Camping
Sabine morgan scours Australia to tick off some of the ultimate bucket-list camping destinations.
From west to east, here are Australia’s best bucket-list camping destinations.
Whether your family prefers to sleep under canvas, in a caravan or in the relative luxury of a cabin, you’ll find stunning locations, friendly community atmospheres and plenty of activities to keep both kids and parents entertained across Australia. Here are six brilliant camping destinations we suggest you tick off your family’s list.
The Great Ocean Road, VIC
Winding its way alongside the Southern Ocean, the Great Ocean Road is one of the world’s great ocean drives and with an abundance of natural attractions, pristine beaches, fishing villages, shipwrecks, the Twelve Apostles and migrating whales, it’s packed full of fun for every family.
The bucket list
Take advantage of binocular hire and the Digital Detective and high-tech scavenger hunt programs at the Twelve Apostles Marine National Park.
Climb the stairs of Cape Otway Lightstation, the oldest surviving lighthouse in Australia today.
Spot whales from one of the many coastal lookouts along the way.
Commune with nature at Tower Hill, an extinct volcano that’s now home to a tranquil wildlife reserve.
Try a surfing lesson at Torquay, Lorne or Warrnambool.
Head to massive Adventure Park
Geelong for thrill rides, water play zones and water slides galore.
Where to stay
Sleep under the stars on tranquil beachside sites or at one of the many camping grounds along this route. There are also dozens of holiday parks with amazing kid-friendly facilities in the area.
Flinders Ranges, SA
The Flinders Ranges offers an authentic taste of the outback in South Australia. Experience local characters and a rugged landscape that dates back more than 600 million years. From the breathtaking beauty of Wilpena Pound to the extraordinary Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary, this region offers some of the most dramatic and beautiful sightseeing to be found anywhere in the country.
The bucket list
Grab your backpack and lace up your boots to hike the incredible trails and bushwalks of magnificent Wilpena Pound.
Explore Lake Eyre, Australia’s largest lake, which is more likely to be filled with sparkling salt crystals than water.
Head down into the subterranean world of Coober Pedy to fossick for opals.
Enjoy a feral mixed grill of emu, kangaroo, goat and camel at the Prairie Hotel in the country town of Parachilna.
Ride the rails back in time on the Pichi Richi Railway.
Enjoy a sunset at one of the oldest working sheep stations in the Flinders, Rawnsley Park Station.
Snap a few great pics of dusty red roads, ancient mountain ranges and stunning cliffs.
Where to stay
Experience fiery sunsets from one of the many campgrounds or facility-packed holiday parks. Or, sleep in a swag to soak up the sight of star-filled skies on a working cattle station.
Broome & the Kimberley, WA
Broome, in northwest Australia, is one of our country’s most beautiful and activity-packed destinations. It’s also the gateway to one of the world’s most incredible wilderness areas, the Kimberley, where visitors can swim and fish in gorges and rivers, hike unique landscapes and immerse themselves in local Indigenous culture.
The bucket list
Visit Willie Creek Pearl Farm to see how pearls are cultivated.
Swim the turquoise blue water of Cable Beach or Town Beach on Broome’s Roebuck Bay side.
Visit the over-280,000-hectare El Questro Wilderness Park for guided hikes, cruises, fishing and horse riding.
Take a scenic flight over Cape Leveque. Visit the Malcolm Douglas Wilderness Park, a 30-hectare animal refuge.
Stomp into Gauntheaume Point, home to a collection of ancient dinosaur prints.
Where to stay
Enjoy all the facilities of a holiday park in Broome, sleep on a cattle station or stay in one of the campsites in the Kimberley.
Legendary Pacific Coast, NSW
The Legendary Pacific Coast is a breathtaking touring route that runs through a phenomenal 48 national parks and 12 state forests, as well as buzzing seaside towns and charming villages. There’s no shortage of sun, sand and sea but there’s also plenty to keep kids amused off the water, too. The bucket list Hire a kayak to explore Lake Macquarie, Australia’s largest coastal saltwater lake.
Spot humpbacks and southern rights between May and November.
Enjoy a snorkelling adventure in the Solitary Islands Marine Park.
Ride a camel along the beach or take a bite of the Big Banana on the Coffs Coast. Explore the ancient Tweed Valley, a natural amphitheatre that is one of the most biodiverse regions in Australia.
Learn to surf and chase the perfect wave on one of Byron’s brilliant beaches.
Where to stay
Whether you want to sleep under the stars in nature or would rather an amenities-packed holiday park, there’s plenty to choose from along the Legendary Pacific Coast. UNESCO World Heritage-listed Fraser Island, located 250 kilometres north of Brisbane and just south of the Great Barrier Reef’s coral cays, is the world’s largest sand island.
Families will love exploring the island’s unique wildlife, bone-white sand dunes, beautiful ocean beaches, sparkling freshwater lakes and towering rainforests.
The bucket list
Take a dip in the calm, translucent waters of Lake Mackenzie or Lake Birrabeen.
Explore the wreck of the Maheno.
See the coloured sands at Rainbow Beach, a sight little adventurers won’t soon forget. Float swiftly along Eli Creek with the help of an invigorating current that pours up to four million litres of fresh, clear water into the ocean every hour. l l Stop to spot fish, turtles and eels in crystal-clear Wanggoolba Creek.
Surf the Fraser Island sand dunes on a boogie board.
Where to stay
Choose from one of 45 designated camping areas. Central Station, Dundubara, Lake Boomanjin and Waddy Point have dingodeterring fences, making them ideal spots for family campers.
Kakadu, NT
World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park, around an hour and a half from Darwin by coach or car, is Australia’s largest national park on dry land and rich with Indigenous history. It is a natural wonderland for kids, bursting with rocky ridges, flood plains, billabongs and estuaries teeming with wildlife.
The bucket list
Take a guided walk with a ranger to find nearby waterfalls.
Head on a croc-spotting cruise in the Yellow Water Wetlands, where the famously toothy locals lurk on the water’s surface.
Explore Ubirr, one of Kakadu National Park’s most famous Aboriginal rock art galleries, which can be reached along an easy circular walking track.
Cool off in Gunlom Falls, nature’s own original infinity pool.
See the sandstone rock formations along the Bardedjilidji walking track.
Birdwatchers can spot one-third of Australia’s bird species in stunning Kakadu National Park.
Where to stay
Australia’s ultimate camping destination, you’ll find park-run areas as well as commercial campgrounds and caravan sites with loads of facilities for families.