Fowlers Bay Caravan Park – Eyre Peninsula, South Australia

Beachside Camping, Fishing, Whales and Giant Sand Dunes on the Road to the Nullarbor

For travellers heading toward the Nullarbor who have time for a short detour from the Eyre Highway, Fowlers Bay Caravan Park is well worth considering. Located in the tiny coastal settlement of Fowlers Bay in far-western South Australia, the caravan park sits directly opposite the waterfront and jetty, surrounded by an extraordinary landscape of sheltered ocean, enormous sand dunes and remote coastline. The park offers powered and unpowered camping sites, free hot showers, a camp kitchen, drive-through sites and ocean-view cabin accommodation. It’s also an excellent base for fishing, whale watching, swimming, four-wheel driving and exploring the spectacular coastline before continuing west toward Yalata, Head of the Bight and the Nullarbor.

Fowlers Bay Caravan Park Overview

Camping at Fowlers Bay

Fowlers Bay Caravan Park is a small coastal park rather than a large commercial holiday resort, and that’s a big part of its appeal. The park sits opposite the waterfront and close to the town’s long jetty, giving campers easy access to fishing, beaches and the spectacular Fowlers Bay coastline.

Camping options include:

• Powered caravan sites
• Unpowered sites
• Tent camping
• Drive-through sites
• Ocean-view cabins

The park is suitable for caravanners, camper trailers, motorhomes and tent campers wanting somewhere comfortable to stop for a night or several days.

How Much Does Camping Cost?

The caravan park’s currently published standard rates are:

The park also currently lists:

• Additional person: $8 per night
• Children under six: Free
• Maximum: Six people per site

Rates can change, so confirm the current tariff when making your booking.

Do You Need to Book?

Booking ahead is recommended, particularly during winter and other popular travelling periods. A one-night non-refundable deposit is currently required to confirm a caravan park reservation. Normal check-in is after 12 noon. Guests expecting to arrive after 5:00pm should contact the park to arrange late check-in. The park advises that check-ins after 7:00pm are not available without a prior booking.

Facilities

Facilities available to caravan park guests include:

• Free hot showers
• Toilets
• Camp kitchen
• BBQ facilities
• Communal refrigerator
• Television in the camp kitchen
• Fish cleaning station
• Drive-through sites
• Laundry facilities
• Kiosk

An Off-Grid Caravan Park

One of the more interesting things about Fowlers Bay Caravan Park is that the property operates off-grid. There is no mains electricity supply. Instead, the park has invested in a substantial solar electricity system supported by battery storage. The park currently has a 35 kW solar system and a 275 kWh battery bank, allowing it to provide power around the clock while reducing reliance on its backup generator. Guests are asked to be mindful of electricity use so that generator operation can be kept to a minimum.

Water Supply

Water is a precious resource at Fowlers Bay. The caravan park does not have access to a normal mains water supply. Water is sourced locally and pumped to the park using solar power. Water is available for use during your stay, but visitors are asked to arrive with full caravan or motorhome tanks whenever possible. Don’t plan to refill large tanks immediately before departing.

Is There a Dump Point?

There is no dump point at Fowlers Bay. The caravan park recommends emptying toilet cassettes and waste tanks at Ceduna if travelling from the east or Border Village if approaching from the west. This is worth doing before turning off the Eyre Highway, particularly if you’re planning to stay several nights.

Are Dogs Allowed?

Yes. Fowlers Bay Caravan Park describes its caravan and tent sites as pet friendly. Normal responsible pet ownership applies, including keeping dogs under effective control and cleaning up after them. Pets are not permitted in the Ocean View Cabins.

Ocean View Cabins

For travellers wanting a break from the caravan or tent, Fowlers Bay Caravan Park also offers Ocean View Cabins.

The two-bedroom cabins feature:

• Ocean views
• Queen bedroom
• Bunk bedroom
• Accommodation for up to four people
• Full bathroom
• Kitchen
• Air conditioning
• Bedding and towels

Fishing at Fowlers Bay

Fishing is one of the major reasons people make the detour to Fowlers Bay. The town’s long jetty provides convenient access to deeper water, while beaches and rocky sections of coastline provide additional fishing opportunities. The caravan park even provides a fish cleaning station, which tells you something about how seriously fishing is taken around here.

Whale Watching

Fowlers Bay is also one of South Australia’s lesser-known whale-watching destinations. Southern right whales visit the region during winter, and the caravan park identifies June through October as the main whale-watching period. Whales can sometimes be seen from the shoreline, while local boat tours provide opportunities to experience them from the water. For travellers heading toward the Head of Bight, Fowlers Bay can therefore make an excellent first whale-watching stop.

The Giant Sand Dunes

One of the most striking things about Fowlers Bay is the enormous system of sand dunes surrounding the settlement. The dunes create an almost desert-like backdrop immediately beside the ocean and are one of the area’s signature attractions. Sandboarding is particularly popular, and sandboards are available for hire locally. The dunes and beaches can also be explored by appropriately equipped four-wheel-drive vehicles, subject to conditions and local access advice.

Fowlers Bay Conservation Park

Travellers with a four-wheel drive can also explore the surrounding Fowlers Bay Conservation Park. The park protects a spectacular combination of coastal dunes, beaches, scrubland and marine views. There are also three designated bush camping areas within the conservation park for travellers looking for a much more remote camping experience. These national park campsites are separate from Fowlers Bay Caravan Park and require their own bookings.

Getting to Fowlers Bay

Fowlers Bay is approximately 22 km from the Eyre Highway, making it a relatively short detour for travellers heading across the Nullarbor. Despite being close to the main highway in Nullarbor terms, the settlement feels wonderfully isolated once you arrive. Check current road conditions before travelling, particularly if towing a large caravan or following periods of poor weather.

What Should You Take?

Although the caravan park at Fowler’s Bay provides good facilities, Fowlers Bay is still remote, read our Nullarbor Plain Checklist

Best Time to Visit

Fowlers Bay can be visited throughout the year, but the cooler months are particularly attractive. If whale watching is one of the reasons for visiting, plan your stay between approximately June and October. Summer can bring hotter conditions, while the exposed coastal location means wind is possible throughout the year. Whatever the season, Fowlers Bay makes a refreshing change of scenery from the long stretches of Eyre Highway.

Contact Details

Final Thoughts

Fowlers Bay Caravan Park is the sort of place that can turn what was supposed to be a quick overnight stop into a stay of several days. The park itself provides the essentials – powered and unpowered sites, hot showers, a camp kitchen and somewhere to relax – but it’s the location that makes Fowlers Bay special. You can fish from the jetty, explore enormous sand dunes, watch for southern right whales, wander along the beach or simply sit beside the bay and enjoy being somewhere that feels a very long way from city life. For travellers heading across the Nullarbor, the relatively short detour from the Eyre Highway is a small price to pay for experiencing one of the far-west coast’s most unusual little settlements.

If your itinerary allows it, Fowlers Bay is worth much more than a fuel-and-sleep overnight stop.