Start packing the nylon and get ready to cast a line, here at Urban List, we've stumbled across the best camping spots in Australia with a mega view to boot.
Now don’t expect WiFi, room service, or cute chocolates left on your pillows; but do expect early morning swims, no crowds, the sunrise from your tent, mountain scenes and the good ol’ Aussie outback. Read on for the best camping spots in Australia.
The Best Camping Spots In South Australia
Ocean Beach
Coorong National Park
You’ll find this brilliant campsite with a view just an hour outside of Adelaide. There are 16 designated beach camping spots perfect for two-person tents or swags. Here, your eyes will get to take in endless beach serenity and at night, you’ll be treated to a blanket of stars above.
Coonawarra Bubble Tents
Coonawarra
Around four hours drive from Adelaide, just inside the state border with Victoria, the rolling hills of Coonawarra have raised their camping game. Set on a vineyard in one of SA’s popular wine regions, the Coonawarra Bubble Tents give you panoramic views of the clear night sky - and some come with free bikes to explore the local area, and even a complimentary bottle of Coonawarra wine!
Tiparra Rocks Campsite
Yorke Peninsula
Slap bang on the water’s edge, Tiparra Rocks Campsite is located near the small coastal town of Balgowan, on the west coast of South Australia’s Yorke Peninsula. A two-hour drive from Adelaide, the cliff-top road to the camping ground is not for the faint hearted, but worth it for a free spot on the water.
The Best Camping Spots In NSW
Mungo National Park
Willandra Lakes
Image credit: Destination NSW | Supplied
If camping on a type of landscape that can only be likened to another planet is hot on your camping agenda, look no further than Mungo National Park. This UNESCO World Heritage-listed park is located in the heart of Willandra Lakes in South-West NSW and is known for seriously significant archaeological discoveries, dry lakes, sand dunes, nature trails and breathtaking stargazing sites so, in other words, it’s camping heaven. Main Campground or Belah Campground will give you endless desert savannahs.
Delicate Campground
Crescent Head
Image credit: Destination NSW | Supplied
Beach camping, it’s prime wheel estate. For sunrise breakfasts, the sound of waves crashing and constant sand between your toes, you’ve got to pitch a tent at Crescent Head’s Delicate Campground. Located within Goolawah Regional Park, this back-to-basics campground is for those of you keen to rough it, in other words, it’s pretty remote and you’ll want to come packed and prepared. What makes this campsite with a view even better is that it’s actually dog friendly too!
You might also like:
Main Range
Kosciuszko National Park
Image credit: Destination NSW | Supplied
If you’re bold enough to lace up and take on Kosciuszko National Park’s Main Range Track Loop well, spoiler alert—you’re in for all the glacial scenery (all protected by the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve). This stunning hiking trail will lead you across the iconic Snowy River, Hedley Tarn, Blue Lake, and wildflower meadows during summer. It’ll also take you to the top of Australia along the main range of Mount Kosciuszko where you’ll score views of the Aussie Alps at pretty much every direction you turn and there’s plenty of scenic camping spots along the way.
The Best Camping Spots In Queensland
Great Sandy National Park
K’gari (Fraser Island)
If heaven was a place on earth, let’s just say it most definitely looks like camping beachfront on K’gari’s Great Sandy National Park. Before you set up shop here, you’ll need to get around to purchasing a camping permit (which can be made up to six months in advance). Take note of the different camping zones here, there’s eastern and western beach camping but if you ask us, the island’s eastern zone at Waddy Point area should be your go-to.
Bartle Frere Trail
Wooroonooran National Park
Image credit: Tourism Events Queensland | Supplied
Along the stunning Bartle Frere Trail in Wooroonooran National Park you’ll find four different campsites but when you want a site that rakes in all the views too, hit the Eastern Summit camp. This stellar location can only be reached by foot but sits in an open area with all the open space and scenes of Innisfail—so the hike is really worth it.
Noah Beach Campground
Cape Tribulation
The remote headland of Cape Tribulation is a tropical strip of coastline within the 130-million-year-old Daintree Rainforest in northeast Queensland. When you pitch-up under the forest canopy at Noah Beach Campground, gazing out towards the Great Barrier Reef, you’ll be located in the only place on earth where two World Heritage-listed areas stand shoulder-to-shoulder.
The Wrecks
Gheebulum Kunungai (Moreton Island)
Gheebulum Kunungai (Moreton Island) is 98 per cent national park, famous for its white sands, rocky headlands and turquoise lagoons. Looking back at Brisbane from across Moreton Bay, The Wrecks Campground is within view of a number of striking shipwrecks that were strategically sunk to create a break wall. For nearby campers, they make for excellent snorkelling and diving excursions, while you won’t get bored exploring the rest of the island’s pristine wilderness.
The Best Camping Spots In Victoria
Falls To Hotham Trek
Alpine National Park
Image credit: Visit Victoria | Supplied
For rugged camping with a view like no other, strap yourselves in for the sites at the Falls to Hotham Trek in Alpine National Park. This three-day hike is packed to the rafters with snow gum woodlands, snow grass plains, rocky summits, and historic huts so let's just say while your legs will be doing most of the work, your eyes will be busy taking in some pretty majestic views too. There are two campsites on this crossing, Cope Hut Camping Area and Dibbins Hut, each with five sites on tent platforms. Set yourself up and get excited for the glorious light set to spotlight the incredible landscape in the morning.
Johanna Beach Campground
Great Otway National Park
South Victoria’s Great Otway National Park is one of the state’s most treasured spots. A prime stop-off for travellers on the Great Ocean Road—or hiking the Great Ocean Walk— the park contains breathtaking coastland, beaches, waterfalls, and mountains, with sparkling vistas over the Bass Strait. The best place to rest your head around these parts is at Johanna Beach Campground, mere metres from the pristine Johanna Beach.
Lake Catani
Mount Buffalo National Park
Image credit: Visit Victoria | Supplied
Lake Catani is any adventurer’s version of paradise, located on Mount Buffalo’s plateau and completely surrounded by beautiful Eucalypt forest, alpine heathlands and snow-grass plains. With 360-degrees of absolute natural beauty, if you’re a keen photographer, videographer, sketcher, you name it—you’ll have plenty of material to work off here.
The Best Camping Spots In The Northern Territory
Ellery Creek Big Hole Camping
Tjoritja/West MacDonnell National Park
Image credit: Salty Aura | Supplied
The Northern Territory packs some serious punch when it comes to stunning campgrounds and luscious swimming spots. If you're a fan of both, we think we've found the place for you. Located inside Tjoritja/West Macdonnell National Park, Ellery Creek Big Hole is a pretty magical place to shack up at. Known as Udepata to the Aranda people, who have always believed it to be a special meeting place due to it always being filled with water, the campgrounds here keep gas BBQs, toilets and have a number of excellent trails that branch out from the site.
Gunn Point
Darwin
Image credit: Visit NT | Supplied
Easily one of the most beautiful places to camp in Australia, Gunn Point ticks all the boxes when it comes to pitching a tent. While camping on Murrumujuk Beach is not longer permitted, there are still a tonne of spots about 10-metres back from the cliff edge (just to protect against coastal erosion). Locals know but if you'e never headed toward the Top End, this spot will bear witness to some seriously stunning sunsets. You can drive along the beach, go fishing, light a campfire—you name it. Truly beautiful.
Devils Marbles
Tennant Creek
Camping at Tennant Creek’s Devils Marbles is unlike camping anywhere else in the world so of course, this campsite should be on your bucket list. When you unzip your tent here in the morning, you’ll be rewarded with glowing granite boulders and bright blue skies. Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve offers up scenic bush camping with fireplaces and make sure you’re in well before sunset to catch the stunning colours.
Tjoritja (West MacDonnell National Park)
West Macdonnell Ranges
For camping with scenic gorges, tropical forests, and waterholes, camping within Tjoritja (West MacDonnell National Park) is a no-brainer. There are two main camp sites here which sport stunning backdrops, both equally as great as the other—at Ellery Big Hole and Redlbank Gorge (however, these only have basic camping facilities).
The Best Camping Spots In Western Australia
Whalebone Campground
Francois Peron National Park
Image credit: Jake Appleby, Tourism Western Australia | Supplied
You’ll find this breathtaking campsite with a serious view to boot inside Francois Peron National Park. Surrounded by rocky headlands, vegetation and dunes, Whalebone Campground is a hard place to stay at for just one night. When the access track is open, you can reach this site by 4WD otherwise your best to take it by foot from the Hakea Trail.
Quobba Station
Quobba
Quobba Station is an operating sheep station that sprawls across a slither of land between Lake Macleod and the Indian Ocean. Situated around 60km north of Carnarvon and stretching an epic 180km, the property is the most westerly station in all of Australia, with dune-top camping spots a stone’s throw from the water’s edge. Pitch up in the winter months and you’ll be able to watch whales whistle by from the warmth of your sleeping bag!
Bullara Station
Exmouth Gulf
The far north-west town of Exmouth is a regular hotspot for visitors from all over Australia, and indeed the world, as it’s the gateway to the stunning Ningaloo Reef Marine Park, and offers the chance to swim with whale sharks (among other enchanting sea life). Located a short drive from the town centre, Bullara Station - closed this year, but returning in 2024 - is a cattle station reimagined: with onsite walking trails, damper tasting and burger nights for their campers.
Gregories Campsite
Francois Peron National Park
Image credit: Tourism Western Australia | Supplied
Another golden campsite within Francois Peron National Park includes that of Gregories Campsite which is truly the MVP of beach camping. A super popular site for anyone who boasts a number of rods under their belt, camping here will treat you to sunsets so damn beautiful you’ll wonder why you ever trekked it to Santorini’s Oia for the end of the day light show. You can access this spot by 4WD.
Elachbutting Rock Campsite
Elachbutting
Situated four hours inland from Perth, Elachbutting Rock is a massive granite outcrop, with spectacular colourful waves flowing through its exterior. The name “Elachbutting” is thought to mean “that thing standing”, as it towers over the surrounding bushland, and there’s also a 30-metre tunnel caused by a rock slide. The camping facilities are basic, but the good news is it’s entirely free to stay!
The Best Camping Spots In Tasmania
Overland Track
Lake St Clair National Park
Get your dose of serious hike-worthy ranges and brilliant camping views along the Overland Track in Lake St Clair National Park. There are various powered and unpowered camping spots available here and all of them give you full-range sights of moss-covered ancient rainforests, deep river gorges, alpine moorlands, and glacial lakes.
Bay Of Fires Bush Retreat
Bay of Fires
Famous for its bright orange boulders, Bay of Fires is one of Tasmania’s favourite natural wonders. Located on the island’s east coast, campers here are surrounded by the white sands of Binalong Bay and the rugged foothills of Mt Willian National Park. There’s a lot of great camping ops, from the luxe Bay of Fires Bush Retreat to the free spots at Dora Point.
Freycinet National Park Campground
Freycinet National Park
Freycinet National Park is located about halfway up Tasmania’s east coast, and home to some of the island’s most picturesque hikes. Footsteps from the famous Honeymoon Bay, Sleepy Bay and Wineglass Bay, Freycinet National Park Camping Ground is so popular that during peak times (Christmas and Easter) you have to enter a ballot system to camp there.
Read on for the:
Image credit: @touringtroopy | Instagram
Urban List Best Of has our highest stamp of approval—curated lists of the very best recommendations for you to eat, do, see, buy or book, carefully chosen by our Editors.