camp sites with scenic views in Victoria

Introduction

most campgrounds are located in valleys adjacent to waterways or lakes, within dense forests, or in coastal areas
there are very few camp grounds in Victoria that offer a scenic mountain top view but some are listed here with variable quality views
most scenic views are 4WD access or hiking access only

you are NOT permitted to drive onto beaches in Victoria (this is allowed in Sth Australia though but your insurance will probably not cover you!)
in general, you are NOT permitted to camp within 20m of a waterway in Victoria
in general, you cannot have solid fuel fires or BBQs in most commercial camp grounds, nor in some Nat Parks such as Wilsons Prom
most commercial camp grounds now require you bring a fire extinguisher (whether tent or van) and 15A tested power lead with earth leakage device if connecting to their power
you cannot take pets into National Parks and cats are banned in Halls Gap

beach or lake views

many inland Victorian lakes have a camp ground on the edges of the lakes with views across the lake for sunset/sunrise pics (albeit many are very plain, and tend to be windy!), examples include:
- Delatite Arm campgrounds Lake Eildon
- Green Hill Lake Ararat (camp is on southern end) - hot showers
- Greens Lake Corop (camp is on western side) - hot showers
- Wooroonook Lakes Campground near Charlton - showers
- Walpeup Lake camping area
- Lake Lascelles Hopetoun - hot showers
- Lake Ratzcastle camp ground - solar heated showers
- Walkers Lake campground St Arnaud (bush)
- Lake Lonsdale boat ramp camp Stawell (bush)
- Taylor Lake (Horsham)
- Skinners Flat Reservoir, Wedderburn
- Bealiba Reservoir Recreation Area
- Meredith Park (northern shore of Lake Colac) 10min by car to Colac
  - local thieves can be an issue; windy ep. Sth winds; boating, paddle boarding; fishing;
- Lake Bolac foreshore camp
- Lake Elingamite, Cobden
- Rocklands Reservoir
- Lake Mulwala on the Murray
- Lake Nillahcootie Camp sth of Benalla
- Mt Buffalo NP - Lake Catani camping area (bookings required)
- Lake Fyans Holiday Park near Grampians (commercial)
- Lake Hume eg. Ebden caravan park (commercial)
coastal beach sites are mainly commercial holiday parks or National Parks such as:
- Tidal River, Wilsons Promontory National Park - "The Prom" - 50m or so walk to beach, hot showers
  - just over 3hrs from NW subs;
- Golden Beach - 30m or so from beach behind dunes
  - 3hrs from NW subs;
- Lang Lang Foreshore CP - nice sunset views across the bay
  - https://www.langlangforeshore.com.au wood fires can be in stoves pending fire restriction seasons, but 3m from flammable materials
  - tide goes very far out leaving extensive mud flats and it’s a very long muddy walk to water at low tide. It can also be very windy - but you do get the sunset views especially if it is high tide at sunset (1st or 3rd quarter moon phase should do it), and its great for kayaking.
  - short drive to Corinella or Phillip Island for much nicer beaches if you want to swim
- Cape Patterson Holiday Park -
  - overlooks beach from cliff top
- Bellarine Peninsula:
  - Port Arlington Seaside Resort CP - ?a few tent sites next to beach looking NE
  - Bellarine Bayside Holiday Parks all have beach front powered sites: ~$46-66/n shoulder / off peak; no solid fuel fires; must have a fire extinguisher; max. 2 cars/ 3 tents/site;
    - Foreshore Reserve, Indented Heads - looking east
    - Batman Park seasonal camping, Indented Heads - looking east , Nov-Apr only
    - Bengalat Reserve, St Leonards, - looking south-east , Nov-Apr only
    - Karrong Reserve, St Leonards, - looking south-east , summer school hols only
    - https://www.bellarinebayside.com.au/holiday-parks/camping/
  - Barwon Heads Park - facing east
- Great Ocean Road to Apollo Bay:
  - see https://www.greatoceanroadauthority.vic.gov.au/Caravan-Parks - no solid fuel fires;
  - Skenes Creek foreshore - Nov-Apr?; faces south, small linear ground, sites are behind trees, 20m from beach but furthermost site has views
- Warrnambool - Surfside HP (faces south) or Discovery Park HP (faces south east)
- Bear Gully Camp Ground (National Park)
  - 2hr 40min from NW subs
- Johanna Beach (NP)
  - 2hr 50min from NW subs
- Blanket Bay Cape Otway (NP)
  - 3hr 15min from NW subs via Birregurra and Apollo Bay
- there are lots of commercial holiday parks near beaches but you are unlikely to get a view from your tent!
free coastal beach sites (but no view from your tent):
- Paradise Beach - you are only 30m or so from beach behind dunes - coin hot showers at shop
  - 3hrs from NW subs;
- McGaurans Beach - exposed small bush camp on opposite side of remote sandy road best for vans, only 30m from beach,
  - 3hrs from NW subs;
- Reeves Beach small bush camp 50m from beach
  - 3hrs from NW subs
- Swan Lake camp on the coast at Cape Bridgewater (bush camp) - ~1-2km walk over sand dunes to the very remote beach
  - 4.5hrs from NW subs
- Lake Monibeong campsite on the coast at Cape Bridgewater (bush camp) - ~1-2km walk over sand dunes to the very remote surf fishing beach
- Brown Bay, Sth Aust
  - almost 5hrs from NW subs
  - overnighter bitumen car park with toilets and outdoor cold shower, can give an extraordinary view directly from a Motorhome
  - potential option to camp on the beach
  - just past Nelson and just into Sth Aust south of Mt Gambier
- Eight Mile Creek Campground just past Nelson and just into Sth Aust south of Mt Gambier and just past Piccaninnie Ponds cave diving spot
  - almost 5hrs from NW suburbs - small bush camp site for 5 sites, adjacent creek, 50m walk to beach, near a beach bird hide, nice

horizon views without overnight hiking

unfortunately most camp grounds are located in valleys or sheltered within trees which block views of any horizon, so good views from your tent are rare!

west horizon

old quarry at Mt Alexander
- 4WD/AWD access track, impossible to peg ground so don't try a tent if its windy, unofficial bush camp, and only 1hr or so from Melbourne
Rock of Ages, Maldon
- 4WD/AWD access track, hard to peg ground but its doable with a small tent, unofficial bush camp; unfortunately overlooks bright lights of the prison
Bunjil's Lookout, Maude
- overnight stays only
Melville Caves campground, Kooyoora State Park - fantastic views to south and west but its a 5-10min walk from the camp ground
Lake Bolac east beach foreshore - over the lake
Delatite Arm campgrounds Lake Eildon - some of the more distant camp grounds have W views - over the lake
bush camp on Goat's Track Grampians - mainly NW views 4WD only!
bare grassy top of Mt Tassie, bush camping, 670m elevation
- 2.5hrs from NW subs; near Tarra Bulga NP; can be cold and windy but great views - sunsets over the Strzelecki's and sunrises over the Latrobe Valley
Lang Lang Foreshore Park Westernport Bay (commercial) - views over the bay
Mornington Peninsula foreshore (council bookings) - views over the bay
Tidal River, Wilsons Prom but need to walk 20-50m to the beach

north horizon

Rock of Ages, Maldon
- 4WD/AWD access track, hard to peg ground but its doable with a small tent, unofficial bush camp
Green Hill Lakes Camping Reserve, Ararat - over the lake
Green's Lake, Corop - NE and E views over the lake
Lake Burrumbeet - over the lake
Yea Rock Murrindindi (just off Black Range Rd)
- 860m elevation; 32-37min (18-22km) from Ferns Camp via Falls Creek Rd on gravel road (not for caravans!)
- elevated campsite with N and NW views although forest re-growth may alter thishttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvdKK9pfHG4
- granite boulder - no pegs possible
Delatite Arm campgrounds Lake Eildon - many camp grounds have views - over the lake
Craig's Hut, Mt Stirling region (4WD or 45min hike up)

east horizon

bush camps on NE part of Mt Alexander
bush camp east part of Rock of Ages, Maldon at Darky's Hut (4WD only)
Lake Bolac foreshore - over the lake
Green's Lake, Corop - NE and E views over the lake
bare grassy top of Mt Tassie, bush camping
- 2.5hrs from NW subs; near Tarra Bulga NP; can be cold and windy but great views - sunsets over the Strzelecki's and sunrises over the Latrobe Valley
Marengo Holiday Park, Apollo Bay
Blanket Bay, Cape Otway
Craig's Hut, Mt Stirling region - but horizon interrupted by the Crosscut Saw ridge line

south horizon

Meredith Park on Lake Colac - SW views over the lake
Lake Bolac foreshore - over the lake
Lake Lonsdale - over the lake
various paid coastal parks - over Bass Strait

mountain top or cliff top views

2WD accessible sites

views from tent site

Grampians
- Victoria Range Rd (4WD only) has a couple of single bush camp sites with views to the southeast (NB. seasonally closed road!)
- Goat Track (4WD only) 1-2km NE from Buandik campground has a single bush camp site with great views to NW
- Northern Grampians View camp site
- Kikijarr View campsite / Kikijarr Heights
- Timtams overnighter
Mt Tarrengower Maldon (bush camp - not much of a view though - looking NE)
Rock of Ages Maldon - bush camp - suitable for hiking tent only
- nice views to either north or south-west with boulders; locals may be there on weekends and some walk their dogs up there;
- SW area gets headlights and truck noise from Maldon and overlooks the cemetery and bright lights of the prison
- nearby 4WD track to Darky's Hut gives views to NE and SE and the hut can provide storm shelter
Powell Quarry Mt Alexander views to NW (bush camp)
NE Mt Alexander bush camps views to NE and to SE
Cape Patterson commercial camp ground - cliff top overlooking beach
bare grassy top of Mt Tassie, bush camping
- 2.5hrs from NW subs; near Tarra Bulga NP; can be cold and windy but great views - sunsets over the Strzelecki's and sunrises over the Latrobe Valley

short walk from tent site

Craig's Hut, Mt Stirling region
- 2WD will get you to Circuit Rd then 45min walk (or 4WD track) up to the hut and campground; (NB. seasonally closed road!)
Cathedral Ranges
Leanganook camp ground Mount Alexander
Mt Terrick Terrick picnic area
Mt Korong scenic reserve
Melville Caves camp ground - 5 minute walk to scenic views plus awesome granite boulders to explore
Bunjil's Lookout, Maude south of Steiglitz - donation 48hr only camp on Maude Recreation Reserve - 180m elevation; views to W over the Moorabool Valley of farm lands and tree-lined river

short drive from camp site

Mt Franklin:
- although it is a short walk to the top of the crater the trees block all the views
- you can drive 1km to near the main access road entrance for views to SW through to NW
Grampians
- Smith's Mill campground - not far from Reed's Lookout and The Balconies which give great views to west and south (as well as Mackenzies Falls)
Mt Tarrengower Maldon
Leanganook camp ground Mount Alexander - Dog Rocks
Great Alpine Rd region (closed winter)
Bogong High Plains Rd region (closed winter)
- dispersed bush camping is permitted throughout the area except within 200 metres of the Bogong High Plains or Pretty Valley Roads.
- Diamantina Hut - start of Razorback hike
- Mt Hotham
- Dargo Lookout
- A Room With A View Lookout, Dinner Plains
- JB Plain Hut campground (easy 200m walk-in campground only) is a short drive or walk from Dinner Plains
  - The Brabralung Trail (12km) is a groomed track between the Mt Hotham and Dinner Plain ski villages that passes through JB Plain.
  - Follow this trail from JB Plain campground to one of the many cafes at Dinner Plain Village (1.8km one way) for a well-deserved coffee after a night out snow camping!
- Kosciusko Lookout

short drive plus moderate hike

Tidal River, Wilsons Promontory National Park - "The Prom" - Mt Oberon or Mt Bishop walks
Lake Catani, Mt Buffalo - various walks
Mt Samaria lookout - Wild Dog Creek Falls campground
many others have mountain lookouts not too far away from camp grounds

4WD only accessible sites

much of Victoria's State and national Parks have 4WD access roads and some have views and nearby bush camp sites with no facilities
eg. Victorian Alps
- https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/places-to-see/parks/alpine-national-park/where-to-stay/dispersed-camping-in-alpine-national-park
- some bush camps past Bluff Hut towards Lovick's Hut
- between Lake Cobbler and Abbeyard
eg. Avon wilderness
- Huggetts lookout
- Pearsons lookout (360m elevation) views to west and south over Lake Glenmaggie, and Loy Yang power station in the distance
  - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOkNfzjblAI

hiking only sites

Grampians Peak Trail
Mt Feathertop / Razorback walk
- do need to walk 30min or so from camp ground eg Federation Hut camp area
Alpine way
- Mt Bogong
  - Victoria’s highest peak- Mt Bogong (1986m). This is a difficult hike that seasoned walkers complete in one long day via the Staircase Spur from Mount Creek Campground near Mt Beauty
- The Viking Summit elevation 1400m on the AAWT is awesome
  - 16km from Macalister Springs via Crosscut Saw
- Macalister Springs - Crosscut Saw etc
  - 1hr hike in from Howitt Plains car park to the Macalister Springs camp area then can continue along the Crosscut Saw for amazing views from tent sites if weather permits these sites
- Bluff Hut (4WD or hike access) then 3km walk and steep climb up The Bluff for 360deg views - see bushwalks in Victoria's Mt Howitt region
Mt Stirling
Gable End , VHC, have to walk from Millers Hut
Avon Track near Wrixon. A nice view over the Avon River Valley with Mt Wellington in the distance
Mt Buangor
Cathedral Ranges - Dugleetor's campground at 720m elevation and with views to NW over Cathedral North Peak
Great Ocean Walk - coastal scenic views
see best overnight bushwalks in Victoria

Table of Contents

camp sites with scenic views in Victoria

Introduction

beach or lake views

horizon views without overnight hiking

west horizon

north horizon

east horizon

south horizon

mountain top or cliff top views

2WD accessible sites

views from tent site

short walk from tent site

short drive from camp site

short drive plus moderate hike

4WD only accessible sites

hiking only sites