South of Perth is where most WA campervan trips happen, and for good reason: the drives are sealed, the distances are manageable, and you get coast, karri forest and wine country within a few hours of the city. The hard part is choosing which trip. Here are the best road trips down south, what each one suits, and how to plan it.
The best road trips south of Perth
The South West loop (7–10 days)
The classic. Margaret River’s coast and cellar doors, Pemberton’s karri forests, and the Great Southern around Albany and Denmark, then home, about 1,300km, all sealed. The best all-rounder and a great first WA trip. Full detail in the South West loop guide.
Perth to Margaret River (3–5 days)
The short version if you’re tight on time: down the coast to Busselton and Margaret River for the caves, beaches and wineries. Easy, sealed, and good in any season. See the Margaret River campervan guide.
The Great Southern: Perth to Albany and Denmark (4–6 days)
Straight down to the south coast: Albany’s Torndirrup National Park (The Gap, Natural Bridge), the Anzac history above King George Sound, and Denmark’s Greens Pool, Elephant Rocks and the Valley of the Giants. Our Great Southern guide has the route.
Perth to Esperance (7–14 days)
The longest of the south trips, out to the white sand and turquoise water of Cape Le Grand, Lucky Bay, Hellfire Bay, Frenchman Peak. Do it as a loop, inland via Wave Rock one way and the coast the other. See the Perth to Esperance guide.
Perth to Pemberton (3–5 days)
For the tall-timber country: climb a former fire-lookout tree, walk a section of the Bibbulmun Track, and drive the Karri Forest Explorer. A quieter, forest-focused trip, see the Perth to Pemberton guide.
Short trips and long weekends
Not everything down south needs a week. If you’ve only got a few days:
- Perth to Gracetown (3 days): Busselton Jetty, the Leeuwin-Naturaliste capes and the northern Margaret River beaches, at an easy pace.
- Dwellingup: jarrah forest, the Munda Biddi trail and white water on the Murray, barely 90 minutes from Perth.
- Ferguson Valley and Gnomesville: rolling hills, small cellar doors and a forest full of thousands of garden gnomes, just inland of Bunbury.
- Bremer Bay: further along the south coast, but the one place in WA you can see orcas in the wild (January–April), plus quiet white-sand beaches.
These suit a quick getaway, or a first taste before you commit to one of the longer loops.
When to go
- Spring (Sep–Nov): the all-rounder, mild days, wildflowers, fewer crowds.
- Summer (Dec–Feb): best for swimming; book campgrounds early and expect company.
- Autumn (Mar–May): quiet and comfortable, ideal for forests and wineries.
- Winter (Jun–Aug): cooler and wetter, but whale-watching season along the south coast.
Vehicle and the honest limits
Every trip here is sealed, so a 2WD campervan does the job. A 4WD camper only earns its place if you want the extra beds for a family or gravel-access confidence into the parks, not for going off-road.
On any vehicle, sand, dunes, beach driving, river crossings and remote 4WD tracks are off-limits and not insured. That includes the South West’s famous soft-sand spots like Yeagarup Dunes and the D’Entrecasteaux beaches, see those on a local tour rather than driving in. The main real hazard is wildlife at dawn and dusk, so drive in daylight; more in our night-driving guide.
Where to camp
Use designated campgrounds, national parks, caravan parks, and recognised low-cost sites, and book ahead in peak season and school holidays. National park sites (Lucky Bay at Cape Le Grand is a standout) are booked through WA’s Explore Parks site, often months ahead. The WA Parks Pass that comes with your hire covers park entry. The WikiCamps app and our beach camping guide help with the gaps.
What it costs
Hire starts from $140/day, with comprehensive insurance, NRMA-style roadside assistance and the WA Parks Pass included, live pricing for your dates is on each vehicle listing. Beyond that it’s mainly fuel and campgrounds (around $35–$50/night powered), and self-catering from the camper’s kitchen keeps food costs down. See the camper excess page for how the insurance excess works.
FAQs
What’s the best road trip south of Perth?
For a first trip, the South West loop, sealed, varied, and doable in a week. If you have more time, extend it to Esperance for the south coast’s best beaches.
How long do I need?
A weekend gets you to Margaret River; a week does the South West loop comfortably; 10–14 days lets you reach Esperance and slow down. Keep daily drives realistic either way.
Do I need a 4WD?
No. Every trip down south is sealed. A 4WD camper only helps for extra beds or gravel-access confidence, and the soft-sand 4WD spots aren’t permitted in our vehicles anyway.
When’s the best time to go?
Spring (September–November) is the sweet spot for most people. Summer is best for swimming, winter for whales along the south coast.
Plan your trip down south
Pick the trip that fits your time, and we’ll match the camper. Compare the campervan range, check live availability on the fleet listings, or send Dorian your dates and route for a straight answer on what works.