Conto campground

Conto Campground is a large bush campground in Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park, about 4km from Conto Beach and close to Boranup Forest and the Cape to Cape Track. The part that catches people out is its size: Conto is really eight different camping areas, and choosing the wrong one can mean booking a site that does not suit your rig.

The official DBCA page is unusually detailed. Use it when choosing an exact site, then use this guide to understand the practical differences between the loops.

Is Conto the trip you want?#

Conto rewards campers seeking forest privacy, a proper base for the Cape to Cape coast and freedom from powered-park bustle. It is a poor fit if you need showers, guaranteed potable water, power, a dog-friendly stay or a spontaneous unbooked arrival. The strongest decision is not “Conto or not” but which loop matches your equipment and desired social distance.

Conto Campground at a glance#

• Eight camping areas: Chuditch, Davies, Hamelin, Isaacs, Quenda, Wanil, Whalers and Whistlers
• Power: none; all sites are unpowered
• Drinking water: not provided; seasonal rainwater is not guaranteed and must be treated
• Toilets: non-flush pit toilets in every camping area
• Showers: none
• Bookings: essential, online, up to 180 days ahead
• Current camping fee: $20 adult, $15 concession, $5 child per night
• Vehicle park-entry fee: none for Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park
• Dogs: not permitted
• Generators: not permitted

Which Conto loop should you book?#

This is the most important decision at Conto. DBCA says the camping areas vary significantly in surface, privacy, vehicle access and the equipment they can take.

Area	Best fit	What to know
Chuditch	Caravans, camper trailers, campervans, rooftop tents	19 crushed-rock sites. Separation and vegetation screening vary. Food-prep shelter nearby.
Quenda	Caravans, camper trailers, campervans, rooftop tents	18 crushed-rock sites. Some adjoining earth spaces only fit a small tent or swags. Food-prep shelter nearby.
Davies	Tents and swags	12 sites with thick vegetation and good privacy. Narrow access in places; no rooftop tents, campervans, trailers or caravans.
Hamelin	Tents and swags	22 sites. Inside-loop camping is more shared/open; outside-loop sites have clearer boundaries and more separation.
Isaacs	Tents and swags; campers who do not need a fire	13 private-feeling sites with narrow access in places. Campfires are never permitted here.
Wanil	Tents and swags; communal-style camping	Shared shady area rather than individually marked campsites, with seven separate parking spaces and shared tables/fire rings.
Whalers	Tents and swags	13 sites. Less dense vegetation than some loops but good separation between sites.
Whistlers	Mixed, but check the exact site	14 sites with varied surfaces, layouts and vehicle access; some are tents-and-swags only.

If you are towing, Chuditch or Quenda are the straightforward starting points. If privacy matters more and you are in a tent or swag, Davies and Isaacs have denser low vegetation and stronger separation according to DBCA.

What recent campers say about the loops#

Recent 2026 Google reviews surfaced by the Margaret River Region tourism site broadly support the official descriptions, with useful extra detail:

• campers repeatedly mention privacy and clean facilities as strengths
• a July 2026 Chuditch visitor found their particular site was not perfectly level, so levelling gear is sensible for vans and sleeping setups
• another July reviewer found the campground's scale and signage harder to navigate after dark
• an April reviewer highlighted the combination of privacy, clean drop toilets, friendly hosts and access to the coast and Cape to Cape Track

These are traveller observations, not fixed site specifications. They are most useful as packing and arrival advice: inspect your booked pad in daylight if possible and download the campground map before you arrive.

Water, toilets and showers#

Bring all the drinking water you expect to need. DBCA does not provide drinking water. Rainwater may be available seasonally, but supply is not guaranteed and it must be treated before consumption.

Every camping area has non-flush pit toilets. DBCA describes these as the campground's only personal-hygiene facility, which means there are no showers.

Chuditch and Quenda have food-preparation shelters with gas barbecues, dishwashing sinks supplied by unheated rainwater when available, preparation surfaces, picnic tables and benches. Other gas-barbecue shelters are available in Hamelin, Quenda and Wanil, and campers may use shelters outside their own loop.

If you use a portable toilet, do not empty it into the campground toilets. DBCA requires that waste to be carried out to an authorised dump point.

Campfires: the rule varies by loop and season#

Isaacs is fire-free all year. Campfires are not permitted there at any time.

In every other camping area, campfires and other solid-fuel barbecues, cookers and heaters are normally prohibited during the hotter period, typically mid-November to mid-April. The exact restriction can change, so campground signage on arrival overrides a calendar assumption.

When fires are allowed:

• use the provided fire rings only
• bring your own firewood
• never collect firewood or kindling in the national park
• extinguish fires completely with water

Gas and liquid-fuel appliances can generally be used unless a Total Fire Ban is declared for the Shire of Augusta Margaret River.

Booking and current fees#

Bookings are essential and are made online through DBCA. You can book up to 180 days ahead, including the day of arrival if a site is still available and you have internet access.

The current DBCA camping fees are:

• Adult: $20 per night
• Concession: $15 per night
• Child: $5 per night

There is no booking fee and no vehicle-entry fee for Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park. Cancellation fees can apply, with stricter conditions in peak periods.

Do not rely on a generic assumption that Conto will have space at short notice. DBCA says south-west campgrounds are especially busy around school and public holidays, and Conto requires a specific campsite booking.

Mobile reception and offline planning#

DBCA warns that mobile coverage in the south-west can vary with provider, forest and terrain. One 2025 traveller reported strong Telstra service but limited Optus at Conto; treat that as one anecdotal experience, not a coverage guarantee.

Download your booking, campground map and route before arrival. This also helps with the repeated traveller complaint that the large multi-loop layout can be confusing after dark.

Best time to arrive#

There is no formal check-in desk you should depend on. Volunteer campground hosts may be present, but DBCA says you book your campsite online and camp on that specific site yourself.

Because the campground is large and loops differ, arriving in daylight is the practical choice. It gives you time to find the right loop, identify your exact site and assess the pad before setting up.

On the booking map, note the road into your named loop and the exact site number. At camp, pass the entrance information, follow loop signs, then stop on the booked pad before unloading. Check pad slope, tent-only earth space, fire ring and the route to the nearest toilet. If the setup cannot fit without spilling beyond the booked site, do not appropriate a neighbouring area: contact DBCA or the host if present.

Weather and seasonal trade-offs#

DBCA highlights three seasonal issues worth planning around:

• December to April: can be extremely hot with very high bushfire risk
• June to September: nights can be cold
• May to October: storms are common in south-west WA

The fire season overlaps with the period when solid-fuel fires are usually prohibited. Bring a gas or liquid-fuel stove and do not make a campfire part of a meal plan until you have checked current restrictions.

What to do nearby#

Conto works well as a base because it is close to several major Margaret River attractions without feeling like a commercial holiday park.

• Conto Beach: about 4km from camp for beach time, surfing and fishing
• Cape to Cape Track: passes through the area
• Boranup Forest: close to camp
• Lake Cave and other Margaret River caves: a short drive away

The campground itself is about the bush setting rather than resort facilities. Recent reviews repeatedly favour the privacy and quiet; the trade-off is no power, no showers and no guaranteed drinking water.

A practical full day is to start on the Cape to Cape Track from the Conto area, turn around at a pre-decided time rather than committing to an unplanned one-way section, then drive the 4km to Conto Beach. Beach and track conditions vary, so use the official trail map and carry water from camp; there is no drinking-water refill to rely on when you return.

If Conto's eight-loop complexity is the wrong trade-off, Boranup Campground is the simpler forest alternative but has its own equipment limits, while Hamelin Bay Holiday Park offers more serviced comfort at a commercial price. Check each operator's current rules rather than assuming Conto fire, water or pet policies transfer.

What is not knowable before booking#

DBCA's individual site descriptions and map are the authority for equipment fit, but they do not guarantee shade, perfect levelness, wind protection or mobile reception. Traveller comments show these vary by pad and network. Use the booking photos and dimensions for your exact site, bring levelling gear if required, and call the park before payment when a mobility or turning-space constraint is non-negotiable.

What to pack that people forget#

Beyond normal camping gear, Conto is easier if you bring:

• enough drinking water for the whole stay
• a gas or liquid-fuel stove even if you hope to have a fire
• levelling blocks if your setup needs a flat pad
• a shower solution if you are staying several nights
• offline copies of the campground map and booking
• your own firewood when fires are permitted
• warm bedding outside summer

Can't get a booking?#

Conto can fill on popular weekends and holiday periods. If the exact loop or site you need is unavailable, set up a free CampWatch alert and we'll text you when a matching cancellation opens up.