An off-grid camper lets you stay out where there’s no power, no water tap and no caravan park, which is most of the good camping in Western Australia. The trick is matching the camper to your group, your route and how long you want to stay out before you have to come back for supplies. This guide covers how to choose, what’s included, and what it costs to hire.
What “off-grid” actually means here
Off-grid means the camper carries its own power and water, so you’re not tied to powered sites. Our campers run a 300Ah lithium battery, 200W of solar and a 3000W inverter, with an induction cooktop and an 85–110L fridge-freezer depending on the vehicle. No gas bottles to manage, it’s all electric.
In practice that means you can sit at a quiet bush or coastal camp for a few days without plugging in. The solar tops the battery up through the day; the battery runs the fridge, lights and chargers overnight.
In real numbers with our setup: if you drive most days, the vehicle’s alternator keeps the battery topped up and power is genuinely a non-issue, you won’t even think about it. Parked up and out of the shade (and there isn’t much shade in WA outside the South West), you’ll get a solid 2–3 days of full autonomy with no driving at all, comfortably running the induction cooktop, kettle, toaster and charging your devices without rationing. Water is usually what you top up first: a tank lasts roughly 3–7 days if you’re a little conservative.
What off-grid does not mean is going anywhere. Our campers are built for sealed roads and short, formed gravel access into campsites, not sand, beaches, river crossings or remote tracks. More on that below.
The honest trade-offs
Off-grid travel is genuinely good, but it’s worth knowing what you’re signing up for.
What you gain:
- Freedom of where you stop. You’re not chasing powered sites, so quieter national park and bush camps open up.
- Lower running costs. You skip most caravan-park fees and cook your own meals instead of paying roadhouse prices.
- Fewer crowds. The camps without power tend to be the ones other people drive past.
What you manage:
- Water. Plan on roughly 10 litres per person per day for drinking, cooking and washing. Some campers carry larger tanks than others, so this drives how long you can stay out.
- Power if you sit still for days. Drive most days and the alternator keeps the battery full, no thought required. Park up under heavy cloud for several days and you’ll want to be a little more careful, though out of the shade you’ve still got 2–3 days in hand.
- Distance from help. Remote camps mean help is further away. Carry a decent first aid kit, tell someone your plan, and consider a personal locator beacon (PLB) for genuinely remote stretches.
How to choose the right camper
Four questions sort it out.
How many of you are there?
This sets the vehicle. Couples do well in a 2WD van with a fixed bed like the Voyager, no nightly setup, easy to drive. Families and groups of four are better in a camper that sleeps four, whether that’s a van like the Abi or a 4WD with rooftop tents. More people also means more power and water use, so it feeds into the next questions.
Do you actually need a 4WD?
Most WA trips don’t. The south-west, the Great Southern and the Coral Coast Highway are sealed. A 2WD campervan handles them and uses less fuel.
A 4WD camper is worth it when you want surefooted traction on the formed gravel access roads into the national parks, or you need the extra beds a rooftop-tent setup gives a family. Be clear that this is traction and clearance, not a pass for off-road driving, sand, beaches and remote tracks are off-limits on every vehicle in the fleet. If you’re weighing it up, the campervan vs 4WD camper guide breaks it down by route.
Do you need a shower and how much water?
None of our campers have a toilet, drop toilets are common across WA’s national parks and camps, so it’s rarely the problem people expect. Showers and water capacity do vary: some campers carry larger water tanks and an outdoor camp shower, others are set up lighter. If long stretches between fill-ups matter to you, choose a camper with the bigger tank. Tell Dorian how remote you’re planning to go and he’ll point you to the right one.
How long are you staying out?
Short trips near services are forgiving, you can refill water and charge easily. Longer, more remote runs put more weight on tank size, battery capacity and how disciplined you are with both. If you want to stay connected for work or maps where there’s no phone signal, you can add Starlink hire to most bookings.
What’s included
Every camper comes set up to travel, so you’re not buying or hiring a pile of extras:
- 300Ah lithium battery, 200W solar, 3000W inverter
- Induction cooktop and an 85–110L fridge-freezer (no gas)
- Bedding and a camp kitchen
- Comprehensive insurance and NRMA-style roadside assistance
- WA Parks Pass
How it works lists the full inclusions per vehicle. A couple of house rules to know up front: pickup and return are Perth only, there are no one-way hires, and there’s no smoking and no pets in any vehicle.
Where you can take it
The good news is that most of WA’s best camping is reachable on sealed roads and short gravel access. The honest limits, on every vehicle: no sand, beaches, river crossings, heavily corrugated roads, or remote 4WD tracks like the Gibb River Road or Canning Stock Route, and those areas aren’t covered by insurance. If your route has long gravel sections, check with Dorian before booking. Our guide to WA’s national parks is a good place to plan camps that suit an off-grid camper.
What it costs to hire
Daily rates start from $140 for a van and sit a little higher for the larger and 4WD campers. The live, current price and availability for any vehicle is on its Camplify listing, which is the source of truth, rates shift with season and demand, so check your dates.
Two things keep the headline rate honest: comprehensive insurance and the WA Parks Pass are included, and the booking, payment and excess are handled through Camplify. If you want to understand the excess and how to reduce it, we’ve set it out plainly on the camper excess page.
Ready to pick one?
The fastest way to choose is to look at the full fleet, then send Dorian your dates and route. He drives these roads, so he’ll tell you which camper fits, and flag anything on your plan that won’t work, before you book.
FAQs
How much does it cost to hire an off-grid camper for two weeks?
It depends on the vehicle and season. Rates start from $140/day for a van, so a two-week hire scales from there. Check live pricing for your exact dates on the Camplify listing for each camper, that’s always current.
What’s included when I hire?
The off-grid power and kitchen setup (300Ah lithium, solar, inverter, induction, fridge-freezer), bedding, a camp kitchen, comprehensive insurance, roadside assistance and the WA Parks Pass. No gas, no toilet, no pets.
Can I park and sleep anywhere in WA?
No. WA enforces its camping rules and fines apply for overnighting outside designated areas. Use national park and caravan-park campgrounds or recognised free and low-cost sites, and book park sites ahead in busy periods.
Do I need a special licence?
No. A valid full driver’s licence is fine and we accept international licences. Bring the physical licence to pickup.
Do the campers have a toilet or shower?
No toilet, drop toilets are common across WA’s parks and camps. Some campers carry a larger water tank and an outdoor camp shower; others are set up lighter. Ask which suits how remote you’re going.
What are the best destinations for an off-grid camper trip?
The south-west loop (Margaret River, Pemberton, Albany, Denmark), the south coast to Esperance, and the Coral Coast up to Kalbarri and Exmouth. All sealed, all well suited to an off-grid camper kept to formed roads.