Australia is the world’s best country for camping – here’s why

Elizabeth Whitehead Elizabeth Whitehead
hero media
A study has confirmed what we always suspected…

Listen up, happy campers! A study comparing the quality of camping around the world has ruled that Australia tops the list, beating out the USA, Canada and South Africa. It’s a big call to make, but we’ve broken down the reasons why Australia was awarded top gong, plus some of the best campsites the country has to offer.

Why Australia is the best country for camping

The study, carried out by Asilia Africa Lodges, focused on eight different criteria, collectively used to assign each country a rating. These criteria were:

– Wildlife and plant species diversity
– Light pollution levels
– Annual rainfall
– Number of national parks
– Urbanisation rates
– Availability of outdoor activities
– Population density

Australia was awarded a score of 82.25/100, the highest of any country. We shone in all categories, but truly triumphed in our sheer number of national parks – 685 to be exact – covering 28 million hectares total. In particular, the study highlighted the UNESCO-listed Kakadu National Park in the NT, as well as Blue Mountains National Park in NSW as standouts. (Psst, we’ve rounded up the best camping spots in the Blue Mountains here, and the best Kakadu camping here).

a couple sitting, drinking and reading a book outside their tent in Kakadu
Camping in Kakadu is a chance to unplug and unwind. (Image: Tourism NT/Tourism Australia)

The study also noted Australia’s diverse plant and wildlife species and ample places to roam as factors that make the country a camper’s paradise. And we’re inclined to agree.

Mini bubbletent Mirumiru
Camp in a mini bubbletent in the Capertee Valley. (Image: Sera Wright)


Where to camp in Australia

We’ve already rounded up the best campsites in Australia, from camping on the white sands of Lucky Bay WA to Tasmania’s luscious Mt Field National Park. We also have a guide to the best places to camp in winter, from laid-back coastal camping adventures to far-flung outback stations. We also have guides on the prettiest places to camp in Tasmania and luxury glamping in the NT, if you prefer a bit of extra comfort.

Camping Francois Peron National Park
The West Australian Coast is home to an abundance of camping spots. (Image: Getty/dm2912)

Camping can take on many forms, and it doesn’t have to mean roughing it or carrying heavy gear through remote stretches of wilderness. But whether you’re trekking with a tent or parked up by the beach in a comfy campervan, camping close to nature is a thousand-star experience that no luxury resort can replicate.

Elizabeth Whitehead
Elizabeth Whitehead is a writer obsessed with all things culture; doesn't matter if it's pop culture or cultures of the world. She graduated with a degree in History from the University of Sydney (after dropping out from Maths). Her bylines span AFAR, Lonely Planet, ELLE, Harper's BAZAAR and Refinery 29. Her work for Australian Traveller was shortlisted for single article of the year at the Mumbrella Publishing Awards 2024. She is very lucky in thrifting, very unlucky in UNO.
View profile and articles
red rock hut king island airbnb
Australia

Australia’s most wishlisted Airbnbs revealed for 2026

Airbnb has released a selection of its most wishlisted homes in Australia for 2026.

Read more
Baillie Lodges enters new global era as ‘Beckons’
Australia

Australian luxury lodge pioneer Baillie Lodges enters new global era as ‘Beckons’

The homegrown hospitality group behind Southern Ocean Lodge and Longitude 131° is expanding internationally under a new name.

Read more
Landscape shot of Maria Island Walk in Tasmania
Australia

The best last-minute Easter getaways you can still book

From luxury lodges and coastal resorts to outback adventures and cruise deals, these Easter getaways prove there’s still time to escape.

Read more
a spacious apartment with marina view at Trinity Point, Lake Macquarie NSW 
Australia

Australia’s newest hotels worth planning a trip for

Check into Australia’s most exciting new hotel openings, from buzzy city stays to dreamy coastal escapes.

Read more

How a $1 deal saved Bendigo’s historic tramways

    Megan Arkinstall Megan Arkinstall
    Continue
    The passionate community that saved Bendigo Tramways has kept the story of this city alive for generations.

    It was an absolute steal: a fleet of 23 trams for just $1. But such a fortunate purchase didn’t happen easily. It was 1972 when the Bendigo Trust handed over a single buck for the city’s historic collection of battery, steam and electric trams, which had transported locals since 1890.

    inside the historic Bendigo Tram
    Bendigo Tramways is a historic transport line turned tourist service. (Image: Bendigo Heritage)

    The city’s tram network had been declared defunct since 1970 due to post-war shortages in materials to upkeep the trams and declining passenger numbers as motor vehicles were increasing. However, determined locals would not hear of their beloved trams being sold off around the world.

    The Bendigo Trust was enlisted to preserve this heritage, by converting the trams into a tourist service. The Victorian government approved a trial, however news spread that the Australian Electric Tramways Museum in Adelaide had acquired one of the streetcars for its collection.

    a tram heading to Quarry Hill in 1957
    A tram on its way to Quarry Hill in 1957. (Image: Bendigo Heritage)

    An impassioned group rallied together to make this physically impossible. Breaking into the tram sheds, they welded iron pipes to the rails, removed carbon brushes from the motors, and formed a blockade at the depot. The community response was extraordinary, and a $1 deal was sealed.

    A new chapter for the city’s fleet

    the old Tramways Depot and Workshop
    The old Tramways Depot and Workshop is one of the stops on the hop-on, hop-off service. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    Today, Bendigo Tramways welcomes some 40,000 passengers annually, operating as a hop-on, hop-off touring service aboard the restored trams. Fifteen of the now 45-strong fleet are dubbed ‘Talking Trams’ because of the taped commentary that is played along the route. The trams loop between Central Deborah Gold Mine and the Bendigo Joss House Temple, which has been a place of Chinese worship since 1871, via other sites including the old Tramways Depot and Workshop.

    a Gold Mine Bendigo Tram
    The fleet comprises 45 trams that have been restored. (Image: Visit Victoria/Robert Blackburn)

    Keeping things interesting, throughout the year visitors can step aboard different themed trams. Tram No. 302 becomes the Yarn Bomb Tram, decorated both inside and out with colourful crochet by an anonymous group of locals.

    During the festive season, Tram No. 15 operates as a tinsel-festooned Santa Tram, and the big man himself hides out somewhere along the route for excited children to find. And on selected dates, the adults-only Groove Tram runs nighttime tours of the city, accompanied by local musicians playing live tunes and a pop-up bar.

    the historic post office turned visitor centre in Bendigo
    Visitors can hop on and off to see the city’s sites such as the historic post office turned visitor centre. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    As well as preserving the city’s history, however, the continuation of the tram service has kept the skills of tram building and craftsmanship alive in a practical sense. Bendigo’s Heritage Rail Workshop is world-renowned for restoring heritage trams and repurposing vehicles in creative ways.

    Locally, for example, Tram No. 918 was transformed into the Dja Dja Wurrung Tram with original Aboriginal artworks by emerging artist Natasha Carter, with special commentary and music that shares the stories and traditions of Bendigo’s first people. You can’t put a price on preserving history. Nonetheless, it was a dollar very well spent.