Best Camping Spots Along the Coast

Best CampingSpots Along the Coast

WORDS | TOM DE SOUZA

Camping is one of the best ways to immerse yourself in the rugged beauty of the Margaret River Region. It’s all about slowing down, switching off your devices, and appreciating the simple things in life. And the region offers plenty of excellent camp sites where you can switch off and soak it all in. Whether it’s by the Blackwood River, bush camping on the coast, or somewhere with all the comforts of a caravan park – here are some of the region’s best camp spots to get back to nature.

Yallingup

The beachside hamlet of Yallingup, voted by Australian Traveller in 2019 as Australia’s top town, offers two options for campers.

Tasman Holiday Parks - Yallingup Caves

A large caravan park beside the historic Caves House hotel, the Caves House caravan park is right beside all the facilities you need in Yallingup. It’s a quick walk across the road to the hotel or the general store, and you can cut through the stunning gardens for a 500m walk to the main beach. The spectacular Ngilgi Cave is also not far, and it’s just a short drive to many of the region’s renowned wineries.

Tasman Holiday Parks - Yallingup Beach

The Yallingup Beach Holiday Park is about as close as you can get to the Indian Ocean. There are a range of options with powered and unpowered sites, and the picturesque communal barbeque area makes the ultimate picnic, particularly when accompanied with local produce and wine.

Prevelly

Prevelly Caravan Park

The Prevelly Caravan Park was the original establishment in Prevelly. English-born Australian soldier, Geoffrey Edwards established the park in the 1950s when he and his family purchased the oceanside plot 10km west of Margaret River. He named it Preveli as a memorial to the Preveli monastery, where monks provided a safe haven for him during the Battle of Crete in WWII. He carved a small settlement, clearing a plot with the help of a local building crew.

The park still continues today, and is as picturesque as it ever was. It is one of the premier beachside camping destinations in the Margaret River Region, and offers all kinds of camping options, from unpowered sites to chalets and cabins. For an extra special experience, book a Wild Goose Camping tent to set up at the campsite for you. The glamping tents are like a hotel room in nature!

Blackwood River

Sometimes it’s nice to change the scenery get away from the coast for a while, and in the Margaret River Region’s beautiful Blackwood Valley there are plenty of options.

Below, Yallingup is such a stunning coast to access from the town’s top campgrounds.

Vasse Felix 1/2 H

MARGARET RIVER

EST. 1967

MARGARET RIVER’S FOUNDING WINE ESTATE

Above right and top right, Flinders Bay caravan park has is beloved by loyal families who book year on year Above, cool off at Alexandra Bridge campsite.

Try camping on the banks of the Blackwood at Sues or Alexandra Bridge, where you can launch a boat and head up or downstream, paddleboard, kayak, fish, or engage in any other water activities the river has to offer.

There are 21 beautiful shady sites at Alexandra Bridge, all of which are managed by the Department of Conservation, Biodiversity and Attractions, and are available on a first come, first serve basis.

Further upstream, Sues Bridge offers 25 sites, an undercover camp kitchen, gas barbecues, toilets, cold water taps, dishwashing sinks and picnic tables. Of the 25 individual camp sites, nine are suitable for regular size camper trailers or caravans. The other 16 can accommodate tents and regular size campervans in an adjacent parking space.

Boranup Forest

The magical Boranup Forest is natural bushland of towering Karri trees, some of which are up to 60m tall. In the heart of the forest is a small but stunning and shady campsite nestled beneath the peppermint trees. From here it’s only a short drive to the Boranup lookout, or take the four-wheel-drive tracks down to the beach picturesque Boranup Beach.

There are limited facilities here, with only a long-drop toilet and fire rings. Fires are permitted but only in the fire rings and usually between April and November. During the summer months, total fire bans are enforced to prevent bushfires.

Busselton

Busselton has some great camping spots right on the coastline. Try Sandy Bay Holiday Park, located only 50 metres from the Geographe Bay waters. It’s a quiet, shady, beachfront holiday park with unique rammed earth and Swiss style chalets as well as camping and caravan sites.

Geographe Bay Holiday Park is another affordable option. With a cycle way that leads to Busselton’s town centre, you have the beach, shops and restaurants all within a stone’s throw.

Flinders Bay

The Flinders Bay caravan park is positioned right on the beachfront, and still close enough to town to nip in for supplies. During the spring and early summer months you can watch humpback whales cruising past this old whaling settlement, not far from where the Indian and Southern Oceans meet at Cape Leeuwin.

The sites are private, shady and grassed, offering a relaxing retreat for the whole family. Dogs are welcome on leads and there are BBQs, three amenity blocks, a fish cleaning area, and direct access to the Flinders Bay boat ramp, foreshore, and playground.