Base camp at Contos?

The closeness of the forest to the coast has provided for one of the most well set up National Park campgrounds in Australia, at Conto Fields. Conto's is also one of the most beautiful beaches in the area, named by a local fisherman after a brand of wine which they used to drink in the 1950s. The fishermen built a shack on the isolated beach, which is now surrounded by vast quantities of empty bottles and flagons - testimony to many nights spent fortified against the cold by their favourite drop.
Conto's Beach and its surrounding bays are part of the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park and were originally part of a pastoral lease held by one of the founders of the area, A.P. Bussell. The lease changed hands a number of times - in the 1920s it was used as a pony stud. In the 1950s the paddock was cleared to graze cattle. The stock was walked a few kilometres around the cliff to be watered at a spring on the beach.

Each campsite in Conto's Field has a firepit, tabel setting, grass sites and shade.
The government purchased the land in the early 1970s and added the paddock to the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park. Near the entrance of the park is the magnificent Lake Cave - one of the original tourist caves in the area. The cave is home to some amazing formations that are suspended over large pools, which trickle through a maze of passages to emerge on Conto's Beach. This freshwater spring makes Conto's unique - it flows out onto the sand, icy cold and filtered clean by the limestone it passes through. A swim in the ocean and a quick splash in the spring is an invigorating way to start the day.

Until a few years ago the only access to the beach was either the 4WD track or a long walk around the cliff. The Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM) put a major road through to Conto's and the bays further south. At the time the decision to put the road through caused quite a lot of controversy but the decision was prompted by a number of drownings in the area. Decent access was required if any rescues were necessary. CALM has since provided some excellent camping facilities just a few kilometres from the beach. Sites are cleared, secluded areas surrounded by bush and all have fireplaces and picnic tables. Some of the sites are perfect for a couple or family, while others cater for large groups. Jarrah millends are provided for fires and bush toilets are available.
Camping kitchen and even caravans and campers find their way in.

During the winter of 2000, CALM did major work on improving the sites and adding some new circuits and more campsites. there is now more than enough room to find a bit of privacy at all but the busiest of times. Campers can either stay at Conto Field camping area which has many comfortable spots, or at a few limited sites in the magnificent Boranup Karri Forest. Tracks pass through the forest and into low woodlands of peppermint, banksia and jarrah. The tracks emerge in coastal scrubland, which supports communities of animals including kangaroos and goannas, then continue onto the coastal bays and beaches. If you stay in the forest you will be overwhelmed by the local possums - a rare experience in WA.

Visitors to Conto's or Boranup should bring their own water or collect it from the spring on the beach, (it is a long walk back to the campsite with a heavy water container so don't overdo it). There is a rainwater tank at the main camping area and it usually has enough water but supplies are limited. Rangers collect a minimal camping fee and supplies can be obtained at Margaret River or Witchcliffe. You can also get great lunches and limited supplies from the cafe/kiosk at Lake Cave. Many of the Margaret River vineyards are close by and most of them serve an excellent lunch.

Camping fee: Per adult/per night $7
There are no showers, I originally thought they had, but we'll take the plastic shower bag :)
More info on DEC (Department of Environment and Conservation) website