Best Camping Spots in Australia
Camping in Australia is a must that everyone has to try. When you’re camping, you are able to see so many more places and wake up to completely unbeatable views, that you never would see if you stay at a hostel or a hotel. Australia has the most beautiful and varied nature, and to take a camper van or stay in a tent to some of the places here will change your view of this country completely. Why not wake up to a stunning view over dramatic mountains, a warm beach breeze or the sounds of birds in the rain forest?
We have listed the BEST camping spots in Australia right here for you. So if you’re out on the road, or are interested in going on a trip, you should definitely stop in at one of these incredible places!
Byron Bay – Hippie Holiday
This small town is known for their amazing surf waves, hippie culture and good food. Here you can stay at one of the great camping spots and enjoy the laid back lifestyle. Unfortunately, it’s hard to find spots where camping is free, but it’s totally worth spending some money here. If you really want to go hippie you should stay at Arts Factory – a typical backpacker hostel that also has a camping ground. It’s located just 10 min walk from the beach and a really good budget alternative to some of the more “glamping” options. Another place is First Sun Holiday Park, a beachfront park in the heart of Byron. For a good view you can walk up to the Byron Bay Lighthouse and watch the sunset (or sunrise). It’s unforgettable!
Fraser Island – Sand, Lakes and Dingoes
Fraser Island is located on the eastern Queensland coast, and is one of the biggest sand islands in the world. The best way of exploring the island is to go by a 4wd and drive around. The island offers you coloured sand cliffs, hikes through rainforests, meetings with native wildlife, whale-watching and swimming in freshwater lakes of all kind of different colours! The best way to stay is off course by camping, and you can choose from multiple spots to stay during the night.
Kangaroo Island – Meet the animals
Photo Credit: Sam Ross via the hammock hombre
This island is Australia’s third largest and is located in South Australia, outside Adelaide. Here you’ll find some of Australia’s best kept wildlife, including Kangaroos, Emu, Penguins, and of course more Kangaroos! To reach the island you’ll have to go on the ferry from Cape Jervis. This place is fantastic for camping, with 6 great camping grounds around the Island. Three of those we really could recommend to stop by is Emu Bay, Vivonne Bay and the American River. Emu Bay is a small town west of the main town Kingscote. It’s a popular swimming beach, with white sand and beautiful blue water. It’s also one of the few beaches where vehicles are permitted. Vivonne Bay is located on the south coast of Kangaroo Island and is probably the most popular camping ground on the island. It has all the facilities you need and holds one of the best beaches in Australia. The last spot is American River, located northwest on the Island and a perfect place if you want to go fishing and explore the beautiful scenery around Pelican Lagoon.
Cape Tribulation – Where rainforest meets reef
In Cape Tribulation you have the best opportunity to pretend to live in the jungle, and you’ll have a lot of different spots to go camping. You can either go by campervan (or pop a tent) for some of the campsites, or you can stay in some of the cool lodges in the Daintree forest to really get close to nature. Cape Tribulation is the perfect place to go on a crocodile river tour, take a rainforest walk or maybe sea kayaking. Here you have it all!
The Kimberley – Like nowhere else!
The Kimberley is the paradise of western Australia and the best way to explore the area is by camping. Here you find turquoise water, white sand, stunning lakes and endless outback. The best thing about it is that almost every campsite here is free, which means that you can choose wherever you want to stay, and you have much more freedom to explore this amazing place! Two really amazing spots should not be missed: The first one is Broome, by the coast. It’s the perfect place for sailing, fishing and to take a dip in the Indian Pacific. The other one is Purnululu National Park and Bungle Bungle Range, that is located in the eastern area of Kimberley. The nature here is quite spectacular, with beehive shaped sandstone towers and numerous secluded swimming holes that will blow your mind. The Aboriginal people have been living in the area for over 20,000 years, so you’ll also find a lot of historical rock art. Western Australia is a truly undiscovered pearl that’s perfect for camping in the wild.
Ayers Rock/Uluru – Sleep under the stars
To camp in the outback of central Australia is really something you should put on your bucketlist. Ayers Rock or Uluru is a must see if you go here, and to camp there can be a bit more expensive but so worth it. Imagine a night in a sleeping bag in the middle of nowhere and staring up at a thousand stars in the sky. If you’re lucky you’re can listen to one of the aboriginal dream stories as well! Uluru is one of the worlds greatest natural wonders and here you really get an experience and understanding for the culture and ancient history of Australia.
Sydney – Glamping
Just outside the city of Sydney on Cockatoo Island you’ll find a different way of camping – Glamping! You can either sleep in a pre-erected Safari Bow tent or bring your own tent, but we guarantee it will be a bit more luxurious than you are used to! You’ll have access to a large camping kitchen, multiple BBQ areas, your own fridge, microwave and a Zip boiling water system too! A really cool way of camping, with an unbeatable view over Sydney Harbour.
10 amazing & free things to do in Sydney
Sydney is one of the world's most expensive cities, and if you are traveling on a tight budget and still want to experience as much as possible, you can actually do amazing things for free. Below we have listed 10 amazing things you can do in Sydney that are completely free-of-charge!
1. Royal Botanic Gardens
Located in central Sydney, east of the Opera House and Macquarie Street, you find this oasis of beautiful gardening, walking trails and wildlife. If you walk out to the point of "Mrs Macquarie's Chair", you have an amazing view of the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. Just walk around, maybe have a picnic, and spend some time enjoying this beautiful place in Sydney, especially because it's free!
2. Walk over Harbour Bridge
If your budget is not big enough to have a go at the Harbour Bridge Climb, you can always walk across it yourself. From the bridge, you have a fantastic view of the Sydney skyline, coastline, and the (always impressive) Opera House. Once across, you will have the chance to explore Sydney's northern areas like Kirribilli, Lavender Bay and Mahones Point (Hint: there's good, cheap restaurants on Sydney's northside).
3. The Beaches
To visit Sydney's beaches is simply a must; this city has some of the best beaches in the world. You have several different beaches to choose from within a reasonable distance, the most known ones being Bondi Beach, Bronte Beach and Coogee Beach. Bondi and Coogee are larger beaches where you have the best chance to go surfing, while Bronte is a smaller beach with a stunning saltwater pool perfect for a swim. Another beach to visit is Manly Beach, and make your way up the northern beaches like Shelly Beach (go snorkeling!) and Palm Beach. To get to Manly, the easiest way is to go by the ferry; a good day to do that is on Sundays, when it only costs around $2.50, and the view from the ferry is worth the trip!
4. Museums
Learn about Australia's History, Archaeology and Religion by visiting some of Sydney's free museums. Here are 4 of them:
- Museum of contemporary art - is Australia's leading museum dedicated to exhibiting, interpreting and collecting contemporary art from across Australia and around the world. Read more here: www.mca.com.au/
- Nicholson Museum (Archaeology). Read more here: www.sydney.edu.au/museums/collections/nicholson.shtml
- The Rocks Discovery Museum (History). Read more here: http://www.therocks.com/things-to-do/the-rocks-discovery-museum/
- The Australian National Maritime Museum (Maritime) Read more here: http://www.anmm.gov.au/
5. Walk to Observatory Hill Park
To take a walk up to Observatory Hill Park doesn't make you disappointed. On the contrary, it might send you into ecstasy! Here you have a stunning view of the Harbour Bridge, with Luna Park, Lavender Bay and Kirribilli in the background. The park is perfect for a picnic and just sit and enjoy the view, you don't get a view like this everyday!
6. Walk the Sydney Beach Walks
Sydney has many fantastic walks, one of the best being along the eastern beaches. This most famous promenade is the Bondi to Coogee walk, which takes about 2 hours depending on pace, and during the walk you will pass Tamarama Beach, Clovelly Beach and Bronte Beach. So, for no cost at all, you get an incredible walk by Sydney's finest beaches with spectacular views, cliffs and pounding waves! (Hint: the Manly to Spit Bridge walk is also a must-do)
7. The Markets
On the weekends in Sydney there are loads of markets, offering colourful and creative products of various kinds. It is completely free to enter these markets and, even if you do not shop, it is a really fun experience to see all the beautiful things and also to meet some of the coolest locals. You might just make a new friend!
Here are 5 great markets:
- The Rocks Markets - Open Friday 9am - 3pm (food market) and Sat-Sun 10am - 5pm. To read more about it: www.therocks.com
- Glebe Market - Open every Sat 10am-4pm. Probably the hippest market in Sydney with around 200 stalls that offers cool vintage clothes, jewelry, books and so much more. Read more here: www.glebemarkets.com.au
- Paddington Market - Open every Sat 10am -4pm. This is a community based market with a lot of handmade art, jewelry and crafts. Great place to support the local entrepreneurs. Read more here: www.paddingtonmarkets.com.au
- Bondi Markets - Open Sun 10am - 4pm. A lovely beachfront market with hand made jewellery, designer clothing, arts, crafts, retro furniture, vintage clothes and so much more. Read more about it here: www.bondimarkets.com.au
- Kirribilli Markets - Open once a month, Sun 8:30am - 3pm. This market has a vibrant atmosphere with good vintage clothes, great live music and international food. Read more here: www.thekirribillicentre.org/market-dates/
8. Festivals and Events
Sydney is a city with some of the best festivals and events in the world, and many of them are totally free! Here are 3 of the coolest events you can go to anywhere, at any price:
- Vivid Sydney transforms the city into a wonderland of 'light art' sculptures, innovative light installations and grand-scale projections for all to enjoy. It's amazing, and entirely free! Read more here, we promise you don't want to miss this one: http://www.vividsydney.com/
- Mardi Gras - The annual gay parade (and party) on Oxford Street, and one of the biggest gay festivals in the world! Read more here: www.mardigras.org.au
- Outdoor Cinemas - All around Sydney, and especially around summer, there are many great outdoor cinemas to enjoy, and some are free. To read more about them: www.au.timeout.com/sydney/film/features/13918/sydneys-best-outdoor-cinema-seasons
9. Visit St Mary's Cathedral
This church is found in the centre of Sydney, perched just east of Hyde Park. It is Sydney's largest and oldest church by far, and totally worth a visit. You can go to one of the masses, or just go take some pictures of the beautiful building and architecture.
10. Visit Luna Park
There's no entry fee to this magical amusement park just across the Harbour Bridge to the north. If you are looking for a fun night with a killer view, you should absolutely visit Luna Park! If you really want to take one of the rides, it only costs $10, so still a totally budget friendly thing to do.