Recently, my husband and I headed down south with a group of our friends for an incredible four-day, dog-friendly camping adventure in the historic little coastal town of Augusta, Western Australia. We had been waiting for this trip for months and boy, was it worth the wait!

Fast facts

• Driving Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
• Distance: 315.6 kilometres (196.1 miles)
• Accommodation Type: Camping
• Price: $$

Things to do in Augusta

Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse

Check out the tallest Lighthouse in Western Australia (the third tallest Lighthouse on mainland Australia) and stroll through maritime history. There are two touring options at this venue: the Heritage Tour will give you access to the interactive museum that’s featured in one of the historic houses the families manning the lighthouses lived in plus you can walk up and see the lighthouse for yourself. This tour is under $10 and is pretty time and cost effective if you don’t have much time to spare. Or if you have plenty of time, book in for the Lighthouse Tour which includes access to the interactive museum PLUS you get to trudge up the lighthouse like the ol’ lighthouse keepers of the past. This tour is about $20 per person and run every 30 minutes.

See where two oceans meet

While you’re at Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse, duck into the little viewing bay to the right where the signage shows Indian and Great Southern Oceans meet. It might not seem like a lot on the surface, but

Do a spot of fishing on the jetty

We headed down to the boat and fishing jetty on Ellis Street in Augusta and pulled up a chair, poured a refreshing beverage and cast out a line (well, those we were fishing did). As the sun goes down it does get a little busy with local fishermen and their kids coming down to throw in a line or two (and I’m create childhood memories I’m fishing with Dad), but you’ll still find the jetty has enough room to accommodate everyone.

Go Op-Shopping

Augusta has some super cute op-shops. Head to the Red Cross Op Shop opposite the hardware store on Ellis Street. Don’t be fooled by the small country town vibes, my friends and I found (and bought!) some cool pieces of clothing there! If you’re after a new book to read then check out the Lions Book Shop on Blackwood Avenue. I am a massive book fan (just ask my husband. We have over 130 books in our house) and Lions Book Shop has a lot (and I mean A LOT) of books to choose from. But don’t think your shopping escapades are limited to just books and clothes, oh no – Augusta even has an op-shop for children’s toys! Lions Pre-loved Toys was chocka-block full of toys that featured in our childhood. So if you’re expecting, have children of your own or want to spoil your friend’s kids with some toys that need to be rehomed, check this place out!

Where to get coffee and a bite to eat

If you’re looking for a quick brew and a bite to eat head to Deckchair in the main street next to IGA. After a sleepless night thanks to some very, very gusty winds Josh and I need some survival juice and brekky stat! The coffee is perfect and the toasted sandwiches are Josh approved and the vegetarian toasted turkish is absolutely delish! But if you’re after a cute spot to sit down and enjoy slice of cake with your coffee or tea, The Ragged Robin is the place to be! It also is a vintage store so you can also get a spot of shopping in!

If bakery treats are more up your alley, The Augusta Bakery and Cafe is going to be your jam! They serve a variety of meat pies, sandwiches, cakes and desserts. There are also a few vegetarian options but not in the pie variety.

You can’t spend time in Augusta without getting some of the best fish and chips in town from Blue Ocean Fish and Chips. The serving sizes are very, very generous (Josh had to finish mine) and the fish is oh-so tasty!

Stay and zen out at this dog-friendly camping ground

Camping in Western Australia during December and January with your fur kidlets in tow can be a little bit limited due to most caravan parks not accepting pets during these busy season. So Josh and I were so excited when our friends told us the camping ground they had booked, Boogaloo Surf and Yoga campground, is completely dog friendly every single day of the year! Now if a pooch friendly camping site isn’t enough, Boogaloo also have yoga sessions, daily massages and surfboard shaping classes! (though, the surfboard shaping classes are subject to the availability of the hosts). If you don’t have your own camping stuff, don’t fret – Boogaloo has some enviable glamping options.

If you’re looking for an affordable camping option with a touch of zen, this is it! For three nights two adults we paid a total of $90! (there was no charge for our dogs!).

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There is so much to do in Augusta and four days just isn’t really enough, plus some of the activities like whale watching and cave exploring aren’t dog friendly and the local doggy daycare centre was completely booked out (lesson: don’t leave it to the last minute to check the availability of the local doggy daycare centre!). My husband and I (plus our fur babies) will definitely be heading down to Augusta again, this time in the cooler months to take advantage of the winter activities.

Until next time my dear reader – stay safe.

Much love,
Lara X

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