12 Best Places To Camp In Australia

When one thinks of Australia, one imagines uninterrupted vistas of myriad landscapes and colors, in all her glory and natural state. The best way to experience Australia’s natural beauty is to camp in the wilderness. Imagine waking up in the morning to the raucous call of birds and crickets and to watch the splendid Australian sunrise break over the waves and the mountains. Here are the 15 best camping spots in Australia.

Western Australia and Perth

1. Karijini National Park

The Karijini National park has several hiking trails, for hikers of different challenging levels. Many of these trails cut across freezing springs, rock ledges, gorges and huge boulders. This area is the ideal campsite for adventure trekkers, especially during April to early November when it’s cool. The towering cliffs, richly colored stones and lush fern-filled gullies are a camper’s delight.

2. Naturaliste National Park

The limestone Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge that lies below the national park has over 360 known caves, an explorer’s delights. Campers here can go on guided cave tours, and also join the 75-mile Cape to Cape Walk. Campsites here have all amenities including barbecue facilities, toilets and showers.

Fraser Island, Queensland

3. Dundubara

You can get here only on a 4-wheel drive. You can camp in the trees, out in the open or on the beach. This campground is great for fishing. Hire a motorhome if you’re not too keen on tenting it out. You need a permit to ride to Fraser Island and camp there.

4. Cathedral Beach

Cathedral Beach is a private campground, the only private one on the island. 25 acres big, this campground has shower facilities, is close to the beach, shops, a winery and a National Park, besides! You can camp, swim, surf, sandboard, bushwalk and do a hundred other things here.

5. Waddy Point

If you want to camp next to a rocky headland, head to Waddy Point. This beachside camping ground is a great place to experience the calm and pleasant waters. Swim, fish and surf to your heart’s content. The campground comes with tables and chairs for eating, hot showers, toilets, walking tracks and a barbecue.

6. Lake Boomanjin

The Lake Boomanjin campground is a fenced area, safe for your tents. You can’t drive into this campsite; it is a walk-in only campsite. Campers have access to swimming, water sports and fishing activities on Lake Boomanjin. The local people are friendly and hospitable, and the atmosphere is perfectly safe for children.

Whitsunday Islands

7. Bush Village

The Bush Village camping site offers self-contained cabins including ensuite amenities and kitchen for campers. Budget cabins are available in 1.4 kilometers from central Airlie Beach, Cannonvale. The campsite is within walking distance to the Cannonvale Shopping Centre. You can book complete Whitsunday tours at the Bush Village Tour Booking Office as well.

Coober Pedy

8. Underground Camping

Coober Pedy is where most of the world’s opals come from! This place is so hot, it can go up to 50 degrees Celsius during summer. Residents of Coober Pedy live in hillside caves to beat the heat. Visitors here can camp in underground and hillside caves, at the Ribas Underground Camping & Tourist Park, 4 km south of Coober Pedy. The underground campsite comes with free showers, BBQ and kitchen area and underground TV too!

Kimberley

9. Purnululu (Bungle Bungle) National Park

This entire area is covered with orange silica and black lichen-striped mounds, towering 328-foot cliffs and unbelievable views. Campers are advised to camp here between April to October when the silica mounds are best visible. The campsites are closed between January through March. There are two campgrounds here, Bellburn Creek and Walardi.

The Red Center

10. Ayers Rock

The campsite at Ayer’s Rock campground has rolling green lawns and excellent amenities. This is a good campsite for people who don’t want to rough it out. The campsite has a good camper’s kitchen, an outback-style shelter, a grocery and free gas barbeques. There’s also drinking water, proper toilets, showers, laundry facilities, picnic tables, public telephones, grills and so on.

Victoria

11. Port Campbell National Park

The Port Campbell National Park has some of Australia’s greatest geological formations, formed by the ocean 2.5 million years ago when the sea level was much higher. Here you’ll find columns of limestone rock, the famous being the Twelve Apostles, Bay of Martyrs and the Bay of Islands Coastal Reserve formations. There are campsites here with and without electricity, priced according to the amenities you want.

12. Gibb River Road

There are any number of great camping spots along the Gibb River and the Kalumburu Road. There are proper campsites at Mitchell Falls Car Park and Mitchell Plateau. There’s also the Silent Grove campsite off the Gibb River Road, which offers toilets showers and firewood. There are also secluded sites without any facilities beside Bell Creek. Campers are not allowed to camp here from December to April.

Edgar writes for Adrenaline, a website with over 2,000 exciting adventures for men.