Camping in winter can be fun, if you come prepared. An extra doona, a thicker sleeping bag and a seriously good campfire are essential.
Location is just as important. Head north this winter and you’ll find warm sunny days and equally warm nights.
One of the best things about winter camping is camp grounds are less crowded.
Whether you’re thinking beach, bush or outback -we’ve found nine winter camping spots you will love.
Tamborine Mountain Camping Park Queensland
Head to the hills, toast marshmallows and tell yarns around the campfire. At Tamborine Mountain camping park every site has a fire pit and free hot showers. Next door to the campground is Thunderbird Park where you can go horse riding or brave the treetop ropes course. The local area is filled with art galleries and cafes. And there’s even local glow worm caves to explore.
Warburton Holiday Park Yarra Valley
At this park, you’re four-legged family member can play too. Warburton is 90 minutes east of Melbourne but it feels like a million miles away. Go platypus spotting, fish for trout (although in winter they go deep), or take some time to explore the wineries and food trails the area is famous for. The campground has legal fireplaces, power, barbecues, a laundry and picnic tables. Bring the bikes. There’s loads of trails to explore. Or walk the Ada Rainforest Walk to see one of Victoria’s oldest trees.
Wine Country Tourist Park Hunter Valley
What better way to warm up that with a roaring fire and a cracking bottle of red. This park has barbecues, a camp kitchen and laundry facilities. Dogs are welcome and they have have their one run.
Paradise Beach Lakes Entrance Victoria
Just three and a half hours from Melbourne, Paradise Beach is a free campground with campfire pits for cold evenings. It’s going to get cold here. Temperatures have been known to drop as low as -7 degrees. So come prepared with the right gear. If you do, you will be rewarded with brilliant starry nights sunset walks along Ninety Mile Beach.
The camp ground has 12 campsites suitable for tents, caravans or camper trailers. All are unpowered.
Wilpena Pound South Australia
Whether you camp or glamp – nothing beats this view of outback South Australia. Wilpena Pound has fully-equipped Safari tents or you can bring your own tent, caravan or camper. Experience Yara culture on an Aboriginal Cultural Tour, take a breathtaking scenic flight over Lake Eyre or explore the Flinders Ranges by 4WD. The landscape alone will thrill the kids.
Depot Beach – Murramang National Park NSW
Right on the beach and perfect for families, Depot Beach is also a great spot for stargazing. There are 59 campsites available for tents, camper trailers, caravans or even just camping beside the car. The campsite has showers, toilets, barbecue facilities and electric power. The beach is great for keen fisherman and, if you’re lucky, you can spot a pod of local dolphins that love to play in the waves.
Prevelly Caravan Park Margaret River
It’s possible to Margaret River on a budget. This relaxed park offers powered and non-powered sites as well as cabins, just a stone’s throw from the beach and ten minutes from the region’s famous vineyards. Relax on the beach and watch the whales migrating, explore the cellar doors or try beach fishing. Keen surfers will also find this beach has some fantastic waves – so bring a full steamer with you.
Whitehaven Beach camping area, Queensland
Sure, you could spend a fortune on a fancy hotel on Hamilton Island, or you could save the cash and stay right next to the pure-white silica sand of Whitehaven beach. Keep your eyes open for lace monitors here – make sure you lock all food away. Whitehaven beach camping area is a great base for exploring the Great Barrier Reef and the island eco-system of Hamilton Island. Grab a kayak and test out the Whitsunday Ngaro Sea trail which takes you on a boating, paddling and walking adventure among several of the islands.
Nitmiluk National Park, Northern Territory
Fancy camping among Indigenous rock art and sandstone cliffs at Nitmiluk Gorge? You’ll find powered and non-powered sites at the Gorge Caravan park. Non-powered sites are also available at Leliyn (Edith Falls). They don’t take bookings, so you will need to arrive by 10am to secure a spot.
READ MORE:
Caves and camping in Coober Pedy
The best beach camping around Australia
A beginners guide to the Whitsundays
Travel allows you to get outside your bubble. It makes you realise there are other ways to do things, and that’s OK. Plus, I am a huge fan of skiing and for the best powder – you need to head overseas.