Australia’s Best Campsites: 2026 Hipcamp Award Winners

How were Australia’s best campsites chosen?

Mystic Adventures Greenbank is one of the campsites crowned as ‘best newcomer’. (Credit: Hipcamp)

Rather than relying on a judging panel, Hipcamp looked at the places its own community loved most over the past year. Hipcamp is an app that helps users find and book campsites, so the platform was able to analyse booking, rating and review data from its network of more than eight million users and over 60,000 Australian campsites to narrow down the thousands of options available to just Australia’s best.

The award lists are unranked, so there is no single campsite claiming the crown. When you look through the winners, it makes sense why it would have been impossible to narrow down the list to just one. Instead, the awards recognise standout stays across seven states and territories, as well as categories covering tent camping, caravan sites, glamping, cabins and farm stays.

There are also dedicated awards for newcomers and legacy Hipcamps that have built up an enduring following among campers.

“These awards are really about celebrating the hosts who make great camping possible," says Hipcamp CEO and founder Alyssa Ravasio.

Five award-winning Hipcamps to inspire your next adventure

Set up camp on a stunning working family farm in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland at Hidden Pocket On The Mary, one of the ‘legacy’ award winners. (Credit: Hipcamp)

In NSW, Willowbank offers private camping along the Karuah River on a multigenerational cattle property. It’s a classic country escape, pairing a working rural landscape with the chance to set up camp beside the water.

Queensland’s Hidden Pocket on the Mary also makes the most of its verdant riverside setting. Peaceful campsites line the property, while complimentary kayaks give guests an easy way to head out on the Mary River.

Travelling further south to Victoria, Galea Ranch sits beneath the Cathedral Ranges. The family-run property combines farm life with a spectacular mountain backdrop, proving you don’t need to travel far from civilisation to find scenery that feels properly wild.

Ladybug Camping represents Tasmania among the highlighted winners, with creekside campsites and cascading waterfalls providing the soundtrack. Across the country in Western Australia, Jarvis Estate Winery makes he most of what Margaret River is best known for, offering camping directly on their vineyard.

Together, the five properties show just how varied camping in Australia can be. A weekend under canvas can mean paddling from a riverbank, waking beneath a mountain range or ending the day among the vines of one of the country’s best-known wine regions.

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

The full list of winners for 2026

Not sure if camping is for you? You can dip your toe in my glamping at a site like Nine Mountains, with outdoor baths, an outdoor kitchen, and a spacious yurt. (Credit: Hipcamp)

The awards include separate lists for NSW, Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia, Tasmania, South Australia and the Northern Territory, with 12 winners named in each.

All winning properties can be found on the Hipcamp app and online, where campers can view availability and book directly.

With camping season getting underway as we get closer to summer, consider the 2026 list your cue to dust off your tent and make the most of what Australia does best: stunning outdoor adventures.

Discover the magic of a Sydney staycation in summer at The Fullerton Hotel Sydney.

Sydney City is magical in summer. Warm summer evenings beg to be spent sipping cool cocktails at one of many al fresco and rooftop bars. Ferries and buses are ready to transport travellers to the best nearby beaches for salty days on the sand. National parks and rainforests are waiting to be explored. And the city’s events calendar is packed, from live music to cultural attractions. All elements that call for a Sydney staycation.

Discover where to eat, stay and play for the perfect local getaway.

Where to stay

The Fullerton Hotel Sydney

Amid the bustle of the perfect Sydney staycation, one needs a place to escape to and recharge. Enter, The Fullerton Hotel Sydney. The hotel is an icon in its own right – nestled inside the 151-year-old building that was originally Sydney’s General Post Office, its heritage-listed sandstone walls and Victorian renaissance grandeur have been carefully preserved – providing a rare chance to sleep within Sydney’s history.

Despite its fascinating history, the hotel isn’t short on modern, luxurious comforts. Rooms and suites are available in both the modern high-rise with gorgeous views over the clock tower and lively city below, or inside the historical post office building itself.

the Fullerton Hotel Sydney Heritage Long Suite bathroom — Heritage rooms maintain their old-world style.

Either way, guests can enjoy sophisticated touches, including a deluxe bed and pillow menu, Harman Kardon Bluetooth speakers, a digital concierge, a Vittoria coffee machine and amenities from the Balmain bathroom collection.

The team at this five-star hotel provides excellence and a quality experience for all their guests, while amenities like a gym help with a well-rounded stay. For a peaceful moment with sweeping city views, enter The Fullerton Club Lounge on level 28. This private haven for dining and relaxation is available to any guests staying on the hotel’s club floors and suites.

Add to this a central location in the CBD’s Martin Place, with easy access to Sydney’s top attractions, and convenience meets style.

Where to drink & dine

1. The Bar

the Fullerton Hotel afternoon tea at the bar — Indulge in the Fullerton Signature Afternoon Tea.

Inside The Fullerton Hotel Sydney’s lobby, The Bar does more than sling a few delicious cocktails (although it certainly does that well). Its brown leather chairs and glass ceiling create the perfect, almost al fresco, setting for the Fullerton Signature Afternoon Tea.

Served daily from 12 to 4 pm, the afternoon tea is a nod to the cherished social occasion it once was during the Victorian Renaissance era. People like to dress up for this afternoon tea, and if you’re lucky, a pianist often sits down at the on-site grand piano, just adding to the elegance.

The afternoon tea is served high tea style, offering reimagined British flavours of the Victorian Renaissance era with a unique blend of Australia’s culinary heritage. A sweet layer offers delights like a Malted Milk Envelope (a milk mousse layered between two biscuits), Bakewell Pudding (a super tasty egg-based pudding), and Apple Charlotte.

On the savoury layer, expect finger sandwiches with fillings like cucumber, egg and smoked salmon. While classic pinwheels and stuffed eggs almost make the menu. And, of course, all finished off with traditional scones served with cream and mixed berry jam.

Can’t fit in a whole afternoon tea? Be sure to at least order a slice of the 32-layered chocolate cake, a decadent mix of dark chocolate crémeux, fresh whipped cream, and Valrhona Azélia chocolate sauce. ⁣

2. The Place

the Fullerton Hotel the place dining — Dine in the stunning GPO atrium.

On level one of The Fullerton Hotel Sydney lives The Place – the hotel’s restaurant, in an atrium overlooking the former GPO. Here, dine on Modern Australian cuisine – think fresh, local seafood and a Riverina steak sandwich – along with a touch of Singaporean signature dishes, like Thai-style green curry or chicken satay. All in the shadow of the GPO clock tower, enjoying the GPO atrium’s natural light.

3. Local gelato

Couple enjoying ice-creams at First Fleet Park, The Rocks — Enjoy ice cream in the sunshine. (Image: Destination NSW)

What is summer without ice cream and/or gelato? Luckily, there are plenty of options just a short walk from The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, whether you’re craving a midday pick-me-up or an after-sun treat.

What to do/see

1. GPO Heritage Tour

the Fullerton Hotel Sydney lobby — Be awed by the building’s history.

Want to know more about the building you’re staying in? The Fullerton Hotel Sydney offers a complimentary 90-minute GPO Heritage Tour. Follow a knowledgeable tour guide to discover the stories, tales and legends of the former Sydney General Post Office building.

From the iconic clock tower (completed in 1891) to the black-and-white tiled staircase at 1 Martin Place, which was once the main entrance to the GPO and today serves as a prominent feature of the building to the 24 stone faces (mascarons) on the Martin Place side of the building. Part of the 1880s-era facade (designed by architect James Barnet), each represents different states, countries and continents.

2. Circular Quay

aerial of circular quay sydney — Catch a ferry from Circular Quay. (Image: Destination NSW)

An easy walk or light rail ride away from The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, lies the bustling Circular Quay. Here, you can sit for a drink and nibbles at the Opera Bar, or head into the iconic house itself for a show. It’s also a major ferry port, becoming your gateway to Sydney’s beaches, Luna Park and even Sydney Zoo.

3. Royal Botanic Gardens

view of circular quay from Sydney's Royal Botanic Garden — Wander through Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden. (Image: Destination NSW)

Just beyond Circular Quay, discover Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden. Wander through this 30-hectare, heritage-listed, botanical garden – exploring its differing sections, from Australian native botanicals to garden beds of vibrant flowers to towering groves of international trees.

It’s also the perfect place for a picnic, so pick up supplies before you come and enjoy a spot on the grassy meadow looking out into the harbour.

4. Theatre Royal

Just a one-minute walk from The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, take in a show at Theatre Royal. Built in 1976, the theatre has been offering a broad range of entertainment since the 1990s. Expect a show roster that ranges from the classics (like Cats) to the modern) like Pretty Woman: The Musical).

Start planning a summer stay in Sydney worth remembering at fullertonhotels.com/fullerton-hotel-sydney.

Australia’s best campsites for 2026 have been revealed

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Discover the magic of a Sydney staycation in summer at The Fullerton Hotel Sydney.