australia:vic:camping_free
Table of Contents
camping in Victoria
see also:
- not quite free:
Introduction
- many camp grounds are managed by Parks Victoria and most of these require online booking and fees - see:
- https://parkweb.vic.gov.au/visit/popular-activities/camping - many of these have fees
- “the only Victorian parks without any fee-free options are Brisbane Ranges, Kinglake, Lower Glenelg, Mount Buffalo, Budj Bim, The Lakes and Wilsons Promontory national parks; Mount Buangor and Mount Arapiles-Tooan state parks; Cape Liptrap and Discovery Bay coastal parks; Buchan Caves, Corringle Foreshore and Peachtree Creek reserves; Longridge Camp, Nioka Bush Camp and Upper Yarra Reservoir”
- most of the other parks are managed by DELWP Vic State Forest management of camp grounds website
- these are generally free and do not require booking but are accessible on a first in first served basis
- NB.
- must camp >20m from water
- bury any toilet waste > 100m from water
- I have also included some commercial caravan/camp parks where these are remote or low cost
- In addition, local councils generally operate their foreshore camping grounds for a fee
What do you want with your camping?
5 star camping with hot showers, sewered toilets, barbecues and access to power in the laundry?
- commercial camp grounds / caravan parks
- some Parks Vic camp grounds (all require online bookings):
-
- no solid fuel fires
- Fraser Block, Lake Eildon (https://bookings.parks.vic.gov.au/candlebark-campground#/accom/67960
- fires in communal fire pits only not within individual camp sites
- Lake Catani, Mt Buffalo
-
- Council run foreshore camping grounds usually have these facilities see:
- most of these are booked out for school holidays and long weekend public holidays well in advance, and even the other weekends Nov-Mar can be booked out weeks in advance!
- many commercial parks now require you to bring additional safety gear especially if using a powered site - read the fine print!
4 star camping with hot showers and flush toilets but no power, barbecues or laundry
- most of these are council run regional camp grounds often on recreation reserves
- some allow camp fires in designated fire pits, if no fire restrictions, eg:
Camp with a camp fire or solid fuel fire
- you will need to check with the destination if these are permitted
- most National Parks do NOT permit solid fuel fires in Victoria
- you will need to check if the region is in a Fire Danger Period
- these usually start in Oct-Dec pending upon fire season and region and last through to end of April or perhaps until Easter
- whilst you can have a campfire there are many restrictions in particular, wind MUST be LESS than 10kph (leaves rustling only)!
- most areas require you to BYO wood and use supplied fire pits (or your own off ground stove)
- some areas allow collection of fire wood from fallen dead wood only - you may need a chain saw and watch out for snakes
- obviously these are NOT permitted on Total Fire Ban Days
- check for fire danger period status
- if your desired region is in a fire danger period, check the forecast
- if winds are likely to be > 10kph when you would be wanting your fire, you may need to find a region not currently in a fire danger period or with less wind
Camp with your dog
- dogs are NOT permitted in various camp grounds such as:
- National Parks
- popular camp grounds for dog owners are generally those which allow camp fires (see above)
- NB. snakes are always an issue with dogs, especially close to streams
- some areas do have wild dogs / dingoes which prowl near the camp ground and can be an issue with stressing your dog
- other camper dogs may be an issue
3 star relatively remote drop toilet camp sites to get away from it all
- some require online bookings via Parks Vic:
- most in the Grampians or along the coast
- most are run by Parks Victoria or DELWP State Forest Management and some require booking in a first arrived first served basis:
- most allow camp fires if no restrictions
- there are many though that do not require booking or fees such as:
- inland forest areas
- Tanners Road campground near Anglesea near Anglesea
- Kurth Kiln camp ground (not Kirth!) in the Dandenongs regions
- Rubicon Valley
- Howqua Hills - Howqua Hills / Sheepyard Flats camping area
- Edi Cutting in King Valley
- Rocklands Reservoir (free camps west of Grampians)
- many others see links at top of this page
- high in alpine areas
- Howitt Plains region - Macalister Springs (1hr hike in)
"2 star" remote camp sites without facilities
- these are generally free sites and are first in first served and are BYO water, etc
- exceptions are pre-booked hike in only camp sites as part of National Park system such as:
- overnight walks in Wilsons Prom
- South West Trail walk
- examples of ocean beach camp sites not needing booking:
- Paradise Beach near Sale in Gippsland - there is a nearby public toilet and paid shower facility
- examples of coastal forest camp sites not needing booking:
- Lorne: Sharps Camping Area
South-West Victoria
Great Otway NP
- many of the camp grounds along the coast are reserved for bookings by Great Ocean Walk hikers
- free camps not requiring bookings:
- Big Hill Track near Lorne
- Jamieson Creek Bush Campground - between Wye River and Lorne
- Aire Crossing Campsite - small, via Wait-awhile Rd and Aire Crossing Track (not far from Triplet Falls)
- Allenvale Mill Bush Campground (walk in some 200m, fires not permitted - extremely popular with backpackers!) - as of 2015 it is a free camp
- Sharps Camping Area - just past the Allenvale Mill site
- Hammond Road Camping Area 12km inland from Aireys Inlet (20 sites)
- Stevensons Falls
- Beauchamp Falls (tents only; 15 sites; shaded; vans may be OK in dry weather but only on the gravel)
- Dandos
- large site (100+ campsites) on the Gellibrand River 10min from the town of Gellibrand; OK for vans
- Johanna Beach free area
Inland western plains
- Meredith Park, on the banks of Lake Colac
Brisbane Ranges
- Boar Gully (6 sites NW part of park) - fees and booking
- hike in:
- Little River (2 sites 10km from Boar Gully)
- Old Mill Walk-in Camping - fees and booking
- situated 27kms from Boar Gully and 12kms from Steiglitz.
- Fridays Picnic and Camping Area - fees and booking
- 2km north of Steiglitz on Durdidwarrah Road
Gippsland
- see also: Gippsland
coastal
- Powlett River caravan park - private fees
- Gippland Lakes Coastal Park, Honeysuckles campsite 1-6, shoreline drive at Golden beach
- Reeves Beach on 90 Mile Beach
- Bear Gully Cape Liptrap - fees apply
- Wilsons Promontory - fees apply
- Ninety Mile Beach:
- McLoughlins Beach region:
- Reeves Beach 5 sites, drop toilets and fire places
- McGaurans Beach (no facilities but right on the beach)
- Golden Beach
- dispersed zones of 2-15 sites each zone tucked in between the Ninety Mile Beach sand dunes and Seaspray -Letts Beach Road giving a 50m or so walk to the ocean beach for surf fishing
- shade provided by large banksia and Tea-tree
- free flush toilets and hot showers (2x $2 coins) at round about near fish and chip shop
- SW of Golden Beach
- near Debray Beach
- near The Wreck
- near Flamingo Beach
- Paradise Beach
- (small fees but better facilities - book online here)
- Corringle Slips - fees
- Cape Conran - 135 sites plus cabins; more expensive fees than other east Gippsland NP sites
- Banksia Bluff online booking
- Marlo Coastal Reserve
- Cann River area:
- Choof Choof camp area free, near Tamboon, not suitable for vans
- Croajingalong NP
- these are quite remote wilderness camps, expect goannas, snakes, mozzies, paralysis ticks, no drinking water, no power, no phone reception, just drop toilets and wild-life and in many cases great coastal beaches and scenery - come prepared!
- Mueller Inlet via Point Hicks Rd - 5 sites plus 3 walk-in only sites; fees
- online booking - advanced bookings only for Easter and Summer holidays;
- Thurra River via Point Hicks Rd 40km from Cann River - 46 sites of which 7 are walk-in only; fees
- popular in hot weather; advanced bookings only for Easter and Summer holidays;
- 30m high shifting dunes walk and sand surfing;
- beach walk to Mueller Inlet 1.5hrs 4.5km return;
- Point Hicks Lighthouse walk 1.5hrs 4.5km return commencing at the Lightstation Reserve gate and car park
- SS Saros shipwreck walk 30min 600m
- Sledge and West Beach Tracks walks 1hr 1.5km return
- Mt Everard walk 2.5hr, 6km return
- PeachTree Creek on eastern shores of Tamboon Inlet - 11 sites, fees
- Wingan Inlet - 23 sites, fees
- 36km gravel road
- coast can be accessed via the fly cove walking track or by boat to the mouth of the inlet
- designated for walkers on the Wilderness Track
- Shipwreck Creek Campground 13.6km along Betka Track from Mallacoota; 5 sites, fees;
- designated for walkers on the Wilderness Track
- small secluded beach 300m from camp; drop toilets; fireplaces; fenced sites;
- Genoa Rest Area - 4 Park Road, Genoa; beware camping under poplar trees as fruit bats can make a mess
inland Gippsland
- western Gippsland:
- Bass Valley Campground, Loch
- Wickhams Road Recreation Reserve, Launching Place
- Kurth Kiln Scout Loop, Soldiers Rd, Gembrook - issues with rubbish and only 1 toilet and busy on weekends
- Ernest Lloyd Reserve, Gladysdale - Yarra Junction- Noojee Rd
- Millgrove Riverside Camp Areas, 135 Dee Road, Millgrove
- East Warby, 173 Woods Point Rd, East Warburton
- Big Log Campsite, Yarra Junction-Noojee Road, Powelltown
- Yarram region - Won Wron and Mullundung State Forest:
- Big Tower Hill
- “White Woman's” Waterhole 5 sites, drop toilets
- Holey Plains State Park
- Holey Hill camp ground; 200m elevation;
- Harrier Swamp camp ground
alpine
- Noojee region
- Loch Valley Campground, 9 km North of Noojee
- Toorongo Falls Camping Area
- Walhalla region
- Seninis Campground, Moondarra State Park, 10kms SouthWest of Rawson
- Aberfeldie River, Baw Baw NP
- Coopers Creek
- north reaches:
- Merington's campground
- Woods Point Historic Area - Comet Flat campground
- Matlock camp ground
- JH Scott Camping Reserve
- various spots along the Goulburn River en route to Jamieson / Mansfield
- Licola region:
- south of Licola:
- Paradise Valley camping ground - private fees, powered sites
- Montana on the Macalister Caravan Park - private fees, powered sites
- Macalister River camp site (Cheyne's bridge) - free
- Lake Glenmaggie Caravan park - private fees
- Blores Hill Caravan Park - private fees
- Licola Caravan Park (private fees)
- north of Licola:
- Manna Gum Camp on Wellington River 16 km North of Licola on Tamboritha Road
- Muttonwood Camp 16.5 km North of Licola on Tamboritha Road
- also walk in free camp at Macalister Springs
- Horseyard Flat on Moroka River
- Eaglevale - on the Wonnangatta River below the towering ramparts of Mt Kent and Snowy Bluff
- Wonnangatta Valley (4WD access only) - near the historic site of the Wonnangatta Homestead.
- Talbotville (4WD access only) - on the grassy flats of the Crooked River
- Grant - a grassy clearing in the forest and all that remains of a once thriving gold mining town.
- Licola-Jamieson Rd:
- Grannys Flat campground along the Jamieson River
- Rumpff Saddle
- Avon wilderness
-
- Huggett’s Crossing and Dermody’s Camp are on the Avon River and offer visitors basic camping sites, picnic facilities, and swimming holes
-
- hike in only:
- Alistair Fieldings
- Lee Creek
- Lloyd Knob
- Johnson's Flat
- Shady's Place
- Carney Creek
- McKinnon Point
- Froam
- Blue Pool camp ground
- small camp ground and one of the most popular free car camps in Victoria but the narrow winding sealed road is not suitable for caravans and its popularity has meant the bush has been used as toilets and contaminated the water - perhaps don't be going in summer
-
- Dargo River region camp sites
- Two Mile Flat
- Italian Flat
- Jimmy Iversons
- Ollies Jump Up
- Black Flat
- Collins Flat
- Black Snake Creek
- Meyers Flat
- Castleburn Creek
- Mitchell River NP and the Den of Nargun:
- camp >50m from water
- Rock Creek and Adam Track (both 4WD only)
- Angusvale
- Bill Goat Bend
- Woolshed Creek
- Bruthen area / Great Alpine Rd / Omeo Hwy
- Tambo River camp site
- Nunniong Forest Drive:
- Bentley Plain (easy 4WD)
- Moscow Villa (easy 4WD) in Bentleys Plain Natural Features and Scenic Reserve
- NE of Omeo:
- Anglers Rest on the Cobungra River
- CRB Camp on Omeo Hwy
- Dinner Plain area:
- Victoria Falls Historic Area
- JB Plain
- Buchan region:
- Buchan Caves Reserve - booking and fees
- Glenmore camp site
- Timbarra Camping Zone North and South
- Orbost region:
- Long Point Picnic & Camping Ground
- Woods Point (2WD with care) on the banks of the Snowy River
- Snowy Mountains NP:
- BalleyHooley, at the junction of the Snowy and Buchan Rivers
- McKillopsBridge and Deddick Valley
- Raymond Creek Falls
- Waratah Flat
- Jackson’s Crossing
- Little River Junction
- Hicks campsite
- Errinundra NP:
- Frosty Hollow off the unsealed Coast Grange Road (dry weather only access) - the ONLY camp site within the NP
- Goongerah
- via the Bonang Highway Goongerah, campground is sign posted onto the Ellery Creek Track
- Ada River Camping Ground
- Access is via Errinundra Road, approximately 12 kilometres to the North from the Combienbar/Club Terrace Road
- Surrounded by ferns and tall gum trees, this is a very attractive site with 20 open, well grassed sites.
- Ada River is a nice clear creek
- Deddick Valley / McKillops Bridge
- Taylors Camp Picnic Area 5.9km E. of Wattle Camp Picnic Area
- Wattle Camp Picnic Area 3.4km E. of Tubbut
- Delegate River Camping Area
- Tennyson Campsite (east of the NP, 4WD only)
Central Victoria
- Yarra Valley region
- Kinglake region
- Anderson's Garden, Mt Disappointment, Whittlesea
- Toolangi Recreational Area, Cherrys Lane, Toolangi
- Murrindindi Scenic Reserve - fees apply
- Cathedral Ranges
- Neds Gully
- Cooks Mill
- The Farmyard - hike in
- Eildon region
- Rubicon Valley historic area
- North-East Victoria
- Mansfield region
- Blue Range camp ground Mt Samaria
- Snakes Reserve, 28kms South of Jamieson
-
- Sheepyard Flats
- Frys Flat
- Bluff Hut (4WD)
- Craigs Hut (4WD or walk up)
- Mt Stirling (walk up)
- Lake Cobbler (4WD)
- Bennies camping area beside the Rose River (2WD access)
- Pineapple Flat (4WD)
- King Hut (4WD)
- Wangaratta region
- Warby Ranges
- Wenhams camp
- The Forest Camp
- a number of camp sites in Ovens Valley
- Bright region
- Pioneer Bridges Rest Area, on the bank of Ovens River, 2kms South of the highway on the road to Markford
- JB Plain between Hotham Village and Dinner Plain on the Great Alpine Road (walk in only)
- Buckety Plain, Rasberry Hill and Langfords West (horse yards) on the Bogong High Plains east of Falls Creek
- Mountain Creek at the foot of Mt Bogong near Tawonga
- Mount Feathertop
- Daylesford region:
- Mt Franklin
- Warburton's Bridge Camping Ground on the Loddon River, Glenluce
- Wombat State Forest
- O'Briens Crossing
- Lerderderg campground Upper Chadwick Track (4WD)
- Firth Park near Trentham
- Castlemaine region
- Muckleford Historic Area
- Mount Alexander
- Oak Forest
- Maryborough:
- Paddys Ranges State Park
- Bendigo region
- Whipstick State Park
Murray Valley
- Echuca region:
- Christie's Beach
- Gunbower Island
- Cobram region:
- Scotts Beach Camping Area
- Campaspe River region:
- Ayson’s Reserve, near Elmore
- Greens Lake Recreation Reserve, near Elmore
- Tallangatta region:
- Jarvis Creek Plateau Regional Park:
- Lightening Creek Camp - small camp in secluded valley surrounded by lush vegetation and a forest of tall gums
- The Plateau Camp
- Pigs Point Reserve, 9kms South East of Tallangatta on the Omeo Highway and about a hours drive from Albury/Wodonga.
- Taylor’s Crossing beside the Mitta Mitta River
- Dogman Hut near Tom Groggin Station
- Limestone Creek (4WD only) - Limestone - Black Mountain Road (Camper trailers can access Limestone Creek Camping Area from the Black Mountain-Limestone Road)
- The Poplars (4WD dry weather only) - Limestone Creek - McCarthy’s Tracks
- Charlies Creek (4WD only) on the southern end of Davies Plain Track
- Davies Plain Hut (4WD only) on the northern end of Davies Plain Track.
- Bunroy Creek on the banks of the Murray River, access via the Bunroy Road
- Along the Omeo Highway - travelling from Omeo to Mitta Mitta there is:
- CRB Camp near Anglers Rest
- Anglers Rest near the historic ‘Blue Duck’ hotel
- Jokers Flat beside the Big River
- Big River Bridge near Glen Valley
australia/vic/camping_free.txt · Last modified: 2023/11/19 20:52 by gary1