A beginner's guide to camping in Australia

The way to truly fall in love with Australia is to road-trip through it. It’s a vast country, where nature is left to rule the hour-long gaps between towns. It doesn’t matter whether the route majors on remote ruggedness, pristine beaches or forested national parks — the wide open spaces are what make Australia special. Aside from being a cheaper way to travel, camping here is about engaging with powerful landscapes and diverse natural environments.

Where's best to camp in Australia?

Australia’s coastal campgrounds are well suited for longer, laid-back stays: a few days at the beach, with a fishing line cast into the shallows. The advantages particularly play out in areas like Western Australia’s Ningaloo Reef, where you can take a few steps from the campground into the Indian Ocean and snorkel in a multicoloured aquatic wonderland. Or, perhaps, in the northern part of the New South Wales coast in spots such as Diamond Head or Emerald Beach. There, you can be up at dawn with the kangaroos, then dive straight into the rolling surf.

Meanwhile, in the Outback, many campgrounds are journey-breakers — somewhere to rest your head before a big drive the next day. In the Red Centre, that can mean spots like Ormiston Gorge, where a photogenic water hole springs forth from the West MacDonnell Ranges. And in the Top End’s Litchfield National Park, it’s a short stroll and swim before you’re showering the tumbling Wangi Falls.

What are the different camping options available? 

There are, essentially, three different types of camping on offer in Australia, each at different price points. There's the option to stay in a caravan park or holiday park, opting for a company like Ingenia, Reflections, Discovery Parks, Big4 or NRMA. Many offer a range of facilities, including pools, restaurants and children’s playgrounds, while others follow a simpler formula of camp kitchen, barbecues and bathroom-block. The style can veer from dustily utilitarian in Outback towns to beachfront sites along the New South Wales southern coast with kangaroos hopping about. Unpowered tent sites in these family-friendly parks cost between A$30 (£16) and A$50 (£26) a night, with the most popular holiday towns generally charging a bit more. 

The middle-range camping option is a campground in a national or state park. These are often found in beautiful locations and the facilities tend to be fairly simple — most have pit toilets and picnic tables — although the better ones also have showers and barbecues. National park sites usually cost between $10 (£5) and $20 (£10) a night and tend to require an online booking.

At the opposite end of the scale is free camping, which is often a pitch near the roadside with no facilities, and best left to the hardiest souls. You do have to camp in designated areas, however. Free Camping Australia has a handy directory of sites. You'll also need to be sure to bring plenty of battery-operated devices, such as camping lamps, as there are no electricity options at these sites.

When should I go?

The beauty of Australia is that you can enjoy fair weather camping all year round, with different areas enjoying the best weather conditions at differing times. Through November to April (rainy season), forgoing the country's tropical north for its sunny southern sates is the best bet. However, southern regions do feel the chill in winter, so try to stay north of Sydney and Perth between June and August.

If you travel during shoulder seasons, you're also far more likely to find your perfect pitch at its best price point. Anywhere near a beach will likely see increased prices and decreased availability during the school holidays — particularly the long summer break in December and January.

What should I pack?

Australian campers tend to be incredibly well-equipped, with a mammoth collection of gear and gadgets built up over the years. Realistically, you could make do with the same gear you'd take on a camping trip anywhere else — but there are a few kit additions that are worth considering. These include ice boxes for keeping food and drink cool, battery-operated temperature regulators like heaters or fans, insect repellent and, if going to remote areas, a personal locator beacon with spare batteries. The New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service has a handy list to check before you head out.

Once in the bush or Outback, phone signal can be a precious commodity. As such, it's also good idea to pack a sturdy, old-fashioned paper map, or download a map that can be used offline.

The key piece of kit, however, is a reliable vehicle. Some of the most appealing national park campgrounds are down off-road tracks. And for beach camping at the likes of long, golden Teewah Beach on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, the beach is the highway — you’ll need a 4x4 to get there.

Any other key things to remember?

Camping in Australia certainly saves you money. But it’s also likely to reduce time behind the wheel, letting you stay by the natural wonders you’ve come to see. This can change the flavour of a road trip from frenetic to more relaxed. It buys time to chill out on the sand, watch the sun set and enjoy the cinematic Australian scenery.