When booking campsites in Western Australia, you’ll often see two choices:
Powered and unpowered.
If you’re new to campervan travel, the difference can sound more important than it actually is.
Here’s how to choose.
What Is a Powered Campsite?
A powered campsite provides a mains electricity connection for your campervan or caravan.
You’ll most commonly find them in caravan parks and holiday parks.
Depending on the location, these parks may also provide facilities such as:
- Showers
- Flush toilets
- Laundry
- Camp kitchens
- Drinking water
- Dump points
Powered sites are useful when you’d like additional facilities or want access to mains electricity.
What Is an Unpowered Campsite?
An unpowered site provides somewhere to park and camp without an electrical connection.
Facilities vary enormously.
Some have toilets and camp kitchens. Others may provide little more than a designated campsite.
Parks and Wildlife WA says most of its approximately 100 park campgrounds are relatively basic and generally do not provide power, with some also lacking running water and mobile coverage.
That’s part of the experience.
Can You Stay Unpowered in an Indi Ocean Campervan?
Yes.
Lilly and Chloe are designed to make unpowered camping easy.
Their solar-linked 12V electrical systems help run essentials such as:
- Fridge
- Internal and external lighting
- USB charging
- Onboard power
- TV
- Sirocco fan
Driving also helps replenish the onboard electrical system.
That means you don’t need to find a powered caravan park every night just to keep basic systems operating.
So When Should You Choose Powered?
A powered site can still be worthwhile when:
- You want caravan park facilities.
- You’re staying several nights in one location.
- You want showers and laundry nearby.
- You need mains power for equipment outside the normal onboard 12V setup.
- You simply want an easier, more comfortable night between remote camps.
There’s no rule saying a campervan trip has to be rugged every night.
When Is Unpowered Better?
Choose unpowered when you’re comfortable being more self-sufficient and want to stay closer to nature.
For example, Conto Campground in the Margaret River Region has campervan-suitable sites but all campsites are unpowered.
This setup is common throughout WA’s national parks.
The Best Approach? Mix Both
You don’t have to choose one camping style for the entire trip.
Spend a few nights at beautiful unpowered campgrounds, then stop at a powered caravan park for a long shower, laundry and a reset.
Campervan travel is all about flexibility.
Use the campsite that makes sense for where you are and what you need that day.
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