13 of the best camping spots in Brisbane

Kristie Lau-Adams Kristie Lau-Adams
hero media
Tread beyond the urban jungle for unspoiled natural beauty at the best camping in Brisbane and just beyond.

You know its famed inner-city river, but did you know Brisbane is also home to extraordinary natural wonders? Camping in Brisbane and the wider region including North Stradbroke Island, Bribie Island, and the northern parts of the Scenic Rim, will open your eyes to incredible beach hopping, bushwalking, water sports, and stargazing. Grab your adventure kit and get moving with our guide to Brisbane’s greatest outdoor immersions.

1. Mt Barney Lodge, Scenic Rim

Distance from CBD: 1.5-hour drive.

Price: From $20 per night for an unpowered campsite to approximately $390 per night for a homestead.

Located within the Sunshine State’s glorious Scenic Rim, a cluster of sweeping valleys, mountains and top-notch wineries in the foothills of the Great Dividing Range, Mt Barney Lodge is for totally switching off.

Offering limited mobile coverage and restricting its guest capacity to no more than 30 tents and a handful of camper trailers, caravans, and homesteads, it’s firmly focused on showcasing its surroundings.

a family sitting around a bonfire at Mt Barney Lodge, Scenic Rim
Go on a camping holiday with your family at Mt Barney Lodge.

Guided activities take full advantage of nearby bushwalks and creek frontage, and they run a three-day Indigenous experience called Yarriba Dreaming to help you deepen your understanding of the land.

Amenities

If you’re roughing it at one of their campsites, there’s an amenities block with hot showers and toilets, open campfires, drinking water on tap and basic necessities like ice and milk to purchase. If you’re considering one of the self-contained camper trailers, you’ve also got a kitchenette. Meanwhile, each caravan, cabin, or homestead has a bathroom.

the Boolamoola Homestead at Mt Barney Lodge, Brisbane
Settle into the Boolamoola Homestead at Mt Barney Lodge.

2. Ketchup’s Bank Glamping, Scenic Rim

Distance from CBD: Just over a 1.5-hour drive.

Price: From approximately $269 per night to approximately $329 per night, depending on which tent you choose.

More of a glamper than a camper? Familiarise yourself with Ketchup’s Bank Glamping in the Scenic Rim, a heavenly retreat perfect for couples.

a couple relaxing at a luxury eco tent in Ketchup’s Bank Glamping, Scenic Rim
Hit refresh at Ketchup’s Bank Glamping.

Fitted out with the type of comfort you’d typically find in a five-star hotel, this exceptional camping experience in Greater Brisbane is luxury at its wildest. Choose from a range of eco-tents or the newer Baya Tiny House as ultra-green hills and an abundance of wildlife send you a million miles away from home.

a luxury eco tent in Ketchup’s Bank Glamping, Scenic Rim
Stay in a luxe eco tent.

Amenities

Each tent features bathroom facilities, a private campfire, a fully equipped kitchen, wi-fi, and more. If you opt for the high-end Baya Tiny House Eco Retreat, you’ll also score an indoor fireplace, loft area and private bar areas.

3. Lake Moogerah Camping, Moogerah Peaks National Park, Scenic Rim

Distance from CBD: 1.5-hour drive

Price: From $40 per night for an unpowered site and from $49 per night for a powered site.

A lesser-known Scenic Rim gem, Lake Moogerah Camping offers an escape to the most stunning of natural settings.

kayaking along Lake Moogerah
Kayak along the tranquil waters of Lake Moogerah. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

The lake itself, within Moogerah Peaks National Park, is ideal for fishing, frolicking, boating, or whatever water sport you’re currently obsessed with. There are no cabins but the location is brimming with nature trails, climbable (undeveloped) volcanic peaks, and that magnificent body of water so you’ll soak up the outdoors in style.

a man sitting by a bonfire outside his tent at Lake Moogerah Camping, Moogerah Peaks National Park, Scenic Rim
Sit by a bonfire outside your tent. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Amenities

Toilets, showers, a camp kitchen with electric barbecues, boat ramps, a kids’ playground, a kiosk selling basic groceries, and a little mobile reception.

4. Clancys Camping Area, Benarkin State Forest

Distance from CBD: 2.5-hour drive.

Price: No entry fee however a Queensland National Parks camping fee costs $7.25 per person per night and you’ll need a permit. Book it all online before you go.

Clancys camping area is located within the lush Benarkin State Forest adjacent to Emu Creek and offers spacious grounds for all, including four-legged family members (if they’re kept on a leash). The grassy Brisbane camping spot caters for up to 60 people at a time so you’re promised your own space to really lean into disconnecting. Canoe, swim, fish, stroll (the nearby trails are great for mountain biking too) or sloth — it’s a beautiful spot for nature-focused fun.

Amenities

Barbecue facilities, toilets, open fire facilities (BYO wood), and tap water. Also note, there’s no mobile coverage out here.

5. Bongaree Caravan Park, Bribie Island

Distance from CBD: A one-hour and 10-minute drive.

Price: From $38.40 per night for a powered site to $185 per night for a cottage during peak season.

Get your outdoor fix while remaining close to beautiful Bribie Island’s central dining and retail strip, Welsby Parade, at Bongaree Caravan Park. The laidback accommodation offers powered campsites, cabins, and two top-tier cottages and you’re within walking distance of two boat ramps to help you kick your escape into top gear. You’re also across the road from the popular Pumicestone Passage, a 35-kilometre channel of crystal-clear water within Moreton Bay Marine Park. Delicious dips come on tap.

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

AI Prompt

Amenities

Barbecue facilities, a camp kitchen, an amenities block with toilets and showers, a coin-operated laundry, and a small kiosk.

riding a jet ski at Moreton Bay, Bribie Island
Whisk away to Moreton Bay on a jet ski. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

6. Ocean Beach Camping Area, Bribie Island

Distance from CBD: Just under a 2.5-hour drive.

Price: No entry fee however a Queensland National Parks camping fee costs $7.25 per person per night and you’ll need a permit. Book it all online before you go.

A magnet for 4WD fans, the three-kilometre Ocean Beach Camping Area offers absolute beachfront bliss.

the Ocean Beach Camping Area 4
Stay in a beachfront campground set behind the dunes. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland/Larissa Dening)

You’re set behind the dunes and near the remnants of historical Fort Bribie, not that you’ll want to leave that shimmering water for very long. Pitch a tent right next to your wheels and experience some of the best beach camping Greater Brisbane has to offer.

beachfront camping at Ocean Beach, Bribie Island
Wake up next to pure bliss at Ocean Beach. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland/Larissa Dening)

Amenities

Barbecue facilities (BYO wood), micro-flush toilets, a toilet dump point, and cold showers.

7. Sandstone Point Holiday Resort, Bribie Island

Distance from CBD: A 1.5-hour drive.

Price: From approximately $45 per night for a small, powered site and all the way up to just under $700 per night (approximately) for an overwater three-bedroom villa.

a forest glamping retreat at Sandstone Point Holiday Resort
Settle into a forest glamping retreat at Sandstone Point Holiday Resort. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

A caravan park in Brisbane’s greater region guaranteed to win the hearts of mini adventure seekers is Sandstone Point Holiday Resort.

an aerial view of Bribie Island
Rent out a kayak and explore Bribie Island. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Featuring a mammoth, jaw-dropping range of family-friendly attractions and multi-sized villas (including a handful of posh overwater ones), glamping, two-story villas, camping and caravan sites, it’s a camping holiday with all the creature comforts.

al fresco dining at Sandstone Point Holiday Resort, Bribie Island
There’s a restaurant nearby if you need to refuel. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Plus, it’s located right on Pumicestone Passage so nature’s playground is a stone’s throw away.

Amenities

A swim-up bar (enough said), multiple pools, a jacuzzi, mini golf, a water park, a pump track for bikes and scooters, a jumping pillow, a fire pit, a tennis court, a kids’ playground, a bocce court, a gym, a bar, a restaurant, and even more. Seriously.

8. Lake Wivenhoe Camping, Somerset Area

Distance from CBD: A little under a 1.5-hour drive.

Price: Pitch a tent from $27 per night, grab a drive-on site from $33 and glamp from approximately $160 per night.

Seek out the largest lake in South East Queensland for a camping adventure centred entirely on all that brilliant blue.

the Wivenhoe Dam in Brisbane
Set camp on the serene Lake Wivenhoe. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Lake Wivenhoe Camping manages two sites, the Captain Logan Campground and the Lumley Hill Campground, where guests can take advantage of the lake’s calm, boat-free conditions right on their front step. Basic unpowered and powered sites are available, as are several glamping tents fitted with queen beds, kitchen utensils, and plush linen.

the forest view from Lake Wivenhoe
Be surrounded by lush greenery near Lake Wivenhoe. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Amenities

Electric barbecues, picnic tables, hot showers, toilets, a dump point, purchasable essentials, and canoe hire.

9. Archer Camping Area, D’Aguilar National Park

Distance from CBD: Just under two hours by car.

Price: No entry fee however a Queensland National Parks camping fee costs $7.25 per person per night and you’ll need a permit. Book it all online before you go.

the rough road towards Archer Camping Area, D’Aguilar National Park
Just a two-hour drive away by car, you’ll reach Archer Camping Area. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Rest your head deep within a subtropical rainforest at the beautiful Archer Camping Area. It’s as stripped back as camping comes but don’t let minimal facilities deter you. This site’s setting beside Neurum Creek is the stuff of holiday dreams and its stargazing vistas will keep you snap-happy even after the sun sinks. Swimming, bike riding, bushwalking, and kayaking are the order of the day, every day, so brace yourself for the restorative R&R you’ve been longing for.

tents set on the Archer Camping Area, D’Aguilar National Park
Pitch a tent within a subtropical rainforest. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Weekly travel news, experiences
insider tips, offers, and more.

Amenities

Septic toilets, shower cubicles (BYO hose though), and fireplaces.

10. Minjerribah Camping, North Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah)

Distance from CBD: It’s a 45-minute drive to reach the SeaLink North Stradbroke Island ferry terminal (which transfers vehicles too) before jumping aboard for another 25 minutes if you’re without a car and 50 minutes if you’ve got one. Once you’re on the Island, you’re within walking distance from the grounds.

Price: From approximately $49 per night for an unpowered site to upwards of $300 per night for fancier options.

the North Gorge Walk on North Stradbroke Island
Traverse the scenic North Gorge Walk on North Stradbroke Island. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Holiday time on North Stradbroke Island is so wonderous it deserves direction of its own — which is why we’ve created an ultimate guide to camping on North Stradbroke Island for you to check before you go.

Minjerribah Camping manages all camping throughout the island, offering six unique locations across Dunwich, Amity Point and Point Lookout. Spanning basic campsites to cabins and glamping, the options are all treated to convenient beach access and idyllic swimming, and some of them also provide sensational 4WD adventures on the sand.

a couple relaxing outside their glamping tent at Minjerribah
The glamping tents at Minjerribah are equipped with modern comforts. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Amenities

It depends on the campground but you’ll typically have toilets, showers, a coin-operated laundry, undercover barbecue areas, boat ramps, and some phone coverage.

11. Brisbane Holiday Village, Brisbane

Distance from CBD: A 15-minute drive.

Price: From approximately $50 per night for an unpowered site, all the way up to a little under $400 per night (approximately) for a penthouse cabin.

One of the best caravan parks in central Brisbane, Brisbane Holiday Village is home to a range of accommodation options.

a caravan site at Brisbane Holiday Village
Brisbane Holiday Village offers an unpowered site that costs $50 per night.

Situated in Eight Mile Plains, south of the city, it’s close to Brissie’s hottest tickets — not that you need to leave the grounds if you don’t feel like it. Families are spoiled with a range of kid-skewed activities and play areas and there are dining facilities if you’re feeling extra lazy.

a man preparing at the outdoor kitchen of Brisbane Holiday Village
You’ll find barbecue facilities at Brisbane Holiday Village.

Amenities

Barbecue facilities, a restaurant, a pool with a splash area, mini golf, a kids’ playground, a tennis court, coin-operated laundries, several amenity blocks, a bike track, a multi-purpose sports field, and more.

12. Bells Caravan Park, Clontarf

Distance from CBD: One hour’s drive.

Price: From $35.30 for a powered site.

Kick up your heels and just breathe at Bells Caravan Park in Clontarf where caravanners and campers converge to soak up a beach life close to Brisbane city. It’s right near Hornibrook Pier, a chilled-out locals’ fishing spot, plus a bowls club if you feel the need to get social. Otherwise, it’s all about gazing out at Bells Beach and doing a whole lot of nothing, aka living the dream, at this Brisbane camping spot.

Amenities

A camp kitchen, two amenities blocks with showers and toilets, and a coin-operated laundry.

13. Scarborough Holiday Village, Scarborough

Distance from CBD: A one-hour and 20-minute drive.

Price: From $45 per night for a powered site, and from $150 per night for a double villa.

Head to Brisbane’s north to discover Scarborough Holiday Village and its all-year-round holiday vibes. Located on the Redcliffe Peninsula, Scarborough is famed for protected swimming and a charming village lifestyle, and this Brisbane camping spot puts you right in the heart of it. Choose from caravan sites plus one and two-bedroom villas complete with fully equipped kitchens, air conditioning, and a deck to help you breathe in the salt-kissed sea breeze.

the caravan site at Scarborough Holiday Village, Scarborough
Choose from caravan sites with fully equipped amenities at Scarborough Holiday Village.

Amenities

An amenities block, laundry, barbecue facilities, a kiosk, and a cafe.

Want to see more stories from Australian Traveller in your Google search results?

  1. Click here to set Australian Traveller as a preferred source.
  2. Tick the box next to "Australian Traveller". That's it.
Kristie Lau-Adams
Kristie Lau-Adams is a Gold Coast-based freelance writer after working as a journalist and editorial director for almost 20 years across Australia's best-known media brands including The Sun-Herald, WHO and Woman's Day. She has spent significant time exploring the world with highlights including trekking Japan’s life-changing Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage and ziplining 140 metres above the vines of Mexico’s Puerto Villarta. She loves exploring her own backyard (quite literally, with her two young children who love bugs), but can also be found stalking remote corners globally for outstanding chilli margaritas and soul-stirring cultural experiences.
View profile and articles
Peppers Clear Mountain
Brisbane

Moreton Bay’s first 5-star hotel is hidden within lush hinterland

A new hinterland hideaway within easy reach of Brisbane has opened after a multimillion-dollar rebrand.

Read more
lady elliot island
Brisbane

This Great Barrier Reef day trip is Brisbane’s best travel hack

You don’t need to stay on Lady Elliot Island overnight to experience the world-class snorkelling haven.

Read more
the Nautilus Pool and Bar at The Westin Brisbane
Brisbane

The Westin Brisbane: A five-star hotel devoted to your wellbeing

Offering marshmallow-soft bedding, in-room fitness gear and healthy Mediterranean meals, The Westin Brisbane lavishly fuels inner-city exploration.

Read more
the Westin Renewal Suite Lounge Room, Brisbane
Brisbane

A parent’s guide to the best family accommodation in Brisbane

The whole clan will sleep soundly with our pick of the best family accommodation in Brisbane.

Read more
hero media

4 surprising ways to experience the real Gold Coast

Credit: Reuben Nutt

    Rachael Thompson Rachael Thompson
    Continue
    There’s more to discover in this buzzing city beyond its thrilling theme parks and pretty beaches.

    One of the world’s most celebrated coastal destinations, the Gold Coast has long drawn in visitors with its endless stretches of golden sand and thrilling theme parks. And while these iconic drawcards deliver time and time again, there’s much more to discover in this idyllic pocket of the world.

    Luxury enthusiasts are catered for with fabulous five-star retreats, foodies can delight their taste buds with the freshest produce, and nature lovers can lose themselves in a world of ancient rainforest.

    From the Hinterland to the sea, here are five surprising ways to experience the Gold Coast.

    1. Indulge in luxury

    Mondrian Gold Coast women enjoying Pampering treatments at the Ciel Spa and wellness facilities
    Escape the grind inside Mondrian Gold Coast’s CIEL Spa. (Credit: Demi Gavin)

    If you’re in need of a weekend away to recharge, you’re well looked after with the suite of five-star beachfront hotels. And with the country’s first Andaz hotel opening later this year in Broadbeach and a glamorous Ritz-Carlton on the way, a new era of luxury is being ushered in.

    Many of these hotels, like The Langham (Chuan Spa) and the Mondrian Gold Coast (CIEL Spa), feature world-class day spas in sumptuous settings, offering treatments spanning massages, facials, body wraps, and hand and foot therapies from some of the world’s best therapists.

    It would also be remiss when on the Gold Coast not to take to the sparkling waters, and the most stylish way to do so is by chartering a yacht, of course. Set sail on your own private haven from Crystal Blue Yacht Charters or Sailing in Paradise, spending your days lounging on deck, discovering secluded coves only accessible by boat and dipping in crystalline waters.

    2. Escape to the Hinterland

    experience the Gold Coast at springbrook national park Warrie Circuit, looking out from Ngarri-dhum Falls
    Hike through Springbrook National Park to enjoy incredible views. (Credit: Reuben Nutt)

    You’d be forgiven for not being able to pull yourself away from the Gold Coast’s sparkling coastline, but just a 30-minute drive inland, the Hinterland spoils visitors with a lush landscape that brings an instant sense of calm.

    In the World Heritage-listed Lamington National Park, an ancient oasis of over 500 waterfalls and over 160 kilometres of bushwalking trails are waiting to be discovered, soundtracked by the calls of rare rainforest songbirds. And in the ancient Springbrook National Park, you can witness a dazzling light show from one of the largest glow worm colonies in the world. And walk beneath towering Antarctic Beech Trees.

    The Hinterland’s fertile volcanic soil and subtropical climate make it a growers’ paradise, and gourmands can relish the best of the region’s bounty at restaurants like Paddock at Beechmont Estate. This casual fine-dining destination offers a paddock-to-plate experience in the truest sense, with produce harvested onsite and sourced from local farms. It might also surprise you to learn that there are fabulous wineries in the region as well, including the must-visit Witches Falls Winery, which produces world-class wild-ferment drops.

    3. Taste the best of the dining scene

    Tarte Bakery & Cafe serving coffee, pastries and meals in the heart of Burleigh
    Treat yourself at Tarte Bakery & Cafe. (Credit: Jesse Lindemann)

    The culinary scene on the Gold Coast exceeds expectations thanks to its location and gastronomic talent. Ultra-fresh seafood, abundant hinterland produce and inventive brews star on menus, making it a haven for foodies.

    Start your day on a delicious note with the smell of fresh pastries and some of the best coffee in the city at Tarte Bakery & Cafe. Or sit in the classic Queenslander at Paddock Bakery to tuck into their elevated take on ‘egg and soldiers’, with toasted sourdough, organic labna, parsley and bacon bits.

    Rick Shores is a must-visit lunch or sunset dinner spot in Burleigh Heads, loved for its front-row vistas of the ocean and succulent Pan-Asian flavours – the Fried Moreton Bay Bug Roll with its delicate sweet meat and toasted brioche bun has a cult following. The team’s second venue, Norté, is another culinary triumph, serving Latin American bites in an ultra-sleek space.

    For a more relaxed affair, sit outside at the award-winning Burleigh Brewing Co and sip your way through a tasting padel of inventive lagers and ales while tapping your feet to live music.

    4. Recover with wellness & relaxation

    aerial view of upper valley pool at Eden Retreat on the gold coast
    Enjoy a total reset surrounded by rainforest at Eden Retreat.

    The Gold Coast knows a thing or two when it comes to pampering and relaxation, and those seeking some R&R or to banish their worries can do so at the multitude of bathhouses, day spas and secluded hinterland retreats peppered across the city.

    One of the most coveted spots to unwind and experience the tranquillity of Japanese bathing culture is at SOL Elements, Australia’s first floating bathhouse snuggled in the rainforests of Mt Tamborine. Also located in the hinterland is Eden Retreat, a luxury health retreat on a 400-acre property designed to reconnect you with nature via daily wellness classes and contemporary lodges overlooking the rainforest.

    Back in the city, Soak Bathhouse is a local favourite for contrast therapy with its open-air hot spas, mineral baths, cold plunges, cedar sauna and steam room. If a massage or facial is more your calling, book into Spa by JW at JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort and Spa. Let the professionals soothe overworked muscles and rejuvenate skin in a heavenly setting.

    And who could forget the city’s untamed side? Seek out natural swimming spots like the dreamy Araluen swimming hole hidden away in the Tallebudgera Valley, and the lower section of Currumbin Creek, a pristine tidal estuary with lagoon-like waters.

    Start planning the ultimate Gold Coast getaway, your way, at experiencegoldcoast.com.