“Hail, rain and sunshine!”
Hail, Rain and Sunshine
Winter camping in WA's South West can throw just about everything at you.
On a recent weekend in Witchcliffe, we headed down to explore Western Australia's first fully developed ecovillage. The weather had other plans. Rain, hail and cold conditions followed us through the weekend and gave our camping setup a proper test.
A few simple things made a big difference. If you're heading camping around Margaret River, Witchcliffe or elsewhere in the South West during winter, here's what we'd make sure is packed.
1. A Sleeping Bag Rated for the Conditions
A good sleeping bag is one of the first things to get right. Check the temperature rating rather than relying on how thick the bag looks, and choose something appropriate for the overnight temperatures you're expecting.
We used a -5°C to +5°C rated sleeping bag on this trip and it handled the conditions well.
2. Layers — and Something Waterproof
South West weather can change quickly, so layers give you much more flexibility than relying on one heavy jacket.
Start with a moisture-wicking base layer, add an insulating mid-layer and keep a waterproof outer layer handy. Dry socks, warm footwear and something for your head and hands are also worth packing.
More importantly: keep a dry set of clothes for camp.
3. Think Carefully About Heating
A portable heater can make cold-weather camping more comfortable, but never use a fuel-burning heater in an enclosed tent or sleeping space unless the manufacturer explicitly specifies that use and all safety requirements are followed.
For sleeping, we'd prioritise insulation, suitable bedding and keeping yourself dry rather than relying on a heater through the night.
4. Don't Underestimate the Hot Water Bottle
Simple, cheap and effective.
Fill a hot water bottle before bed and put it into your sleeping bag to warm things up before you climb in. On a genuinely cold South West night, it's one of those basic pieces of kit that's hard to beat.
5. Plan for Wet Gear
This is the one I'd add because it connects the article back to what WKND actually does.
Rain doesn't just mean getting wet — it means figuring out what to do with wet jackets, boots, towels and camping gear afterwards.
Keeping wet and dry gear separated and having accessible storage for the things you're constantly taking in and out makes a big difference, particularly on longer trips.
Build for How You Actually Travel
Trips like this are a good reminder that a touring setup needs to work when the weather doesn't.
Where you store wet gear, how easily you can access what you need and how your canopy is organised can matter just as much as what you pack.
Planning a canopy or tray setup for touring WA? Tell us how you travel and we'll design the setup around it.