Top 5 camping spots to take a novice camper

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Tidal River campground, Tourism Victoria

Tidal River campground, Tourism Victoria

Whoever says that camping isn’t for everyone obviously hasn’t been to the campsites on our list.

With their fantastic amenities and often spectacular locations, these camping areas are sure to convince even the most fervent anti-tentist that camping can be fun and enjoyable.

Be sure to let us know where you’d take a novice camper in the comments.  

1. Bonnie Vale camping area, Royal National Park, New South Wales

Don’t worry – the facilities at Australia’s oldest national park, Royal National Park, aren’t as ancient as the park itself. In fact, you could say they’re quite flashy, as the facilities include flushing toilets, hot showers, white square basins and drinking water.

From the moment you drive up to this camping ground to the moment you leave, your experience at Bonnie Vale will be easy and comfortable. While you can bring a caravan or camper trailer, we think it’s the perfect camping area to set up tent the old-fashioned way.

The campsite is right on the riverfront, and has fantastic water-based activities. The kids will love the sandbar in the middle of the river, and it’s a great spot to try your hand at a bit of kayaking or waterskiing on the calm waters of Port Hacking.

One of the best things about Bonnie Vale is that it’s just over an hour away from Sydney, so novice campers won’t feel too far out of their comfort zones. And what’s even better? The tiny township of Bundeena is within walking distance of the campsite, where a skim flat white (or skinny flat white for those of you south of the border), is close at hand. 

2. Tidal River camping area, Wilsons Promontory National Park, Victoria

The bad news about Tidal River is that the word is out about this fantastic campsite (and has been for some time). The good news? If you avoid the site during the peak times of Christmas and Easter, it’s the perfect spot to take a first-time camper.

Camping doesn’t get much easier than at Tidal River. Not only do you have drinking water, hot showers and flushing toilets, there are also dishwashing stations, laundry facilities and a kiosk that serves takeaway food. And with 484 sites on offer at the campground, if you don’t know how to set up your tent, there’s sure to be someone who does.

Situated behind the dunes at the spectacular Norman Bay, Tidal River has easy access to what makes Wilsons Prom so magnificent – the golden dunes and ocean views of the national park. You’ll want to spend a couple of days exploring the nooks and crannies of Wilsons Prom, knowing that you have a comfortable base camp where you can relax after a hard day’s exploring. 

3. Dandabah camping area, Bunya Mountains National Park, Queensland

Dandabah camping area, Jackie Carpenter

Dandabah camping area, Jackie Carpenter

Dandabah camping area is just inside the southern entrance to Bunya Mountains National Park, so you can make a quick exit if the camping experience becomes too much for your novice camper, even if it’s just for a trip to the nearby general store or restaurant.

The campground itself is a large, grassed area, with no designated sites, so you can set up wherever you find a spot. Yet, it still has all the amenities needed to reassure a novice camper in, including hot showers and flushing toilets. There is running water, but it needs to be treated before you can drink it.

The road into the national park is long and windy, so you’ll be glad to leave your car behind and take advantage of the fantastic walking trails in the park once you arrive. 

4. Wilpena Pound Campground, Flinders Ranges National Park, South Australia

Wilpena Pound Campground, Tom Simpson

Wilpena Pound Campground, Tom Simpson

If there’s anywhere in Australia that’s going to convince someone to camp under the stars, it’s Flinders Ranges National Park. This spectacular national park will leave you in awe of its overwhelming natural beauty, whether you are climbing the magnificent ampitheatre of Wilpena Pound, scouting for hidden waterholes or wielding your 4WD over the peaks and ridges of these ancient rocks.

Of course, the fantastic amenities at this campground don’t hurt either. You’ll find hot showers, drinking water and toilets here, as well as easy access to the nearby Wilpena Pound Resort.

The campsite also offers novice campers a back-up option, as there are permanent tents, with solid floors and actual beds, set up at the campground. 

5. Lake Navarino Forest Resort, Western Australia

Visiting a forest of tall jarrah trees is probably on your list of things to do when you visit Western Australia. But you can also go one-step further and stay in the heart of the forest at Lake Navarino Forest Retreat.

This is a caravan park, making it the most luxurious of all of the camping areas on this list. Luxury being relative, of course – a novice camper who is used to hotels probably won’t think this is the lap of luxury. But Lake Navarino Forest Resort has all the facilities you need in a delightful forest setting.

Just don’t tell too many people about it, because once you’ve visited, you’ll want to return again and again.

What campsites do you visit with novices?

   

Discover 7 of Australia’s more unknown national parks

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Melaleuca sp., by codiferous, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Melaleuca sp., by codiferous, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

From Kakadu to the Blue Mountains, Australia’s most famous national parks are spectacular and attention-grabbing, with their arsenal of majestic rock formations, towering waterfalls and stunning views.

But there are some national parks hidden throughout the country that only see a fraction of the number of visitors to these major parks, mainly due to their remote locations (although one of the parks is to be found in the heart of Sydney).

We pick seven more unknown national parks and reveal why they are well worth a visit.

Garigal National Park, New South Wales

Garigal National Park by Ian Sanderson, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Garigal National Park by Ian Sanderson, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Sydney is famous for its urban sprawl. Yet hidden among the suburbs of Sydney are some of the most enchanting national parks in the state, including Lane Cove, Ku-ring-gai Chase, Cattai and the little-known Garigal National Park.

Sitting unassumingly off Mona Vale Road on the way to the northern beaches, Garigal National Park is home to spectacular bush and water views, sandstone formations and significant Aboriginal sites.

There is a range of trails around the park, so the best way to explore is by foot, although if you’re the adventurous sort, many of the trails are also good for mountain biking and horseriding.

Of course, it wouldn’t be Sydney if there weren’t also water-based activities on offer. There are some great fishing spots right on Middle Harbour, or experienced canoeists can take a canoe out on the water.

Coopracambra National Park, Victoria

Coopracambra National Park, Don Fuchs/Tourism Victoria

Coopracambra National Park, Don Fuchs/Tourism Victoria

There aren’t many places in Victoria where you can really feel like you are getting off the beaten track, but with its soaring trees, craggy gorges and heritage-listed river, Coopracambra certainly fits the bill.

Situated in the remote north-east of Victoria, Coopracambra doesn’t see many visitors. But this isolation has been fantastic for the park, allowing its ecosystem to carry on pretty much undisturbed. Much of the park’s history, including Aboriginal sites and fossil remains, has also been preserved.

As with many little-visited parks, the best way to get around Coopracambra is by 4WD or on foot. Popular walks include hiking to Mount Coopracambra and Mount Wakefield, and many of the walks involve rock-hopping and exploring the stunning isolated scenery of this region.

Lake Torrens National Park, South Australia

Lake Eyre gets all the exposure, but the smaller salt lake at Lake Torrens is also worth a visit, although small in this case is relative – the Lake Torrens salt lake still stretches for 250 kilometres.

This national park doesn’t have the amenities of Lake Eyre, as there are no camping areas, picnic areas or toilets. It’s only accessible by 4WD via two roads on private stations, which you’ll need to seek permission to use. But jumping through these obstacles to get to the park just makes the experience all the more worthwhile.

This astoundingly wild and barren land is extremely photogenic, and also offers great opportunities for birdwatching. But don’t worry about bringing your floaties – the lake has only filled up once in the past 150 years.

Karlamilyi National Park, Western Australia

Karlamilyi National Park, Jiri Lochman / Australian Geographic

Karlamilyi National Park, Jiri Lochman / Australian Geographic

The national park formerly known as Rudall River, Karlamilyi is the biggest national park in Western Australia and one of the most isolated. Situated in the Pilbara region, the park is 260 kilometres from the nearest town of Marble Bar.

Luckily, most people don’t visit Karlamilyi unless they are extremely well prepared for a desert journey, as the park is surrounded on both sides by the Great Sandy and Little Sandy deserts. The park can only be reached by a series of rough 4WD tracks, which you need to get permission to use.

Once you reach the centre of the park, you might think you’ve reached an oasis, as the ancient gorge hides a series of rockpools. The park, although mainly consisting of distinctive red desert lands including salt lakes and scrubby plains, has a surprising amount of greenery. And no trip to Karlamilyi would be complete without a trip to the Desert Queen Baths, where you can dip into the pristine swimming holes.

Limmen National Park, Northern Territory

Butterfly Springs by eyeweed, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Butterfly Springs by eyeweed, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

You’d think that a national park with spectacular geological formations, wild rivers, an overabundance of lush natural beauty and a fascinating history, would be one of the most popular in the Northern Territory.

Yet Limmen National Park, found on the coast of the Barkly Tablelands next to the Arafura Sea, is one of the least-visited national parks in the Territory, and the newest, having only been declared in 2012.

The main drawcard at Limmen is the Lost City, a collection of sandstone spires and columns. The park also draws anglers with the chance to catch barramundi.

While the wild rivers can look very appealing, saltwater crocs cruise the rivers of the park, so don’t dip your foot (or any part of your body) in the water. The only safe place to swim is at Butterfly Springs. You can also camp at the springs.

Now that it’s officially a national park, visitor numbers may pick up, so visit before the rest of Australia does.

Mount Hypipamee National Park, Queensland

Hypipamee Crater, Karl Seelig/Tourism North Queensland

Hypipamee Crater, Karl Seelig/Tourism North Queensland

You might not think of far-north Queensland as being a volcanic area, but the central feature at this national park is a crater that formed when a volcanic vent erupted around 10,000 years ago. Things have thankfully cooled since then, as this small national park now protects a beautiful patch of high-altitude rainforest, which stands out from the more common tropical rainforest of the region.

The crater is a spectacular site. A viewing platform over the crater reveals a 58-metre drop to the green lake below. Also worth a visit within the park is Dinner Falls, a series of cascades that rush over the cliffs into a boulder-strewn creek.

A variety of possums call the national park home, so keep your eyes peeled for a touch of possum magic while visiting.

Strzelecki National Park, Tasmania

Sandy beaches? Tick. Spectacular granite mountains? Tick. Wombats? Tick. If you haven’t already got the awe-inspiring Strzelecki National Park on your to-visit list, you should add it now and count yourself lucky that this park is hidden on Flinders Island in the middle of the Bass Strait – otherwise visitor numbers would probably rival those of Freycinet.

One of the most popular activities in the park is the walk to the top of Mount Strzelecki, the tallest peak on the island at 756 metres. The ocean views from the top are truly majestic.

And once you get back down to level ground, you may want to take inspiration from the amusingly named Trousers Point, and jump into your swimmers for a spot of wading or snorkelling.

   

Discover the Gold Coast hinterland’s national parks

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Natural Bridge cave

Natural Bridge cave

Melissa Chambers discovers the spectacular national parks, from Springbrook to Lamington, in the Gold Coast hinterland.

What do you think of when you hear the words ‘Gold Coast’? Most people immediately think of the Surfers Paradise glitter strip, the beaches, or the theme parks.

But within an hour’s drive from Surfers Paradise are the hidden treasures of the Gold Coast – the national parks!

Filled with rainforests, walking trails, rivers, waterfalls and dams, these national parks offer some of the most picturesque country you will find in Queensland.

So whether you are a local or just visiting it is well worth your time to spend a day or two exploring the beautiful hinterland. It’s a great family day out and best of all – most of it is free.

Hinze Dam

Hinze Dam

Hinze Dam

 Hinze Dam is the water storage facility for the Gold Coast region. It has just reopened to the public after being closed for four years, with new picnic and barbecue facilities, as well as a visitor centre and cafe. Plenty of thought has gone into the redesign of the recreational areas.

Access to the dam recreation area is now from the Nerang–Advancetown Road. If you are heading to Hinze Dam, don’t follow your GPS. It will send you to the side which is now closed. Go via Advancetown.

At the dam there is a large grassed area, perfect for the kids to kick the footy around on. The new stainless steel barbecues, which are free to use, are all undercover. There’s plenty of undercover seating and tables as well as lots of tables out in the open. There are also lots of well-established trees to provide shade, or you can just throw a rug on the ground and enjoy the sunshine.

Hinze Dam walking trackA walking track runs between the picnic area and visitor centre, and a walk along the length of the dam wall is a must to appreciate the huge amount of water that this dam holds. The wall itself is over 1800-metres long and offers spectacular views of the water and the hills surrounding the dam.

You aren’t permitted fuel-powered boats on the dam, but sail boats, electric-powered boats and canoes are welcome. There are also mountain bike trails throughout the area and horse-friendly trails as well.

Springbrook National Park– Purling Brook Falls

Purling Brook Falls

Purling Brook Falls

 Springbrook National Park is possibly one of the most spectacular national parks in Queensland, full of waterfalls, lookouts and walking tracks. Purling Brook Falls is superb and you are able to walk down to the eastern side of the falls, but you will have to return via the same way as the rest of the walking track is closed due to damage caused by last year’s heavy rain and floods.

If you don’t fancy going all the way to the bottom of Purling Brook Falls, you can walk across the top of them to the other side where there is another lookout. The Settlement camping area is only a short walk away and provides 11 designated camp sites, four of which are suitable for camper trailers or campervans. There are free electric barbecues, toilets and drinking water available in the campground. Bookings are essential for the campground and a permit must be displayed.

There are also several more lookouts in the park, including The Best of All Lookout, which looks out towards the NSW towns of Murwillumbah and Byron Bay. On a clear day the views are incredible. There are also a couple of good B&B’s in the area if you fancy staying a night. Rosella’s Coffee Shop at the Canyon Lookout is a cosy spot for morning tea, especially if the weather happens to be on the cooler side. The weather in the hinterland can get quite chilly so it is advisable to take a jacket.

Springbrook National Park– Natural Bridge

Natural Bridge waterfall

Natural Bridge waterfall

 If you continue down the road from Advancetown you will find yourself at Natural Bridge, a cave that formed at the base of a waterfall. It’s located just off the Nerang–Murwillumbah Road in Springbrook National Park.

The drive to Natural Bridge will take you through a couple of tiny villages that offer small cafes and roadside picnic areas – perfect for a quick refresher or somewhere to enjoy lunch.

The walking track at Natural Bridge takes you down to the bottom where there are viewing areas both inside and outside the cave, so make sure you have your camera ready.

Following the path will then take you up and over the ‘natural bridge’ to view the waterfall from the top. It is a spectacular sight, especially when there has been generous rainfall.

The cave also hosts a colony of glow worms, which of course can only be seen after dark. The whole of the Natural Bridge area is within a national park, so make sure you stay on the designated walking tracks. No swimming is permitted and fines do apply. And of course it goes without saying – take any rubbish with you!

Unfortunately, Natural Bridge is not wheelchair friendly and you will encounter stairs, rough terrain and a reasonable incline on the way back out, but it is well worth the effort. Anyone with a moderate level of fitness will easily be able to manage the walk.

An hour should be plenty of time for the walk and to enjoy the sights. It is advisable to take a water bottle and even in summer a light jacket may be required as it is often cool due to the overhanging trees of the rainforest. There are picnic tables and toilets available just next to the car park at Natural Bridge.

Lamington National Park– Binna Burra section

The Surfers Paradise Skyline from Beechmont

The Surfers Paradise Skyline from Beechmont

 The Binna Burra section of Lamington National Park is a beautiful mountain wilderness area full of walking tracks and waterfalls. From easy 20-minute scenic walks to three- or four-day treks, Binna Burra has a lot to offer.

Binna Burra is just over an hour’s drive from the Gold Coast. It’s a beautifully scenic drive passing through the small villages of Lower Beechmont and Beechmont. There are several spots along the way that afford spectacular views of the Surfers Paradise skyline, so make sure you keep an eye out for places to stop.

The Rosins Conservation Lookout is another fantastic spot to stop and take some photos as it looks out over almost the entire Numinbah Valley. The view is amazing and when conditions are right, you’ll be able to see hang-gliders launch from the lookout. There is also a picnic area and toilets are available.

Rosins Lookout

Rosins Lookout

Binna Burra itself has plenty to offer, and it’s worth staying overnight. There’s camping available in the Rainforest Campsites, where there are a variety of tent sites, a limited number of powered and unpowered van sites as well as safari tents.

If you are looking for something a little more upmarket there are also Mountain Lodges and Sky Lodges. The Sky Lodges in particular are very luxurious and contain spa baths and open fires and balconies to take in the amazing views from. Again there are plenty of picnic and barbecue facilities available or you can eat at either The Lamington Teahouse, which has amazing views or the Clifftop Dining Room at the Rainforest Lodge.

Lamington National Park – O’Reilly’s

A section of the amazing Tree Top Walk at O’Reilly’s

A section of the amazing Tree Top Walk at O’Reilly’s

 Located in the Green Mountain section of the Lamington National Park is O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat, better known to locals and visitors as O’Reilly’s.

O’Reilly’s is located about an hour and a half’s drive west of the Gold Coast, but you may like to allow a little longer as the road is narrow and single lane in some places and very steep and windy. But once you come out at O’Reilly’s, you will see that it is all worth it.

There are three luxury accommodation options available at O’Reilly’s or you can camp in the adjacent Green Mountains camping area, which has tent and campervan sites available but is not suitable for caravans or motorhomes.

There are several short walks from O’Reilly’s ranging in distance from 800 metres to over 4 kilometres. A must-do walk while at O’Reilly’s is the Rainforest Tree Top Walk, which is an 800-metre-long walk consisting of boardwalks and tree-top suspension bridges, some of which are 16 metres above the ground. For those not worried by heights, there is a viewing platform 30 metres up a tree that you have to climb up to get to, and this is usually a favourite with the kids.

If you are looking for places to stop on your way into or out of O’Reilly’s take a detour to Kamarun Lookout, which is about 10 kilometres before O’Reilly’s. The views are stunning and on a clear day you are able to see the sand dunes on Moreton Island – pretty amazing!

You can find Melissa writing about other places to visit in Australia on her website, Camper Trailer Travels

   

Explore Australia’s National Parks

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Explore Australia's National Parks infographic

Explore Australia’s National Parks infographic

The biggest – Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory

At 1.9 million hectares, Kakadu National Park is just as spectacular as you imagine. This World Heritage–listed park contains entire ecosystems, as well as over one-third of the bird species found in Australia. Everything seems bigger and better at Kakadu, not least because the national park has six seasons, rather than the four on which the rest of the world runs.

Situated in Arnhem Land, the park is jointly run by Parks Australia and the traditional owners. Along with majestic natural scenery, you’ll also find man-made wonders, including rock paintings that are estimated to be fifty thousand years old.

You might hear some travellers refer to Kakadu as Kaka-don’t. But the only thing you don’t want to do is miss out on the almost mystical beauty of this park.

The oldest – Royal National Park, New South Wales

Royal National Park is the oldest national park in Australia, and the second oldest in the world after Yellowstone National Park in America. And this grand old dame still knows how to put on a show for visitors, with its untamed sandstone cliffs, hidden swimming holes, stunning beaches and plethora of native plants.

The park has been welcoming visitors since 1879, and was a pleasure garden for Victorians. But in making it a pleasure garden, the Victorians didn’t always make the best decisions, including introducing exotic species and foreign animals, such as deer and rabbits.

Although conservationists have made leaps and bounds in restoring the park to its native glory, especially since the National Parks and Wildlife Service took over management of the park in 1967, you can still see deer meandering (and occasionally stampeding) through the park.

The largest sand island – Great Sandy National Park, Queensland

It seems right that Fraser Island, the largest sand island in the world, makes its home in Queensland’s Great Sandy National Park. With its long stretches of beaches and huge sand dunes that can reach heights of 230 metres, the island is a mecca for four-wheel drivers.

But even if you aren’t into roaring up sand dunes in a 4WD, you’ll find plenty to interest you, from the spectacular beaches (make sure to check out the shipwrecks off Fraser and Teewah beaches) to the population of dingoes.

The shakiest – Flinders Ranges National Park, South Australia

You might feel a little bit shaky after visiting Flinders Ranges National Park. This could be put down to its incredible natural beauty, or the fact that Flinders Ranges experiences around 200 earthquakes a year.

But don’t let this put you off visiting. The majority of earthquakes happen so far underground they are never felt on the surface, but they have shaken a truly spectacular landscape, full of dramatic ridges and mountains, into being.

Le Français – Francois Peron National Park, Western Australia

One thing you might not have known about Napoleon is that he was really interested in Australia. In fact, while he was emperor he authorised numerous expeditions to Australia. It was on one of these expeditions that Francois Peron came to Australia.

Francois Peron was a French naturalist, and wrote about the animals and plants he found in Australia in his book, A Voyage of Discovery to the Southern Hemisphere (1809).

And he would have found plenty to write about in the area that is now Francois Peron National Park. This region is teeming with life, especially off the shores of the national park in Shark Bay Marine Park, where you will find whale sharks, turtles, dugongs, rays and dolphins.

The most mysterious – Mornington Peninsula National Park, Victoria

It’s not every day that the Prime Minister of a country goes missing and is never found again. Harold Holt disappeared while swimming off the shores of Mornington National Park in 1967, and is presumed drowned – although some people suspect more sinister conspiracies behind his disappearance.

Today Harold Holt is remembered at the public swimming pool named after him in Melbourne, and his disappearance is one more story in the fascinating history behind this national park, which has also been a quarantine station and a coastal fortress. But people don’t really visit for the history. They visit for the spectacular beaches and cliffs, including the ones watched over by the delightful Cape Schanck Lighthouse.

The biggest conservation battle – Franklin–Gordon Wild Rivers National Park, Tasmania

It was the battle for the Franklin River that really kicked off the conservation movement in Australia. And when you see the incredible natural beauty of this national park, you can see why people were so passionate to save it.

In the late 1970s, the Hydro-Electric Commission proposed to dam the Franklin River. There was a huge outcry protesting this dam, as it would destroy one of Australia’s last wild rivers. The battle for the river passed through politics, the courts and civil disobedience, and eventually resulted in the creation of the Franklin–Gordon Wild Rivers National Park.

For experienced kayakers, rafting down the river is the best way to see the incredible landscape.

Embed this infographic on your website using this code: <a href=”http://www.exploreaustralia.net.au/Bookshop/Guides/National-Parks target=”><img src=”http://www.exploreaustralia.net.au/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Australias-National-Parks_free-infographic.jpg” alt=” Australia’s National Parks | Free infographic” border=”0″ /></a>

Photo credits: Aerial wet season, Adelaide River, courtesy Tourism Northern Territory; Great Sandy National Park, Tourism Queensland; Flinders Ranges National Park, Jeff Drewitz; Francois Peron National Park, Jeff Drewitz; Mornington Peninsual, James Lauritz/Tourism Victoria; Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park, Ted Mead.

   

Top 5 free camping spots

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Swimcart Beach, Bay of Fires Conservation Area, Tom Simpson

Swimcart Beach, Bay of Fires Conservation Area, Tom Simpson

You don’t have to camp in your backyard to experience free camping. There are free campsites all over the country, including in some of Australia’s most spectacular national parks.

While many of these campsites are basic with limited facilities, they have views and serenity that money can’t buy.

Tell us your favourite free camping spot in the comments.

Johanna Beach camping area, Victoria

Johanna Beach camping area, Paul Smedley

Johanna Beach camping area, Paul Smedley

The best things in life are free, and the same motto could apply to the camping areas in Great Otway National Park.

Although you have to pay for a site at the very popular Blanket Bay camping area, many of the other camping areas in Great Otway are free, including the spectacular Johanna Beach camping area.

Not only is Johanna Beach free, it also doesn’t take bookings, has room for all sorts of rigs, and allows pets. The campground is situated behind the sand dunes at this superb surf beach and is a basic site, with toilets the only real facility.

The secret is out about Johanna Beach, so you might find yourself fighting for space at the busiest times of year.

Dora Point camping area, Tasmania

There seems to be a theme with free campsites. The views and activities are fantastic, but the facilities are basic. Dora Point is slightly more equipped than most, but don’t worry – the views don’t suffer.

You’ll find Dora Point in Humbug Point Nature Recreation Reserve, right next door to the world-renowned Bay of Fires Conservation Area.

You certainly don’t have to pay through the nose to stay close to these pristine white beaches and turquoise water, as Dora Point, and all of the camping areas in the conservation area, are free sites.

The campground is behind a safe swimming beach that is great for wading in with small kids, and there is also great birdwatching to be had in the area.

Tiparra Rocks camping area, South Australia

Tiparra Rocks camping area, Paul Smedley

Tiparra Rocks camping area, Paul Smedley

If you want to camp for free right on the beach and you don’t mind a basic campsite, don’t waste any more time before visiting the Yorke Peninsula Reserves.

This region is all about the coast, and the local council looks after a collection of basic campsites, most of which are located on or behind beaches.

Tiparra Rocks camping area is located on red sand right next to the water, and is a fantastic base for swimming, fishing and boating. It’s a solitary campsite, so don’t come here if you are looking to socialise with other campers.

Balgal Beach camping area, Queensland

Balgal Beach camping area, Paul Smedley

Balgal Beach camping area, Paul Smedley

You have to pay at most of the camping areas in Queensland’s national parks, so if you are after a free camping area you might have to widen your horizons beyond the parks.

Luckily, there are quite a few camping areas run by local councils that are free, including some fantastic options run by the Townsville City Council.

Balgal Beach camping area is a small camping area right behind Balgal Beach. It has good facilities including toilets, drinking water and space for big rigs, and is located near the road between Brisbane and Cairns.

There is a strict 48-hour time limit on your stay, so enjoy this idyllic setting (complete with stinger nets protecting the beach) while you can.

Perrys Lookdown camping area, New South Wales

Like the name suggests, looking down is what this camping area is all about! Perrys Lookdown is situated at a spectacular lookout in Blue Mountains National Park, with a view over the isolated Grose Valley.

And if you want more action than a majestic view, there are a number of walking tracks in the Grose Valley. We recommend the walking track that leads to Acacia Flat camping area, another free site with an enviable position in Blue Gum Forest.

Perrys Lookdown is a basic tent-only campsite, with shade provided by the Blue Mountains’ signature eucalypts. There are toilets here, but you’ll need to bring your own drinking water.