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australia:vic:campgroundsmorethan4hrsmelbourne

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non-commercial camp grounds for tents more than 4 hours from Melbourne

see also:

  • many areas have seasonal road closures that are in place from the Thursday after the Queens Birthday Long Weekend in June until the Thursday before Melbourne Cup Weekend in November.
  • CHECK before you go especially after severe weather events as many may be closed due to bushfire, storm or flood damage, or the roads inaccessible
  • dogs are allowed at most non-commercial camp grounds in Victoria with some EXCEPTIONS:

Introduction

Those with HOT SHOWERS and toilets

Those with cold showers and toilets

  • Banksia Bluff, Cape Conran
    • 5.5hrs from NW suburbs; on beach; outdoor cold showers; flush toilets; ticks;
    • bookings

Those with toilets but no showers

eastern Victoria

  • Licola region
  • Dargo region
    • lots of bush camps NE of Dargo along the Dargo River - 4WD is recommended especially if wet; no phone reception;
    • the 1st of these these is 5hrs from NW suburbs:
    • going SW from Madigan's Bridge:
    • going NE from Madigan's Bridge:
    • Talbotville camping area NW of Dargo
      • several gravel roads in some are 4WD only (don't just follow Google's recommendation!)
        • McMillan's Rd may be the best for caravans as usually seems to be graded but 2nd half is a long down hill section which could be challenging for brakes if towing heavy load (turn off to left 10min north of Dargo)
        • Collingwood Spur Track not recommended for vans or inexperienced 4WDers as rollovers and damage risk is higher
        • Crooked River track is also challenging and only for 4WDs
      • large sunny grassy area with cow pads (could hold 30-40cars but only 1 drop toilet) surrounded by forest
      • nice stream to swim in and if water levels are up a bit, nice short little rapids for inflatables; 1-2 bar phone reception if you are lucky
      • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yATSrl7BMKU
      • great 4WD tracks to explore when not closed in Winter, get a hard copy Dargo-Wonnangatta map for some awesome 4WDs but perhaps skip the river crossing ones if water levels are high (see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kgyjk5sJlw0) :
        • Blue Rag Range summit views
          • south track across Crooked Creek and take the high road Brewery Creek Rd which will give awesome views and takes you to an old train carriage with refrigerator van then to Blue Rag Range Trig point for fantastic views along a narrow ridge line (~2.5hrs from camp), optionally return via Dargo High Plains Rd and McMillans Rd (just under 2hrs return)
          • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iqr2_tofDYQ - Dargo High Plains Rd to Blue Rag Trig (seasonally closed), mostly around 1650m elevation, bush camp with views in good weather
            • was very chopped up esp. between Dargo High Plains Rd and Basalt Nth Track (autumn 2025) - lots of deep wombat holes but max gradient only 15deg apart from 18.5deg just before the trig point
          • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9zr5SnFu0k 9km descent from Blue Rag Trig (~1700m elevation) to Wongungarra River bush camps (540m), follows narrow ridge line, max gradient ~21deg, “moderate” difficulty technical track in dry good conditions but lots of deep rutting in parts, very few opportunities to overtake or turn around - despite it being “moderate”, track has caused a number of catastrophic failures for 4WDs
        • The Pinnacles view via Billy Goat Bluff Track:
          • south track across Crooked Creek , take the low road (Crooked River Track), 5-6 creek crossings en route to Kingwill Bridge then on up Billy Goat Bluff Track which can be a challenging 4WD track up to awesome views at the summit and even better at The Pinnacles (~2hrs to get there from camp)
          • Billy Goat Bluff Track is one of the most popular 4WD tracks in Victoria thanks to the fantastic ridge views at ~1400m elevation so gets a lot of traffic and you need to take care looking out for oncoming vehicles and the track quality can vary significantly in seasons (expect difficult in winter-spring), and a lot of sections have gradients of over 20deg
          • Helipad is at 770m elevation - these guys camped overnight there in snow conditions after a very tough ascent https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oseM_oOZyfY
          • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4tiy3X_ipc - Billy Goat Bluff Track the opposite way - from Moroka Rd to Wonnongatta takes 1-2hrs in low range 4WD in good conditions
        • Wonnangatta Station
          • ~3hrs one way
          • south track across Crooked Creek , take the low road (Crooked River Track), 3 river crossings, then either:
            • turn right on Racecourse Track, to cross Crooked River then Wonnangatta River, then follow the river until turn left at Station Track then right up the Cynthia Range Track 7 further river crossings
            • turn left to follow Crooked River Track south, cross the Wonnangatta River, keep following Crooked River Track south then right up the Cynthia Range Track 7 further river crossings
            • NB. just after 6 of the 7 river crossings, you can go right and head to the Buckland valley via Mt Selwyn to Ah Youngs camp ground (Google says ~4.5hrs from Talbotville but there are a lot of river crossings to negotiate en route)
              • side options to Mount Sarah summit, Beecher Hill
        • more challenging 4WD circuit
          • head north over the crooked river then to bulltown spur track - has 24 river crossings in 7km - beautiful drive through big gorges if prepared and not for the lighthearted
          • then you have options of returning via McMillans Rd or head for more views and challenging 4WD on the Collingwood Spur Track
        • Crooked creek track from Talbotville Rd to Talbotville camp:
  • East Gippsland coastal
  • unlike most of Victoria, the coastal areas east of Lakes Entrance do have ticks - so keep an eye out for them!
  • large goannas / monitor lizards are also common in these areas and have sharp tails and claws - do not feed them!
  • Corringle Slips near Orbost
    • 5hrs from NW suburbs; on surf beach; 24 sites;
    • bookings
  • Banksia Bluff Cape Conran
    • does have outdoor cold showers;
    • need to book Parks Vic
  • Tamboon, Croajingalong NP near Cann River;
    • 6hr 45min from NW suburbs;
    • Mueller Inlet camp ground
    • Peachtree Creek campground
      • no access to beach but there is a jetty; eastern shore Tamboon Inlet
      • bookings
    • Thurra River camp ground
  • Wingan:
    • Wingan Inlet campground
      • 23 sites; the Wingan River Rapids and Fly Cove ocean area can be accessed by foot from the campsites.
      • bookings
    • Shipwreck Ck camp ground on Wingan River
      • 5 sites; short walk to secluded shipwreck beach;
      • bookings
  • east Gippsland alps
  • Bruthen to Omeo
    • Tambo River campsite (north of Bruthen)
    • Cassilis Recreation Reserve (Jirnkee)
      • next to the Settler cemetery on Cemetery Gully Rd off Cassilis Rd, 22-30min south of Omeo
      • 5hrs from NW suburbs;
      • large grassed area (could fit dozens of vans), fire pits, toilets, shelters, picnic tables, plenty of space for footy or hitting a golf ball
      • even usually quiet at Easter - perhaps as wikicamps seemingly erroneously states it is overnight only.
  • Orbost or Bruthen to Snowy River and Snowy River NP NW of Orbost:
    • see my blog post and The Snowy River and McKillops Bridge
    • Woods Point campground
      • nice spot on east bank in the bend of the river - access from Orbost
    • Sandy Point campground - track from Buchan-Orbost Rd
    • Buchan Caves Reserve campground
      • commercial;
      • subject to flash flooding (eg. Dec 2023)
    • Balley-Hooley campground
      • 25min E of Buchan, fairly steep road access but suitable for caravans although not much space for them.
      • great spot on a bend for canoes, swimming ,etc
    • then either
      • eastwards to McKillip's Bridge campground
        • this approach from the west is via a picturesque, very windy and narrow mountain edge road favoured by motorcyclists - take great care!
        • Little River Falls and Gorge;
        • NB. Deddick takes you to Bonang and then options of Sth to Errinundra or Nth to Delegate, NSW
      • or north to Suggan Buggan and Jindabyne, NSW
        • Willis campground near the NSW border on the Snowy River
        • further campgrounds on this route in NSW
  • Cann River free 48hr caravan park
  • Orbost to Errinundra Plateau region north-east of Orbost:

NE Victoria

NW Victoria

  • Ouyen region
    • Hattah-Kulkyne NP:
      • Lake Hattah camp ground
        • 5hrs from NW suburbs; 30min N of Ouyen; 52min S of Mildura
        • bookings
    • Blackburn Park rest area, Ouyen
      • 1km SE of Ouyen PO; potable water;
    • Lake Walpeup campground
      • 4hrs 40min from NW suburbs; 21min SW of Ouyen;
    • Underbool Rest Area
      • 31min W of Ouyen; potable water;
    • Murray Sunset NP:
      • 5hrs 15min from NW suburbs;
      • Lake Crosbie camp ground
        • 50min W of Ouyen; potable water;
      • Lake Becking camp ground
        • 5min NW of Lake Crosbie camp ground; potable water;
    • Ngallo Park
      • near Sth Aust border; 1hr 15min W of Ouyen; 16min E of Pinaroo SA; potable water;
  • Hopetoun region
    • Wyperfeld NP
      • Casuarina camp on NW part of NP near Lake Agnes
        • 43km W of Speed via Pine Plains Rd and then Sth down Meridian Rd from Baring; alternatively go SW from Patchewollock on Hulland Rd then Sth on Meridian Rd
        • 4WD circuit (soft sand): 24min to Kelly's Lookout and further 24min to O'Sullivan's Lookout and can then return as a circuit 40min back to camp via Snowdrift Picnic and Camping area set alongside one of the largest white sand dunes (see Snowdrift camp area on Youtube))
      • Wonga camping area

SW Victoria

Bush camps - no toilets

  • Far North-west
    • Murray River:
      • between Red Cliffs and Mildura there is about 25km of free bush camping along the tracks of the Murray River;
      • November to March fire restrictions means no campfires allowed.
  • Cape Bridgewater - Nelson region
    • Swan Lake camp on the coast at Cape Bridgewater (bush camp)
      • large flat camp ground; ~1-2km walk over sand dunes to the very remote beach
    • Lake Monibeong campsite on the coast at Cape Bridgewater (bush camp)
      • smaller camp ground - ~1-2km walk over sand dunes to the very remote surf fishing beach
    • Eight Mile Creek Campground just past Nelson and just into Sth Aust 25min south of Mt Gambier and just past Piccaninnie Ponds cave diving spot
      • almost 5hrs from NW suburbs - small grassed, flat bush camp site for 5 sites, adjacent creek, 50m walk to beach, near a beach bird hide, nice if there is not rubbish, dog poo and flies
      • could camp on the beach if you wish; toilets at nearby browns bay car park which is a short drive east; Ewens Ponds only a few minutes away for divers or snokelling;
  • Lower Glenelg National Park
  • Licola region
  • East Gippsland
  • Far North-East

Overnight van road side stops

australia/vic/campgroundsmorethan4hrsmelbourne.txt · Last modified: 2025/07/18 08:38 by gary1
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