Camping

Spending a night or two out in the bush can be good for the soul and a great way to spend time with friends and family. There are places throughout the State on land managed by the Department of Environment and Conservation where camping is welcomed.

How do I find a secluded spot?

There are some easily accessed, developed campsites with toilets and picnic tables scattered throughout the south-west. To find more secluded locations you will need to purchase some good maps which show land tenure so that you can tell what is State forest, and whether it is open to the public (i.e. not closed as a disease risk area). The StreetSmart touring maps are good base maps, more specific information is available from the CALM 1:50,000 series maps. Both are available from DEC's Kensington Headquarters.

Having found your spot:

• Camp in existing cleared areas, but please don't clear new areas. Dig a pit toilet if toilet facilities are not provided. Always make sure that a dug toilet is at least 400 metres from rivers or streams.
• Some areas of the south-west have total fire bans (including campfires) all summer. In areas where campfires are permitted, don't light them on hot windy days. Better still, reduce the potential for a bushfire by using portable fuel stoves at all times.
• Take your rubbish home with you. If you can carry it in you can carry it out.
• Not all campsites allow the use of generators. Please check the Guidelines to Generator Use at Campsites information sheet to find out which campsites allow generators and what hours they can be operated

Where can I camp with my pets?

Unless there is a specially designated dog area, you are usually not allowed to take your pet into a national park, conservation park, nature reserve, marine park or marine nature reserve because of the high conservation value of these areas. The lingering scent of a dog will make native animals flee from their habitat and take refuge somewhere else – sometimes where foxes are prevalent – for many weeks.

Visually impaired people with guide dogs can take their dogs into any type of park, and pet dogs may be taken into State forests and regional parks, although they should be kept on a lead. [See also pets in parks]

Where can't I go?

Members of the public are allowed on any road except those signposted otherwise, for example ‘Management Access Only’ or ‘Logging Road’. Roads through disease risk areas are closed to the public. These are clearly marked.

Camping fees

Camping fees are payable in addition to national park visitor fees where applicable. However, national park visitor fees are only payable on the first day of an extended visit when camping within the park, but camping fees are payable for each night's camping.

Camping Fees for Parks and State Forest

Without facilities or only basic facilities:

Per adult, per night $7
Concession cardholders per night $5
(see section ‘Concessions')
School age child under 16 per night $2

With facilities, (ablutions, showers,) includes caravans without electricity (Cape Le Grand National Park is in this category):

Per adult, per night $9
Concession cardholders, per night $6
(see section ‘Concessions')
School age child under 16, per night $2

King Leopold Conservation Park, Purnululu (Bungle Bungle) and Windjana Gorge National Parks

Per adult, per night $11
Concession cardholders per night $8
(see section 'Concessions')
School age child under 16, per night $2

Karijini National Park

There are two campgrounds at Karijini National Park.

Dales Campground
Basic campground facilities are available at Dales Recreation Area;
facilities include toilets, picnic areas and gas barbeques.
Sites are available for commercial operators, campervans, caravans,
camper trailers and tents, no water or power is available
at this campground. Generators are permitted on some sites.
For more information contact Karijini Visitor Centre on (08) 9189 8121.

Karijini Eco Retreat
Located in the Savannah Campground 35 kms from the Karijini Visitor Centre
and in close proximity to the spectacular Weano, Hancock, Knox and Joffre gorges,
Karijini Eco Retreat offers more up-market accommodation and is owned by the Gumala Aboriginal Corporation.
For bookings and more information visit http://www.karijiniecoretreat.com.au/.

Goldfields Region

For information on camping site locations and reservations,
please contact the Kalgoorlie office on (08) 9080 5555.

Lane Poole Reserve
Due to the increased number of visitors to Lane Poole Reserve and in accordance with recent amendments to the Conservation and Land Management Regulations 2002, campers will not be permitted to occupy a camp site during the school holidays for more than 14 consecutive days, whether or not all those days occur during the school holidays.

Note to campers at Lane Poole Reserve