We take a look at Australia’s sunniest capital city, why you should hire a campervan in Perth, where to get one (if you don’t have your own), what to do and when to visit.
While we often don’t consider cities as ideal campervan hire destinations, Perth is worth making an exception for. Those visiting Perth in a campervan, caravan, or motorhome (whether your own or as a hire vehicle) get the best of both worlds. Just remember, you want to make sure your campervan insurance coverage is sorted, and you’ve brushed up on your towing skills.
Nestled along the shores of the Indian Ocean, visitors to Australia’s sunniest capital city can enjoy all that city life has to offer, as well as unplug and find serenity on the beaches of a turquoise coastline that other cities can only dream of. So whether you’re seeking the tranquility of nature, the excitement of urban life or the sand between your toes, here’s how to ‘do’ Perth in an RV.
Star RV offers modern motorhomes designed with comfort and spaciousness in mind. They also claim an easy drop-and-go vehicle return at the end of your holiday and thoughtful extras, such as high-quality bed linen and towels.
Known for their boldly coloured, affordable and compact campervans and motorhomes, Jucy Rentals are marketed towards a more adventurous audience. So, if the great outdoors is what you seek, a Jucy campervan hire might just be what the doctor ordered for Perth.
Not too far from Fremantle, this quiet, shady caravan park is an ideal place to park your hired campervan while you explore Perth and Fremantle. Offering direct access to the turquoise waters of Cockburn Sound (the only shark-netted area on the WA coast), this park is within walking distance to a local park, playground and beach style cafe. Both powered and unpowered campsites are available.
Powered slab and drive-through sites are available at this Big4, located on the edge of the beautiful Swan Valley just 20km from Perth. This tourist park has everything you expect from a Big4 and, as a result, is popular with those who’ve hired a campervan and are exploring Perth with kids.
Located 55km north of Perth’s CBD, Henry White Oval Campground can be found in the Yanchep National Park. There are 12 grass campsites on the former oval and nine campsites in the former car park suitable for campervans, trailers and caravans. Unpowered campsites are available only here, but the upside is, that each campsite has a picnic table and benches. Head here if you’re allergic to commercial campsites and would prefer to stay in a National Park campsite.
Given that water is not guaranteed at this Perth NP campsite and there is no power hook-up, you’ll need to be on top of the solar/battery situation of the campervan you’ve hired.
After you’ve sorted your campervan hire in Perth and are settled in, there are several must-see attractions and destinations worth exploring. Here are some top recommendations for places to visit and things to do in and around Perth.
With those famous turquoise hues, Perth has the kind of beaches that will make your friends and family jealous. If we’re talking iconic beaches though, don’t miss Cottesloe Beach for those postcard-worthy scenes of shady Norfork Pines, terraced lawns, pristine sand and the WA sunset. March is a great time to visit as the foreshore is transformed into an outdoor gallery space with Sculpture by the Sea.
Also of note is Bathers Beach, in the heart and soul of Fremantle. Here, there is a licensed area in which you can order a cold drink and enjoy it with your feet in the sand. It’s the beach that every other city in Australia wishes it had.
Both of these Perth beaches are popular so you may have trouble parking your hire campervan here. Never fear though, public transport in Perth is superior to Sydney and Melbourne!
Kings Park is one of the world’s largest inner city parks and is home to the Western Australian Botanic Garden, boasting over 3,000 species of the state’s unique flora. Stroll the bushland walking trails, head to the play areas if you’ve got kids, traverse the Federation Walkway in the treetops, and afterwards, chill out in the lovely cafe.
Despite its Perth city location, there are quite a few parking options at Kings Park so if you’ve hired a smaller-sized campervan, you shouldn’t have too much trouble.
Created by world-renowned recycle artist Thomas Dambo, six larger-than-life Giant sculptures have been hidden in and around Mandurah and Perth. The sculptures have been designed as a ‘giant hunting’ game where visitors collect a symbol from the first five giants and use these symbols to crack a code that will then give you the top-secret location of the final giant. Mandurah is around 90 kilometres south of Perth so you’ll be glad you hired a campervan for this trip!
To learn more about the Giants of Mandurah, what to expect, and how to find them, read our comprehensive guide below:
It’s not hard to fall in love with Fremantle (or Freo if you’re a local). Renowned for its historical landmarks, eclectic arts scene, beautiful beaches and bustling markets, Perth’s old town is one of the best things about Perth. In fact, you could hire a campervan in Perth and just spend all your time in Fremantle and still have a fantastic time.
Here, you can tour the underground tunnels of the Fremantle Prison, see the real-life remains of the Batavia at the Shipwreck Museum, lock your partner in a pillory at the Round House, stroll the famous Fremantle Markets or simply enjoy the cafe scene along Cappucino Street.
It wouldn’t be a visit to Perth without checking out Western Australia’s gold mining history at the historic mint. Jump on a guided tour to see some of the world’s largest gold nuggets and watch a gold-pouring demonstration.
Take a day trip to Rottnest Island to enjoy the beautiful beaches and snap an iconic Quokka selfie. I’ll let you on a little secret. The best way to ‘do’ Rottnest Island is by pushbike. Hire one with your ferry ticket over and set out to explore the island on one of the many well-maintained cycling and walking trails (campervans and other vehicles are not allowed on this popular island near Perth).
Home to over 40 world-class wineries, the Swan Valley is Western Australia’s oldest wine region and a popular road trip for those who’ve hired a campervan in Perth. Here, you can visit a cellar door to sample some of the best wines in the region and top off the afternoon with lunch at one of the many wineries with restaurants.
Not really much of a drinker? Don’t worry, the Swan Valley is also a great place to embark on a seasonal produce trail. This region is a diverse food bowl where you can pick your own produce straight from the tree or ground.
A little-known gem for flower lovers, Araluen Botanic Park can be found deep within a valley in the Perth Hills. Located within 59 hectares of native forest, Araluen boasts 14 hectares of developed gardens within a unique micro-climate featuring loam soils, high rainfall and cold winters. One of the best times to visit is in September for the bright and bold Tulip festival.
Perth is reasonably warm all year round, so there’s really not a bad time to visit. But there is definitely better times of year than others to hire a campervan in Perth if you want to soak up the sunshine. If avoiding rain is your main goal, summer and spring are a good time to go.
Summer in Perth is a little hot and very dry, making it a great time to visit for those wanting to spend their time on the sand and keep it simple with t-shirts, shorts and flip-flops. The average temperature for Perth in summer is 17°C to 30°C, so you may want to ensure the campervan you hired has aircon.
Autumn seems temperatures of between 13°C and 26°C and short bursts of rain with humidity. Thankfully, it usually only rains for a day or two before the sun makes a welcome return.
For those who love the great outdoors, winter is not the ideal time to visit Perth, with temperatures ranging from 8°C to 19°C. It’s the only season where rainfall can hamper your plans. However, for those who love art galleries, museums and other indoor attractions, you’re in luck.
Hire your campervan in Perth in spring if you’ve ever dreamed of seeing Western Australia’s wildflowers in bloom. The temperature ranges from 11°C to 23°C, and in addition, the humidity is not as intense as in summer.
It doesn’t really matter how you ‘do’ Perth, as long as you do it. Perth is a great place to park your RV for a week, and from there, you can head north or south in your RV to explore Western Australia’s famous turquoise coastline.
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