Victoria’s Best Camping Spots

Pitch a tent, sleep under the stars or wake up to sounds of the bushland in a private cabin – holiday parks and campsites provide some of the most impressive locations in Australia and now cater to all budget levels and types of holiday-makers from families to groups.

The Grampians
The Grampians National Park and surrounding state parks offer some of Victoria’s best free camping spots. The park, three hours west of Melbourne, offers a great base for day-trips to waterfalls or challenging hikes to renowned rocky escarpments. Visitors can get closer to nature and meet resident wildlife.

Jimmy Creek Campground located in the Southern Grampians, offers an outback camping experience just a short drive to Dunkeld. Campers can stock up on wood fired bread, locally produced yoghurt and honey from the Dunkeld General Store.

Halls Gap Lakeside Tourist Park is surrounded by the picturesque beauty of the Grampians National Park and is only three kilometres from the centre of Halls Gap township. The park features a heated outdoor pool, new amenities with individual bathrooms and modern facilities. Halls Gap Zoo, Grampians Adventure Golf and Brambuk the National Park & Cultural Centre are just some of the family friendly attractions visitors can experience within Halls Gap.

Wimmera Lakes Caravan Resort is ideally located on the Western Highway at the eastern end of Horsham with the Grampians National Park as a distant breathtaking backdrop to the park. Visitors can enjoy a barbecue in the camp kitchen, a swim in the solar heated pool or some fun on their outdoor playground Jumping Pillow.

BIG4 Parkgate Resort located in the foothills of the Grampians National Park is a short drive from the town centre of Halls Gap. Ensuites and powered sites, set in idyllic locations with modern amenities are ideal for enjoying the great outdoors.

The Murray
With temperate  climate and spectacular wilderness areas, The Murray region provides idllyic bushland and riverbank camping along the Murray River.

Gunbower Island in Gannawarra is an expansive island situated alongside the Murray River, well suited for the adventurous camper. There are three free camping sites set among spectacular bushland, with access to the river for water skiing, swimming and fishing.

The Murray River is lined with 12 BIG4 holiday parks offering cabin, caravan and camping accommodation. Big 4 Riverside Swan Hill offers riverside camping and deluxe cabins surrounded by breathtaking scenery, as well as pool facilities and golf packages for the award winning Murray Downs Golf Course which is located nearby.

Just a short drive from Swan Hill, Lake Boga Caravan Park offers the visitor magnificent lake views and easy access to the iconic Lake Boga. The lake is a great place for all water sports. The Caravan Park has its own boat ramp with other facilities including laundry, camp kitchen and a BBQ area.

Gippsland
For the combined bushland and coastal camping experience, Gippsland offers striking terrain, ideal for a range of adventurous activities.

Nestled between the river and the ocean beach, near Point Hicks, the Thurra River is the largest camp ground in Croajingolong National Park. With 46 campsites, the Thurra River is shallow, making it a popular spot for families to relax on hot days.

Cape Conran Coastal Park has 135 camping sites spread over one kilometre along with a range of accommodation including cabins and a large lodge which sleeps up to 17 people. The Park fronts on to 60 kilometres of isolated sandy beaches facing the rugged Bass Strait.

For those wanting a, ‘glamping’ option Parks Victoria Wilderness Retreats are ideal. Located at Wilsons Promontory National Park, Cape Conran Coastal Park and Buchan Caves, the comfortable safari-style tents combines the “close to nature” experience of bush camping with the comforts of modern park cabins.

Great Ocean Road
From Torquay to Port Campbell, visitors will find a range of camping options from luxury ‘glamping’ at remote and secluded beaches to wilderness camping at sites nestled deep in the Otways.

A popular camp ground in the region is Johanna Beach, located in the Otway National Park among sand dunes, excellent for camping with dogs, caravanning and catching the surf.

Pebble Point is another luxury camping experience situated at the end of the Great Ocean Walk in the small coastal village of Princetown. The exclusive bush retreat has five luxury tents with quality king-sized beds, linen and towels with spacious ensuite bathrooms and private decks.

Those looking for a more leafy green camping experience can stay at Bimbi Park in Cape Otway. Bimbi Park is sheltered among tall manna gums with many resident koalas spotted in the area. The Park caters for a range of camping options with powered camp sites, on-site vans, bunk rooms and standard and deluxe cabins.

Geelong and the Bellarine
For a camping experience with all the bell and whistles, visitors can pitch a tent at the award winning Big4 Beacon Resort in Queenscliff. Much more than just a holiday resort, Big4 Beach Resort is home to an onsite day spa – Mud Day Spa, a  gym, heated swimming pool, modern amenities and full kitchen facilities. For a gourmet glamping experience, guests can stock up on supplies at the onsite shop, which is full of locally grown produce and local beer, wine and cider from The Bellarine region.

Barwon Heads Caravan Park has a stunning location at the mouth of the Barwon River, where the river meets the sea. Guests can book waterfront camping sites which offer commanding views of the Barwon River and further out onto the ocean. Barwon Heads Caravan Park is ideally located in the heart of Barwon Heads, meaning guests can easily walk to the main street which is filled with trendy cafés, restaurants and shops. Popular surf beach, 13^th Beach, is also within easy walking distance.

Tucked off the main road between Barwon Heads and Torquay is the tiny hamlet of Breamlea. The Breamlea Caravan Park is nestled off the main road in its own hidden piece of paradise, looking onto the picturesque Thompsons Creek on one side, with a surf beach the other side. Secluded and quiet, civilization feels hundreds of miles away, although it is located only 25 minutes from Geelong or 90 minutes from Melbourne. The Caravan Park is home to powered and unpowered sites, on-site cabins, a general store and Post Office, plus all the other usual amenities.

Located little more than an hour’s drive from Melbourne, the Brisbane Ranges National Park is where you can find the state’s richest wildflower habitat.  Set in a low range of mountains dissected by rocky gullies, the unusual geology of the National Park has preserved plants that have long since vanished from other parts of the region. The park is home to a handful of off-the-beaten-track camping sites -some of which are walk-in only – and an excellent base for bushwalking, wildflower and wildlife studies and exploring the historic gold mining area of Steiglitz Historic Park.

High Country
Camping within the High Country region offers pristine natural environment combined with proximity to bountiful towns boasting vibrant food and wine as well as plenty of outdoor adventures with cycling and walking trails.

Porepunkah Pines Caravan Park is an award winning park conveniently situated on the Great Alpine Road, just minutes from the beautiful township of Bright. The park features two solar heated pools with a shaded water park for the little ones, also a large camp kitchen, barbecues, games room and kids playground. Accommodation ranges from powered sites to well-maintained cabins and two houses that sleep up to 12 people.

Campers can enjoy sweet seclusion in Victoria’s far north east at Colac Colac (Clack Clack) Caravan Park, near Corryong. Located in a beautiful valley, Colac Colac Park boasts tall trees, sprawling lawns and a great swimming hole for the kids.

An hour’s drive from Mansfield, Sheepyard Flat in the old gold-mining Howqua Hills Historic Area, is one of several flats along the Howqua River, with open, grassy campsites arrayed on either side of the Howqua Track. A popular spot for picnics, horse riding, bushwalking, fishing and 4WD driving.

Goldfields
The Goldfields region is rich with things to do and see, especially within the towns of Ballarat and Bendigo. From beautifully preserved architecture, some of Victoria’s best galleries and museums to quality local produce at many top restaurants. Holiday parks just out of town provide the best of both worlds – enjoying natural surrounds and located only a short drive to the region’s many family friendly attractions.

The multi-award winning BIG4 Ballarat Goldfields Holiday Park is situated in Ballarat, within close proximity to the city’s major attractions. Caravan and camping sites, budget cabins, spa cottages and villas are available, along with a solar heated swimming pool, giant jumping pillow, giant checkers, indoor heated spa, tennis, go-karts and more.

Bendigo Park Lane Holiday Park located within close proximity to Bendigo’s CBD, offers powered sites, cabins and luxury villas. Families will keep entertained with Bendigo’s largest indoor play centre, Parky’s Wonderland – a four level indoor play structure – as well as pedal karts, a sand volleyball court, plus much more.

Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges
The scenic beauty of lush forest, bush settings and clear mountain streams make for the perfect backdrop for a camping holiday. Visitors can stay in a forest park or choose a holiday site with full facilities.

Big 4 Badger Creek Holiday Park is surrounded by 24 hectares of peace and tranquility, immersed by natural bush land in the Yarra Valley. The Holiday Park offers quality caravanning, camping or self-contained park accommodation. Hillside Cabins are nestled amongst the native trees and the Park cabins overlook the creek.

The Warburton Caravan Park is located on the banks of the Yarra River, in the Upper Yarra Valley, surrounded by beautiful mountain scenery. The Park includes a tennis court, laundry and shower facilities, children’s playground and electric bbq and shelter areas. There are many scenic campsites as well as cabins along the kilometre of river frontage which is ideal for canoeing or fishing.

Mornington Peninsula
The beautiful Port Phillip Bay coastline of the Mornington Peninsula, from Rosebud to Rye to Sorrento, boasts 13km of foreshore camping with white sandy beaches and turquoise waters. There are excellent facilities with shower and toilet blocks, barbeques and kids’ play areas, as well as top dining destinations and many places to pick up gourmet foods in nearby coastal villages.

The Rosebud Foreshore Reserve stretches approximately 7km from Anthony’s nose in McCrae down to Chinaman’s Creek in Rosebud West. There are 665 camping sites available, both powered and non-powered, all with great access to the beach, amenities and various shops.

Camping at the Rye & Sorrento Foreshores is available from the last weekend of October to April. There are 315 camping sites available with both powered and non-powered sites for caravans and tents.

The Mornington Peninsula Shire manages camping along the natural foreshore reserves with all bookings to be made via the Foreshore Camping Team.

Daylesford and Macedon Ranges
Visitors to the region will be rewarded with lush parks, rugged river gorges and dramatic rock formations in state and regional parks. Days are filled with waking up to panoramic views, energising springwaters along with plenty of walking tracks to explore.

O’Briens Crossing camping area is located beside Lerderderg River in Lerderderg State Park and flanked by steep, wild slopes. It offers a true bush experience and walking is the best way to get to know the park – there are several tracks for a range of walks from short, easy strolls to strenuous overnight hikes for experienced bushwalkers.

The sheltered extinct volcanic crater of Mount Franklin in Hepburn Regional Park provides ideal surroundings for a picnic or short term camping. Panoramic views can be obtained from the summit and there is a scenic walking track along the rim of the crater.

Phillip Island
Phillip Island has all the elements for a memorable seaside holiday with plenty of family attractions, friendly wildlife and sheltered bays perfect for a spot of beach cricket.

BIG4 Phillip Island Caravan Park is nestled amongst the sand dunes of the Newhaven Beach in a natural landscape setting of trees and gardens, and is conveniently located within 500 metres of restaurants, cafes and shops. There is a wide variety of accommodation, ranging from shady camping sites to three bedroom deluxe villas as well as entertainment rooms, a children’s play area and sport facilities and washing vicinities.

Cowes Caravan Park offers beach front sites, only one kilometre from Cowes township. The park offers a full range of accommodation with cabins and powered and unpowered camp sites. The park is well equipped with a camp kitchen, recreation hall with open fire, playground and full amenities.

Content supplied by Visit Victoria