perth
This campground by the lake is a great base for water adventures. (Image: Bronwyn Wells)

Distance from Perth: 90 mins

Best for: Watersports

The Logue Brook Dam campground , located within the Lake Brockman Tourist Park, features 126 unpowered campsites. It’s a great base for water adventures, offering access to the dam for swimming, fishing, and launching canoes and kayaks at various spots around the shore. Plus it’s a short walk to a cafe at neighbouring Lake Brockman Tourist Park, serving coffee and freshly baked goods. Amenities include long-drop toilets, gas and electric barbecues, a playground – and pet-friendliness. There is no drinking water available at the campground, so campers need to BYO or head to the tourist park next door. 

12. Belvidere Campground, Leschenault

a tent setup on Belvidere Campground, Leschenault
The campground is nestled within the lush tuart forest of Leschenault Peninsula Conservation Park. (Image: Bronwyn Wells)

Distance from Perth: 1 hour 40 mins

Best for: Bushwalkers

Belvidere Campground , nestled on the edge of the Leschenault Estuary, offers 28 picturesque camping sites. As part of the Leschenault Peninsula Conservation Park, the campground is within walking distance to Belvidere Beach and The Cut, a walking trail that winds through the park’s tuart and peppermint trees. Amenities include long-drop toilets, wood barbecues, and picnic tables. There’s no running water available, so campers need to BYO drinking water; and bookings cannot be made in advance, with sites allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

13. Stockton Lake Recreation Area Campground, Collie

the Stockton Lake Recreation Area Campground, Collie
Set up camp by the blue waters of Stockton Lake. (Image: Bronwyn Wells)

Distance from Perth: 1 hour 40 mins

Best for: Waterfront camping

For a truly unique camping experience, you can set up camp just metres from the water at Stockton Lake . This artificial lake, once an open-cut mine, has been transformed into a popular camping area with 50 unpowered sites on the shore of the crystal blue lake. During the warmer months, activities such as waterskiing, kayaking, and swimming are popular (however, be aware that the lake’s mining origins mean the water is slightly acidic, which is something to consider if you have sensitive skin.) Amenities include toilets and wood barbecues, and you can bring your pet along too. There is no drinking water available so be prepared to BYO, and you cannot book in advance – sites are designated on a first-in-best-dressed basis.

Kirsty Petrides
Kirsty Petrides is a writer, wine-lover and cheese enthusiast. Whether she’s hunting down the best restaurant in Albania, foraging the Marrakech markets for spices or camping in the middle of Patagonian wilderness, she loves to seek out the authentic side of the places she visits, and share that with readers through her writing.
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8 secret places in Western Australia you need to know about

    Kate BettesBy Kate Bettes
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    Continue
    WA might be enormous, but the right insider knowledge brings its mysteries a whole lot closer.

    “Western Australia is a land of record-breakers,” says Carolyn Tipper, a Travel Director working on AAT Kings Western Australia tours. “It has the second-longest fault line, the second-largest meteorite crater, the second-fastest flowing river—it just keeps surprising you. And every area has its charm.”

    From tropics to deserts, Australia’s largest state is a land of extremes. You can’t see all of Western Australia in a lifetime, but with the right guide, you can discover its hidden pockets of magic.

    Carolyn wishes to reach her guests’ hearts. “I want them to enjoy and be in awe,” she says. “I want them to have the holiday of a lifetime.”

    1. Mimbi Caves

    You wouldn’t expect a Great Barrier Reef in the outback – but that’s what you’ll find at Mimbi Caves. Once part of a 350-million-year-old reef, these caves hold marine fossils, ancient Indigenous rock art, and Dreamtime stories shared by a Gooniyandi guide.

    “That’s when the real connection happens,” says Carolyn, who has taken guests through on the AAT Kings Wonders of the West Coast and Kimberley tour . “When guests connect, not just with the land, but with the people who have called it home for tens of thousands of years.”

    Eye-level view of traveller exploring Mimbi Caves.
    Walk through ancient limestone passages. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

    2. Kalbarri National Park

    Nothing prepares you for the Kalbarri Skywalk: a 25-metre platform jutting over Murchison Gorge, 100 metres above the red cliffs and river below. From July to October, join the AAT Kings Untamed Pilbara and West Coast tour to see over 1000 wildflower species paint the park, and listen as an Indigenous guide shares their uses, bush foods and medicine plants.

    “I want our guests to have an emotional experience,” says Carolyn. “It’s not just about seeing the land, it’s about stepping into the stories.”

    An aerial view of the Kalbarri Skywalk, one of the secret places in Western Australia, with visitors on the edge.
    Stand on the Kalbarri Skywalk in Western Australia. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

    3. Hamelin Bay Wines

    Margaret River isn’t just a top wine region – it’s a winner in every category. Where the Indian and Southern Oceans collide, granite cliffs rise, limestone caves sprawl and Karri forests tower. It almost distracts from the world-class Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay.

    Almost.

    Out of over 100 cellar doors, AAT Kings pick Hamelin Bay Wines as a favourite. Hosted tastings of small-batch wines on the Western Wonderland tour end with a group meal. The menu shifting with the seasons.

    “Get off the beaten track to one of WA’s most relaxed venues for some amazing red and white signature wines,” explains Carolyn, “accompanied with upmarket pub food.”

    Spectacular views.

    A person raising a glass of Chardonnay against a glowing Western Australia sunset.
    Sip world-class wines at Hamelin Bay in Western Australia. (Image: Getty)

    4. Wildflower Guided Walk, Kings Park

    Western Australia is home to 12,000 native plant species – 3000 bloom in Kings Park’s Botanic Garden. Stroll past Kangaroo Paw, Banksia and blooms from the Goldfields, Stirling Ranges and Kimberley. “The diversity of Western Australia is immense,” says Carolyn, who leads guests through on the South Western Escape tour .

    Couple enjoying the view from the Lotterywest Federation walkway at Kings Park and Botanical Garden.
    Wander among thousands of native plant species. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

    5. Hoochery Distillery

    Did you know that between Kununurra and Emma Gorge lies the state’s oldest continuously operating distillery? Well, the oldest legal one. Set on a family farm, Hoochery Distillery was hand-built using materials found on the property, conjuring up award-winning rum from local sugarcane, wet season rainwater and yeast.

    Today, visitors can sample a hearty nip of rum, along with whiskies and gins – all crafted using traditional, labour-intensive methods. It’s the ideal way to soak up the ‘spirit’ of the Kimberley on the AAT Kings’ Untamed Kimberley tour .

    People enjoying a rum tasting at one of the secret places in Western Australia.
    Sample award-winning rum. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

    6. Geraldton

    The wildflowers of the Midwest will make your heart blossom. In Geraldton, the Helen Ansell Art Gallery brings the region’s botanicals to life in vivid colour and intricate detail. In nearby Mullewa, wander bushland trails lined with everlastings and native blooms. Further afield, Coalseam Conservation Park bursts into carpets of pink, white, and yellow each spring. Do it all on the Wildflower Wanderer tour with AAT Kings.

    woman walking through Wildflowers, Coalseam Conservation Park
    Chase vibrant wildflower trails. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

    7. El Questro

    Wake up after a night under the stars at Emma Gorge Resort, ready to explore the mighty beauty of the El Questro Wilderness Park. With deep gorges, thermal springs, and cascading waterfalls, time slows here.

    Join the AAT Kings’ Wonders of the West Coast and Kimberley tour to drift through Chamberlain Gorge, where sheer sandstone walls glow burnt orange in the sun, archer fish flick at the surface, and rock wallabies peer down from ledges above. Then, step into Zebedee Springs, a secret oasis of warm, crystal-clear pools among prehistoric Livistona palms – a moment of pure, wild stillness.

    Emma Gorge Resort at El Questro.
    Wake to adventure at Emma Gorge Resort. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

    8. Lake Argyle

    Once vast cattle country, Lake Argyle now sprawls like an inland sea – Western Australia’s largest freshwater lake, created by the damming of the Ord River. Scattered with over 70 islands, its glassy waters teem with life, like freshwater crocodiles, barramundi, bony bream, sleepy cod and over 240 bird species. That’s nearly a third of Australia’s avian population.

    Glide across the lake’s surface on a cruise as part of AAT Kings’ Untamed Kimberley tour , where the silence is only broken by the splash of fish and the call of birds. For Carolyn, this place is a perfect example of how WA’s landscapes surprise visitors. “Lake Argyle is a big puddle of water that became a game-changer,” she says. “Seeing it from a boat, coach, and plane is mind-blowing. It puts time, isolation and the sheer scale into perspective.”

    Aerial View of Triple J Tours on the Ord River, near Kununurra.
    Glide past islands on Western Australia’s largest freshwater lake. (Image: Western Australia)

    Discover more of Western Australia’s hidden gems and book your tour at aatkings.com.