16 Sep Camping in Dryandra Woodlands

Dryandra Woodlands offers a truly unique camping experience. At first glance the woodlands look dry and barren. However are actually teaming with animals and flora, its a great weekend getaway location.

Dryandra woodlands is a national park 2hrs south east of Perth in the Wheatbelt. Dryandra Woodlands National Park is a protected area to help conserve the plethora of wildlife that call this area home. It’s home to the endangered numbat and other marsupials such as bilbey’s and wallabies.

Most of the surrounding area is farmland and that is why this national park is actually a conservation area to protect these species and what’s left of their natural habitat.

The bushland is covered by thin white bark wandoo eucalyptus trees and fallen gum trees. You will feel like a bushranger from the early 1900’s wandering around in this unique landscape when you visit. This bushland covered most of the area until it was cleared for farming. 

It’s a unique dry bushland is littered with fallen trees and rocky outcrops. On each of the hikes you will notice the varied landscape. It changes dramatically depending on the soil quality, however the majority of the bushland is wandoo trees. In areas there were lower shrubs covered in wildflowers and other areas dry, barren with large rocky outcrops.

Getting there

2hrs South East of Perth. 

You head down Albany hwy, through Boddington and then east from there. 

Camping grounds are located in the South East entrance of the National Park.

Best time to visit

Autumn (April-June) & Spring (Sep-Nov)

It will get very hot in summer with no swimming places to cool off. 

This area of WA will get very cold in Winter, so if you are camping here in winter be prepared for temps in the minus at night. 

Autumn and Spring will be much better times to visit so you can enjoy a wine by the campfire during permitted dates, without freezing. This area comes alive during Spring with wildflowers. From the golden canola fields on the drive to the natural bushland of the Dryandra Woodland.

Personally I recommend visiting in Spring because the weather is mild, you can still enjoy campfires up until approx mid-late Oct and the wildflowers will be in bloom. 

Camping in Dryandra Woodlands

There are 2 camping grounds in the Dryanda Woodlands. These 2 campgrounds are on the Southern side of the park. Access via York Williams Rd. 

• Congelin
• Gnaala Mia

You cannot book, first come first serve basis. 

$11 p/n pp

No park entrance fee. 

Access via an unsealed road, suitable for 2wd vehicles. 

Camping in Dryandra Woodlands is a unique experience and was a pleasant surprise. The campgrounds have great facilities that were upgraded recently. All the toilet facilities throughout the park were in good condition.

There is no access to clean drinking water. Must bring your own.

Congelin Campground

7 designated caravan sites plus an additional 3 sites for either tent/caravans.

Loads of tent camping options here in 4 designated cleared grassy patches to pitch a tent on.

Undercover picnic and bbq area for campers 

Long drop toilets.

The area is nice and green with healthy grassed areas for tent camping and dotted with Wandoo and paperbark trees. It’s close to the Congelin Dam so there is obviously a close supply of water which is why it’s so much greener than the rest of the national park.

There is a short 1.6km walking trail through this area up to the Congelin Dam. Along the walk you will also spot some remnants of the old railway line that used to run through to Narrogin. 

Gnaala Mia Campground

Has 2 loops.

Loop 1 has 10 sites with 7 designated tent sites. 

Loop 2 has 18 sites with 5 designated tent sites. 

Undercover picnic and bbq area for campers.

Long drop toilets.

The camping area is under the canopy of the tall wandoo trees. All the sites look out onto the surrounding thick bushland. At night the small marsupials come alive hopping through the campgrounds and scratching around. 

There is a 3.2km walking trail called “Lol Gray Loop” you can enjoy. This loops around the Gnaala Mia camping grounds. You can experience drastic landscape changes on this short walk. The wildlife is most active early morning or late afternoon, it is recommended to do this walk in the early morning or late afternoon to catch the wildlife at its most active. Numbats have been spotted on this loop so don’t rush and keep an eye out.

What to See & Do in Dryandra Woodlands

This area is well known for its wildlife, hiking trails and spring wildflowers. 

There are loads of hikes and walking trails to enjoy and try your luck spotting the illusive numbat. With less than 1000 in the wild you would be very lucky to spot one if you do. With plenty of trails to choose from to spot birds, flowers, wildlife or experience the bushland, there is a trail for everyone. Anything from 1km up to 12km. 

The area is also home to many nocturnal animals and there is a popular 1km nocturnal night trail and a Nocturnal Wildlife Experience. Walk trail is free however you will need to book the Nocturnal Wildlife Experience in advance HERE.

If you are unable to enjoy any of the walking trails there is a 23km drive trail through the bush so you can still soak up some of the bushland experience.

Final thoughts

This was an unexpectedly enjoyable camping location. I honestly had low expectations because the bushland looked a bit boring and barren. However, as usual I was proven wrong. The walking trails are lush and full of life. I was lucky enough to visit in spring so the wildflowers were starting to bloom.

The bushland is actually full of colour. I was lucky enough to spot an echidna foraging and see plenty of bilbey’s hopping through my camp at night. I camped at Gnaala Mia and think this was a great camping location with sites well spread out and surrounded by thick bushland. 

Dryandra is a great spot to camp on your way down to Esperance or Albany.