Brisbane Ranges NP camping

see also:

• photography and camping main index page
• non-commercial camp grounds for tents within 2 hours of Melbourne
• BOM weather forecast

• Brisbane Ranges National Park is a popular camping and hiking area close to Melbourne and Geelong
• camp sites need to be booked online via Parks Vic website
• no dogs allowed as it is a NP
• BYO firewood as no wood collection available in a NP (but hike-in camp sites apparently have firewood provided)

• top of a ridge line at elevation 320m amongst dry sclerophyll forest with very few if any fauna to be seen (I saw 2 wallabies on the 3-4hr 12km Birchell circuit in late Aug on a sunny winter's day, no reptiles were seen despite it being a nice day for them to sunbake)
• Fridays is close to the historic gold rush “ghost town” of Steiglitz
• the most popular camp ground in the ranges as it is also close to many walks
• it's one of the two trail heads for the one-way 3-day 40km Burchell trail
• 10 campsites in total, 2 of which are suitable for suitable camper trailers or caravans
• each site can accommodate a maximum of 6 people
• sites are bollarded and under tall pine trees in the centre of the campground
• most sites are unfortunately on sloping ground and superficial tree roots are common
• if you want morning winter sun, choose the east side sites such as sites 3,4,5,6 with 3 getting sun into early afternoon whilst the others get shade by around midday
• there is space for a couple of vans on the circuit road
• communal fireplaces
• non-flushing toilet facilities
• non-potable tank water
• Telstra and Optus mobile phone 4G coverage as of 2026
• several kms gravel road
• bookings generally ~$15/n
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h44afSXHI7E
• who is it for?
  • those wanting a fairly remote forest setting camp experience with the ability to pre-book a site within 1-1.5hrs from Melbourne, Geelong or Ballarat
  • those wanting to do the multi-night Burchell Trail although you would not camp here but leave a car here for the car shuttle
  • those wanting to get some exercise and stress relief and do the 3-4hr 12km Burchell Circuit walk and camp the night
  • tourists wanting an affordable camp site near Melbourne or Geelong (~43min to Spirit of Tasmania Ferry Terminal in Geelong)
• who is it NOT for:
  • group of caravans (there are only two caravan sites)
  • most teenagers and primary school kids - likely to get bored unless they are doing the overnight hike or its just a one or perhaps two night camp experience
  • tourists hoping for awesome views or scenes - there are none!

• a secluded campground at the northern end of this national park in more densely treed dry sclerophyl forest with more birds and more flat camp site options than at Fridays with private farm land to south and west
• a trailhead (start or finish) for the 3-day Burchell Trail hike
• 6 campsites suitable for tents with an additional campsite set aside for a camp trailer or caravan
• most sites are mainly in part shade and reasonably spaced from each other
• sites 5,6 and 7 are opposite each other and share car park which is large enough for about 4-5 cars plus the caravan - this section is ideal for a small to medium group of campers
• each site can accommodate a maximum of 6 people
• communal fireplaces
• non-flushing toilet facilities
• road from Bacchus Marsh includes ~2km gravel (2026), road from Ballan is bitumen with lots of potholes (2026)
• ~600m gravel to camp site
• bookings generally ~$16/n
• who is it for?
  • those wanting a fairly remote forest setting camp experience with the ability to pre-book a site within 1-1.5hrs from Melbourne, Geelong or Ballarat
  • those wanting to do the multi-night Burchell Trail although you would not camp here but leave a car here for the car shuttle
  • NB. whilst there is an unofficial track through wattle shrubbery amongst the trees, there are NO activities near this camp ground other than the Burchell Trail
• who is it NOT for:
  • caravans (although there is one site that fits a caravan but gravel road in can have some mud holes)
  • most teenagers and primary school kids - likely to get bored unless they are doing the overnight hike or its just a one or perhaps two night camp experience
  • tourists hoping for awesome views or scenes - there are none!

• hike-in camps only
• there are two campsites along the trail:
  • trailhead start at Friday's camp ground
  • 1st night camp (from Fridays): Old Mill camp ground 10.5km, 3hrs
  • 2nd night camp: Little River camp ground 17km, 6hrs
  • 3rd day: Boar Gully camp ground trailhead 10km, 3.5hrs - or just drive home and not stay the night
• both hike-in campgrounds have two sites for up to six people per site
• facilities at hike-in campgrounds include non-flushing toilets, shared wood BBQ, picnic tables and tank water (not suitable for drinking)
• bookings generally ~$16/n

• NB. these walks are NOT visible on Google Maps!
• 3-4hr 12km Burchell Circuit walk from Friday's camp ground
  • this is the southern part of the full trail but for the circuit you need to walk ~2km back to camp along the main gravel road (if you forget to turn right down the road and keep going you will be doing the multi-night hike!)
  • passes The Crossing picnic area, Grahams Creek picnic area, short board walk at the Century mine
  • nice sunny winter's day walk (~66 flights elevation in total, and one rock scramble section) for dry forest solitude and ambience but you wont see any fascinating relics, sites or views, and you will be lucky to spot any fauna
  • Telstra 4G was available for 95% of this walk (apart from a NW section) as of Aug 2026
• 3 day 40km Burchell Trail (one way!)
  • sleeping at the above camp sites
  • car shuttle advised
• Ted Errey Nature Circuit and Lookout – 8km, 3 hours return
• Anakie Gorge Walk – 3.5km, 1.5 hours one way
• Wadawurrung Walk – 2.5km, 1 hour return
  • excellent views of Anakie Gorge over the Stony Creek Water Catchment
  • start from the Stony Creek Picnic Area
• see also Bob Padula's walk notes - website seems to have moved to https://bushwalkjournal.blogspot.com but I can't work out how to navigate the site to find these walks

• the United Albion mine site just to the north
• Steiglitz gold town - historic buildings such as the court house
• Century mine - via Birchell trail - only relic is a vertical gold digging hole in a shelter with an interesting air intake funnel

• Fairy Park for kids (entry fee payable) usually closed over winter

• 36km, 33min to east
• park has opening times which seem to be 7.00 am - 8.00 pm daily
• https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/places-to-see/parks/you-yangs-regional-park
• massive granite outcrop (remnants of a non-erupted volcanic magma chamber)
• great views
• picnic areas
• walks

• 47km, 42min
• Lal Lal falls
• Moorabool falls
• historic Lal Lal iron ore mine, railway and blast furnace

• free access but check open times
• https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/places-to-see/parks/serendip-sanctuary

• Anakie:
  • food shop
• Meredith:
  • 19km, 19min to west
  • petrol, cafe, corner store, hotel, golf club
  • to the west is the annual Golden Plains Music Festival site
• Lethbridge:
  • 35km, 30min to SW;
  • general store
• Ballan:
  • 34km, 28min to the north; petrol, hotel, cafe, grocer, McDonalds
• Geelong:
  • major port city to the SE ~40min
  • nearest major hospital with a 24 hr emergency department
• Bacchus Marsh:
  • 47km, 41min to NE;
  • petrol, hotel, cafes, pharmacy, Aldi, Coles, Foodworks, McDonalds, fish and chips,pizza, SupaCheap Auto, berry picking in season (summer)
• Bannockburn:
  • 45k, 38min to SW
  • hotel, cafe, fast foods, petrol, firewood yard, golf
• Bunnings:
  • Geelong North 41km, 37min
  • Werribee 57km, 54min
  • Ballarat 67km, 53min
  • Melton 76km, 53min

• nb no toilets unless specified.
• Bunjils Lookout and Maude Recreation
  • 1795 Steiglitz Rd, Maude (south of Steiglitz)
  • up to 48hrs camp; donation box;
  • toilets; BBQ;
  • 32min, 36km to SW; nice camp views to the west across a valley for smallish tents up to 4P or vans
• Moorabool River bush camps (all close to roads):
  • Sharps Crossing
  • Coopers Bridge on Meredith-Steiglitz Rd
    • small tent site; swimming; fishing; walking tracks;
  • Meredith camping area
    • Possum Rd, Meredith
  • Morrep Bushland Reserve
    • Slate Quarry Rd
    • fishing, walking tracks
  • Dollys Creek Rd
    • no overnight camping allowed
  • Ballark track (Moorabool River E branch)
    • small campground in light bush near Ballan-Meredith Rd ?4WD
  • Moorabool River W branch
    • unnamed road off Dollys Creek Rd
  • Hunts Bridge Picnic Area, Lal Lal
    • Elaine-Egerton Rd, Bungal
    • swimming, fishing
• Sheoaks Nudist Club camp ground
  • adjacent to Brisbane Ranges NP, bookings required, clothes not permitted unless under 18yrs, no camp fires at camp sites
  • shared shower area
• Enfield State Park campground
• Inverleigh town camp area on the Barwon River
  • free, toilets
• Leigh River Inverleigh
  • just sth of Inverleigh
• Winchelsea RV camp - no tents
  • 1hr south
• Meredith Park, north shore Lake Colac
  • issue with local thieves; toilets
  • just over 1hr from Steiglitz
• Mt Franklin reserve campground, near Daylesford
  • 1hr, 77km to the north just past Daylesford; toilets
• Hammonds Road campgrounds near Aireys Inlet / Bambra
  • 80min, 98km south near Airey's Inlet on the coast; toilets;

camp site 3	camp site 4	camp site 5
camp site 6	camp site 7	camp site 8
camp site 9	camp site 10

Burchell Trail Circuit - Century Mine area:

board walk	gold mine