The best star host camping near Perth

Hemmed in by sandy beaches, riverside parks, and wineries, Perth comes with options. Whether using the state capital as a base for wine tasting or bushwalking, hopping over to the neighboring port of Fremantle, or passing through as part of your Western Australia road trip, Perth is on everyone’s itinerary. And campers can have the best of both worlds—dive into the food and culture, then slip away to a secluded bush campsite for a campfire BBQ and a view over the valleys. The added bonus? Year-round sunshine makes camping possible in all seasons.

The banks of the Swan River curl northeast of Perth into the Swan Valley, where they bloom into leafy hillsides and vines. Less than an hour from Perth CBD, it’s the weekend getaway of choice for city-dwellers, where you can go wine tasting, cruise along the river, or get out for cycling, freshwater fishing, and canoeing. With camping sites and caravan parks throughout the valley, you can also pitch your tent or park your campervan or camper trailer in the vineyards.

East of Perth, the hills around Mundaring, Kalamunda, and Armadale are prime for campers and bushwalkers. Just an hour south of the city, Wungong Regional Park and Serpentine National Park are great for waterfall swims and hiking through rocky gorges. Choose a waterside camping area with access to natural swimming pools, camp out on a llama farm, or escape from it all at a remote woodland tent site.

State Route 60 runs north to Yanchep National Park, where kookaburras, koalas, and kangaroos hide among bushland trails and wetlands. Further north, follow the classic Western Australian road trip route, stopping at the Lancelin sand dunes and then trekking through the desert of Nambung National Park to see The Pinnacles. Nearby, Jurien Bay has beachfront camping spots, where you can cool off swimming or snorkeling in the Indian Ocean.