Top holiday parks and campsites south of Perth
Discovery Parks Coogee Beach
For the ultimate beach holiday, set up camp at Discovery Parks Coogee Beach. Just ten minutes from Fremantle, this holiday park offers a serene seaside getaway in a convenient location. Enjoy easy access to Cockburn Sound’s crystal-clear waters, where you can swim in peace at Western Australia’s only shark-netted shore.
Discovery Parks Woodman Point
Unwind in a waterfront oasis just 15 minutes from the port town of Fremantle. Nestled in Woodman Point Recreation Reserve, this beautiful holiday park provides first-rate facilities with four beaches within walking distance. Spend your days on the golden sand, go fishing at woodman point and watch sunset on the jetty.
Hillside Garden Village
Surrounded by natural bushland, Hillside Garden Village lies in the foothills just outside of Armadale. Come to this scenic campground for a tranquil weekend break with modern facilities. All sites are powered, hardstand and complete with a parking space. For extra privacy, you can even book a camping spot with a private ensuite.
Things to do south of Perth
Set off from Perth’s southern suburbs to explore the many attractions that lie beyond, from National Parks and beautiful beaches to historic towns and adorable wildlife encounters.
Before you leave the city, cool off with a dip at Cottesloe Beach, one of Perth's top swimming, surfing and snorkelling spots! If you’re visiting in March, don’t miss the annual Sculpture by the Sea exhibition, which transforms this white stretch of sand into an incredible art gallery.
Then it’s on to Fremantle, a coastal town where historic streets are lined with al fresco cafés and colourful murals. Visit the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Fremantle Prison or park your van for the day and hop aboard a ferry to Rottnest Island, a slice of paradise 19km off Perth’s coast. Here, you can take a selfie with smiley quokkas, snorkel in glistening bays, dive in underwater caves and cruise above the limestone reef in a glass-bottom kayak.
Ready to head inland? An hour southeast of the city, you’ll find Helena National Park. To explore its wandoo woodland and jarrah forest, bushwalk a section of the Bibbulmun Track - one of the top long-distance walking trails in Australia, this route winds over 1,000 kilometres from Kalamunda to Albany. There are also heaps of must-see attractions accessible by road! The highest point on the Darling Scarp, Mount Dale enjoys sweeping vistas of the Darling Ranges and Darkin River Valley. Mundaring Weir and the State Forest have plenty of lookouts, waterfalls and wildlife to discover, too. Keep an eye out for kangaroos and emus!
Also set on the Darling Scarp, Serpentine National Park is another great camping destination just a stone’s throw away from Perth. Here, the Serpentine River meanders through bushland and, in autumn and winter, cascades down granite outcrops to form Serpentine Falls. A mecca for bird watchers of all ages, the river valley’s steep slopes are home to 70 species of colourful birds, such as yellow robins, red-capped parrots, and white-tailed black cockatoos.
While you’re out this way, visit Jarrahdale, the first timber town in Western Australia and home to one of the world’s oldest surviving communities. Nomadic Nyoongar people lived here for thousands of years before European settlers arrived. Now, its picturesque forests, coastal plains, and verdant vineyards make for a postcard-perfect camping destination, while restored timber cottages, museum exhibits and antique stores let you step back in time.
Whatever adventure you’re after, hire a campervan, caravan, camper trailer or motorhome in Perth to get started. With an excellent network of roads linking its southern suburbs to the surrounding wilderness, it’s easy to embark on an unforgettable WA camping trip!
Getting to and from Perth South
Travelling to Perth is simple, thanks to an international airport with inbound flights from across the globe. Qantas and Virgin also run daily flights from Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide, Canberra and Darwin, which last about five to six hours depending on the city.
Once you arrive, several buses can take you to public transport stations throughout the city’s southern suburbs, where you’ll find train lines to bring you further down to places like Rockingham and Mandurah. Another option is to hop in a taxi directly to your van pick up point.
If you’d prefer to drive your car to where you’re collecting the van, then this is a great opportunity to kickstart your adventure. Brave the iconic route through the Nullarbor from Adelaide or discover WA’s Outback at its most wild along National Highway 1 from Broome. Whichever route you choose, the plus 2,000km route will be the road trip of a lifetime!