7 of the best campgrounds in and around Kangaroo Valley

Carla Grossetti Carla Grossetti
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Here is the ultimate guide to eight great places to camp set in natural bushland in NSW’s Kangaroo Valley including Bendeela Kangaroo Valley campground.

Kangaroo Valley camping is all about enjoying the great Australian outdoors. It’s about travelling for the luxury of being close to Mother Nature. Whether you’re roughing it or treading lightly on the earth with a stay at an unpowered site, here are some of the best places to camp in Kangaroo Valley that range from secluded spots in the middle of the wilderness to others amid major attractions and landmarks.

1. Bendeela Recreation Area

This you-beaut Kangaroo Valley camping spot has somewhat of a cult following. Set on a crook of the Kangaroo River, it’s popular with everyone from fishos to families who enjoy outdoor activities such as swimming and canoeing. The Bendeela Recreation Area is also home to a large population of bare-nosed wombats, which are often spotted in the nearby bushland. Bendeela Kangaroo Valley is also a top spot for stargazing. It’s not free camping, but it is affordable camping.

Best for: Hardcore campers who don’t mind a rustic campsite.
Address: Bendeela Road, Kangaroo Valley

2. Lake Yarrunga campgrounds

Intrepid campers will love the thrill of arriving at this remote Kangaroo River campsite via canoe or kayak through towering sandstone cliffs and dense forest. To reach Lake Yarrunga campgrounds you must set off from the Tallowa Dam to the Kangaroo River stretch of Lake Yarrunga.

the Lake Yarrunga campgrounds in Kangaroo Valley
Lake Yarrunga campgrounds is completely noise-free and secluded. (Image: Audrey Kutzner)

You will need to bring your own drinking water, cooking water, fuel stove, ice, toilet paper, food and torch, insect repellent and sunscreen to the remote campsite. Start cultivating those dreadlocks now so you look the part. It’s free camping, but with a small booking fee.

the Lake Yarrunga Kangaroo River campsite
Go off-grid camping next to Lake Yarrunga. (Image: Audrey Kutzner)

Best for: Outdoor enthusiasts who like to camp and kayak.
Address: 1301 Nowra Rd, Fitzroy Falls.

3. Acacia Flat

You will find Acacia Flat camping ground deep in the midst of Morton National Park. Check the National Parks website to make sure the park is open as it’s sometimes closed due to inclement weather or fire danger. There is no vehicle access to Acacia Flat: it’s one of the nine campgrounds dotted around the Kangaroo River section of Tallowa Dam. The Lake Yurrunga campground is about 23 kilometres from Kangaroo Valley and you can only reach the campsite via canoe or kayak. Do your best Bear Grylls and revel in the remoteness.

Best for: Families who want to get off the grid and totally unwind.
Address: Morton National Park.

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4. Carrington Falls campground

Take the time to appreciate your surrounds on your hiking and camping adventure at Carrington Falls campground. This rugged place, where the trees soar skyward, offers fairytale surrounds for forest bathing.

hikers traversing the foggy forest in Carrington Falls campground
Traverse the foggy path within the Carrington Falls campground. (Image: Destination NSW)

Find your happy place somewhere between adventure and wellbeing after completing the challenge of hiking to Missingham or Warris Chair lookouts Spring is the best season to sleep under canvas here as it’s when you’ll find pops of yellow and red native flowers sewn into the carpet of green that blankets the forest floor under the bloodwoods.

the Carrington Falls in Kangaroo Valley
Carrington Falls is perched on a plateau above the rainforest. (Image: Kramer Photography)

Best for: Campers who appreciate access to picnic tables and toilets. BYO guitar.
Address: Budderoo National Park

5. Young McDonald’s Farm

Young Macdonald’s Farm has been a dairy-based farm for decades. But the next-gen of Macdonalds have carved a new path for themselves in regenerative agriculture and are inviting happy campers to see what makes their 40-hectare property so special. Living off the land is the real luxury at Young Macdonald’s Farm, just 20 minutes away from Kangaroo Valley in the Shoalhaven region. It’s here that sixth-generation farmer, Young Mac, is working to regenerate the land after years of harsh droughts and flood. The property registered on Hipcamp is at the base of Brown Mountain, on Wodi Wodi Land, and has secluded spaces for camping with spectacular mountain views.

a young boy feeding farm animals at Young McDonald’s Farm
Kids can feed farm animals up close.

Best for: Families to share the simple joy of feeding the farm animals.
Address: 121 Flannery Lane, Tapitallee.

6. Holiday Haven Kangaroo Valley

Holiday parks and caravan parks are hugely popular around Australia with families for good reason. Holiday Haven Kangaroo Valley is aimed at campers who like their creature comforts. Sure you can fish. But you can also forage at the local supermarket during your stay at this popular holiday park.

the cabin exterior at Kangaroo Valley Holiday Haven
Kangaroo Valley Holiday Haven is the perfect escape for a cosy camping trip.

One of the best ways to beat the #cossylivs crisis is to look at ways to live well for less. This holiday park in the Kangaroo Valley is made for creating more wallet-friendly happy memories from the moment you arrive to the moment you leave. Bring on the simple pleasures of kayaking up the river, barbecues and bushwalks. It’s one of the best places to stay in Kangaroo Valley.

an old couple by the river at Kangaroo Valley Holiday Haven
With its proximity to the river, you can go on bushwalks or hop on a kayak.

Best for: A game of family charades around the fire pit.
Address: 5 Moss Vale Rd, Kangaroo Valley

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7. Glenmack

Don’t want to rough it? We hear you. This great family getaway is just a short walk from the village of Kangaroo Valley where you can stock up on everything from fresh bread to sunscreen. There are villas and cabins, powered sites for caravans and powered and unpowered spots for camping.

kids jumping into the swimming pool at Glenmack Park, Kangaroo Valley
Spend a memorable family getaway at Glenmack Park.

One of the most reasons Glenmack is considered one of best places to stay in Kangaroo Valley for families is that the property has friendly animals, such as ponies and alpacas, to pet. There are also canoes if you’d like to paddle up the picturesque Kangaroo River and restaurants and cafes nearby if you’ve had enough of baked beans. Check out Kangaroo Valley’s calendar of events so you can time your visit accordingly.

guests feeding farm animals at Glenmack Park
Get a chance to feed farm animals on-site.

Best for: Those who want the convenience of being just a short walk from the village.
Address: 215 Moss Vale Road, Kangaroo Valley

Not sure what to do in the area? Follow our guide on the best things to do in Kangaroo Valley.

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Carla Grossetti
Carla Grossetti has written across print and digital for Australian Traveller and International Traveller for more than a decade and has spent more than two decades finding excuses to eat well and travel far. A prestigious News Corp cadetship launched her career at The Cairns Post, before a stint at The Canberra Times and The Sydney Morning Herald gave way to extended wanders through Canada, the US, Mexico, Central America, Asia and Europe. Carla was chief sub editor at delicious and has contributed to Good Food, Travel & Luxury, Explore Travel, Escape. While living in London, Carla was on staff at Condé Nast Traveller and The Sunday Times Travel desk and was part of the pioneering digital team at The Guardian UK.
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Art, wine & fireplaces: 8 reasons Bowral is the ultimate winter getaway

(Credit: Destination NSW)

    Carla Grossetti Carla Grossetti
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    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.

    3. Slow down in a beautiful gallery

    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.