The most popular way of exploring Australia is by camping - whether with a motorhome, campervan, caravan or a roof tent on top of a car. This gives you the ultimate freedom of going as fast or as slow as you like.
Free camping is permitted (staying somewhere for free) throughout the country and we're reveling in the joy of simply parking up our home somewhere for the night before carrying on our journey the next day.
I first visited Australia in 2019, following the classic backpacker route, mostly visiting big cities, staying in hostels and traveling by public transport.
This time, we bought ourselves a campervan (a 2018 Mercedes Sprinter) and are living in it full-time to drive "the lap" of Australia (completing the entire perimeter of the country). With this freedom, we're trying to hit the lesser known spots along the way. It's a massive undertaking and we're taking all the challenges and wins and all the highs and the lows in stride.
COMING SOON → My complete guide to van life and driving the lap of Australia!
Western Australia is the westernmost state in Australia with both South Australia and Queensland to the east. The west coast lies directly along the Indian Ocean and it's the largest state in the country.
We started our van trip in Sydney on the east coast and in our travels around the country, we haven't quite done a logical lap, visiting Western Australia in three different stints, exploring all of it as we went.
→ Check out my favourite free campgrounds in New South Wales and South Australia!
Here are all the places we have camped for free at across the state that we loved and would recommend for anyone on their trip down under, in geographical order from south to north:
Every single spot (and more) that I mention in all my blog posts about Australia can be found in my Australia | Ultimate Map!
This is a digital map featuring hundreds of my favourite restaurants, campgrounds, accommodations, shops, photo spots, museums, beaches, lakes, animal spots, bridges, viewpoints, hikes and SO much more in Australia, including its three external territories.
Each pin includes exact locations, images, detailed information, the ability to open and save the spot in your Google Maps and a link to my relevant blog post to read more.
COMING SOON → Buy the Australia | Ultimate Map!
Below is some useful information for preparing for your trip to Western Australia. In all cases, please be sure to check with the relevant local authorities for the latest and accurate information.
Language: The official language of Australia is English. In Western Australia, Aboriginal people have lived on the land for more than 60,000 years.
→ Learn more about the Aboriginal people of Western Australia.
Currency: The currency used in Australia is the Australian dollar, denoted as AUD $. I use a Wise account when I travel which allows me to have a single, free account with multiple currencies. I only have to pay once to convert my money in the app and then I can pay in AUD $!
→ Check the latest currency conversion between AUD $ and your local currency.
Data: Before you arrive, I recommend purchasing an eSim on your phone so that you can access data the moment you land. eSims are much more convenient as it means you don't have to put a separate physical Sim into your phone. AirAlo offers great deals for eSims of various data sizes and time lengths with Optus.
→ Load an international eSim on your phone with AirAlo.
If you are visiting Australia long term, you might wish to put a physical Sim in your phone as AirAlo is geared more towards short term visitors on holiday. This way you can access a local phone plan. There are three main mobile phone network providers in Australia: Telstra, Optus and Vodafone. Telstra has the best coverage across the country whereas Optus and Vodafone are good within cities. I recommend Telstra as it means you have the best coverage while you travel around the country, especially in rural areas.
Visa: All passport holders except New Zealand require a visa to visit Australia. All arrivals must fill out an Australian arrival card before landing.
→ Check which visa you need for Australia.
Time of year to visit: Australia can be visited all year-round. Western Australia, situated on the west coast of the country, has different appeals in different seasons. The southern half of the state is best seen in spring (September-November) for pleasant, sunny days; summer (December-February) is the best beach season but it can get really hot and busy with school holidays. The northwest of the country has a cyclone season between November and April so the best time to visit is April to September for clear waters, dry humidity and best of all, it's peak whale shark season.
Perth
As with the rest of Australia, Western Australia permits free camping on designated sites. These sites can vary greatly; some offer a variety of facilities such as toilets, trash bins, picnic tables, outdoor cooking stations and others have none of this and might simply be a pull-out on the side of the road.
The best way to find legal free camping spots is to use an app. We use Wikicamps Australia, a cheap app that has every single amenity listed (both free and paid) that you might need on the road. This includes things like where to fill up fresh water, where to dump grey water, where to empty toilets, where to stay, gas stations, information points and also has suggestions for things to do as you go.
→ Download the Wikicamps Australia app.
We found all our campgrounds using Wikicamps Australia (both free and paid).
Here is a map of everywhere we camped in Western Australia:
Where we stayed in Western Australia
There are hundreds of campgrounds, both free and paid, across Western Australia, the largest state in Australia, and it would take a lifetime to check them all out!
To get you started and inspire your camping trip through the state, here are all the free campgrounds we stayed at, in geographical order from south to north:
BJ's Rest
The Nullarbor is a vast, empty region stretching across southern Australia and is one of the country's greatest stretches of driving. The Nullarbor has a bit of a reputation as being dangerous but we've driven it three times and felt absolutely zero fear. There are tons of others driving on the road, plenty of roadhouses to visit with only a few hundred kilometres between them and campgrounds dotted all along the way.
BJ's Rest is a free campground located on the 90 Mile Straight, the longest straight road in all of Australia. We free camped here on our second time on the Nullarbor. It's a simple campground, just off the main road but with plenty of trees and privacy. A perfect stopover.
Amenities: toilets, dump point
Arthur's Rest
Our third time crossing the Nullarbor we stayed at Arthur's Rest, a free camp just before Norseman. We actually preferred it to the camp in Norseman (where we stayed the first time) as it's much quieter and hardly anyone stays here.
The one in Norseman is in town near a sports field and can get crowded. Arthur's Rest is just a gravel stop on the side of the Nullarbor but we had a really peaceful, quiet sleep set back from the highway and the ground is really level.
Amenities: none
→ Check out the Arthur's Rest listing on Wikicamps Australia.
Norseman
In Norseman, the Nullarbor officially ends (or starts, depending which way you go!) and you've officially crossed this wild ~1200km region. We stayed at the free camp at Norseman RV Site, a great spot to start or end your Nullarbor roadtrip.
Amenities: fresh water, dump point
→ Check out the Norseman RV Site listing on Wikicamps Australia.
Ravensthorpe
We've stayed here a few times as it's conveniently located on the route past the Nullarbor and Esperance on the way to the west coast. There isn't much to it, but it's free and you can stay for two nights right in the heart of Ravensthorpe, a small town with some basic shops and amenities.
Amenities: none
→ Check out the Ravensthorpe RV Rest Area listing on Wikicamps Australia.
Lake Camm
In what feels like the middle of nowhere, you can camp for free beside Lake Camm, a beautiful salt lake. There is an abandoned tennis court nearby and a stunningly clear night sky full of stars overhead.
Amenities: none
Betty's Beach
Betty's Beach is a fantastic free campground right on the beach overlooking the ocean. There are technically only six spots, but it was crammed full with campers when we visited!
Amenities: toilets
→ Check out the Betty's Beach listing on Wikicamps Australia.
Hay River
This is our favourite free camp spot near Denmark; we stayed here on both our visits to the region. Tucked away just north of Highway 1, the road is a dirt road but totally fine for 2WD (we managed it easily in our Mercedes Sprinter campervan) along the Hay River. There are different spots along the river; find an empty one and pull up right along the water.
Amenities: none
Mount Frankland
This rest stop is just on the side of the road as you travel between Pemberton and Walpole-Nornalup National Park. There are not many freedom camping spots in the area and it was quiet and served us well for a stopover.
Amenities: none
→ Check out the Mount Frankland listing on Wikicamps Australia.
Willow Springs
Willow Springs is a free campground in the heart of the Donnelly Forest outside of Margaret River. It's a bit of a bumpy drive through unsealed forest roads but should be fine for all vehicles; we managed it in our Mercedes Sprinter campervan.
Amenities: toilets
→ Check out the Willow Springs listing on Wikicamps Australia.
Brockman Stewart
Brockman Stewart is one of the closest free campgrounds to Margaret River and so makes for a perfect place to stop over while visiting the region. Set just back from the highway, we felt it was surprisingly quiet, nestled between the trees.
Amenities: toilets
→ Check out the Brockman Stewart listing on Wikicamps Australia.
Capel
There is no freedom camping within the Margaret River region so we chose to visit a few different spots nearby including this awesome free camping stop in Capel. It's just a few parking bays but set back from the road next to a field and a dead-end street so very quiet and peaceful. It's fairly close to Bunbury and Busselton and so perfect for exploring the northern side of the Margaret River region.
Amenities: none
Francis Street
We stayed at the free camp on Francis Street while driving up the west coast. It's a simple parking lot in the heart of Geraldton.
Amenities: fresh water, dump point
→ Check out the Francis Street listing on Wikicamps Australia.
Nerren Nerren
We stayed at the free camp here on the North West Coastal Highway. This was a wonderful free camp on our roadtrip along the west coast with a massive asphalt area surrounded by dirt camping spots.
Amenities: toilets, dump point
→ Check out the Nerren Nerren listing on Wikicamps Australia.
Minilya River
We stayed at the free rest area here on the North West Coastal Highway, a wonderful free camp on our roadtrip along the west coast. It was a bit washed out post-cyclone when we stayed there in early 2026 but still accessible, quiet and lovely.
Amenities: toilets, dump point
→ Check out the Minilya River listing on Wikicamps Australia.
Yannarie
We camped in Yannarie on our way from Exmouth towards Karijini National Park. This was a wonderful free camp on our roadtrip with a big asphalt area surrounded by dirt camping spots.
Amenities: toilets, dump point
Buddhas Overnighter
If you're after a free camping site, there are two options in Karijini National Park. Buddhas Overnighter is a free campsite next to Hamersely Gorge. There are no amenities here, just the night sky at the end of a red dirt road. Perfect.
Amenities: none
→ Check out the Buddhas Overnighter listing on Wikicamps Australia.
Mount Bruce
If you're after a free camping site, there are two options in Karijini National Park. Mount Bruce Free Camp is next to the base of Mount Bruce, a popular hike. It's also the closest free camp to all the gorges and main areas of Karijini National Park.
Amenities: none
Turf Club
There is a good free camping spot located right in Port Hedland at the Turf Club Campground so you don't need to drive far to be able to camp up for the night. It's located on the western side of Port Hedland, steps from the beach and nearby restaurants.
Amenities: fresh water, dump point
Goldwire
We stayed at the Goldwire Free Campground on our way from Port Hedland to Broome, a free and peaceful place to stay on the side of Highway 1.
Amenities: toilets
Roebuck
We stayed at the Roebuck Free Campground while visiting Broome; it's the closest free campsite to town just off the side of Highway 1 past Roebuck.
Amenities: toilets
Giant Boab Tree
About two and a half hours east of Broome there is a lovely little free campsite tucked under the leafy branches of an absolutely massive boab tree just off of Highway 1. It's thought to be over 1,500 years old and is just magnificent.
Amenities: none
→ Check out the Giant Boab Tree listing on Wikicamps Australia.
Desmond's Parking Bay
Just north of Warmun, we camped at Desmond's Parking Bay on our way towards Kununurra and Lake Argyle. It's near the Wilson River located in a parking bay just off the side of the highway.
Amenities: none
→ Check out the Desmond's Parking Bay listing on Wikicamps Australia.
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Hi! I’m Jana, a Dutch-German-British-Canadian with a dream of seeing every country in the world. I am a storyteller, photographer and adventurer passionate about documenting and sharing my travels.
