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A guide to the best caravan parks and campsites in Mudgee

Tap in your tentpoles and pop your top at these beautiful campsites and caravan parks in Mudgee and her surrounds.

From adorable Airbnbs to stylish glampsites, Mudgee lays out a spread of incredible accommodation for travellers and revellers alike. But when it comes to more modest escapes that hero nature over luxury, you’ll also find plenty of places to camp out.

Read on for our round-up of caravan parks to plug in your motorhome, cabins to keep kids contained and entertained, and secluded, 4WD-only spots in picturesque national parks. No matter how barebones or facility-friendly you’d like your stay to be, there’s a humble slab, clearing or cabin ready to welcome you.

BIG4 Mudgee Holiday Park

pool at BIG4 Mudgee Holiday Park
Families are well catered for with a seasonal kids’ club pool.

BIG4 Holiday Parks are the saving grace for campers who enjoy a smoother experience. There are affordable cabin options in addition to the site accommodation, and the comfortable oasis comes with all the basic features we’ve come to expect from holiday parks. Find amenities blocks, barbecues, a camp kitchen, board games, laundries with washing machines and dryers, a pool table, a convenience store and much more.

The town centre is just minutes away, although with so many free activities, playgrounds, a seasonal kids’ club pool and colourful jumping pillow on offer in the park, it might just lose its appeal for families looking for the easiest – and most relaxing – option.

Mudgee Riverside Park

Mudgee Riverside Park cabin
Pitch a tent or settle into a self-contained cabin.

Owners Ian and Lynn Mitchell welcome you to Mudgee’s most centrally located tourist park, Mudgee Riverside Park . A beautiful shady haven on the edge of the CBD, this cosy spot is the perfect jumping-off point for all of Mudgee’s best attractions.

Whatever your need – a tent down by the river, caravan site, self-contained cabin or villa – Riverside has you covered. There are powered and unpowered sites, a playground, laundry, camp kitchen and more. Dogs are allowed with permission on tent and powered sites.

Gulgong Tourist Park

Gulgong town centre
Stay just 10 minutes from the centre of Gulgong. (Image: Destination NSW)

Bunk into one of the spacious and sweet one- or two-bedroom cabins surrounded by idyllic rural scenery at this well-maintained park  just a 10-minute stroll to the centre of Gulgong. Or roll up in your camper trailer, motorhome or caravan (with your four-legged companion) to settle in for a relaxed stay at one of the large powered sites or pitch your tent at an unpowered site.

There’s a golf course within five minutes’ walk, should you like to swing your clubs; otherwise, get out into nature at the nearby Yarrobil National Park. A camp kitchen and barbecue area are there to share, as well as a basic amenities block.

Cudgegong Waters Park

Camp by Windamere Dam
Camp by Windamere Dam. (Image: Destination NSW)

Unfurling down to the banks of Windamere Dam, Cudgegong Waters Park is perhaps one of the prettiest places to park in the region. Keen anglers will rush to cast out for the dam’s resident golden perch, catfish and Murray cod, while boaties will be chuffed to find the only boat ramp access to the dam right in the park. You can also swim, kayak, canoe and water ski here, leaving little reason to stray too far, especially given there’s a cafe onsite serving up classics from croissants to pies and schnitzels every day of the week.

Accommodation-wise, there are powered and unpowered sites and self-contained cabins with access to kitchenettes, barbecues, amenities block, laundry and dump sites. In the cooler months, there are fire drums to huddle around as you gaze toward the pristine night sky. Dogs are also welcome at the outdoor sites.

Mudgee Valley Park

Just a relaxed amble from the town centre, yet within easy cooee from Mudgee’s beautiful wineries, Mudgee Valley Park ticks boxes for laidback group get-togethers, family getaways or just a low-key minibreak. You’re welcomed here with warm country hospitality and ample amenities to keep you entertained, such as a swimming pool, playground and a games room. There’s also a camp kitchen and barbecue facilities for cooking up all those locally produced goodies you picked up at the farmer’s market, and a convenient kiosk and laundry facilities on site. Tents can be pitched or bed down in a cosy cabin. It’s basic, yes, but great bang for your buck.

Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp Campground

camping at Dunns Swamp mudgee
Camp on the banks of Dunns Swamp. (Image: Destination NSW)

Folded within the World Heritage-listed Wollemi National Park, the Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp Campground is a bush-hemmed paradise that perches by the water’s edge. Formed in the 1920s, the waterway is man-made and the result of a nearby weir; however, it’s so blended into the landscape you’d never guess its origin story. Here, amid the scribbly gums and rock pergolas, wallabies sniff the morning air and water hens stalk the swamp’s edge.

Stay still, and you might even glimpse secretive platypus and reclusive long-necked turtles. Glide out on a kayak or SUP, cast a line out or take a bushwalk in pursuit of birdlife. There are sites for tents, caravans and campervans, and facilities are rudimentary, so you’ll need to bring your own drinking water, cooking water and firewood. But what it lacks in amenities, it more than makes up for in serenity.

Rylstone Caravan Park

Updates to the Rylstone Caravan Park have been in the works for a while and were completed in May 2024. Expect to be met with a fresh amenities block and other brand-spanking upgrades. If you’re road-tripping or looking to travel sans pretension, this pretty spot, just a 13-minute walk to the town’s high street, welcomes with both powered and unpowered sites, a camp kitchen and laundry.

Old Bara Campground

dogs at Old Bara Campground
Set up camp next to the river at Old Bara Campground.

Old Bara is the real deal for those seeking an authentic bush break. The 1100-acre cattle property provides oodles of space to park your van or pitch a tent. There are amenity blocks onsite and water on tap (drinking and other). But no showers, so be prepared for bush bathing only. It’s a small price to pay for immersion in nature with a range of wildlife going about their business unbothered by the occasional camper.

There are several walking and cycling tracks to explore on foot or two wheels or go for a swim in the creek. Kayaks and small boats are also welcome. While the property is picturesque in its own right, the Picnic Spot is one of the most advantageous places to enjoy it. Situated at the top of the hill, sit back and enjoy a glass of wine while feasting on panoramic views of the surrounding valley.

Hillsdale Farm

camping at Hillsdale Farm Mudgee
Pitch a tent at Hillsdale Farm. (Image: Hipcamp)

If you have a 4WD and a penchant for sunsets, steer yourself to this beautifully rustic camping spot on the 140-acre working Hillsdale Farm . You’ll find a clearing near the dam with views of the valley and Mount Frome diverting your attention as you get to setting up camp.

With only one booking permitted at a time for a maximum of five people, this stay is for adventurers who relish off-grid privacy, but if you have a well-behaved pet, they’re welcome to share the solitude with you. Contemplate the night sky as you stoke your campfire and should you feel the pull to Mudgee’s vine delights, town is only 10 minutes away.

Mudgee Showground

aerial shot of mudgee streets
Camp right in the Mudgee action. (Image: Destination NSW)

There isn’t much that can’t be done at Mudgee Showground ; stable your horse, hold an event, and, of course, pitch a tent. Choose from 58 camping sites available – 25 powered sites and 33 unpowered – and enjoy the luxury of all basic facilities. The best part? You could not be more centrally located to the restaurants, pubs, arts, and parks Mudgee has to offer.

For more accommodation in Mudgee, read our travel guide to the region.

Lara Picone
Working for many of Australia’s top publications, Lara Picone has had the distinct pleasure of writing, editing and curating content about the finer things in life for more than 15 years. Graduating from Macquarie University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication, her editorial foundation began at Qantas: The Australian Way magazine, before moving on to learn the fast-paced ropes of a weekly magazine at Sunday Magazine and picking up the art of brand curation at donna hay magazine. Pivoting a near-problematic travel lust into a career move by combining it with storytelling and a curious appetite, her next role was as Deputy Editor of SBS Feast magazine and later Online Editor of SBS Food online. She then stepped into her dream job as Editor of Australian Traveller before becoming Online Editor for both International Traveller and Australian Traveller. Now as a freelancer, Lara always has her passport at-the-ready to take flight on assignment for the Australian Traveller team, as well as for publications such as Qantas Magazine, Escape and The Weekend Australian. As ever, her appetite is the first thing she packs.
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Where to eat, sleep and visit on Grand Pacific Drive, and beyond

The ultimate road trip begins and ends on NSW’s stunning Grand Pacific Drive.

Whales, charming villages, fine wine and stunning natural vistas: there’s a lot to love about a road trip along the Grand Pacific Drive in New South Wales. Winding from the Royal National Park through Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama and Shoalhaven before heading inland to the Southern Highlands, this scenic drive makes for an unforgettable road trip.

But like all great road trips, it’s not just about the drive but the stops made along the way. From incredible farm-to-plate (and grape-to-glass) dining options to unbeatable natural vistas and quaint towns with beautiful accommodation, there’s plenty to explore en route.

Shellharbour Marina
Spend time in Shellharbour Marina.

Where to eat

What is a road trip without incredible food? Whether you’re after fresh seafood, slow-cooked paddock-to-plate feasts or delicious wines, you’ll find something around every bend along Grand Pacific Drive.

Restaurant Santino is a local Wollongong secret we can’t keep quiet any longer. With a fresh take on Italian cuisine, servings are hearty and flavours are comforting. The chitarra with blue swimmer crab, garlic, chilli, parsley and crustacean oil is a crowd favourite.

Keep it local in Shellharbour with a menu all about fresh local produce at Relish on Addison . From South Coast oysters and blue swimmer crab linguine to crispy pork belly, surf and turf takes on an elevated meaning here.

Kiama’s neighbourhood wine and cocktail bar, Little Betty’s , is just as good for a tasty share plate as it is for creative cocktails. The signature Grilled Octopus with burnt honey, garlic confit and sautéed Asian greens is worth a trip on its own.

Only the best will do in Shoalhaven, where multi-award-winning Bangalay Dining uses native Australian ingredients to bring its dishes to life. Start with the Smoked trout croquette before moving on to the sautéed potato gnocchi. Don’t forget the white chocolate mousse for dessert.

Meanwhile, the Southern Highlands are full of culinary highlights. From dining on incredibly fresh, local fare (we’re talking ingredients plucked from the team’s on-site kitchen garden or sourced through local producers) at Eschalot Restaurant in Berrima to creating gin blends at Millsheds Distillery .

bangalay dining shoalhaven
Taste native flavours at Bangalay Dining.

Exploring nature

Scenery is everything when hitting the road, and Grand Pacific Drive serves it up in spades. Drivers don’t even have to leave the car to enjoy the iconic ocean views from Seacliff Bridge (but several lookouts make it easy to stop).

Seaside Kiama boasts stunning beaches and famous blowholes. But travellers can also swap ocean for rainforest when taking the Minnamurra Rainforest walk, culminating in a picturesque waterfall. Or soar overhead at Illawarra Fly Treetop Adventures .

The scenic coastal drive along Sea Cliff Bridge, Clifton.
Cruise along the stunning Grand Pacific Drive.

Between May and November, 30,000 whales make their way passed the South Coast between May and November. Spot them from the coastal shores or join a whale-watching cruise from Shellharbour Marina or Jervis Bay. Dive in with Woebegone Freedive .

Shellharbour’s Killalea Regional Park is home to a traditional bush tucker and medicine walk with Aboriginal tour group, Gumaraa . Learn Indigenous healing practices and gain a deeper appreciation for the rich heritage and wisdom of the land’s Traditional Owners.

Wollongong is the perfect place for hikers, with the 6.5-kilometre Wodi Wodi track serving up views, settler history and a variety of landscapes in one loop. If you prefer, skip the walk and pull up at Bald Hill Lookout for expansive views south towards Wollongong (and a hang-glider or two).

For something truly unique, join the Highland Cow experience at The Swallow’s Nest in the Southern Highlands. In a brand-new offering, get a taste of farm life and help groom and feed these gorgeous creatures.

kiama coast walk people with dog
Wander the Kiama Coast Walk.

Unique experiences

No need to choose between an adrenaline rush or a culture fix, Grand Pacific Drive serves up both.

Soar into aviation history at Shellharbour’s HARS Aviation Museum .  Tour the museum, then join a guided walk onto the wing of the record-breaking Qantas Boeing 747 and see the significant historic aircraft up close.

If ever there was a place to skydive, it’s in Wollongong. Dive from 15,000 feet (tandem, of course) with Sky Dive Wollongong and see the coastal beauty of this region from above.

Shoalhaven’s Bundanon Art Museum has to be one of the most unique offerings in the country. The legacy of artist Arthur Boyd and more than just a gallery, find eco-accommodation, fine dining, award-winning architecture and community here.

Kiama’s Crooked River Estate is about more than just delicious wine.  Grab a picnic blanket and enjoy casual food and drinks with live music at Kick Back Fridays , every week.

Between June and August, the Southern Highlands’ Robertson attracts novice truffle hunters. Join the hunt at family-owned and operated Robertson Truffles (alternatively, you can order truffle treats online, if your sense of adventure isn’t up for it).

Freshly dug truffles at Terra Preta Truffles, Braidwood.
Discover hidden gems beneath the soil in the Southern Highlands. (Image: Destination NSW)

Where to stay

Road trips are the ultimate promotion for slow travel, encouraging visitors to take their time, enjoy the journey and stop along the way to really immerse themselves in local towns.

Find history and elegance at Berida Hotel in the Southern Highlands. Intimately set amongst gardens, but still close to the main street of Bowral, this 1920s private residence turned boutique hotel is the perfect stay.

Stay in one of Barranca’s private villas with views of rolling farmland overlooking the dramatic escarpment at Kangaroo Valley or be surrounded by native bushland (a short walk from the beach) in Jervis Bay.

Speaking of beachside escapes, Headlands Hotel Austinmer Beach delivers unrivalled access to Wollongong’s beaches. These serviced apartments enjoy coastal views from spacious balconies.

For something completely different again, check in at Cicada Luxury Camping . Stay in safari-style or large bell tents, each with a private fire pit and top-notch kitchen facilities. Outside, enjoy spectacular countryside views.

Cicada Luxury Camping
Unwind at Cicada Luxury Camping. (Image: DNSW)

Discover more and plan your ultimate road trip along the Grand Pacific Drive and beyond at grandpacificdrive.com.au/grand.