Aussie couple's absolute beachfront $10 campsite discovery: 'Like winning the lottery'

If you are dreaming of stunning blue water, sunsets that feel like they are lifted straight from a postcard and the feeling of being unplugged and completely relaxed, then you are certainly not alone. With the end of 2024 fast approaching and many Aussies looking forward to some well-deserved time off, getting away from the grind is on a lot of people's minds.

While international travel is nice for those who can swing it, it's not an option for everyone, which is what has contributed, in part, to the rise in popularity of camping and caravan trips around Australia. With an abundance of incredible places to pitch a tent or park a van, travellers are spoilt for choice when it comes to our breathtaking backyard.

Aussie couple Daz and Lee, who have been travelling around Australia with their dog Oz, recently found a spot so special that they not only stayed there for 2 weeks but woke up at 3 am several nights in a row to try to secure their 2025 booking.

The spot in question is South Lefroy in Ningaloo, WA, with the couple who go by @our_salty_life on social media, telling Yahoo Lifestyle that it is hard to put into words exactly what makes it so remarkable.

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'An experience you can’t get anywhere else': Why you should go to South Lefroy

"There’s something special about the Ningaloo – it’s hard to put into words – I’m yet to meet anyone who’s been there that doesn’t say it’s their favourite camping spot and South Lefroy is up there as the pick of the campgrounds that are sprinkled along the coast," they said.

They continued, "For us, it’s the beauty first and foremost – the stunning turquoise water that is so clean and clear, the sun warming your bones, the like-minded people that you meet, and it’s dog friendly."

Other reasons to love the site, according to Daz and Lee, are the fact that the bay provides some protection from the wind and, even better, the majority of the campground sites are right on the beach with private access paths from each site to the sand.

"They’re spacious sites and easy to get into," the couple said. "Being able to step out from our caravan and onto the sand and enjoy your morning coffee listening to whales singing offshore, watching the humpback superhighway in front of you is an experience you can’t get anywhere else."

What to know about South Lefroy before going

While you are more than likely keen to jump in your car and head there right now (I know I am), there are a few things that intrepid travellers do need to keep in mind.

For one thing, there are no amenities at all at the campsite so Lee and Daz caution that you need to be self-contained and able to live off-grid.

The other thing to keep in mind is that you need the right type of vehicle before you can access the site.

"You really need a capable car to begin with – the road is rocky and bumpy – it’s slow going, especially when towing," Lee and Daz said. "We reduced the air pressure in our tyres to make for a better ride and protect the tyres and suspension and we were fine. But that’s just getting in – as long as you take it slow, there’s no problem with getting from the main roads. Because it’s such a long and slow trip from Exmouth it’s best to make sure that you have all of your supplies with you – water, food and alcohol. It’s a long drive back into town and not something that you’d do if you can help it."

How to book South Lefroy campsite

The other thing to be aware of is that, while the sites are an absolute bargain at just $10 a night per head, it can be really hard to get a booking with Daz and Lee likening it to winning the lottery.

"Bookings can be made 180 days before arrival and so we were up at 3 am (Vic time) in January trying to get a booking – because it’s so popular it’s almost like winning the lottery to get a booking - especially on the same site. Many of the people we met were only there for three or four days or were moving sites after one or two nights because that was all they could get.

"Unfortunately, many of the sites sit vacant overnight although they are booked. It seems that the low price and the 180-day lead time mean that people book what they can when they can and despite being able to get a full refund upon cancellation, don’t bother to cancel their booking if they are not going to make it. It’s frustrating when you see people who very much wanted to stay and enjoy it having to pack up and leave because the site is booked, only for it to remain empty."

What to do at South Lefroy campsite

Despite these small frustrations, Daz and Lee could not recommend the experience enough - recalling days spent snorkelling, four-wheel driving, paddleboarding and fishing as just some of the activities they enjoyed during their stay.

"The whales and their songs at night is something that we’ve never experienced anywhere else," the couple told Yahoo Lifestyle. "We didn’t know what the sound was at first but once we realised we couldn’t get enough of it – I never knew that a whale sounded so much like an elephant! And the turtles were just beautiful – they are so majestic and serene, snorkelling along with them is almost magical."

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Daz, Lee and Oz have indeed secured their 2025 booking for South Lefroy, and this time they are staying for 28 nights, saying they are beside themselves with excitement at the prospect.

"Although there are no amenities, we think it’s a privilege to be able to stay somewhere with our dog that is right next door to a national park and is a place that not that many people get to in their lifetime," they said. "The camping fee helps to maintain the campgrounds and roads and we think that makes it very much worth it."

Bookings for South Lefroy Campsite can be made here and you can follow Daz and Lee's adventures here.

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