Australia So Much to See
A. The south coast of Western Australia is about the best you can get, but it is busy during the summer holiday period. Check
first for availability. Caravan parks may have vacancies if you give them enough notice. Popular campgrounds are on a
first in basis and particular the smaller ones will be unlikely to have much room during the summer school holidays.
Concentrating on the coastal strip as far as Augusta, I will continue on from Albany westwards. Not all campgrounds are suitable
for caravans.
With three caravan parks in Denmark, the choices are between: Ocean Beach Holiday Park eight kilometres from Denmark townsite, and close to Ocean Beach. Denmark Rivermouth Caravan Park (photos below) in a lovely location on Wilson Inlet and near the town. See our review of Denmark Rivermouth Caravan Park. River Bend Caravan Park on the Denmark River close to the town.
With no free camping in the Shire of Denmark, the community managed Parry Beach Campground, at charges $20 per site (two people) or $116 weekly rate. Toilets including one with disability access, showers (hot if you get in early), barbecues, and power via a generator to amenities block only. Volunteer caretaker on site in peak periods.
Can get crowded in peak periods
– no bookings. Generators permitted within specified times. Not suited to big rigs and medium to large caravans may be excluded. Maximum rig height 2.75 metres. Phone 08 98408321 for questions about caravan size and accessibility. Large rigs may be
permitted to stay in a parking area. Pets permitted. A beach wheelchair available.
West Cape Howe National Park (Shelley Beach) DPaW campground $15 per person per night ($10 concession), DPaW park entry fees apply,
pit toilet, barbecue, tents or small to medium campervans only; strictly no caravans or trailers (above right).
Flood
Gates (Torbay Inlet Road, Torbay) camping, 4wd recommended, camping area with 16 tent sites and 5 sites suitable for small
caravans, $15 per site ($10 concession).
Ayr Sailean is a farmstay which includes a caravan park. They also have low cost camping for caravaners not needed to
use amenities or power (self contained) . Full amenities, with washing machine available for a donation to the Royal Flying
Doctor Service. Dump point. Pets permitted but additional fees may apply. Close to the South Coast Highway between
Denmark and Walpole, being one kilometre from the Highway via Tindale Road Bow Bridge. Farm stays are always worth checking
out, and there may be others in the area.
There is a Caravan Park at Peaceful Bay , and at Walpole there are two, with Coalmine Beach Holiday Park and Rest Point Holiday Village, both with inlet frontage. See our Review of Rest Point Holiday Village.
Boat ramp at Coalmine Beach on the Nornalup Inlet below left.
Foreshore of the Walpole Inlet at Rest Point Holiday Village below right.
Augusta also has a relatively cool climate in summer so is also under pressure during the summer holiday period.
There
are two caravan parks owned by the Shire of Augusta-Margaret. Turner Caravan Park is close to town, and sites are terraced down
to the Hardy Inlet (mouth of the Blackwood River) and is a pleasant park. Pets are not permitted. Flinders Bay Caravan Park is
on the shores of Flinders Bay at the Flinders Bay settlement and pets are allowed.
Thirteen kilometres west of Walpole along the South Western Highway, Crystal Springs Campground is suitable for tents, small campervans
and camper trailers. Caravans and larger campervans are not permitted. There are toilets, picnic tables and wood barbecues. $15 per person per night (concession card holders $10).
There is a caravan park near the beach at Windy Harbour, with showers and toilets but limited power due to the fact that there is no mains power supply to Windy Harbour. There are six powered sites. Otherwise generators are permitted between 11 am and 11 pm. Pets not permitted. $15 per person per night ($10.50 concession). Powers sites $7.50 extra per night. Family fees available. All fees have a 25% surcharge during peak periods such as Easter and summer school holidays. Booking essential; phone 97768398.
In addition, there are other caravan parks in the area.
Westbay Retreat is a caravan park on the northern outskirts of the Augusta townsite and allows pets.
Munday Campground, a small caravan park of only 10 serviced sites. Very good
amenities and recreation areas. Welcoming hosts. Bakers Lane, on the west side of the Bussell Highway, 2.5 kilometres north
of the Augusta town centre. Does not allow pets.
Molloy Caravan Park is fifteen kilometres north east from Augusta, on the Blackwood River, but not actually on Molloy Island and does not allow pets.
Hamelin Bay Caravan Park is near the
beach at Hamelin Bay (at right), also fifteen kilometres from Augusta; pets not permitted.
The Shire of Augusta-Margaret River does not allow any free camping or camping outside of authorised camping areas.
Above covers
the southern coastal strip of Western Australia.
Following the coast north, in addition to the caravan parks and farm
stay camping on the western coast and at Margaret River, there are a number of authorised campgrounds in the area. See under
Karridale, Witchcliffe and Margaret River on these pages. These are not listed here.
What are the options for camping? See all the options between Albany and Esperance
