Camping with critters
Meets Australia’s favourite furry and jennifer ennion feathered friends at these nature-based campsites.
from the sand, but what makes it truly wonderful are the eastern grey kangaroos that call this rugged coastline home. These free-roaming ‘roos make this one of the state’s most sought-after campgrounds, and it’s worth booking well in advance (via NPWS). There are 23 unpowered sites suitable for tents and small caravans, campervans and camper trailers, plus toilets, cold showers, barbecues and drinking water. Along with the ’roos, the national park is home to more than 90 species of birds, including peregrine falcons and sea eagles. It’s a great place to get kids excited about wildlife.
Mogo Wildlife Park nsw
If you’re keen to see animals having lunch, make your way to Mogo Wildlife Park, also on the NSW South Coast. There are giraffe feeding sessions and you can buy snacks to hand-feed the resident ‘roos, camels and ostriches. There's a big focus on conservation through education here, and it’s worth timing your visit to enjoy the informative Keeper Talks with the gorillas and lions.
There’s no camping on site for the moment, due to recent flooding. But the park has Stay
‘n’ Play deals with Barlings Beach Holiday Park in Rosedale and Batemans Bay Holiday Park, which have family cabins, as well as tent and caravan sites.
RAC Exmouth Cape Holiday Park wa
On the other side of the country, there's an overload of opportunities to camp with critters, especially if you love heading underwater. Ningaloo Reef, on the Coral Coast, is famous for swimming with whale sharks, but it’s a costly tour and not an easy one if your kids are little. However, you can still enjoy the magic of the reef by snorkelling with turtles off beaches within Cape Range National Park – and it’s easy for parents of toddlers to tag-team.
Nabbing a campsite in the park is difficult, but you can stay at RAC Exmouth Cape Holiday Park, where you’ll find cabins, powered and unpowered sites. There are also two swimming pools, a recreation room and a children’s playground.
Cooinda Lodge nt
Heading north into the NT, one of the best places to immerse the family in nature is Kakadu National Park, and you can camp in style at Cooinda Lodge. Perfectly positioned near the famous Yellow Water Billabong, the lodge grounds feature elevated glamping tents with comfortable bedding and Indigenous art. The Outback Retreats are suitable for families of four, with shared bathroom facilities.
As for the animal encounters: book a Yellow Water Cruises tour to see wild crocodiles and a dazzling array of birdlife, including the very cool comb-crested jacana, nicknamed the Jesus bird because it appears to walk on water.