80 Mile Beach Caravan Park

If you are road-tripping through the north-west of Western Australia, Eighty Mile Beach Caravan Park is one of those places that feels made for a proper pause. Set right on the beachfront between Broome and Port Hedland, it offers that rare mix of remote beauty and practical comfort, making it a welcome stop on a long stretch of highway. The setting is the big draw, with sweeping coastline, turquoise water, huge skies and a sense of calm that is hard to beat.

This is a park where the natural surroundings really do most of the work. Eighty Mile Beach is famed for beach fishing, shell collecting, birdlife and those glowing Indian Ocean sunsets that seem to stop everyone in their tracks each evening. It is also an important habitat for migratory shorebirds, so there is a real feeling of being somewhere special. During turtle nesting season, from around October to March, the beach becomes even more remarkable, with flatback turtles using this coastline as a nesting ground.

The park itself is well set up for travellers who want a comfortable base without losing that outback coastal feel. There are around 150 grassed, shaded powered sites and 50 unpowered sites, all with access to fresh water, along with self-contained accommodation for those who prefer a cabin. Facilities include clean ablutions, a camp kitchen, barbecues, laundry facilities, shady lawns, a shop kiosk and free Wi-Fi. In peak months from May to September, fresh bread is available, and guests can also enjoy morning tea on the veranda with scones, jam and cream.

One of the most appealing things about staying here is how easy it is to settle into the rhythm of the place. Early mornings can be spent walking the beach or trying your luck fishing, while the afternoons are ideal for relaxing in the shade before sunset. The beach is popular with anglers chasing threadfin salmon and other local species, and there are fish cleaning facilities, an air compressor for tyres and a washdown area for vehicles coming off the sand. For many visitors, though, simply wandering the shoreline and taking in the vastness of the coast is more than enough.

It is also worth knowing that this is a genuinely remote destination, so a little planning helps. The park is reached via an unsealed gravel road off the Great Northern Highway, but it is generally well graded and suitable for 2WD vehicles as well as caravans and motorhomes. There is mobile reception for Telstra and Optus, and TV reception is available, which can be a pleasant surprise in such an isolated location. There is no fuel for sale on site, so it is wise to top up before arriving. Pets are not permitted because of the marine park setting, although approved assistance animals are allowed.

Eighty Mile Beach Caravan Park suits travellers who enjoy wide open spaces, simple pleasures and a strong sense of place. Whether you are there for the fishing, the birdlife, the shell-strewn beach or just the chance to watch the sun drop into the ocean with very little else around, it is an unforgettable stop on a WA journey.