The Best Places To Camp In South Australia

Written by: Jessica Best

11th Jun 2025

bubble tent located under tree in vineyard

If you are on the hunt for the best camping spots South Australia has to offer, you're in for an absolute treat. Once you’ve sipped your way through the Barossa and ticked off the wine trail, it’s time to swap cellar doors for starry skies and get your tent ready.

Whether you're after a no-reception, toes-in-the-sand kind of escape or a vineyard bubble tent with full Wi-Fi vibes, SA has a campsite with your name on it.

Ready to roll out the swag? Here are the best places to go camping in South Australia in 2025.

Katarapko Campground

Murray River National Park

lit up tent beside river in murray river national park campground
Image credit: Francesco Vicenzi | Website

Murray River National Park is the place to be in South Australia right after you’ve sipped your bodyweight equivalent of vino in the Barossa Valley. The park is any adventurers absolute dream which means hiking, bike riding, canoeing and bird watching are all on the cards here.

The national park itself is divided into six key areas but if you’re here for some top-notch camping (and you are), you really can’t go past the outdoor antics in Katarapko. There are about 55 different campsites dotted along the Murray River, Eckerts Creek and Katarapko Creek, most with water access and river views.

Distance: three-hour drive from Adelaide
Facilities: pit toilets, fishing, kayaking
Pet Friendly: no

Coonawarra Bubble Tents

Coonawarra

Image credit: Adam Wild | Instagram

For those out there that love a solid stargazing session, staying in a hex bubble tent should be top priority for you. Especially because these bad boys are located on a vineyard—coincidence? We think not.

It doesn’t take a genius to realise why Coonawarra Bubble Tents is one of the best campsites in South Australia, the property delivers on the natural beauty front—you’ll find an endless landscape of sprawling hills. You’ll be kicking back in a cosy bubble tent with all your linen sorted and a complimentary bottle of Coonawarra wine waiting for you. During the day, hop on a free bike and explore the area, try your hand at archery, or head out for a wine tasting adventure. And the best part? Your furry, four-legged sidekick is more than welcome to join the fun too.

Distance: four-hour drive from Adelaide
Facilities: linen, toilets, Wi-Fi, rental activities
Pet Friendly: yes

Bukirk Glamping

Clare Valley

glamping style tent on deck with hay on a farm
Image credit: South Australian Tourism Commission | Website

If you love the idea of camping sans really roughing it—this campsite is for you. Bukirk Glamping is nestled in the hills of the Clare Valley and conveniently sits about a five-minute drive away from Clare wineries, shops and cafes.

You’ll be staying on 42 acres of peaceful farmland, with just five spacious glamping tents spread out across the property. Each one comes with a queen bed, comfy seating, and your own private ensuite—linen and towels included, so you can pack light. You’ll also have your own deck, perfect for sipping a morning cuppa as the sun rises or winding down with a glass of wine in the evening.

Distance: two-hour drive from Adelaide
Facilities: linen, toilets, rental activities
Pet Friendly: yes

Tiparra Rocks

Yorke Peninsula

A person, beside a camper on the beach at sunset
Image credit: Cleo Codrington | Instagram

Say it with us—free camping. All the best things in life are free and when it comes to Tiparra Rocks, this gem really doesn’t disappoint. You’ll be able to set up shop right beside the ocean with front seats to a glorious and interrupted night sky filled with stars.

Tippara Rocks is a campsite that quite literally is the bare minimum (think no power, no toilets, no drinking water) but the good news is that it’s only a short drive away from the town of Balgowan. When it comes to how you spend your time here, the campsite’s all yours to explore. Take a dip, cast a line, or just soak up the serenity. Pro tip: aim for one of the sites tucked behind the sand dunes, furthest from the entrance—they’re the most secluded and come with serious off-the-grid vibes.

Distance: two-hour drive from Adelaide
Facilities: none
Pet Friendly: yes

Chalk’s Campground

Mount Crawford Forest

two people sitting on bench in a forest with a van behind them
Image credit: Mish and Kirk | South Australian Tourism Commission

Just a one hour drive from Adelaide, Chalk's Campground is part of a trifecta of camping sites within Mount Crawford Forest. You’ll be camping beneath clusters of beautiful redgums at this classic bush escape, where around 25 designated sites are scattered through the trees. There’s a cosy bush hut with a fireplace for chilly nights, picnic tables for lazy lunches, and firepits to toast marshmallows under the stars. You’ll also find a hybrid toilet system with wheelchair access—because even in the bush, comfort counts.

No doubt if you’re a camping enthusiast, you love some epic walking trails too—Mount Pleasant Summit Trail is a four-hour walk absolutely worthy of your time and calf burn.

Distance: one-hour drive from Adelaide
Facilities: huts, firepits, toilets
Pet Friendly: yes

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Salty Sands Glamping

Port Neill

A cream bell tent pitched in the middle of sand dunes
Image credit: Salty Sands Glamping | Instagram

If you prefer glamping over camping, there’s still something special for you in South Australia. In fact, Salty Sands Glamping is serving pure bucket list vibes. Set on the sugar-white sands of Port Niell ( a small coastal town on the eastern side of the Eyre Peninsula) this is off-the-grid at its best.

You’ll crash in a spacious six-metre-high canvas bell tent, drifting off to the gentle ocean lullaby from your plush queen bed. Step out onto your wooden deck, fire up the Weber Q, and soak in stunning sand dunes and ocean views. When night falls, twinkling festoon lights set the scene for pure holiday magic.

Distance: six-hour drive from Adelaide
Facilities: bed, battery-powered fridge
Pet Friendly: no

Cable Bay Beach Campground

Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park

A light house on the edge of the coast at sunset
Image credit: Espe Susanphan | Instagram

Pitch your tent, or cruise in with your camper to this stunning seaside site. With just nine unpowered campsites available, this is the spot to escape the crowds and soak up the natural beauty of South Australia. Set within Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park, at the southern tip of the Yorke Peninsula, you’re surrounded by pristine stretches of coastline, epic surf (Chinaman's surf break is our pick) and rugged cliffs.

Fill your days here with bush walks, scuba sessions and catch goosebump-inducing sunrises over the Southern Spencer Gulf Marine Park. Pro tip: the south facing campsites offer limited wind protection so choose wisely when camping here in winter.

Distance: three-and-a-half-hour drive from Adelaide
Facilities: long drop toilet
Pet Friendly: no

Image credit: Adam Wild, Francesco Vicenzi, Adam Wild, Isaac Forman, Jack Brookes

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