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australia:vic:camping_free

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camping in Victoria

see also:

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”
    • Book your camp stay in with Parks Victoria
  • 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
  • “Most free camps are hidden away either in the bush or the back of town. There is no sign in many cases so unless you do your research, you’re unlikely to come across free camp grounds.”

What do you want with your camping?

4star camping with hot showers, sewered toilets, barbecues and access to power in the laundry?

  • most of these are booked out for school holidays and long weekend public holidays well in advance and some use a ballot ticket system for peak periods!

relatively remote drop toilet camp sites to get away from it all

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

Inland western plains

  • Meredith Park, on the banks of Lake Colac

Brisbane Ranges

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
  • 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!
      • online booking
      • 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
        • online booking
        • 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

alpine

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
  • Eildon region
  • North-East Victoria
  • Mansfield region
    • Blue Range camp ground Mt Samaria
    • Snakes Reserve, 28kms South of Jamieson
    • Howqua Hills:
      • 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
    • Lake Catani, Mount Buffalo National Park - fees
    • 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:
    • https://www.towong.vic.gov.au/visitors/visitor-information/images/Regional-Camping-Guide.pdf
    • 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: 2023/05/26 23:50 by gary1
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