Discover the best free campsites around Perth

If waking up to the sound of birdsong and watching the sun rise over a tranquil landscape, freshly brewed coffee in your hand, sounds like your idea of heaven, consider including free camping on your Perth motorhome road trip itinerary.

Free camping is as great as it sounds – designated places you can legally stay overnight without cost. These are usually in nature away from the bustle of a city, although sometimes it may be at a rest stop area to break a long drive. Free to stay in Western Australia’s gorgeous beachside locations, serene forests, and riverside? It’s not too good to be true!

Free camping is also known as wild camping or freedom camping, Western Australia has over 1,000 designated sites where you can stay in your fully self-contained Star RV home-away-from-home without spending a cent. It’s not a free-for-all; many national parks around Perth (and Western Australia) don’t have free camping options. However, following this useful guide can stretch your travel budget remarkably well.

Staying in a fully self-contained vehicle with everything you need to be self-sufficient (including a toilet) and leave nothing behind is a key rule at most free camping sites. As all Star RV motorhome hires in Australia are self-contained, you can stay at free camping sites when you travel with us. Other rules include a time limit on stays, usually between 24-72 hours.

As the experts in road trip travel, we have compiled a handy guide to the top 10 free camping spots in and around Perth to help you plan the perfect adventure. If the allure of freedom on the road, stretching your travel budget, and connecting to nature on a deeper level sound enticing, read on.

Welcome to Perth/Boorloo

As Australia’s sunniest capital, it’s no surprise that Perth is paradise for outdoor enthusiasts and travellers looking to disconnect from the stress of everyday life. Perth’s pristine beaches, lush forests, rich heritage, and vibrant city life, ensure there’s plenty to do to reconnect you to what’s important in life.

Beyond Perth’s city limits, the landscape transforms into stunning vistas that seem so picture-perfect, you’ll wonder if you’re dreaming. Touring Perth by motorhome is an exceptional way to explore the great outdoors without sacrificing comfort or time.

Not sure what to do in Perth? Check out the 30 best things to do in Perth with our Star RV travel guide.

The top 10 places to free camp in and around Perth

Do a quick ‘free camping Perth’ search and you’ll find a ton of content that is actually hours from Western Australia. It doesn’t help you plan a Perth-bound adventure at all! Ever-changing council bylaws make it challenging to stay up to date on what sites are free. However, we’ve done the hard yards on the 10 best free camping options around Perth, so you don’t have to.

In this handy Perth guide, discover the best free camping spots within two hours of Perth, plus distance from our convenient Perth Airport branch, facilities you’ll find there, and even whether they are dog friendly.

Did you know you can bring your pooch on an adventure with us too (conditions and fees apply).

East of Perth

1. Relax at Clackline Nature Reserve

For journeys into Perth’s hinterland area, free camping at Clackline Nature Reserve offers a welcome respite at zero cost. Just off the Great Eastern Highway, settle into your peaceful forest home with only a few neighbours and some native critters for company.

Facilities: Toilets, fire pits, and picnic tables

Dog-friendly: Yes

2. Soak in Cobbler Pool, Avon

An hour east of Perth, outside of Toodyay and on the fringe of the gorgeous Avon Valley National Park, this free campground is a generally relaxing spot to enjoy Cobbler Pool (and the joy of skipping payment for staying somewhere). It is, however, close to a railway line, so your peace will occasionally be disrupted as a train passes.

Facilities: None

Dog-friendly: Unclear

3. Riverside vistas at Viveash Reserve, Katrine

Not far from Clackline and Cobbler Pool, Viveash Reserve is a lush spot to park your Star RV for the night, thanks to its pretty riverside location along the banks of the Avon River. While a little noisy from street noise by day, by night, the sound of nature as you drift off to sleep makes up for it.

Swimming is not recommended here, and take it slow over the potholes on the road to the reserve. Check out the nearby Northam Silo Art during your stay.

Facilities: Toilets and picnic tables

Dog-friendly: Yes

4. Free facilities galore at Avon Park, York

Also nearby, spend the night in one of the region’s most facility-laden free campsites. Avon Park in York is close to the Avon River Walk Trail, so save some daylight hours to hike this 3.4-kilometre trail for the river and Mount Bakewell views.

Facilities: Toilets, sheltered picnic tables, BBQ facilities, fun nature playground, dump point, and skate park.

Dog-friendly: No

South of Perth

5. Snooze free at the Blythewood Rest Area

This free rest area is an ideal spot for adventures in the towering wilderness of the Dwellingup State Forest, an hour south of our Star RV Perth branch. While it’s just off a main road, it’s a surprisingly quiet spot. Australia’s Top Tiny Town 2023, Dwellingup, is handy for camp supplies.

Facilities: Basic with only toilets and picnic tables

Dog-friendly: Yes

6. Wide open spaces at Marrinup Campground

For a large open space surrounded by native bushland, head to Marrinup Campground, near Dwellingup and Marrinup State Forest.

If you’d like to stretch your legs, take the 1.3-kilometre Marrinup Falls Walk Trail or the 5km walking track to an old prisoner of war camp. If you’re travelling with a mountain bike, you’ll love the 8-kilometre Marrinup Circuit.

Facilities: Toilets, fire pits, picnic tables, and wood barbeques (BYO firewood)

Dog-friendly: Yes, on a leash

7. Dine & stay free at Quindanning Hotel

While not entirely free, if you’re planning on dining out while exploring the hinterland region around Lane Poole Reserve or Harris River State Forest, then why not do it at the Quindanning Hotel where you can access their campground for free if you are patrons of theirs.

Quindanning is around an hour and 45 minutes from Perth.

Facilities: Toilets

Dog-friendly: Yes

8. Camp for free in historic Grimwade

For a night in the barebones ruins of a historic old mill town, stop by the riverside grounds in Grimwade. There’s ample space, much secluded, and you can explore where houses once stood. While it sounds like it could be an eerie place to lay your head, it’s surprisingly peaceful.

Facilities: None, you must be fully self-sufficient to stay here

Dog-friendly: Unclear

North of Perth

9. Rest & save at Moore River Bridge Rest Stop

While basic and limited (there’s only space for 6-8 vehicles), this rest stop is a great opportunity to save some travel funds when heading up the Coral Coast. By day, its highway position makes it noisy, though it calms down once the sun sets.

Facilities: Toilets, rubbish bins, and picnic tables

Dog-friendly: No

10. Stay close to the coast at Drummond Reserve

Two hours north of Perth and only 40 minutes from the postcard-perfect shore of Jurien Bay, Drummond Reserve welcomes fully self-contained travellers for a spot of bush camping for up to 72 hours. You must have at least 20 litres of fresh water and dispose of your waste off-site.

There are only 12 spots here, so get there early to nab a spot.

Facilities: None

Dog-friendly: Yes, on a leash

A quick note: while it’s a definite boost to the travel budget to skip paying for campsites, it’s worth noting many of Western Australia’s national park campgrounds fees are very affordable, generally between $10 and $20 per person per night.

How to plan your free camping adventure

Free camping in a motorhome is an effortless way to reconnect with nature and enjoy the simpler things in life at your own pace. Taking ‘home’ on the road offers the flexibility to explore Perth and Western Australia’s diverse landscapes while saving money on accommodation.

Dollars saved on campgrounds and holiday parks mean more to spend on the iconic experiences this region is famous for, including thrilling activities, enriching cultural attractions, or Western Australia’s sumptuous food and wine scene. From the lush greenery of national parks to the sparkling Indian Pacific coastline, every stop offers something new and exciting.

A little bit of planning goes a long way when including free camping into your Star RV road trip. Here are our top planning tips:

• Research free camping sites Perth: Gaining access to which free camping sites are available can be challenging in WA, as local council rules change frequently. We recommend WikiCamps or Campermate for the most up-to-date list.
• Know – and follow - the rules: Many free camping sites limit how long you can stay – often between 24 and 72 hours. Rangers keep an eye on overstayers.
• Check the road conditions: Once you’re out of the main city areas, road conditions vary. Your vehicle’s excess reduction does not cover travel on gravel roads and 4WD tracks, so check ahead on road conditions before setting out to avoid disappointment.
• Pack the essentials: Do you have enough food and water for your stay? And a first aid kit? Self-suffiency is key when you’re free camping as designated sites are often remote. It pays to be over-prepared, rather than under, so fuel up regularly, too.
• Respect the environment: Consider yourself a goodwill ambassador when free camping. How you act impacts the viability of whether those sites remain free. When road trippers respect the environment, local councils are more inclined to open more free camping locations.
• Leave no trace: Pack in and pack out, even at free camping sites where rubbish bins are available. When you travel in a fully self-contained vehicle like ours, there’s a little extra maintenance required to take care of your grey (sink water) and black water (toilet waste). You’ll find ample dump points/stations to safely dispose of your RV waste. Some are free; some are paid. Both apps list these for convenience.
• Support local businesses: As many free camping sites are in more remote areas, shopping local is an excellent way to give back to the community you’re visiting. Whether it’s buying groceries from a general store, enjoying a cheeky brunch at a family-run café or popping to the nearest pub to yarn with the locals, consider ways you can support local businesses on your travels.

The freedom to tour Australia at your own pace while travelling with a kitchen, bathroom, ample storage space, and the sweet, sweet comfort of mattresses is how you see the Sunburnt Country in style. That hiring a self-contained motorhome also means you can legally camp for free in thousands of places, saving dollars on campgrounds and holiday parks, is the cherry on top!

Feeling inspired?

If you’re ready to explore the beauty of Perth and start your WA free camping motorhome adventure, we’re ready to get you on the road! To book your Perth motorhome hire, click BOOK NOW or call 1800 875 018.