Cape Riche Campground - WA

Cape Riche campground is located in a sheltered cove at the corner of the Cheyne Bay. Accessible via an 18km unsealed and heavily corrugated road (Sandalwood Rd). No bookings. Daily fee. Campfires permitted in provided fire pits at discretion of caretaker. BYO wood - no wood provided and no collection on site permitted. Numbered sites. Bollard camping bays.This campground is popular with people who like fishing and offers a sand boat ramp (no jetty) in a small protected cove opposite Cheyne Island. This area is best suited to 4WD vehicles with other tracks and sand driving areas leading to other fishing areas.The campground is run by City of Albany with onsite caretaker. Small daily fee per site. Whilst sites are small, most will accommodate a caravan or camper trailer and have plenty of trees for shade. Most sites are on gravel or black sand. Beach sand is yellow.Campground is arranged on a one-way loop road with a lower area and upper area with about 27 sites in total. Top area contains a toilet block with flushing toilets and cold water showers (plastic tank in sun so water is pleasant in summer), plus a sink & water tap (water is not potable so only for washing). Lower area contains a few sites facing Cheyne Bay, the boat ramp, trailer parking area, day use parking area, a beach shower, non-potable water tap, 2 free electric gas bbqs, large picnic shelter and 3 tables to accommodate groups of people. The day use area is the hub of the campground. The "office" is also at the top area and is the only area where you can get mobile phone service and access toilets (flushing) and showers (cold). Good rock walking around the headlands, or a hike up Mount Melville. 4WD track off Sandalwood Rd to the north provides alternative access to Boat Harbour, or take the old coastal 4WD track on foot or MTB to reach harder to get to places along the coastline such as Schooner Beach and Swan Gully. There is a 2nd accessible beach (by 4WD or rock walking) just around the back of the headland on which the campground is situated which is at the Eyre River mouth at the Cheynes Inlet. This is a popular day use area for beach fishing, exploring the inlet on kayak, or SUP or more rock walking (4km) from the end of this beach to the actual Cape Riche headland (only for experienced hikers - very dangerous and no marked tracks).No access across the inlet to private property (farm is owned by the Muir family - who are highly visible on a daily basis around the area).