8 places to camp in and around Jindabyne

Pitch a tent among snow gums and wake up to birdsong or fall to sleep to the rush of a river with these awesome Jindabyne camping and caravanning options.

During the summer months, camping in and around Jindabyne places you at the epicentre of outdoor adventure. There’s tranquil Lake Jindabyne for boating or kayaking, and Kosciuszko National Park, where you can set off on bushwalks and mountain bike rides. Come winter, you can hunker down in a cosy cabin or rug up in your van when it’s minus temps outside and be close to Thredbo and Perisher ski resorts without breaking the budget – and close to town for drinking and dining. Here, some of the best places for camping in the Snowy Mountains and Jindabyne.

1. NRMA Jindabyne Holiday Park

Best for: families, couples, central location

Make this your base for an affordable snow holiday to Perisher Valley or Thredbo or as a convenient way to explore Kosciuszko National Park. It’s located smack-bang in the middle of town, within walking distance of shops, bars and restaurants, and on the edge of Lake Jindabyne, providing a pretty backdrop – particularly at sunrise and sunset – and easy access for launching your boat or kayaks during the warmer months.

The holiday park has both unpowered and powered campsites, some dog-friendly, as well as a range of cabins and villas, from affordable cabins with no ensuites to modern tiny homes and converted shipping containers – aka Glamtainers. There’s a drying room for snow gear, a camp kitchen with a pizza oven, e-bike hire, a kids’ playground and a communal campfire.

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2. Glamping in the Snowy Mountains

a couple enjoying wine and cheese in the Snowy Mountains — Keep cosy during the winter months in the Snowy Mountains. (Image: Destination NSW)

Best for: couples, seclusion, off-grid

Get back to nature with a stay in this off-grid safari-style tent nestled on a 30-hectare property on the Snowy River. It’s only a 10-minute drive from Jindabyne and just 20 minutes from Kosciuszko National Park, but it feels totally secluded.

The luxe tent comprises a plush queen bed, lounge, kitchenette with coffee machine, a gas heater, and a separate shower and toilet. There are dreamy views of the mountains from bed, and two outdoor tubs to melt into after time spent on the mountain. The Snowy River is a few hundred metres from your doorstep; the gentle sound of rushing water lulling you to sleep at night.

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3. Discovery Parks Jindabyne

the cabins at Discovery Parks Jindabyne — Discovery Parks Jindabyne is a convenient base near Kosciuszko National Park.

Best for: families, views, central location

On the edge of town and Lake Jindabyne, Discovery Parks has a range of accommodation from unpowered and powered sites to modern two-bedroom cabins with fireplaces. It’s a convenient base for heading up to ski fields and into Kosciuszko National Park.

It’s a great spot for families with kids, with entertainment such as outdoor lawn games, a tennis court, playground and bouncing pillow. There’s also a sauna, which is a welcome addition post-mountain, as well as barbecues and a kiosk. But the town of Jindabyne is also a short drive away to grab a bite to eat if you don’t feel like cooking.

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4. Thredbo Diggings Campground

fly fishing in the Thredbo River — Go fly fishing for trout in the Thredbo River. (Image: Destination NSW)

Best for: families, groups, nature

This Kosciuszko National Park campsite is set on Thredbo River, a 20-minute drive from Jindabyne and a short drive to the ski fields, which during the summer months become hiking and mountain biking playgrounds. Pitch your tent under the snow gums and enjoy the panoramic mountain views. There are 41 campsites suitable for tents, camper trailers and caravans, with picnic tables, toilets and barbecues. Bring drinking water and firewood for the barbecues and fire rings.

The campground is the starting point for Bullocks Track, a five-kilometre return bushwalk that traces the river. It’s also nearby Thredbo Valley Track for family-friendly bike riding, alongside the river, through eucalypt forest and over suspension bridges. Or try your hand at fly fishing in the river, which is home to brown and rainbow trout – a satisfying dinner you can cook at the campsite.

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5. Ngarigo Campground

tents within a tall alpine ash forest at Ngarigo Campground — Spend your days and nights off the grid surrounded by nature at Ngarigo. (Image: Destination NSW)

Best for: families, groups, nature

Also located within Kosciuszko National Park on the Thredbo River, Ngarigo is nestled within tall alpine ash forest. Just as with Thredbo Diggings, you can fish for rainbow and brown trout in the river or set off on a bushwalk in nearby Thredbo Alpine Village, bike riding along Thredbo Valley Track or horse riding through the Snowy Mountains.

There are 30 campsites, with suitability for tents, camper trailers and caravans. The campground features picnic tables, barbecues and toilets. Bring drinking water and firewood for the barbecues and fire rings.

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6. Snowy River Holiday Park

Best for: families, seclusion, history

This holiday park is in the historic village of Dalgety, which is the only settlement left on the banks of the Snowy River after the Snowy Electric Hydro Scheme flooded the original towns of Jindabyne and Adaminaby in the 1950s. It’s a 30-minute drive east of the new town of Jindabyne and a peaceful setting to explore Kosciuszko National Park, whether that be skiing in winter or hiking and wildlife spotting in summer.

The pet-friendly park has self-contained cabins, powered and unpowered sites, dotted on the two-hectare property. There’s a drying room for your snow gear, a communal firepit, kitchen and barbecue facilities.

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7. Kosciuszko Tourist Park

a snowy landscape with horses at Kosciuszko National Park — Be surrounded by snow gums and wilderness at Kosciuszko National Park. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Best for: families, nature, seclusion

Australia’s highest tourist park is located within Kosciuszko National Park, close to the ski fields and a 15-minute drive from Jindabyne. Surrounded by snow gums and lush bushland, it has unpowered and powered sites, simple cabins and two- to three-bedroom chalets that sleep between six and eight. Some of the two-bedroom chalets have been recently upgraded with modern furnishings and amenities.

There is a camp kitchen, a drying room for snow gear, and many of the sites and cabins have firepits. The location of the park means that during winter it can snow here, blanketing the surrounding landscape in white.

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8. Island Bend campground

camping under the stars at Island Bend campground, Jindabyne — Camp under the stars at Island Bend campground. (Image: Destination NSW)

Best for: families, seclusion, nature

This national park campground is located near Perisher, making it a great base for bushwalking, bike riding, fishing and skiing – if you are brave enough to camp in the snow! It is perched on the edge of the Snowy River, where you can canoe or swim when it’s warm. Just up the road, Guthega Power Station is the gateway to historic huts and there is plenty of backcountry hiking.

The campground has 70 sites, suitable for tents and camper trailers, as well as picnic tables, barbecues and toilets. You’ll need to bring drinking water and firewood for the fire rings.

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Discover the best things to do in Jindabyne

Bate Bay’s sweep of beaches has been crowned Australia’s best for 2026, placing Sutherland Shire in the spotlight as a top coastal destination just south of Sydney’s CBD.

The beaches fringing Bate Bay – Cronulla, North Cronulla, Wanda, Elouera and Greenhills – have topped Tourism Australia’s 2026 list of best Australian beaches (as curated by Beach Ambassador Brad Farmer). For locals, it’s less revelation, more recognition.

The mood shifts from the moment you step off the T4 train service from Central to Cronulla and catch a glimpse of the ocean. At dawn, the Esplanade is already buzzing with regulars, and by mid-morning, parents have staked out a toasty spot on Cronulla Beach where excited toddlers clamber over rocks, and the Jellybean swim squad at Oak Park have donned their bright pink caps while singing Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’.

By the afternoon, towels are being collected from across the sand as visitors wander back to Cronulla in loose formation.

North Cronulla beach — Dive into the world’s best beaches.

That’s the thing about Bate Bay beaches. This isn’t a story about a single beach. This long, uninterrupted sweep of sand and sea, where you can walk for kilometres without breaking stride, is not just enjoyed over summer; it’s a year-round destination. Here, Cronulla’s buzz gives way to Wanda’s wild edges, before stretching out to the quieter reaches of Greenhills.

But while Bate Bay’s beaches may have taken top honours in the 2026 Best Australian Beaches list, they’re only part of the drawcard. Sutherland Shire stacks up as a full-spectrum coastal escape, where good food, national park adventures and on-the-water experiences sit within easy reach of the shoreline. Whether you’re planning a long weekend or stretching out a stay, here’s how to make the most of Cronulla beyond the sand, sea and surf.

Beyond the beaches

Dining

The Sutherland Shire dining scene delivers from early morning to late at night with a mix of vibrant cafes, bars and pubs. Start your day at Grind Espresso, where the coffee comes strong and fast. From there, drift towards HAM for pastries, best eaten buttery warm.

By midday, locals linger across sun-lit tables. Loaf and Next Door appeal to the surfers who come in for snacks after chasing waves. Blackwood’s Pantry and The Press are also popular for breakfast and lunch, while Pilgrim’s continues to hold a special place in the hearts of vegans.

Newer arrivals signal where Cronulla is heading: Homer Rogue Taverna is being hailed as one of the best restaurants in Cronulla, with the confidence that comes from understanding what locals want. Ask a local to reveal their favourite restaurant for a special occasion, and it’ll likely be Pino’s Vino e Cucina al Mare, Yalla Sawa or Alphabet Street. Summer Salt, Sealevel, Benny’s, Bobbys and Pippis are a few of the best waterfront restaurants in the Shire.

Finally, when most places are winding down, Duke’s Providore shifts gears to become Duke’s After Hours – a low-lit romantic spot perfect for a date night. Parc Pavilion, Northies Cronulla and bars The Blind Bear, Las Chicas and Low & Lofty’s are also part of Cronulla’s identity.

Visit Bundeena

Bundeena Ferry Wharf — Catch a ferry to Bundeena.

A short ferry ride from Cronulla, Bundeena offers a counterpoint to Cronulla’s mighty surf beaches. If Cronulla is the Shire’s social heart, Bundeena – or Bundenesia, as it’s affectionately known – is the place to go to exhale and unwind.

Hop on the ferry from Cronulla, and within 30 minutes, you’ll be inhaling the eucalyptus-scented air. Check the creative pulse of the local community by timing your visit with the Bundeena Maianbar Art Trail on the first Sunday of every month.

One of the best things to do in Bundeena is paddle into Cabbage Tree Basin with Bundeena Kayaks. Follow the five-kilometre Jibbon Beach Loop Track that leads past quiet coves to ancient Indigenous rock art, or simply find a stretch of pearl-white sand to relax on.

Pristine walking trails

Royal National Park Cape Baily Walking Track — Cool off with a coastal stroll.

Beyond the coastline, Sutherland Shire offers myriad ways to shift gears. Royal National Park – the oldest national park in Australia – sits just minutes from the surf. Clifftop walks trace the edge of the continent, the rugged bushland is threaded with creeks and hidden waterfalls, and a network of tracks rewards those willing to go a little further.

Take the Coast Track, where the land drops cleanly into the ocean over sheer cliffs that have been stacked together like giant Jenga. Or veer inland, where pockets of forest cool the air and filter the light. It’s a reminder of how close nature sits to the bustle of suburbs in the Sutherland Shire.

Enjoy whale watching

humpback whale sighting noosa experiences — Spot whales from May to October. (Credit: The Edit Suite)

Twist your binoculars until the ocean is in focus, stretched like a creased blue sheet all around. Come May, the East Coast becomes the humpback highway. Thousands of whales migrate along this stretch of coastline each year, their movements tracked by keen eyes from vantage points like the Cape Solander platform in Kamay Botany Bay National Park, one of the best places for whale watching in Australia. There’s something quietly thrilling about seeing that first telltale spout or the arc of a breaching body against the vastness of the sea. From June to October, whale-watching cruises depart from Cronulla, offering a closer look at the migration.

Awards come and go. But places like Cronulla endure because they belong as much to the visitors as they do the early-morning swimmers, walkers and surfers.

Plan your escape at visitsutherlandshire.com.au.

8 places to camp in and around Jindabyne

Pitch a tent among snow gums and wake up to birdsong or fall to sleep to the rush of a river with these awesome Jindabyne camping and caravanning options.

1. NRMA Jindabyne Holiday Park

2. Glamping in the Snowy Mountains

3. Discovery Parks Jindabyne

4. Thredbo Diggings Campground

5. Ngarigo Campground

6. Snowy River Holiday Park

7. Kosciuszko Tourist Park

8. Island Bend campground

17 incredible stays in and around Jindabyne

This stretch of Sydney beaches topped the annual Best Australian Beaches list

Bate Bay’s sweep of beaches has been crowned Australia’s best for 2026, placing Sutherland Shire in the spotlight as a top coastal destination just south of Sydney’s CBD.