11 idyllic Orange caravan park and camping spots

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Temper your touring of Orange’s viticultural delights with a stay amid the great outdoors.

While wine touring may be the big drawcard for Orange and her surrounds, the region is also enrobed with naturally stunning landscapes from idyllic rolling hills planted with vineyards and orchards, to native bushlands and the impressive Gaanha bula (Mount Canobolas). Stay close to the action of Orange, but closer to the great outdoors at these beautiful campsites, cabins and caravan parks. Whether you’re all in for a barebones experience, looking for a budget stay with handy amenities or after something a little more luxe, you’ll find it in this round-up.

1. Colour City Caravan Park

For easy digs right in town, you can park it or pitch it at the Colour City Caravan Park right in the centre of things and next to the Showgrounds.

Tent sites at Colour City Caravan Park in Orange
Sleep close to nature on the camping sites.

There are unpowered and powered sites, budget and standard cabins, and a three-bedroom, self-contained heritage cottage if you’d prefer a softer entry to a budget escape.

Bring your four-legged friends and your family and settle in for a self-catered stay in the tidy park, which includes a camp kitchen, laundry, linen hire for a small fee, wi-fi and dump station.

Cabins at Colour City Caravan Park in Orange
Bed down in the cosy cabins.

Cost: unpowered sites from $15

2. Canobolas Caravan Park

The cosy and quaint 3.5-star Canobolas Caravan Park is just 2.5 kilometres from the Orange CBD, ensuring the town’s incredible dining and attractions are easily accessible. Keep it simple and opt for one of the 22 unpowered sites, level up at one of the 51 powered sites, or go (relatively) luxe in one of the 14 ensuite cabins. There are large sites that can accommodate motor homes or RVs, and you’ll also find laundry facilities, barbecue and picnic areas, dump sites, gas bottle exchange and disabled amenities.

Cost: unpowered sites from $15

3. Blayney and Villages Caravan Park

Set an equal half-an-hour’s drive between Orange and Bathurst is quaint Blayney, making it the perfect perch for those keen to explore these two hubs of the central west. Hemmed by lush pastoral land, the quiet Blayney and Villages Caravan Park is a genuine treasure for the travel-weary. From here, explore the historic village of Millthorpe, Gaanha bula, Mount Panorama and Jenolan Caves. This dog-friendly park has unpowered and powered sites, cabins and all the usual amenities of showers, camp kitchen, wi-fi, barbecue facilities and potable water, as well as a few handy extras, such as a guest herb garden, play equipment and RV and van car wash.

Cost: unpowered sites from $30

4. Towac Valley Cabins

You’re just a 10-minute drive from Orange at the beautifully bucolic property of Towac Valley Cabins. It spoils guests with sweeping views of vineyards and orchards. With just three dwellings, the one-bedroom Country Cabin and Modern Cabin, and the two-bedroom Hamptons House, the maximum occupancy in the property is eight, so you can be sure of serenity. Each is self-contained with a fireplace for cosy relaxation and verandahs angled to absorb those rolling vistas. There are also sweet extras, such as a complimentary continental breakfast, a bottle of local wine, chocolates, snacks and a small gift.

The rooms inside Towac Valley Cabins
The self-contained cabins feature rooms designed with comfort in mind.

Cost: from $165, two-night minimum

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5. Bakers Shaft Reserve

The Belubula River provides your soundtrack and backdrop at the pretty Bakers Shaft Reserve camping spot. It may be no-frills, but there are plenty of thrills to be had by immersing in nature here.

Less than 50 minutes from Orange and 20 minutes from the village of Mandurama, this peaceful spot is barebones with only a barbecue area and public toilet in terms of facilities, but if you’re handy with a rod you’ll be able to catch your own dinner. Caravans, tents, camper trailers and campervan sites are available and free.

Couple cycling by the Belubula River near Orange
Take in the beauty of your location alongside the Belubula River. (Image: Destination NSW)

Cost: free

6. Bathurst Panorama Holiday Park

For sojourns through the central west of New South Wales that can afford to take their time, spend a night or two on your way to Orange at the Bathurst Panorama Holiday Park. There are unpowered and powered sites, pet-friendly sites, caravan sites (some with ensuite), and cabins that sleep up to eight people. Kids will be well-entertained with a swimming pool and waterslide, games room, playground, indoor cinema and mini golf. As far as more rudimentary facilities go, you’ll find barbecues, a camp kitchen, a kiosk and laundry all onsite.

Cost: unpowered sites from $32

7. Nashdale Lane Glamping

If your idea of camping is a little more luxe without the less, then navigate to the elegant Nashdale Lane Glamping escape set in the vines of Nashdale Lane’s vineyard.

Aerial view of Nashdale Lane’s vineyard near Orange
Stay alongside the vines of Nashdale Lane’s vineyard. (Image: Liam Foster)

Creature comforts are all accounted for here, from the wood-burning fireplace to solid hardwood floors, four-poster bed, custom kitchen and private bath and shower.

Inside the tents at Nashdale Lane Glamping
The glamping tents feature hardwood floors and all the comforts you require. (Image: Liam Foster)

Watch dusk descend over the vines from your deck with a glass of Nashdale Lane pinot noir. The glampsites are adults-only and require a two-night stay between Friday and Sunday, so you can really sink into the tranquillity.

Couple enjoying a stay at Nashdale Lane Glamping
Soak up the serenity of your location on the deck. (Image: Destination NSW)

Cost: from $315 per night (plus cleaning and Airbnb fees)

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8. Orange Showground

For those driving nomadic abodes on a tour of the state, take advantage of the one-night-free policy for self-contained RVs at the Orange Showground. Ideal for visits during a festival or for special occasions, if your RV has a toilet, shower and can function without connection to a power source, there are spaces here for you. However, tents and caravans or any non-self-contained vehicles will need to stay next door at Colour City Caravan Park.

RV sites available at the Orange Showground
Self-contained RVs can be set up at the Orange Showground.

Cost: free

9. Bissy’s Permaculture Eco Retreat

Take in the dramatic views and stillness of the bush at Bissy’s Permaculture Eco Retreat, a sprawling 39-hectare property not far from Orange. Wander the food forests and market garden of this permaculture-led farm, where wildlife, birdsong and the gentle ripple of a creek are often the only sounds. Relish the rare pleasure of isolation here, but be prepared to bring everything you need for your stay. The owners run Bissy’s Permaculture Café in Orange and you’ll be treated to one free coffee per person when you spend the night.

Bissy's Permaculture Eco Retreat near Orange
For a real escape to the bush book a stay at Bissy’s Permaculture Eco Retreat.

Cost: $20

10. Federal Falls Campground

Hikers and nature lovers will enjoy waking up to the sounds of the bush at the Federal Falls Campground in Mount Canobolas State Conservation Area near Orange. Sites are not marked and you’ll need to walk in with all your gear, including drinking water and firewood, but there are barbecue facilities and toilets to make life a little easier. It gets cold here and can snow, so be sure to bring everything you need to keep warm and cosy and check the weather before you depart as roads can be closed and gates locked if there’s snowfall.

Cost: free with a $6 booking fee

11. Macquarie Woods Campground

This little buried gem lies between Bathurst and Orange in the Vittoria State Forest, where the whisper of pine plantations and the rustle of native bush collide to create an atmosphere of serenity and peace. Your neighbours will be the native wildlife as they scamper between the yellow box, red gums and stringybark and the conifers that were planted in the 1980s as a demonstration forest. There is a picnic and camping area, public toilets, campfires, caravan and camper van access.

Cost: free

For more places to bed down near Orange, read our pick of top Airbnbs in Orange and our guide to luxury accommodation in Orange.

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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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Art, wine & fireplaces: 8 reasons Bowral is the ultimate winter getaway

(Credit: Destination NSW)

    Carla Grossetti Carla Grossetti
    The Southern Highlands earns its title as Australia’s top country town in the cooler months, and it’s worth every minute of the 90-minute drive from Sydney.

    Many Sydneysiders head to the Southern Highlands in spring for the tulips. It’s one of the most stunning spring carnivals in Australia. But the ones in the know come to Bowral in winter.

    The first thing you notice at this time of year is the quality of the light. It catches the tangled limbs of the gums and tints the fields, farms and forests a pretty shade of Granny Smith green. And then, a world-class art museum, an impressive network of walking trails, great shops, cosy restaurants and bars and luxury accommodation take centre stage, making Bowral a place you want to linger as the mercury drops.

    Just 90 minutes south of Sydney, a Bowral winter getaway is the coolcation city folk desperately need. Here are eight reasons to pack a good coat and head for the Southern Highlands.

    1. Check in

    aerial of Ardour Milton Park Bowral in winter
    Check in to the gorgeous Ardour Milton Park Bowral. (Credit: Destination NSW)

    Ardour Milton Park Bowral rises like a hologram in the hazy green light as you turn onto Horderns Road. A $10 million refurbishment of the grand 1910 estate was completed in early 2026, and the beautifully restored hotel now includes 44 guest rooms washed in sage green, cobalt blue and dusty blush. The dining room at Horderns Restaurant continues with a botanical theme – earthy banquettes, floral touches throughout – and a menu that moves with the seasons.

    After enjoying slow-braised Cowra lamb and a second glass of red, move to the Polo Bar, which has a fireplace and views across the estate gardens. Build a grazing board from the dedicated Charcuterie Room and take it outside while the light lasts. If the sky clouds over, use this as your cue to enjoy a next-level spa experience at Èliva.

    2. Hunt for treasure

    couple exploring Dirty Janes bowral
    Find vintage treasures in Dirty Janes. (Credit: Destination NSW)

    Winter is the perfect season to lose an afternoon inside Dirty Janes Bowral. Over 1600 square metres of covered space houses 90 individual sellers of everything from mid-century furniture to industrial lighting, antique silverware, vintage clothing and objects whose previous lives you can only imagine. Enjoy a bit of off-the-cuff banter with your fellow fossickers in between searching for that must-have military jacket or vintage silk scarf.

    Around the corner, find the Instagram-famous front door of FoundAntiques, though the real finds are deeper inside. Bring cash, wear comfortable shoes and leave some room in the boot.

    kids posing with donald bradman statue in bowral's The Bradman Museum
    Learn about an Aussie legend at The Bradman Museum. (Credit: Destination NSW)

    Ngununggula – meaning ’belonging’ in the language of the Gundungurra First Nations people – is the region’s first dedicated regional gallery, housed inside the sustainably transformed old dairy building at historic Retford Park. The onsite White Cottage Gallery and restored grounds of the former Fairfax estate reward a slow wander. Find a spot to sit in the courtyard filled with rivulets of winter light and enjoy the plaintive call of a currawong carrying across the heritage-listed grounds. It’s one of the best things to do in Bowral.

    Add Bowral Honey Farm for a hands-on harvest experience, then continue into town to the Milk Factory Gallery to admire eclectic works by local artists in a converted industrial space. The Bradman Museum also knocks it out of the park. Australia’s largest dedicated cricket museum sits beside the heritage-listed Bradman Oval, where a young Sir Donald Bradman first picked up a bat.

    4. A taste of France

    table spread at Lucette bowral
    Enjoy a taste of France at Lucette.

    For a taste of France without the airfare, husband-and-wife team Julien and Romy Besnard – of long-loved Franquette Crêperie – have opened Lucette, a French cafe-bistro with Paris-born chef Guillaume Dubois at the helm. Dubois brings serious pedigree from Michelin-starred kitchens in France and Sydney’s former two-hatted Monopole, and it shows. Start your day with pastries for breakfast and bookend it with boeuf bourguignon for dinner. The chocolate mousse, freckled with Guerande Salt, is the kind of dish that will make you feel smug about the decision to drive south. Join the Sydneysiders dressed in charcoal coats, boots and black tights who’ve already worked this out; the whole scene is worthy of splicing it into an Instagram reel.

    Francophiles should also be across Julien’s Bowral Brasserie – led by Frenchman Julien Viel, who also found his way to the Southern Highlands and stayed.

    5. Indulge in a tipple

    Centennial Vineyards bowral in winter
    Spend time amongst the local vines. (Credit: Destination NSW)

    The drive to Centennial Vineyards passes through a beautiful woodland idyll, the countryside a fuzz of green all around. Inside the Barrel Room, a tasting flight of cool-climate pinot noir, chardonnay and reserve shiraz viognier flaunts how well the Southern Highlands does winter.

    This is a region that takes its cool-climate wines seriously, and the pinot noir is one of the stars – a gentle, easy-drinking style with red cherry aromas. Follow your tutored cellar door tasting with another glass of wine in the Terrace Bar, which overlooks the vineyard and manicured grounds.

    6. Blend your own gin

    Millsheds Distillery & Bar
    Pop into Millsheds Distillery & Bar. (Credit: Mattia Panunzio)

    Millsheds Distillery & Bar is somewhat of a local secret. The award-winning small-batch operation produces gin, vodka and liqueurs using Australian botanicals and has picked up silver medals at both the London Spirits Competition and International Wine & Spirit Competition. Beyond the tasting paddle, the hands-on blending masterclass – where you design and leave with two bottles of your own custom gin – is the experience to book, while the terrace bar that wraps around the courtyard is a fine place to settle in afterwards.

    7. Go for a walk at dawn

    Switch your phone off sleep mode and set your alarm to early. Mt Gibraltar rises to 864 metres just east of Bowral’s main street and offers the best views in town. You will pass a raggle-taggle bunch of hikers on the way up to the summit, all making the same quiet pilgrimage into the crisp high-altitude air. On a clear morning, the bony ridges of the ranges come into sharp relief against the light. The return loop takes roughly 90 minutes. A flat white in Bowral tastes considerably better after completing one of the scenic walking trails.

    8. Cosy up by the fireplace

    Aspinalls Whisky Bar & Lounge at the Berida Hotel
    Get cosy in the Berida Hotel’s whiskey bar.

    A cosy bar is the perfect complement to winter in Bowral, and there are a few worth committing to. Aspinalls Whisky Bar & Lounge at the Berida Hotel is built for long, languorous evenings. Take a seat beside the fireplace laden with gnarled logs and work your way through a few whiskies and bar bites like Rangers Valley beef tartare, or salt cod and potato croquettes.

    At Hickory’s within Peppers Craigieburn, well-dressed waiters in denim and leather move quietly between tables, and the cosy fireplace in the adjoining guest lounge attracts an Escape to the Country crowd.

    Start planning your Bowral escape at visitsouthernhighlands.com.au.