Located in Western Australia’s southwest, Augusta is a unique destination due to its small town feel, single street shopping and stunning vistas of the ocean from many areas. It’s a part of the Margaret River Wine Region and is known for its holiday atmosphere all throughout the year.
A vast part of the population swells in the summer months when visitors and holiday home owners flock to the area to enjoy the ambience of this ocean and riverside town. Augusta is also a hub for camping enthusiasts seeking to immerse themselves in its natural beauty and tranquillity. Let’s explore the five best Augusta campgrounds to consider for your next camping trip.
West Bay Retreat Caravan Park
West Bay Retreat Caravan Park is closest to the Augusta Yacht Club and located just as you enter Augusta town. With shady tree sites and grassed areas throughout the property, there’s plenty of space to park and set up without being cramped next to your neighbour.
Westbay is a combination of permanent sites, caravan sites and camping with limited powered sites. The camping ground sits on 14 acres and extends from the highway to the Blackwood River. There are boat launching facilities available in the caravan park. Visitors can bring their pets (make sure they’re on a lead) and also enjoy barbecues. In the cooler months, campfires are allowed.
Find out more about Westbay Caravan Park.
Turner Holiday Park
Turner Holiday Park is situated on the left side of Blackwood Avenue, nestled along the scenic Blackwood River. This idyllic park provides a tranquil setting within easy walking distance to the town centre and The Colour Patch. The Colour Patch is a serene part of the river where it flows into the ocean and is considered a favourite among tourists as a peaceful place to sit and admire the stunning river vistas.
There are a range of options available from grassed campsites to shady areas and the park can accommodate campers through to caravan and luxury RV owners. Powered and unpowered sites are on offer which permit access to the park’s facilities which include four amenity blocks, a camp kitchen and electric barbeques. For those wanting something with a bit more comfort, Turner Holiday Park offers chalets, some of which offer riverfront views.
Pets are not allowed at this camping ground and there is a minimum stay of two nights on normal days, three nights during long weekends and a four-night minimum during the Easter weekend.
Additional features include disability access, free wifi daily and car storage for Cape-to-Cape walkers.
Find out more about Turner Holiday Park.
Flinders Bay Holiday Park
Flinders Bay Holiday Park is located at the southern end of Augusta, near the picturesque hamlet of Flinders.
This compact caravan park features numerous tree-shaded sites, situated beside a highway on the west and bordering the pristine waters of Flinders Bay to the east. It welcomes both caravan and tent campers, providing facilities such as an ablution block and two barbecues, although it lacks a camp kitchen. WiFi availability is inconsistent. Flinders Bay Holiday Park stands out as the sole beachfront caravan park in Augusta, and it also accommodates dogs, provided they are kept on a leash.
Reaching the beach from Flinders Bay Holiday Park is a short trek away with the grassed picnic area of Flinders Bay just a three-minute walk. The location is also a comfortable walk to Blackwood River and the popular tourist area of The Colour Patch.
Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse is a short nine-minute drive from the Flinders Bay Holiday Park and not far to see stunning ocean views from the nearby Cape Leeuwin Water Wheel and Sarge and Quarry Bays.
Find out more about Flinders Bay Holiday Park.
Hamelin Bay Holiday Park
Hamelin Bay Holiday Park is a beachside paradise looking out to the Indian Ocean. Located 19.2 kilometres and 18 minutes from Augusta, this is a fabulous choice for campers, cabin and caravan holiday makers.
The Holiday Park has a range of cabins, some of which have ocean views and all have a barbecue and bathroom within each cabin. There’s plenty of room for caravans, RV’s and pop up campers here. There are plenty of powered and unpowered campsites, some of which also garner an ocean view.
Park facilities include two ablution blocks, laundry, camp kitchen which has a kettle, toaster, microwave and a large fridge. A children’s playground is located within the park to keep the kids occupied. Electric barbecues are available throughout the park and the undercover kitchen area has gas cooktops, sinks, and tables with chairs to enjoy your meals.
Activities available on this remotely located park include swimming, snorkelling, beach fishing, boating – with a nearby boat ramp – surfing, beach combing and visiting the park’s manta rays which inhabit the water close to shore.
Find out more about Hamelin Bay Holiday Park.
Molloy Hideaway Holiday Park
Molloy Hideaway Holiday Park is located adjacent to Molloy Island and is a popular holiday spot for families and tourists. Regular holiday makers flock to this riverside oasis which is located 15.5 kilometres from Augusta and only 15 minutes drive away.
Here you can pack an esky, launch the boat and go in search of the big one! Or you can just chill and immerse yourself in the latest bestseller. There’s lots of fun stuff for the kids (and the big kids) like paddle boarding, canoeing, kayaking, water-skiing and go-karts.
The Molloy Hideaway Holiday Park is a traditional bush park on the mainland (not on Molloy Island) at Kudardup. It has sweeping views of the Blackwood River, a private boat ramp and is home to a variety of native animals including kangaroos, pelicans, parrots, geese and ducks. The colourful parrots are regular visitors to the park resting on your head and shoulders, seeking a seed titbit. Keep in mind that pets are not allowed to holiday at Molloy because of the wildlife.
Park accommodation includes modern cottages and rustic chalets and cabins. If you’re camping, there are powered and unpowered sites.
Facilities include disabled access and bathrooms, shared ablutions, dump point, kiosk/shop, gas refills, barbecue, fire pits and fish cleaning facilities. For the kids, there’s a playground, games room, TV and SUP and go-kart hire.
Find out more about Molloy Hideaway Holiday Park.
Tours and Attractions while camping in Augusta
Whilst visiting Augusta you might like to visit some of the following which are located within or nearby Augusta.
- Naturaliste Charters Whale Watching Tours – Tours from May to July
- Augusta Boat Harbour – The harbour is built from rock onsite and is unique to the area
- Hillview Lookout
- Augusta River Tours
- Jewel Cave, Lake Cave and Mammoth Cave
- Giants Cave & Calgardup Cave
- Colour Patch Waterfront
- Leeuwin Naturaliste National Park
- Augusta Historical Museum
- Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse – the tallest lighthouse in mainland Australia and a significant historical site.
Whale Watching Tours in Augusta
Augusta’s Whale Watching season spans from May until July each year.
It begins with humpback and southern right whales passing by Augusta on their annual migration to the warmer north western waters for calving season.
Augusta is the perfect place to step onboard the Alison Maree, a 24-metre catamaran from Augusta Boat Harbour.
Located a short journey from the township to the south, this recently built world class facility harbours Naturaliste Charters where you can join their tours daily at 10am or 2pm.
You won’t be disappointed when you join the skipper and crew on the two to 2.5-hour trip touring the juncture of two oceans, and a path that whales take when they migrate north each year.
You won’t have long to wait to see the stars of the show, with less travel and more thrilling whale encounters in the serene waters of Flinders Bay.
