Best Summer Camping Spots In Australia

Oceanfront views don’t have to cost as much as your mortgage repayment.

Have you considered camping in your own backyard this summer? Be it a remote and rugged bush camp or a glampsite that leans toward luxe, it’s time to plot a course to some of the best campgrounds across the country.

NSW | TAS | SA | NT | WA | QLD | VIC

NRMA Merimbula Beach Holiday Resort, Sapphire Coast, NSW

Commanding clifftop views over the Pacific Ocean isn’t the only surprising feature at this NRMA resort on NSW’s Sapphire Coast . Those who live for hot summer days with their toes in the sand and sea salt on their skin won’t be disappointed: the resort is flanked by two quiet golden beaches, and there are plenty more shores to explore just a short drive away (Bar Beach is a beautiful little lick of silica).

The more actively inclined camper won’t go without either: there’s a glut of well-maintained facilities onsite, from a swimming pool complex to a sand volleyball court and a tennis court, plus a camp kitchen, barbecue areas, picnic tables and even a wood-fired pizza oven, firewood supplied. Pets and kids are both welcomed here, too, the latter catered to with a playground, giant bouncing pillow, go-karts and kids’ club. Find the kitsch seaside town of Merimbula only two kilometres away.

NRMA Merimbula Beach Holiday Resort — Expect breathtaking views over the Pacific Ocean from your campsite.

The Neck Reserve Camping Area, Bruny Island, Tas

An isthmus of chalky white sand bordered by shrubs and tall grasses and lashed by the Tasman Sea, The Neck is Tassie at its most endearingly elemental. On the north side stands the timber staircase that leads you to the iconic, panoramic lookout, while on the south side, a campground lies hidden in plain sight.

Sheltered behind sand dunes and amid a grove of lofty eucalyptus trees, this unpowered Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service site is only 20 metres from the beach. Take a twilight stroll along the windswept shoreline for big gulps of salty sea air and a chance to spot little penguins coming home to roost. You’ll doze off to the sounds of the ocean, and wake up to golden light streaming through the trees. Arrive early if you want to secure a spot at this popular (and unbookable) site.

The Neck Reserve Camping Area, Bruny Island, TAS — Views from the iconic, panoramic lookout on Bruny Island near The Neck Reserve Camping Area. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Lime Bay State Reserve campground, Tasman Peninsula, Tas

Lime Bay offers a slightly unconventional take on a summer camping trip. Located beyond a worn path, and featuring a side serve of Tasmania’s dark history, this campground on the Tasman Peninsula campsite suits those who crave more than palm trees, sundowners and beaches. Sure, you can still wander barefoot on pristine white sand and marvel at grand blue skies; in fact, this little corner of Tasmania is well-known as prime boating, kayaking and snorkelling territory thanks to its sheltered bay location and fetching turquoise waters. But the bigger draw here is arguably the local history: explore the bleak legacy of Tassie’s former penal colonies at the World Heritage-listed Coal Mines Historic Site and the Port Arthur Historic Site. Coal Mines is only a 10-minute drive, or one-hour walk away, while Port Arthur is less than a 40-minute drive away by car.

Bellwether Wines, Coonawarra, SA

Owner Sue has clearly pondered every last detail at small-scale outfit Bellwether , coming up with an experience that is light years away from cookie-cutter camping. A bucolic farm-cum-boutique-winery on South Australia’s Limestone Coast, you’ll feel at home, and at peace, when you pitch your tent among the lush grass and ancient gum trees on one of the six sites here.

Whether camping or glamping, all guests get a private hour of wine tasting in the old stone shearing shed – now the winery’s cellar door – which dates back to 1868. The rustic camp kitchen has everything you might need, all set around a long timber dining table. Pluck fresh herbs and produce from the kitchen garden for dinner, and crack a few of the truly ‘farm fresh’ eggs for breakfast. As Coonawarra’s deliciously cool summer nights draw in, plant yourself around one of the three communal fire pits with a bottle of the house cab sav before soaking in the site’s clawfoot bathtub.

Glamp under the stars at Bellwether Wines on the Limestone Coast.

Leliyn (Edith Falls), Nitmiluk National Park, NT

In the heart of Jawoyn country, amid the ochre sandstone carved by wind and water over millennia, lies a serene waterhole that has captured the heart of many a camper. Leliyn, also known as Edith Falls, promises respite from the pulls of modern life. Here, just a short walk from the campground, you’ll find tiered natural pools linked by a waterfall that emerge from behind the trees and scrub like a mirage. Escape the Top End’s tropical heat with a dip in the cool waters of the plunge pool. Bask by the water’s edge, under the shade of a paperbark tree with a good book. Or take one of the walking trails to the handful of other, less frequented, pools.

The campsite itself offers every basic amenity you could need – gas barbecues, picnic tables, hot showers, and a kiosk dishing up homemade fare that earns rave reviews, particularly for its burgers and pies. There are also water fountains dotted around the grassy flat.

Leliyn (Edith Falls), Nitmiluk National Park, NT — Swim in the serene waterhole of Leliyn (Edith Falls) in Nitmiluk National Park. (Image: Tourism NT/Mitch Cox)

Dirk Hartog Island, Coral Coast, WA

Load up the four-wheel drive and set the GPS for Dirk Hartog Island when only the wildest, most remote escape will do. Located in the Shark Bay World Heritage Area, this arid, scrub-draped, isle moulded by sand dunes is paradise for adventurous campers. Just one family, the Wardles, lives permanently on Dirk Hartog. Here, there are no powered campsites, phone reception is extremely limited and only eight vehicles are allowed on the island at any one time.

The rugged terrain and surrounding neon blue waters harbour all kinds of wild creatures – skittish sharks, bottlenose dolphins, humpback whales, dugongs, sea eagles, ospreys, and even the largest loggerhead turtle breeding colony in Australia. Snorkel alongside cuttlefish and manta rays; splash around in rockpools; pull up a pew next to the island’s explosive blowhole; and soak in the glassy, warm waters on the island’s east. We also recommend laying out the picnic blanket for sunset atop 200-metre-high limestone cliffs that overlook the Indian Ocean. Watching the daylight fade here at Steep Point, the westernmost point in all of mainland Australia, is quite the spectacle.

There are three different homestead campgrounds available at DHI, all of which feature hot showers and fresh drinking water; two of these can be booked for exclusive use with private camp kitchens. More intrepid or budget-conscious campers can opt for one of the island’s nine basic national park campsites .

Dirk Hartog Island, Coral Coast, WA — Dirk Hartog Island on Coral Coast is a paradise for adventurous campers. (Image: Will Wardle)

Discovery Parks — Broome, WA

Seize prime real estate on a beautiful beach off Roebuck Bay with a stay at Discovery Parks — Broome . With turquoise blue vistas, and cabins positioned in just the right spots to gaze adoringly at them, it’s stellar Broome accommodation without the hefty price tag. Plus, they’re the only holiday park in the area to rest right next to the beach, so bragging rights are validated. Expect powered sites right off the water as well as refurbished cabins, while amenities include a swimming pool, kiosk, laundry facilities and a boat ramp.

Smalleys Beach, Cape Hillsborough National Park, Qld

There’s a secret little pocket on Queensland’s Hibiscus Coast where verdant lowland rainforest abuts a sweeping arc of sand. Spend your summer holidays at Smalleys Beach campground and you don’t have to choose between the beach and the bush – both are on your tent’s doorstep. And with just 11 spacious, sun-dappled camping spots on offer, some with beach views, tranquility is in abundant supply, too.

Smalleys Beach campground in Cape Hillsborough National Park. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland/Brooke-Miles)

Rise before the sun and you’ll not only witness the gentle morning light paint the horizon: this stretch of coastline is known as a popular dawn hangout spot for wallabies and kangaroos, which come to feast on seaweed and mangrove seed pods. After a camp breakfast, explore the ridge-top lookouts, mangrove forests and boardwalks frequented by birds and butterflies within the Cape Hillsborough National Park.

Spot the wildlife on the beach in Cape Hillsborough National Park. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Book online in advance to reserve your pitch.

Mt Barney Lodge, Scenic Rim, Qld

The Sunshine State might be best known for its beaches, but delve into the verdant hinterland that hides behind Brisbane and the Gold Coast and you’ll question why you didn’t visit sooner. Come summer, the rarefied air of Mount Barney National Park offers welcome relief from the sticky heat of the city and the state’s crowded beaches. Skirting the park’s entrance is Mt Barney Lodge , a 12-hectare property that fronts onto a creek and boasts a screensaver-worthy shot of the eponymous mountain as its backdrop.

Gorge on the great outdoors with rock climbing, abseiling, hikes, mountain expeditions, navigation courses and more at your disposal. Or spend a lazy day driving through neighbouring towns and villages replete with quaint cafes and country pubs, old-school dairies and boutique breweries and wineries. Lodge staff have an encyclopedic knowledge of local bushwalks and can pinpoint hidden nearby swimming holes and creeks that are perfect for a cooling dip or scenic picnic. This rural retreat takes sustainability seriously, too, from pressing guests to bring reusable water bottles to placing compost bins in every building, using energy-saving light bulbs and plenty more beyond.

Camp at Mt Barney Lodge on a 12-hectare property with mountain views. (Image: IG@jonesysjourneys)

Cowes Foreshore Tourist Park, Phillip Island, Vic

Finding a campsite that doesn’t feel like a tourist bubble cut off from civilisation can prove surprisingly tricky; step forward Cowes Foreshore Tourist Park. Not only does the campsite occupy a plum beachfront setting and all the mod cons you could ask for, but the township of Cowes is just a 10-minute walk away. Mosey into town for a tasting paddle at modern and minimalist Ocean Reach Brewing , or a flute of local sparkling at the cosy Grenache Wine Bar without worrying about designated drivers. You can also stroll into town along the beach without worrying about where to park when the daytrippers descend.

Long popular as a school holiday getaway for families, a trip to Phillip Island will inspire a spot of nostalgia for many Victorians. Roll up and embrace the small-town seaside vibe – eat fish and chips on the sand and chase it up with ice cream; go crabbing off the Cowes Jetty; take a bracing jet boat trip out around the island. There’s still something a little bit whimsical about this island escape.

Slow down and find your rhythm on a Murray River journey through time and place.

Trust is a funny thing. It seems not that long ago that my mother was insisting on pouring the milk into my cereal bowl, because she didn’t trust me not to slosh it over the table, and yet here I am on the Murray River at Mildura in far north-west Victoria, being handed the keys to a very new and very expensive luxury houseboat.

After a crash course in how not to crash, I’m at the wheel of the good ship Elevate – pride of the All Seasons fleet – guiding her upstream past red-ochre cliffs as pelicans glide above the rippled river and kookaburras call from reedy banks. There’s a brief moment of breath-holding while I negotiate a hairpin turn around a jagged reef of skeletal, submerged gum trees, before a cheer rings out and calm descends as the timeless river unfurls in front of us.

The Murray River winding through Yarrawonga. (Image: Rob Blackburn)

Setting sail from Mildura

Murray River birds — Home to a large number of bird species, including pelicans. (Image: The Precint Studios)

A journey along the Murray River is never less than magical, and launching from Mildura makes perfect sense. Up here the river is wide and largely empty, giving novice skippers like myself the confidence to nudge the 60-tonne houseboat up to the riverbank where we tie up for the night, without fear of shattering the glass elevator (the boat is fully wheelchair accessible) or spilling our Champagne.

My friends and I spend three days on the water, swimming and fishing, sitting around campfires onshore at night, and basking in air so warm you’d swear you were in the tropics. The simplicity of river life reveals an interesting dichotomy: we feel disconnected from the world but at the same time connected to Country, privileged to be part of something so ancient and special.

Stop one: Echuca

19th-century paddlesteamers — A historic 19th-century paddlesteamer cruises along the Murray River. (Image: Visit Victoria)

The six-hour drive from Melbourne to Mildura (or four hours and 20 minutes from Adelaide) is more than worth it, but you don’t have to travel that far to find fun on the river. Once Australia’s largest inland port, Echuca is the closest point on the Murray to Melbourne (two hours 45 minutes), and you’ll still find a plethora of paddlesteamers tethered to the historic timber wharf, a throwback to the thriving river trade days of the 19th century. The PS Adelaide, built in 1866 and the oldest wooden-hulled paddlesteamer operating in the world, departs daily for one-hour cruises, while a brand-new paddlesteamer, the PS Australian Star , is launching luxury seven-night voyages in December through APT Touring.

The town is also a hot food and wine destination. St Anne’s Winery at the historic Port of Echuca precinct has an incredibly photogenic cellar door, set inside an old carriage builders’ workshop on the wharf and filled with huge, 3000-litre port barrels. The Mill, meanwhile, is a cosy winter spot to sample regional produce as an open fire warms the red-brick walls of this former flour mill.

Stop two: Barmah National Park

Just half-an-hour upstream, Barmah National Park is flourishing, its river red gum landscape (the largest in the world) rebounding magnificently after the recent removal of more than 700 feral horses. The internationally significant Ramsar-listed wetland sits in the heart of Yorta Yorta Country, with Traditional Owners managing the environment in close partnership with Parks Victoria. Walkways weave through the forest, crossing creeks lined with rare or threatened plants, passing remnants of Yorta Yorta oven mounds and numerous scar trees, where the bark was removed to build canoes, containers or shields.

The Dharnya Centre (open weekdays until 3pm) is the cultural hub for the Yorta Yorta. Visitors can learn about the ecological significance of the Barmah Lakes on a 90-minute river cruise, led by a First Nations guide, or take a one-hour, guided cultural walking tour along the Yamyabuc Trail.

Stop three: Cobram

Continue east to Cobram to find the southern hemisphere’s largest inland beach. Swarming with sun-seekers in summer, the white sand of Thompson’s Beach is shaded by majestic river red gums and dotted with hundreds of beach umbrellas, as beachgoers launch all manner of water craft and set up stumps for beach cricket. But the beach is at its most captivating at sunset, when the crowds thin out, the glassy river mirrors the purple sky, and the canopies of the gum trees glow fiery orange.

The region is also home to some fine resorts and indulgent retreats. Yarrawonga Mulwala Golf Club Resort has two riverside championship golf courses, luxury apartments and self-contained villas. While not strictly on the Murray, the historic wine town of Rutherglen is rife with boutique (and unique) accommodation, including an exquisitely renovated red-brick tower in a French provincial-style castle at Mount Ophir Estate. Fans of fortified wines can unravel the mystery of Rutherglen’s ‘Muscat Mile’, meeting the vignerons and master-blenders whose artistry has put the town on the global map for this rich and complex wine style.

Stop four: Albury-Wodonga

First Nations YindyamarraSculpture Walk — First Nations Yindyamarra Sculpture Walk is part of the Wagirra Trail. (Image: Carmen Zammit)

Follow the river far enough upstream and you’ll arrive at the twin border cities of Albury-Wodonga. The Hume Highway thunders through, but serenity can be found along the five-kilometre Yindyamarra Sculpture Walk – part of the Wagirra Trail that meanders through river wetlands just west of Albury in Wiradjuri country. Fifteen sculptures by local First Nations artists line the trail, conveying stories of reconciliation, enduring connection to culture, local Milawa lore and traditional practices. It feels a long way from Mildura, and it is, but the pelicans and kookaburras remind us that it’s the same river, the great conduit that connects our country.

A traveller’s checklist

Staying there

New Mildura motel Kar-rama. (Image: Iain Bond Photo)

Kar-Rama is a brand-new boutique, retro-styled motel in Mildura, with a butterfly-shaped pool and a tropical, Palm Springs vibe. Echuca Holiday Homes has a range of high-end accommodation options, both on the riverfront and in town.

Playing there

BruceMunro’s Trail of Lights in Mildura — Bruce Munro’s Trail of Lights in Mildura. (Image: Imogen Eveson)

Artist Bruce Munro’s Trail of Lights installation, comprising more than 12,000 illuminated ‘fireflies’, is currently lighting up Mildura’s Lock Island in the middle of the Murray. Murray Art Museum Albury (MAMA) is a hub for contemporary art, with a rotating roster of exhibitions, and is a major outlet for young and First Nations artists.

Eating there

Mildura’s diverse demographic means it’s a fantastic place to eat. Andy’s Kitchen is a local favourite, serving up delicious pan-Asian dishes and creative cocktails in a Balinese-style garden setting. Call in to Spoons Riverside in Swan Hill to enjoy locally sourced, seasonal produce in a tranquil setting overlooking the river.

The best summer camping spots around Australia