Caravanning and Camping Around WA

Caravan and camping plays an important role in increasing visitation to regional areas of Western Australia, which is a key element of the State Government Strategy for Tourism in WA 2020.

In 2012, an estimated 1.024 million visitors stayed in caravan parks and campgrounds in WA and injected $847 million into the State's economy. (Source: Tourism Research Australia: International and National Visitor Surveys for the Year Ending 2012).

The Western Australian Caravan and Camping Action Plan: 2013-2018 has been developed to position Western Australia as the nation's most attractive caravan and camping holiday destination by improving the supply, delivery and promotion of the sector.

The State Government has committed $40.7 million of Royalties for Regions funding over four years to implement the Action Plan and Parks for People initiative. The fruits of this investment will start to be seen at popular holiday destinations and touring routes in regional WA from mid-2014. The WA Caravan and Camping Action Plan includes: 

• • Creation of up to 450 camping and caravan sites in WA's popular national parks
• • New commercial caravan parks and camping grounds in high priority locations, including on Aboriginal lands in the    Kimberley region
• • Upgraded and new 24-hour rest areas in the North West to combat driver fatigue
• • Improved overflow facilities to meet visitor demand in peak seasons 
• • Training of caravan park management and staff to improve the quality of product and service delivery
• • Installation of dump points for the safe disposal of black waste by travellers in self-contained recreational vehicles along key drive corridors
• • New and upgraded visitor facilities including walk, bike and drive trails and Wi-Fi at selected campgrounds. 

The size of WA and the many extraordinary experiences on offer mean that it's well-positioned to capitalise on the caravanning and camping market. Here are the top ten camping experiences:

Top ten camping experiences

• Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort, Shark Bay (Coral Coast)
  Sleep out under the great southern sky on a World-Heritage listed beach where dolphins play in the nearby waters. Go snorkelling, explore red cliffs and shell beaches or just soak up the sunshine.
• Kooljaman at Cape Leveque (North West)
  A pristine paradise of turquoise water and vibrant red cliffs, this multi-award winning Aboriginal owned wilderness camp is a must-stay. Located 220 kilometres north of Broome there's top-notch fishing and snorkelling and you can even camp on the beach.
• El Questro Wilderness Park(North West)
  Sleep in a swag on an authentic outback adventure set in a million-acre working cattle station. Camp by the Pentecost River and chill out with a coldie enjoying sizzling sunsets, thundering waterfalls and tranquil waterholes. For those who'd prefer to 'glamp', Emma Gorge Resort is a great option
• Lucky Bay Campground, Esperance (Golden Outback)
  Camp out under the stars on a world-famous Esperance beach where kangaroos sunbathe along five kilometres of squeaky clean white sand. Try the solar heated showers or take a dip in the sparkling clear blue ocean. 

• Windjana Gorge National Park, Gibb River Road (North West)
  Go walk-about at Windjana and soak up the 350 million-year-old scenery of one of the Kimberley's most dramatic gorges. Billabongs, a winding wet season river, waterbirds and the old police station ruins two kilometres away make it a camping hot spot.
• Contos Camp Ground, Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park (South West)
  Wake up to the sound of waves crashing on the beach and views of rugged limestone cliffs and surf breaks. Walk a stretch of the Cape-to-Cape track from the campsite, go beachcombing, fish for salmon or cool off in the crystal clear water.
• Cape Range National Park, Exmouth (Coral Coast)
  Experience the best of the bush and beach - colourful coral reefs, an azure ocean, rocky red gorges and rugged limestone cliffs - at Cape Range, just half an hour from Exmouth. Hike the gorges, watch wallabies at Yardie Creek and explore canyons, caves and hidden tunnels.
• Fitzgerald River National Park(Golden Outback)
  Listen to the kookaburras, waterbirds and parrots in a beautiful bush setting, just 47 kilometres from Bremer Bay. Explore the mountains, red cliffs, inlets and white sandy beaches by foot or hire a canoe.
• Cape Le Grand National Park, Esperance (Golden Outback)
  Head to Esperance and pitch a tent on Le Grand Beach amidst snoozing kangaroos. Bright turquoise water, rugged granite outcrops, heathlands and freshwater pools make it truly unique. Launch your boat from the beach and cook your catch on the free barbecues. 
• Dryandra Woodland(Experience Perth)
  Just two hour's drive from Perth, Dryandra Woodland is packed with echidnas, woylies, possums, kangaroos and numbats, which come out at night. Explore the trails or kick back at Congelin campsite near the dam and soak up the sounds of the forest.