These Campgrounds Offer the Chance to go Camping With Custodians

Not all camping experiences are made equal. Some boast magnificent sceneries that go unmatched, while others are truly exceptional thanks to the people that join you. And then there’s some that offer both – win-win!

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the Countries on which these adventures take place who have occupied and cared for these lands, waters, and their inhabitants for thousands of years. We pay our respects to them and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.

Camping With Custodians

Camping with Custodians is an Australian-first initiative: a network of Western Australian campgrounds on Aboriginal lands owned and operated by local Indigenous communities.

The campgrounds offer first-rate amenities on the doorstep of some of the North West’s iconic natural wonders. It’s a two-way street with camper fees generating income and providing employment opportunities and support for Aboriginal people.

But besides pitching with purpose, campers are also on the receiving end. Campers have the opportunity to gain insight into the local culture by interacting with community members and participating in unique campground experiences.

Sit around a yarning circle and hear an elder tell Dreamtime stories under a star-studded sky. Listen to the musical talents of community members. Learn how to make damper on the campfire and uncover fascinating bushtucker hacks.

Strengthen your connection to country beyond the tent pegs by Camping with Custodians at these Western Australian campgrounds.

Read more: Remember to leave no trace!

Ronny performing at Mimbi Caves Campground

Djarindjin Campground

Djarindjin Campground is the latest campground to join the network, opening its boom gates in May 2022. The Dampier Peninsula‘s new campground is along Broome-Cape Leveque Road on Bardi Country.

On its doorstep are some of the Kimberley’s natural wonders, such as Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm (27km), One Arm Point (24km) and Lombadina (2.8km). And with coastal wilderness campground Kooljman closed for repairs, Djarindjin Campground is a good alternative, with its advantageous location being accessible with a 2WD.

Another reason that makes Djarindjin Campground so desirable is its flashy facilities that’ll excite those not so keen on roughing it. Its modern amenities are central within the campgrounds, housed in attractive shipping container-like builds and surrounded by landscaped lawns.

The indoor kitchen includes fly-mesh doors for a comfortable cook-up, avoiding the need to spray insect repellent and having a scratch match with oneself. It also features a ceiling fan, laundry-sized sinks, a BBQ, and two seated areas. Campers can also opt for traditional campground offerings with multiple BBQs, undercover picnic table areas, and a yarning circle outside. 

The campground is reasonably sized, featuring 37 powered sites suited to caravans, large RVs, and ten unpowered sites. Three ablution blocks feature flushing toilets and hot showers, with the central ablution block providing wheelchair access.

Next to the campground, you’ll find Djarindjin Roadhouse. It offers takeaway food, essential items, and a tour booking office to make planning your grand tour around the Dampier Peninsula a breeze. Too easy. 

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Violet Valley Campground

Are you someone who likes a badass 4WD challenge? Read on my fearless friend.

Violet Valley Campground on Gija Country is one for adventurous drivers, only accessible via 4WD or off-road campers/caravans, 13km off the Great Northern Highway. Located along the Bow River, the campground is at the gateway to the World Heritage-listed Bungle Bungles in Purnululu National Park, just 36km away.

Bungle Bungles | @fungshuay

Besides the cheap thrill of getting to the campsite and its prime locale, campers will revel in the campground setting. 14 campsites in savannah surrounds and set along the river, with hot showers, flushing toilets, BBQ facilities, and a fire pit on offer. The perfect excuse to go off-grid.

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Mimbi Caves Campground

The name is a giveaway on what’s on offer – caves and lots of them. 

Mimbi Caves Campground on Gooniyandi Country is one of the most scenic campsites in the network, sitting at the base of the Emmanuel Ranges with the towering Mueller Ranges in the distance. Just 95km south of Fitzroy Crossing, it’s easily accessed via the Great Northern Highway, requiring a slight deviation from the main drag. Trust us; it’s worth the detour.

Buried deep within its surrounding ranges are Mimbi Caves. The ancient caves are a part of the 350-million-year-old Devonian Great Barrier Reef, stretching across the Kimberley region. To experience the spectacle of this extensive cave system, take a two-hour walking tour led by local guide Ronny. It’s like exploring a maze, walking and sometimes climbing the caves pathways, encountering remnants of fossilised reefs, natural pools, shimmering crystal growths, and ancient rock artwork – it’s all kinds of wow.

The scenery may be immense, but the campground tells another story. The campground features 15 unpowered campsites. Campers would be happy with its flushing toilets, hot showers and inspired-by-nature designed large kitchen/BBQ undercover area, great for big group dinners. A yarning circle is sandwiched between the kitchen and the Emmanuel Ranges, a convenient and picturesque placement. 

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Imintji Campground

If you’re travelling along the legendary Gibb River Road, pull into Imintji Campground.

One for the nature buffs, the campground sits at the foothills of Wunaamin Miliwundi Ranges (formerly known as the King Leopold Rangers) on Ngarinyin Country. Campers will soon become very familiar seeing red with stunning range views and sizzling sunsets on show. Other unmissable sights nearby include the Falls at Bell Gorge, Windjana Gorge, and Tunnel Creek.

Windjana Gorge | @huntingforparadise

The campground’s modern facilities include an undercover camp kitchen with BBQs, sinks, a dining area, and an ablution block. 

There’s also an onsite store selling essential items and diesel fuel. And if you happen to be on the hunt for a souvenir to commemorate your time in the Kimberley, you’re in luck, with the Imintji Art Centre selling artworks and crafts by local artists.

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Doon Doon Campground

Convenience and top-notch roadhouse burgers – what more could you want?

Doon Doon Campground on Ngarinyin Country sits 110km south of Kununurra along the Great Northern Highway, with Doon Doon Roadhouse next door. Like Djarindjin, it’s a springboard to some of the state’s serenely beautiful attractions at El Questro Wilderness Park, just an hour’s drive away. 

Branco’s Lookout, El Questro | @anthony.palmowski

Closer to camp, its scenery doesn’t do badly either – the campground sits opposite soaring red ranges and bushlands. The campground’s modern amenities aren’t so rustic, with a modern undercover camp kitchen that’ll thrill camping Masterchefs. It features BBQs, electric hot plates, and cooktops, a small fridge, multiple sinks, and a seating area to feed the masses. Who said you couldn’t cook an impressive home-cooked feed on the road? 

The campground offers two camping sections: designated caravan (powered) and camping (unpowered sites). In the latter, a yarning circle acts as the unpowered camp area’s communal hub. The ablution block at the centre of the campground features separate male and female rooms with flushing toilets and hot showers.

And if you’re wanting to spoil your palate with something more than just basic camp cuisine, head to the roadhouse for a hearty burger: the stuff of legend in the North West. 

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Peedamulla Campground

See a different side to the Pilbara with a stay at Peedamulla Campground.

This cosy campground on Banjima Country is at the historic Peedamulla Station, 7km from North West Coastal Highway and 70km west of Onslow. It offers 20 campsites, including 5 powered and 15 unpowered sites.

Campers will be impressed with the campground’s contemporary communal space featuring a sheltered camp kitchen with stone landscaping, a shaded BBQ area, and a campfire. Ablution blocks include hot showers and flushing toilets.

A beautifully restored heritage building houses the campground’s shop and office, surrounded by ruins and relics of a bygone era. If you’re keen for a bumpy ride, explore the coastline and wetlands on an off-road 4WD adventure, and make sure to have a yarn with the local Aboriginal owners, the Parker Family. Speaking of family, the campground is pet-friendly too, so you can bring your furry family member and always be in good company. 

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Please note: Activities are offered on an ad hoc basis. Please check in with the campground before departure to see what experiences may run.