Our Busselton to Exmouth Family Road Trip in the Karri Wanderer

There is something wonderfully simple about loading up a campervan, waving goodbye to home and letting the road decide the rhythm of the next few weeks. Recently, our family of four did exactly that in our own Karri Wanderer, heading north from Busselton towards the Ningaloo Coast for a proper Western Australia campervan holiday.

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We were joined by a friend and her daughter, who travelled alongside us and camped in a tent right next to the van. Six people, one big adventure, two campsites and plenty of snacks. The Karri Wanderer became our family's base, while our friends created their own little home beside us. It was the perfect setup for sharing the fun without ever feeling like we were on top of one another.

The road north from Busselton

Our journey started at home in Busselton, which made the trip feel especially easy to begin. We packed the van, checked that nobody had forgotten their swimmers, and set off with that familiar mixture of excitement and mild uncertainty that comes with a long road trip. There is always something you meant to pack, and there is always a servo somewhere ahead.

From Busselton, we travelled north, stopping at Burns Beach, then continuing through Port Denison and Carnarvon before eventually reaching Exmouth. It was a Busselton to Exmouth road trip in the best sense: not a race to reach the destination, but a string of places, roadside coffees, conversations, playlists and changing landscapes.

That is one of the things we love most about travelling around WA this way. Getting there is part of the holiday. You can stop when the kids need a break, linger a little longer at a beach, make lunch wherever you happen to be, and wake up somewhere completely different the next morning. It turns a long drive into a collection of smaller adventures.

A week on the Cape

We spent around a week based in Exmouth, camping at RAC Exmouth Cape Holiday Park. Having the van as our home base made it easy to settle into a slower routine. We could head out for a full day of exploring, or stay close to camp and let the day unfold without much of a plan.

Some mornings began with a run, followed by good coffee and the general business of getting everyone organised. Other mornings were much less ambitious. A slow breakfast, kids wandering between the van and the tent, and a conversation that somehow lasted until lunchtime were just as valuable.

The Ningaloo Coast gave us plenty of reasons to get moving. We spent time snorkelling in those incredible clear waters and swimming alongside turtles, which never really stopped feeling special. Even when you expect to see marine life, there is a moment of genuine wonder when a turtle glides past and disappears into the blue.

We explored different beaches and corners of the Cape, and came across emus while we were out and about. The kids loved the unexpected moments most: spotting wildlife, finding a good swimming place, or deciding that the day's official itinerary was now simply 'stay here a bit longer'.

There were beach days, of course, but also pool days back at the campground. Those quieter days became some of our favourites. The kids could play together, the adults could catch up, and nobody needed to pack a bag full of towels, goggles, snacks and emergency snacks for the emergency snacks.

Camping with friends made everything feel more social. We shared meals, compared notes on the day's discoveries, enjoyed morning coffees and opened a cold beer after a day in the sun. Evenings were relaxed and easy: food cooking nearby, stories from the day, kids still finding energy somehow, and that satisfying feeling of being pleasantly tired.

The best part was the contrast. One day might involve snorkelling, a long beach walk and a new part of the Cape. The next could be almost gloriously unproductive: a swim, a poolside afternoon, something delicious to eat and time spent around camp. A good road trip needs both.

Whales at sunset

Towards the end of our time around Exmouth, we headed out on a sunset whale-watching cruise. Being on the water as the afternoon softened into evening was a beautiful way to experience the Ningaloo Coast from a different perspective.

We watched the horizon, waited for movement and soaked up the changing light as the sun dropped lower. When the whales appeared, the whole boat seemed to quieten for a moment. There was something pretty special about seeing them out there while the coast glowed in the last light of the day.

It felt like the right kind of finale to our Exmouth campervan trip: a little adventurous, a little peaceful, and memorable enough that everyone was still talking about it afterwards.

One more snorkel on the way home

We were not quite finished when we left Exmouth. On the drive south, we stopped at Coral Bay, where there was time for even more snorkelling before continuing through Carnarvon and Port Denison, and eventually making our way back to Busselton.

A Coral Bay campervan stop is a hard one to rush. The water was inviting, the pace was relaxed, and it gave us one last chance to get in the ocean before the long drive home. After that, the route felt familiar in reverse, although the conversations had changed and everyone had collected a few more favourite memories.

Travelling in the Karri Wanderer

This was our family travelling in the same Camperscape van that our guests can hire. Using the Karri Wanderer ourselves gave us the chance to experience it exactly as our guests do: packing it up, living from it, travelling long distances, setting up camp and using it as our home base for a proper WA road trip.

It is one thing to imagine how a van will work on an adventure like this. It is another to actually use it day after day, with four people, beach gear, food, towels, bags and all the little things that come with family travel. Trips like this remind us why we created Camperscape in the first place.

The freedom to pack up, hit the road and explore WA at your own pace is what it is all about. You do not need every stop planned or every day filled. You just need a comfortable base, a rough direction and enough time to notice the good bits along the way.

Whether you are looking at campervan hire Busselton, campervan hire South West WA or planning your own Ningaloo Coast road trip, we hope this gives you a realistic glimpse of what travelling this way can feel like. It is adventure, but it is also ordinary family life in a different and much more beautiful place.

Back home, for now

We are home now, the van is unpacked, the towels are washed and the sand has somehow found its way into places we did not know existed. The Karri Wanderer is back in its usual spot, but it does not feel like the adventure is over. We are already thinking about the next route, the next beach and the next excuse to head north or south for a few days.

We can't wait for the next trip. Until then, the Karri Wanderer is ready for someone else's adventure.

Where will you go?