Tag Archives: campsites

Is it too soon to think about Easter camping?

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Howqua Hills Historic Area, Lyndon Sparrow

Howqua Hills Historic Area, Lyndon Sparrow

We certainly don’t think so. Camping at Easter this year is going to be big. If you take three days off work between Easter and Anzac Day, you’ll get a whole 10 days off. Here are our favourite Easter campsites (some of these require bookings).

Sheepyard Flat camping area, Howqua Hills Historic Area, Victoria

The Easter holidays is the last break before winter sets in, so get in before the snow does! If you want to go camping in the High Country, now’s the time to do it. And while Alpine National Park offers plenty of camping areas, our favourite spot in the area is Howqua Hills Historic Area, which has multiple campsites ranged around Howqua River.

One of the most popular is Sheepyard Flat camping area. This is a lovely grassy and spacious campground, with plenty of facilities. Because the camping areas are outside of the national park, you can bring your dog, and the area is also a keen haunt of horseriders and four-wheel drivers. These are no-bookings sites, but if you miss out at Sheepyard Flat you can just head further up or down Brocks Rd to the other campgrounds in the hills.

Appletree camping area, Blue Mountains National Park, New South Wales

The Blue Mountains hasn’t been having an easy time of it lately, with the catastrophic bush fires of 2013. But most camping areas will be up and running for the Easter holidays, including family-friendly Appletree camping area. As of the date this article was published, there were still camping areas available to book for this period. You’ll feel blue if you miss out on a camping area in the national park, so hop to it!

Appletree Flat is one of the camping areas that make up Euroka campground, and is in a ridiculously scenic position next to the Nepean River Gorge. It’s in the Glenbrook section of Blue Mountains National Park, which is the section of the park closest to Sydney. There are toilets (non-flush only, so warn the kids!), but you’ll have to bring your own drinking water.

Darlington Park camping area, Beaudesert, Queensland

We know, we know – we harp on about Darlington Park camping area. But that’s just because it’s so good. It’s affordable, scenic and spacious, with plenty of good facilities. We think you should go there and find us something not to like. In fact, we dare you.

Situated in the Darling Downs area of Queensland, it’s only a short drive to Beaudesert and within an easy distance of the Gold Coast.

Tulki Beach camping area, Cape Range National Park, Western Australia

Ten days in April? That’s enough time to travel up the new Indian Ocean Drive to Cape Range National Park and pitch your tent at Tulki Beach camping area, which as the name suggests is right next to the beach. Now, you might be thinking, not another beach. But this isn’t just any beach, as spectacular Ningaloo Reef is just offshore and you can rent a snorkel and get amongst it in the most literal sense.

You can set up tent next to your car, which always things easier, and there are toilets at the site. You’ll have to bring pretty much everything else yourself, including drinking water. Don’t forget to book this site online soon – it’s sure to fill up fast.

Memory Cove camping area, Eyre Peninsula National Park

If what you’re looking for at Easter is a place to get away from the crowd, Memory Cove could be the campsite for you. Access to the cove is restricted to 15 cars at a time, so you’re guaranteed to get the feeling of being alone with nature – at least until you spot another car on the horizon.

There’s even fewer cars allowed at the camping area itself, as it only has five sites. Memory Cove camping area is situated above the cove and your view will only be interrupted by the scrubs and trees of this shady campsite. With extremely limited facilities at the site, prepare to be self-sufficient. You’ll need a key to access this camping area, so don’t forget to book.

     

Our favourite summer camping spots

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Whitehaven Beach camping area, Whitsundays National Park

Whitehaven Beach camping area, Whitsundays National Park

Blue Pool camping area, Briagolong State Forest, Victoria

You won’t be able to resist cooling down in the delightful Blue Pool swimming hole – and this free, dog-friendly, no-bookings campsite is situated a short walk to the pool.

Whitehaven Beach camping area, Whitsunday Islands National Park, Queensland

A strictly limited number of people are allowed to camp in the brush behind Whitehaven Beach, which is routinely called one of the best beaches in Australia (including by us!) for its pristine white sand and turquoise water.

Lucky Bay camping area, Cape Le Grand National Park, Western Australia

Lucky Bay camping area, Lyndon Sparrow

Lucky Bay camping area, Lyndon Sparrow

If you camp at Lucky Bay, you’ll have to make a tough decision: do you swim in the sparkling blue ocean or soak up the rays (wearing sunscreen, of course) on the beach next to some lazing kangaroos?

Blue Waterholes Campground, Kosciuszko National Park, New South Wales

Blue Waterholes Campground, Geri Dobson

Blue Waterholes Campground, Geri Dobson

It can feel like quite an adventure to get to Blue Waterholes Campground, which is hidden in the large Kosciuszko National Park. And the adventure continues once you get to the site, with hidden caves, waterfalls, walking trails, lookouts and plenty of 4WD tracks all nearby.

Jeanneret Beach camping area, Bay of Fires Conservation Area, Tasmania

The only thing more unbelievable than the beauty of the Bay of Fires is that you can set up your tent or drive your caravan right up to this delightful cove – and it won’t cost you a cent.

West Bay camping area, Flinders Chase National Park, South Australia

West Bay almost feels as if it’s on the edge of the world. And it has the views (and shipwrecks) to prove it. Set up your tent on the cliffs above the beach.

 

 

 

     

Top 7 most popular camping areas of 2013

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Darlington Park camping area, Grover

Darlington Park camping area, Grover

The weather hasn’t been too kind to campers this year, from the devastating fires in New South Wales to the unseasonably cold spring in Victoria. But that doesn’t mean we’ve stopped camping! Here are the seven most popular campsites of 2013. The list is topped by our traditionally most popular sites, Darlington Park camping area and Johanna Beach camping area, but we have a few new camping areas making appearances.

1. Darlington Park camping area, Beaudesert, Queensland

Our most popular camping area of 2013, Darlington is arguably the best campsite for families in Australia. Set in picturesque surrounds, around an hour from the Gold Coast in Queensland, this park is a great base whether you want to go exploring or stay put and enjoy the features of the park. These features include a cricket oval and a playground, and proximity to a river that’s safe for swimming, with proper supervision of course. While you have to pay to stay here, it’s very affordable at $6 a night for adults.

2. Johanna Beach camping area, Great Otway National Park, Victoria

A free, dog-friendly campsite in a national park that just happens to be situated alongside the Great Ocean Road? Where can I sign up? Well, you can’t. Because not only is Johanna Beach camping area free, it also doesn’t take bookings. This is a rarity in Great Otway National Park. The other ocean-front campground in the park, Blanket Bay camping area, is so popular Parks Victoria runs a ballot to allocate sites over the summer holidays. So it’s not hard to see why Johanna Beach remains consistently popular. It’s a large, grassy camping area behind the dunes at Johanna Beach, which has spectacular surfing, and is a particularly great place to pitch your tent in all seasons.

3. Blue Pool camping area, Briagolong State Forest, Victoria

Lucky are the campers who manage to nab a spot at this shaded campsite. A short walk through the trees will take you to the deep swimming hole of Blue Pool, which is just the sort of place you want to be on a hot summer’s day. As this campsite is situated in a state forest, it’s no bookings and no fees, and you can also take your dog camping with you. Blue Pool is also the only camping area with a toilet in Briagolong State Forest.

4. Meredith Park camping area, Lake Colac, Victoria

Another Victorian campsite making its way into the top five, Meredith Park camping area is situated on the shores of Lake Colac. The campground is suitable for all sorts of camping, including with tents, all sizes of caravans and camper trailers. Meredith Park is free and dog-friendly, but the major draw is the fishing, which is reputed to be excellent.

5. Baden Powell camping area, Lane Poole Reserve, Western Australia

Nestled in the forests of Lane Poole Reserve, Baden Powell camping area is a campsite popular for its proximity to Perth and some great summer activities. The facilities here aren’t flashy – you’ll find drinking water, picnic tables and toilets. There’s a camping fee, but as a trade off you can bring your dogs. And then there are the activities. You can fish, canoe, cycle, bushwalk, swim, as well as watch out for the native wildlife, including quolls.

6. Christies Beach camping area, Echuca Regional Park, Victoria

Give us a site among the gum trees at Christies Beach camping area. This popular ground is located on the Murray River, which is lucky, as you don’t want to be located too far from the water in the summer heat. The sites here are large – so grab a group of your mates and head for the water.

The regional park is located around 6km from Echuca, so you can almost swim into town, although we do suggest that you take the more official road. The road is dry-weather only, so you can’t access the camping area in wet weather. This dog-friendly campground isn’t the fanciest we’ve ever stayed at, but you have all the basic things you need, including toilets, space for camper trailers and caravans, campfires (fire warnings permitting) and shade.

7. Big River camping area, Big River State Park, Victoria

Just across the river from Lake Eildon National Park, Big River State Forest enjoys much of the appeal of the popular national park, but with a few key differences. One: you can camp with your pets. Two: it’s free. Three: it doesn’t take bookings. Four: you can have a campfire (fire warnings permitting). While this scenic spot might not have many facilities, these points, plus the proximity to the lake and its watersports, more than make up for it.

 

     

Top 5 no-bookings camping areas

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Camping in Tasmania, Tom Simpson

Camping in Tasmania, Tom Simpson

There’s nothing we like better than camping in summer. And a lot of people agree, which means that campsites can get booked up quite quickly over the summer months. Luckily, there are some fantastic no-bookings camping areas around the country that mean even the most unorganised camper can find a last-minute campsite.

Mungo Brush camping area, Myall Lakes, New South Wales

Situated between a lake and a beach, Mungo Brush camping area is the pick of the bunch in Myall Lakes National Park and competition for these sites is fierce at Christmas. Set up your tent or van underneath the paperbark trees and enjoy a sundowner with spectacular lake views. The beach is only a short walk away through the dunes if you prefer an ocean view with your drink.

The camping area has good facilities, including toilets, and proximity to great fishing spots, bushwalks, swimming, as well as access to boat ramps. And at three hours away from Sydney, it’s far enough away to feel like an escape.

Tapanappa camping area, Deep Creek Conservation Park, South Australia

You don’t need to book at any of the campsites at Deep Creek Conservation Park, which means that you can take your pick from camping areas settled in a stringybark forest to campsites with little to no shade overlooking the spectacular coast.

Or there’s Tapanappa, which offers the best of both worlds, being set back from the coast so that jaw-dropping views are just a quick walk away and the campsites offer some shade. With both drinking water and toilets available, this is a popular campsite that fills up quickly. It’s also a staging ground for those preparing to undertake hikes within Deep Creek, including the epic Heysen Trail, which crosses much of South Australia.

Honeymoon Pool camping area, Wellington National Park, Western Australia

Like many campsite names in Western Australia, including Lucky Bay camping area, Honeymoon Pool lives up to its name. That’s not to say that the camping area is full of honeymooning couples – you’re more likely to find families – but rather that it’s an idyllic spot that should give campers some happy memories to take home with them.

The camping area is in a picture-perfect setting next to the Collie River in Wellington National Park. Surrounded by forest, it has toilets, drinking water, picnic tables and limited disabled access. The main activity at the pool is, of course, swimming, but canoeing and bushwalking are also popular.

Billy Goat Bend camping area, Mitchell River National Park, Victoria

The secret is out about our favourite no-bookings campsite, Johanna Beach camping area. But there are still plenty of less-crowded no-bookings sites around Victoria, included this gem in Mitchell River National Park. While not situated directly on Mitchell River, Billy Goat has a spectacular panorama over the river and park. There isn’t much else at this site apart from the view. It’s a favourite with canoeists, but its location above the river means it’s a bit of hike to reach if you are canoeing through the park.

Mt Field Campground, Mt Field National Park, Tasmania

You’ll find this caravan park and campground nestled in Mt Field National Park. Set under giant swamp gums next to the Tyenna River, this campsite is in a charming location, and offers great access to the rest of the national park. From the sweeping alpine regions to the gracefully tiered waterfalls, Mt Field offers a range of environments to explore and activities with which to explore them, including cycling, canoeing, hiking and fishing.

The campsite has fantastic facilities, including toilets, hot showers, drinking water, disabled access and powered sites – all the things you’d expect at a site you’d have to book at.

Other no-bookings campsites worth visiting:

 

 

 

 

 

 

     

Lightweight camping

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The cycle-tourist I met at Coalmine Beach Holiday Park in Walpole, Western Australia, had ridden more than 500km from Perth with her camping gear.

The cycle-tourist I met at Coalmine Beach Holiday Park in Walpole, Western Australia, had ridden more than 500km from Perth with her camping gear

I’m obsessed with my weight.

No, not in the way you think. I’m talking about the weight of my camping gear, and the magic number on the scales is 23kg. That’s the luggage limit on Qantas and Virgin flights. It has ruled my life – culled my wardrobe, limited my diet and defined my very existence – for the past two months.

For two months I’ve been flying around Australia researching remote parts of the country for Australia’s Best Campsites, a travel guide which will be published in October 2014 by Explore Australia.

My routine is this: fly to capital city, rent car at airport, dash to supermarket to buy food and stove fuel, drive as far I can before nightfall, set up camp, rinse and repeat. So far I’ve taken 10 flights, rented six cars, and eaten 47 heat-in-the-bag instant Indian dinners (hey, they’re delicious).

Camping without an esky or a fridge means a lot of lentils and beans.

Camping without an esky or a fridge means a lot of lentils and beans

So how easy is it to fit all the gear you need to be totally self-sufficient into one bag weighing no more than 23kg? Tent, sleeping mat, sleeping bag, stove, pots, eating utensils, clothes, toiletries, waterproof gear, torch, spare batteries, first-aid kit, maps … these things add up.

It’s do-able, if you plan carefully.

My top tip for camping by plane: make some friends. Travel with one or two other people. A group of three is the most efficient number in terms of weight. Three people can share a lot of the same gear that otherwise one person would use alone – tent, stove, pots and first-aid kit, for example. A lightweight three-person tent divided by three is still lighter than a one-person tent divided by one.

Mind you, I’m not following my own advice. I’m camping solo. So that person you saw at Darwin airport last week wearing a Goretex jacket and hiking boots in 36-degree heat? That was me with all my pockets bulging full of socks, undies and everything else that wouldn’t fit in my backpack.

Which brings me to my second tip: practise lightweight camping by going hiking (or bike-touring) for a couple of days. There’s nothing like carrying everything on your back for 25km to change your idea of what’s essential and what can stay at home. That’s how I learnt that no, I can’t enjoy a camping trip without real coffee, even if it means lugging a plunger over the top of the Andes.

For this hiking trip in Chile, my ratio of pack-weight to body-weight was about 1:3. My shoulders would have been much happier with a ratio of 1:5.

For this hiking trip in Chile, my ratio of pack-weight to body-weight was about 1:3. My shoulders would have been much happier with a ratio of 1:5.

My third tip: you don’t need as many clothes as you think you do. On my latest trip I knew I wouldn’t see a laundry more than once a week and I packed accordingly. That meant 14 socks. Don’t tell anyone, but it turns out I’m usually wearing the same socks three days in a row. (You were wondering why I’m camping solo? Now you know.) So I’m travelling with a whole lot of excess socks, which explains the Michelin Man look at Darwin airport. Don’t even get me started on the undies situation.

For me, gear is a means to enjoying a camping trip. For some, gear is virtually an end in its own right. And if you’re a gear freak with cash to spare, lightweight camping is easy – just keep spending money on smaller and lighter stuff until you’ve got almost nothing to show for it. I’ve known hikers who love heading into the mountains for three nights with less than 10kg of ‘food’ and equipment. ‘Food’ means protein bars, soaked cold noodles and peanut butter. No cooking, no stove weight, no worries.

I’m mocking them, yet really we share the same philosophy – that reducing the amount of ‘stuff’ we have frees us up to enjoy the natural environment. Which is the whole reason I love camping in the first place.

I haven’t seen many other lightweight campers during my trip, although I’ve seen plenty of travellers who look equipped to launch the next expedition into space.

T-9 minutes and counting: set for launch from Wilpena Pound campground, Flinders Ranges, South Australia. The ute travels on the trailer behind the bus under the boat.

T-9 minutes and counting: set for launch from Wilpena Pound campground, Flinders Ranges, South Australia. The ute travels on the trailer behind the bus under the boat

Less stuff means less time earning money to buy the stuff, less time setting up camp, less time packing up, less stuff cluttering up the view of the bush, and more time sitting around the campsite drinking tea. Or fishing. Or building sandcastles. More time birdwatching, or bushwalking.

Less gear, more time: Lake Catani, Mt Buffalo National Park, Victoria.

Less gear, more time: Lake Catani, Mt Buffalo National Park, Victoria

That said, my philosophy (and the airline luggage limit) means I’m camping without a chair, and right now I’d give anything for a chair. I guess everyone has to figure out their own camping comfort zone. I’m still figuring out mine.

Chairs: the keys to camping comfort

Kerryn Burgess is the author of Cool Camping Australia: East Coast, and is currently on the road researching campsites for her new book, Australia’s Best Camping, which will be published in October 2014 by Explore Australia.