Free camping in WA??

Very easy Rebecca, depending on where you go.

Places that have blanket bans on unauthorised camping are mostly along the coast, particularly the Shires between Perth and Geraldton, but also the Karratha area. Inland there are plenty of opportunities.

Reasons are not that they are trying to force you into caravan parks, but a history or squatters along the coast.

The Shire of Esperance does not permit camping outside of authorised areas, but in addition to the National Parks campgrounds, the Shire maintains few low cost campgrounds at $2 per person per night, but most of these are not suited to caravans.

The Shire of Augusta-Margaret River has plenty of Parks and Shire run campgrounds at reasonable cost.

The Shire of Manjimup has threatening no camping signage at Walpole, but again this is so they can prevent messy and long term campers.

In the mining areas such as Karratha and Port Hedland where accommodation is under severe pressure, overnight rest areas become worker's squat camps, without adequate toileting or rubbish facilities. There are good overnight main roads rest areas along the highways, and coastal low cost campgrounds to the north and to the south of Karratha.

Although I cannot recommend camping outside of authorised campgrounds or 24 hour rest areas in these Shires, generally a clean self contained caravanner stopping overnight is unlikely to be challenged.

Having travelled on the eastern side of Australia, finding a nice free spot for the night is much easier in the more sparsely populated Western Australia.

A few months ago we went on a short holiday in the wheatbelt and camped in nice free campgrounds, mostly with a toilet provided, at a number of large granite outcrops.

If you have a planned route, you are welcome to email me at westnet . com .au for help in finding somewhere nice. The coast is not so easy, but not the most scenic touring either.

Motherhen

The reality in Australia and the rest of the world is that so many people are travelling and everywhere is so populated. It is getting increasingly difficult to get away from the crowds.

Free camping by the hoards has created mess so the messy mongrels ruin it for every one else.

Besides, if you want a holiday then save up and be prepared to spend money in caravan parks. Everybody these days wants everything for free. If your in a town or a coastal area that you want to see and visit just pay and suck it up. Its not the 1970's.

Youre towing a big van anyway so youre pretty much towing your house.

Good luck!!

Yep I hear your pain. $50 is too much for a site to be jammed in like sardines.

But that is reality today. People are everywhere and the future is big lines in traffic, shopping centres,cinema and camping sites etc as we get more and more populated.

If you want to see a desirable tourist attraction, and the businesses and shires can make a big profit, then you have to pay.

Sure there are some free camping spots but its getting increasingly harder and shire rangers are out in force collecting big fines.

I don't think it the tidy, quiet couple cruising around Oz looking for an overnight stay in a "off the track spot" that's causing the drama.

Its mainly wicked campers and tight arse Euro's and the like expecting to travel the country on no money and eat 2 minutes noodles and bleep in the bush everywhere that's the problem.

And they add bugger all to the economy.

That's my 10 Euro,s worth of opinion.

Suck it up!!!

Hi Rebecca

I sense some anger and a little hostility but that is not my wish.

Lots of things are expensive. Do you expect Toyota to give you a 200 series Landcruiser for $20k because they are so expensive. I hope your kids don't see a Toyota ad on telly. To hit a major tourist destination in W.A. you do need to pay at a caravan Park or perhaps a camp sight if possible.

Many years ago when I was a young man ( 70's), I could free camp anywhere in this great country. That includes perth beaches like triggs and Scarborough and up North in Broome Exmouth the Gibb River Road etc and South in Margaret River and Denmark etc. All camp where you like.

This is no longer the case. You have to pay.

I don't like crowds. But where crowds go,meaning more demand, the cost will increase. I believe a lot of the world is beautiful but you have to pay to see it. That's reality.

If that is what it costs and you cant afford it then you don't get to see it.

Free camping is available in the back blocks. i.e Wagin, Lake Grace etc and off the beaten track.Theyre are ok places to visit but its not an iconic Aussie sight seeing destination.

So if your budget is tight, that is sad. If you head off from home expecting to free camp in these high tourist destinations then things will go pear shape quickly. It might not be fair but that's life.

"Camping Guide to Western Australia" is available out of the ExplorOz shop. Will show most camping areas (standard, minimal and no charge). There are many good free sites down here in my area out of ALBANY WA , most have a 3 day limit but Cosy Corner East(35km from Albany) has a 7 day limit and has room for reasonably large rigs.Most of the National Park sites are only$7 per person per night anyways. majority of the sites you would need to bring your own water of course

Rebecca,

Good question and well answered by Motherhen. We were in the Albany/Denmark area a month ago and they had big signs saying no camping until further notice. In the shire next door (sorry cant remember the name) there were free camp sites but the one we saw was full of permanent campers who literally cr@pped on the ground around their tents.

Ignore the condescending, arrogant instant experts on this site. They spoil it for everyone.

Cheers

Skull

free camping, being a single traveller i will only use caravan parks accasionaly ,you always have to pay for a 2 person site,rarely you can get a few dollars off,i do not expect half price, i do not have a van or tent but sleep in my truck, it gets too exspensive after awhile in a caravan park, so free camping is a better option for me,and spend 3 dollars at a cp for use of amenities on the way through ,i can afford to pay the double rate but its the principal of being over charged ,happy travels barry

Free camping would not be an issue if free campers didn't cut down live trees for firewood, leave toilet paper blowing around unburied and leaving behind litter. But seeing people do this then councils get jack of it and force people into van parks.

Hi Rebecca,
Away from the populated areas free camping in is no dramas at all. Exploroz has a comprehensive map of camps and accommodation here
http://www.exploroz.com/Places/Camps_n_Accom.aspx

The free camps are indicated by a green tent symbol.

Some towns encourage short term visits e.g. Kalgooorlie is a RV friendly town and there is a free stop over in town near the sound shell and also out at Lake Douglas about 5ks out on the Coolgardie Road.
Throughout the Goldfields and wheat belt areas many of the "rocks" are popular places to visit and stay - many may be suitable depending on the condition of the roads. Just be wary of rainfall it can be a double edged sword - as it does not take much to make roads impassable for caravans for a day or two but many Rocks come alive with rock pools and mosses so worth a day exploring anyway.