9 idyllic Byron Bay camping spots

Camping is the quintessential old-school Aussie getaway. Here’s where to park your caravan or pitch a tent in Byron Bay.

The best camping spots in Byron Bay hit the trifecta of sunshine, sea and sand. Add immersion in nature, communal jam sessions, toasted marshmallows, stargazing and fresh air for bonus points. Whether you’re the kind of camper who likes to travel with the barest of essentials at hand or you like to hit the road stocked with all the mod cons, we’ve got you covered – under canvas or a retro rollout awning. Here is a list of the best campgrounds and holiday parks in and around Byron Bay aimed at those with varying budgets.

1. First Sun Holiday Park

Wake to the sound of waves crashing on the sand at Wreck Beach from your campground located just metres away at First Sun Holiday Park. The holiday park is popular with both caravanners and campers and includes barbecue and picnic areas, well-equipped camp kitchens as well as 24-hour security.

Check in to a spacious cabin at First Sun.

This is not an episode of Survivor or Bear Grylls: if you run out of baked beans, you can just pop up to the shops in the town centre or check out one of the local cafes. The site options include unpowered and powered sites, two of which will cater to large motor homes if you decide on a sudden upgrade.

Campers are treated to easy beach access and ocean views.

2. Reflections Byron Bay

You can pitch your tent on prime real estate at Reflections Holiday Park, which has campgrounds dotted up and down the coast of NSW. Again, this is not Nomadland. You are not unmoored from society; the campsite is located just a short walk away from the main strip of shops, bars and best of Byron’s restaurants.

Reflections Byron Bay has a range of sites available.

Despite being so close to the bustle of Byron Bay, you will still be able to hear the gentle lapping of waves and birdsong in the air of an early morning.

If you prefer not to rough it, opt to stay in one of the park’s tiny homes.

The campground has a kitchen, BBQ and laundry facilities as well as school holiday activities and even wi-fi. This is the best campground for surfers visiting Byron Bay as it overlooks Clarkes Beach.

Reflections Byron Bay has family-friendly amenities.

3. Discovery Parks Byron Bay

Want to convince your better half about the merits of camping? Will an ozone-filtered swimming pool and a deluxe safari tent do the trick? Discovery Park Byron Bay is only two kilometres from town near the banks of Belongil Creek, which snakes through dense bushland.

Discovery Park is set on the banks of Belongil Creek.

The holiday park, which also includes a range of cabins, powered and unpowered sites for tents and vans, is predominately aimed at families who like to socialise as it includes shared BBQ facilities, laundry, a camp kitchen and cafe as well as a bouncing pillow, waterpark and wi-fi.

Despite having the convenience of modern facilities, you can still hear the creak of forest birds and the rhythm of the ocean. The best thing? You can also duck out for brunch as the park is near to some of Byron Bay’s best cafes.

4. Ingenia Holidays Byron Bay

The beauty about camping near the township of Byron Bay is that if anything goes pear-shaped you can just duck into town? Kids have an ear infection? Pop into the chemist. Tired of tin spaghetti? Wash all the sand out of your crevices in the camp shower and treat the family to dinner.

Ingenia Holidays Byron Bay is not exactly a hidden gem: it’s located on 11 hectares of parkland that tumbles down to Tallow Beach. Hard-core campers will love the bush camping vibe and the fact the campground is home to resident koalas, echidnas, wallabies and native birds. You can even spot whales from within the confines of the park.

5. Suffolk Beachfront Holiday Park

If you’re a chilled-out kind of camper looking for your tribe, chances are you will find a few kindred spirits at the Suffolk Beachfront Holiday Park. This absolute beachfront park has sites to suit all comers from safari camping tents to self-contained cabins and caravanning and camping spots.

You will find a few kindred spirits at the Suffolk Beachfront Holiday Park.

Located five kilometres south of the centre of Byron Bay, this classic Northern NSW campground brings to mind the camping trips of your childhood albeit with a few additional upgrades such as an undercover dining area, free barbecues and modern camp kitchen. Dreaming of an escape to the country? Stroll along this exclusive stretch of coastline to see how the other half live.

6. Broken Head Holiday Park

One of the No. 1 reasons people leave the comforts of home behind to go camping in Byron Bay is to connect with nature and step away from the humdrum of their everyday existence. Either that or they’re on a Splendour bender.

Connect with nature at Broken Head Holiday Park.

Regardless of whether you see yourself as a camper, glamper or someone who appreciates all the mod cons (i.e. a cabin dweller), those driven to book a stay at Broken Head Holiday Park are united by their need to switch off and enjoy a laidback holiday where they have time to indulge in their favourite recreational activities, such as fishing and surfing.

The campground has direct access to Broken Head Beach and is surrounded by a national park. Onsite facilities include an onsite kiosk, BBQ area with camp kitchen, laundry facilities and a tour desk.

7. Glen Villa Resort

Camping in Byron Bay is one of the more affordable options to enjoy the charms of this seaside village. The Glen Villa Resort campground is a great place to base yourself and explore the area’s natural beauty and attractions. Enjoy the comfort of sleeping in the great outdoors on a powered or unpowered site or book a rustic cabin, cottage or beach hut.

The sites for tents campervans and caravans are arrayed around a five-hectare property that backs onto the Cumbebin Wetlands. It’s about a 10-minute walk to the town centre and main beach and there’s also a pool and camp kitchen. The resort has an array of snug crayon-coloured beach huts which are ideal for bunking down in Byron Bay during Splendour in the Grass or BluesFest.

8. Hazy Stays

The Hipcamp runner-up for Best Cabin Rental in Australia goes to… Hazy Stays. Here you will find a rustic shipping container turned tiny home plonked in the middle of a grassy paddock just a short drive from Pottsville.

Hazy Stays is a tranquil retreat away from home. (Image: Kate Muray)

While the container has been converted into a tiny liveable space, you can also pull up to the camping area in your caravan or pitch your tent in the paddock.

Take in scenic sights from your balcony. (Image: Kate Muray)

This campsite, a 30-minute drive from Byron, is very different from the action-packed holiday parks confetti’d along the Byron Bay coastline. While there’s still plenty to see and do, and beaches are still accessible, this Hipcamp stay is more about getting close to nature while in the Northern Rivers.

Find cosy amenities inside. (Image: Kate Muray)

9. Selva Byron

Hardcore campers will feel pretty smug about sleeping under canvas at Selva Byron in Bruns, as Brunswick Heads is affectionately known. This Hipcamp site is just eight kilometres from Byron Bay and conveniently bookended by beaches and Brunswick Heads.

Fog engulfs the grassland at Selva Byron.

Selva Byron is a former cattle farm that is being reforested and you will find a few goats roaming around as well as resident wallabies and koalas.

Selva Byron has an expansive area to set up camp.

The property has 10 different sites: six for caravans and RVs and four for tents in two separate patches. It is for fully self-contained campers only as there are no toilets or water available on site. If the weather is inclement, you can stay in the renovated 100-year-old farmhouse.

For more travel tips and insider recommendations, read our travel guide to Byron Bay.