Australind Tourist Park

Look, I’ll be honest – when I first rolled up to Australind Tourist Park on Old Coast Road, I wasn’t expecting much from a 3-star place. But you know what? This spot actually surprised me in the best way possible. It’s one of those unpretentious places where the owners clearly give a damn, and it shows in all the little details that matter when you’re road-tripping through WA.

The location is honestly pretty sweet if you know the area. You’re basically tucked away from the main highway noise (thank god), but still close enough to duck into Bunbury when you need proper supplies or a decent coffee. What I really loved is how it sits right in that sweet spot where you can walk down to the Collie River – and I mean actually walk, not drive for twenty minutes like some places claim. The river access isn’t fancy or anything, but it’s perfect for an early morning stroll or if you’ve got kids who need to burn off some car energy. The whole setup feels properly Australian, you know? Not trying to be something it’s not.

Check-in was refreshingly straightforward – none of that overly complicated key card nonsense – and the staff actually knew their stuff about local attractions. They pointed me toward Harvey (just up the road) for some seriously good cheese if you’re into that sort of thing, which honestly wasn’t on my radar at all. The cabins themselves are clean and functional without being flash, which is exactly what you want after a long day driving. Sure, they’re not going to win any design awards, but everything works properly and the beds are actually comfortable. I’ve stayed in plenty of places with higher star ratings where the shower pressure was pathetic – not an issue here.

What really sealed the deal for me was the vibe during the evening. It gets properly quiet after dark (except for the occasional fruit bat, which is kind of charming in its own way), and you can actually see stars without all the Perth light pollution. The other guests were mostly families doing the Perth-to-Margaret River circuit, plus a few grey nomads who clearly knew what they were about – always a good sign. Parking’s easy, there’s decent space between sites so you’re not listening to your neighbor’s TV, and honestly, for the price point, it just makes sense.

I mean, it’s not going to blow your mind or anything, but sometimes you just want a place that does the basics really well without any fuss. That 8.2 rating feels about right – it’s not perfect, but it’s genuinely good at what it sets out to do. If you’re passing through this part of the coast and need somewhere decent to crash, you could do a lot worse than Australind Tourist Park.