If you ever saw the TV show Sea Change in the 1990s, you’ll remember the start of the intro. Flash to a big city, noise, stress, traffic lights, slightly dodgy 1990s Melbourne corporate fashion. Then the camera pans back, we cross the Westgate, and the country opens up. That’s what it’s like when you head off on a camping trip out of Melbourne/Naarm—your busy, messy, everyday real world starts to fade away, and all that’s left is miles and miles of open road (and hopefully multiple bags of CC’s) before arriving at one of Victoria's best camping sites.
Want to know where to pitch your tent? Urban List has rounded up the best campsites in Victoria for 202. Most are a pretty easy drive from Melbourne, and for the rest...just tell your boss you’ll be coming in sick on Monday. Here are the best spots camping Victoria has to offer:
Tidal River Campground
Main Road, Wilsons Promontory
Image credit: Visit Vic | Supplied
One of the best-known campsites inside The Prom. And for good reason. On the one side you’ve got the clear waters of Tidal River, and on the other, there’s Norman Beach, one of the best in the national park. Tidal River gets busy, so you’ll want to book ahead. There’s room for nearly 500 tents, but they go quick in the summertime. Bonus points: Tidal River is one of the few campgrounds we know with its own pop-up cinema. There’s also gas barbies, hot showers and dishwashing stations. Luxe.
BIG4 Phillip Island Caravan Park
24 Old Bridge Dr, Newhaven, Phillip Island
We couldn’t leave out Phillip Island, right? There are a few camping options on the island, but the BIG4 Phillip Island Caravan Park is always a good bet (provided you book early). This is where you can meet Phillip Island’s star residents—fairy penguins and friendly koalas—without forking out big bucks for 5* accommodation. The campground itself sits on a nature reserve near Newhaven Beach, and it’s got great facilities. Toilets, showers, laundry service, a kiosk for basic supplies, plus volleyball and basketball for the kids. Defs make time to check out some of Phillip Island’s famous wineries while you’re in town. Given it's just an hour or so out of the city, it makes this spot one of the best camping spots not far from Melbourne.
Marengo Holiday Park
Great Ocean Road, Apollo Bay
We have to admit, we’ve got a soft spot for Apollo Bay. If we could live anywhere along the Great Ocean Rd, this would probably be it. Book your campsite at Marengo next summer and you’ll see what we’re talking about. Sure, it's a slight drive out of Melbourne, but we deserve it in 2023 and it truly is some of the best camping you'll find in Victoria. Holiday Park is on the comfier side of the camping spectrum. You’re 50m back from the beach, there’s good WIFI coverage throughout the site, plus all your upgrades like cozy cabins, BBQ, adventure playgrounds and a massive Camp Kitchen. A good one for camping newbies, or families with a pooch in tow.
Johanna Beach
Old Coach Road, Johanna
Another classic camping spot, and one of the best camping spots, along the Great Ocean Rd that still holds up in 2023. Johanna Beach is actually used as a back-up for the World Surf League championships if the waves at Belles Beach suck (which happens about once every billion years). It’s a quiet little spot among the sand dunes, perfect if you like a spot of surfing with your camp. It’s free too, which is a bonus, although that does mean you’ll have to go without power. Just a heads up: the surface is a little uneven, and there’s a mean slope heading down towards the beach. You might want to bring some squishy bedding to even out the angle.
Cape Conran
Banksia Bluff Road, Cape Conran
Image credit: Visit Vic | Supplied
You’ll find Cape Conran near Marlo in East Gippsland. It’s a giant coastal park, and the Cape Conran campgrounds (also known as Banksia Bluff) are just 100m back from the beach. There are plenty of good campsites to pick from too—about 135 spread out over 1km. Check the website in August if you want to go in for the Christmas ballot (they raffle off the best campsites), and Easter bookings can be made up to one year in advance. Sounds hectic, but trust us—it’s popular because it's some of the best camping you'll fin in the state. It’s probably the most beautiful beach spot past Lakes Entrance. Make sure you hike down to Salmon Rocks for an epic photo opp.
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Sealer's Cove Campground
Sealer's Cove, Wilsons Promontory
Perfect if you’re looking for a Prom date without the crowds. Sealer’s Cove is a hike-in campsite, which means it’s out of reach for the average boombox-wielding campervan, but trekking to one of the best camping spots in Victoria is truly worth it. The people that find this little gem are after solitude and scenery—and they get both in abundance. The hike in is about 10km, which is substantial, but it’s one of the prettiest walks in all of Victoria. The campsite has basic toilet facilities, but you’ll need to BYO drinking water. You can also only stay two nights at a time, and you’ll need permits from the Tidal River Visitor’s Centre (or online). A bit of faff, but the experience is well worth it.
Blanket Bay Campground
Blanket Bay Road, Cape Otway
Another classic in the Great Otway National Park. Head to Blanket Bay if you enjoy any of the following: hiking, walking, tramping, bushwalking, trees, nature, koalas and panoramic views of the Southern Ocean. Bookings open each year on 1 August, and we’d advise getting in early if you want to nab a place at the best camping spots Victoria has to offer—this place is probably the most popular overnight spot in the Otways. You can get a campervan in there, or otherwise pitch your tent on one of the 22 beautiful campsites. For facilities, you’ve got non-flush toilets, shared picnic tables and fireplaces (just BYO wood).
Killarney Beach Caravan Park And Camping
125 Mahoneys Road, Killarney
If in doubt, Go West. About 280km west of Melbourne to be precise. That’s where you’ll find Killarney Beach Camp Ground, just past Warrnambool. Killarney itself is a tiny 800-person village surrounded by dairy cows and green grass and ringed with shallow, sandy bays. There’s 20 powered and 50 unpowered campsites in the area, plus a kids playground and a sporting oval (camp cricket anyone?) The real draw here though are the wild western beaches, and the local produce. Definitely leave some time for a roadtrip to some of the farmer’s market in nearby Port Fairy. This one's closed for winter 2023, but come second summer, it'll be some of the best camping Victoria has to offer.
Wye River Foreshore Camping
Great Ocean Rd, Wye River
Image credit: Visit Vic | Supplied
Wye River has a special vibe about it. 9/10 daytrippers drive straight on through on their way to Cape Otway and the Twelve Apostles, but the Beachfront Camp Ground is well worth a pitstop if you’ve got a few nights to spare. It’s one of the best campsites in Victoria for koala spotting, and the beachfront real estate at the Wye River estuary is seriously speccy. The camp has power, toilets and showers, but if you want to splash out on a good meal, check out the Wye River pub and the general store, just off the main highway. This one's closed for winter 202, but come summer, it'll no doubt join the ranks of the best camping Victoria is offering.
Parker Hill Campground
Parker Hill Walking Track, Cape Otway
The first thing you need to know about Parker Hill is access. Or lack of it. This isn’t a place to take your shiny new Volkswagen Golf. You’ll need a proper 4WD to get to the campsite. Of course, like most things that are hard to get to, your rewards are unspoiled nature, seclusion and some of the best camping in the Great Otway National Park. There’s 20 campsites at Parker Hill, plus compost toilets (so you’re not totally roughing it). Better yet, there’s access to the Great Ocean Walk (a must-do). Come prepared though—there are no fireplaces here, and fires aren’t allowed at any time. Time to bust out that Trangia.
Sheepyard Flat
Brocks Rd, Howqua Hills
Is there a prettier part of Victoria than the Howqua Valley? It’s certainly got the most beautiful name. Sheepyard Flat is one of the best campsites along the Howqua, set just outside Mansfield. Fly-fisherman discovered this place a long time ago, and you’ll usually spot several wading up and down the river, casting their flies for trout, perch and Redfin. Camping at Sheepyard is free, and it’s a first-come-first-served sort of deal. Pro tip: spend a day hiking out to Fry’s Flat, one of the areas’ original crofter’s huts before coming back to one of the best camping spots in the region.
Fraser Camping Area, Lake Eildon
Lakeside Camping Area, Lakeside Rd, Devils River
The Fraser Camping Area actually comprises three individual campsites: Lakeside, Candlebark and Devil Core. It’s a beautiful, sprawling spot, surrounded by 27,000 hectares of dense forests and wooded hills, not to mention Lake Eildon right on your doorstep. You can grab supplies from either Alexandra or Eildon (both about 15 mins away). Most of the stuff is BYO, but all three campsites have hot showers, flushing toilets and gas BBQs. It's 2023, sure, but who’s up for some nostalgic wakeboarding?
Cooks Mill Campground
Little River Track, Rubicon
Image credit: Visit Vic | Supplied
Cooks Mill is one of the most popular campsites in Victoria’s Cathedral Ranges (and if you haven’t checked out Cathedral yet, get cracking—it’s amazing). 30 shady campsites, tucked among the tall gum trees. It’s so close to Little River you can hear the water burbling. Facility-wise you’ve got non-flush toilets, picnic tables and fireplaces (BYO cooking plates). You’ll also need to BYO drinking water—Parks Vic doesn’t recommend drinking from Little River.
Lake Catani Campground
Lake Catani, Mount Buffalo
Alpine camping isn’t as popular with Melburnians as the Great Ocean Rd, Otways or the Grampians—but that’s probably just down to the drive. Yeah, Lake Catani takes a little while to get to (4h from the inner ‘burbs), but it’s the only real spot you can stay if you want to have a serious crack at Mt Buffalo’s Horn. You can grab unpowered sites for tents or campers at Lake Catani from November through to April. Go walking in the Snow Gum woodlands, hike, bike or rock climb, or BYO kayak and paddle your way across Lake Catani—truly some of the most beautiful camping spots Victoria has to offer.
Halls Gap Lakeside
23 – 27 Tymna Drive, Halls Gap
image credit: Visit Vic | Supplied
There are a swag of good campsites from which to explore The Grampians, but Halls Gap Lakeside is still one of our favourites in 2023. You get fantastic views of the surrounding mountains, powered campsites (which are fairly roomy), night-time campfires and even a woodfire-heated outdoor pool. You can even book an epic Safari Tent. Spend your days soaking up some serenity, kayaking on the nearby Lake Bellfield, go fishing for brown trout, ride horses along the trails and get mugged by the thousand sulphur-crested cockatoos that call the place home. Oh yeah, and did we mention the glamping?
Check out more of the state's best here:
- Melbourne's Best Airbnbs
- Phillip Island's Best Accommodation
- The Best Accommodation On The Great Ocean
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