Marrinup Campsite

Marrinup Townsite Campground is a no-frills bush camp in Marrinup State Forest, about 5km north-west of Dwellingup in Western Australia. For dog owners the drawcard is on-leash camping on a historic site, the remains of a 1930s milling town and a WWII prisoner-of-war camp, with direct access to the 8km Marrinup Cycle Trail from your tent or van.

Dogs at the campground

Dogs are permitted to stay overnight. They must be kept under control and on a leash at all times, both in the campground and the surrounding recreation area. Fees are modest: about $10 per adult per night, $7 for concession holders and $5 for children aged 5 to 16. There is no dedicated water supply, so bring everything you and your dog need, including water for bowls.

One hazard deserves its own paragraph. The department conducts 1080 poison baiting in the surrounding state forest for conservation purposes, and 1080 is lethal to dogs. Keep your dog leashed and supervised, do not let them sniff around in undergrowth or eat anything off the ground, and stick to the marked tracks and the open campground.

Max: 1080 baiting plus a bush setting means the leash is non-negotiable here. A dog that scavenges is a dog at real risk in this forest.

The campground

Expect a large, open grassy area with unpowered sites suitable for tents, camper trailers and caravans. Facilities are basic: picnic tables, seasonal fire pits and long-drop toilets. Check current fire pit restrictions with the Dwellingup Trails and Visitor Centre before you set off, and check road conditions at the same time. Interpretive signage covers the history of the milling town and the WWII POW camp that once stood here, and the mountain bike tracks branching off the campground are a big part of why cyclists base themselves here.

Getting there and close by

Access is by 2WD vehicle on Hunter Road, roughly 5 to 10 minutes' drive from the Dwellingup town centre, though road conditions vary after weather. For an off-leash run, head into town to the Dwellingup Dog Park. For a post-camp meal, Blue Wren Cafe Dwellingup and Rubie's Place Dwellingup are both nearby. If you need powered sites or a different base, Baden Powell Campground is another stay in the same forests.

More options are on the WA dog-friendly stays guide and the Dwellingup destination page. This suits a quiet, leashed camping trip on the cycle trail, not campers after off-leash freedom or powered sites.