Are you looking for an amazing camping experience? Well, here it is. Honeymoon Pool in the heart of Wellington National Park, is absolutely stunning, and you need to check it out.
The morning mist over Honeymoon Pool
Honeymoon Pool is located almost 30km out of the town of Collie, and a two-hour drive from Perth City. It is nestled in the heart of Wellington National Park, an area covering 17,000 hectares of jarrah, marri and yarri forest. The Collie River runs through providing pockets of perfection for picnics, kayaking, swimming and fishing. Little camping spots are dotted around, and tracks for hiking and biking fold and furl throughout. The Wellington Dam is located here, built back in the early 1900s, it is the second-largest dam in the state. You can visit the dam and walk to the lookout to see across the catchment area and learn more about the history of the area.
Honeymoon Pool offers only 20 tent sites that are nestled deep amongst the trees. It is unpowered and caravans are not allowed. It is tranquil here, and the well-spaced sites give much-desired privacy. This is a place where you feel snug and tucked away in a secret haven.
Honeymoon Pool
There is one toilet block with flushing toilets but no showers. There are electric BBQ's near the river for when the fire ban is on, and each site has a picnic bench with seating and a fire pit with plate for use in the off-seasons. Firewood is delivered every other day to keep you stocked up too. Just one of the thoughtful actions from the Shire. There are also rubbish bins near the road and there are taps at each end of the area with water for cooking with – not drinking unless boiled. So while this is not totally basic camping – be prepared to rough it a bit.
Now, until recently Honeymoon Pool was a free campground and it was a 'first come, first serve' nightmare. Another camper we met said they'd been coming for 18 years and this was the best year yet because now you have to book and pay for your sites. This means they are not overcrowded and you get to enjoy your space, and indulge in the beautiful surrounds without the mayhem of holiday revellers. You do get the day-tripping foot traffic who come to jump into the river and have a BBQ, but you get used to that. The cost is small and you book online through
here
Tall beautiful trees and broken trunks covered in moss and thriving with insect life lay in comfort amongst the leaf litter, providing a perfect natural playground for children to explore.
Take your kayaks to Honeymoon Pool
Honeymoon Pool itself is absolutely stunning. This calm tranquil water is full of magic, and in the early hours, watch the morning mist creep across the water, ducks create barely a ripple as they silently drift along. In the evenings take your lamps to the water's edge to see the marron forage for dinner.
Explore the surrounding bushland at Honeymoon Pool
There are walk paths around the river so by day you can go off and explore upstream. You will find rapids and stunning landscapes as you explore this pristine part of Western Australia. This is a perfect place to put your kayaks in and gently paddle up and downstream. The water is icy cold, and I was told by a local that whether it be 40 degrees or 14 degrees, the water temperature is always the same – bitter cold.
The birds around camp are super friendly – perhaps a little too friendly so keep your food stored in plastic tubs and an esky.
Camping is so good for the soul. Getting out into the wild, breathing in the fresh air, tuning into the serenity the trees bring, and going offline to just get back to basics for that little while. If you need supplies the town of Collie is a short trip down the road. There is a café nearby where you can buy ice, get takeout food, coffee, drinks and ice creams, but they know they are the only ones around so will charge you for the privilege.
Make Honeymoon Pool your next camping destination – you will not be disappointed.
