When we asked for the top family camping spots in Australia – we thought you would be keen. But we didn’t realise just how keen you were.
More than 700 different camping spots have been nominated for a spot on this list. Some were so secret – we had to look them up. Ever head of Karijini? Or Agnesters? Neither had we. But they are awesome.
Some destinations stood out above the rest. Here are your top seven.
The Grampians, Victoria
The Grampians Victoria. Picture: Shutterstock
Great food, great wine, and great hikes. That’s what makes the Grampians so special.
From here you can follow the incredible Silo Art Trail, trawl the markets at Stawell and go fishing on Lake Fyans.
Take the family to try some of the Grampians Peaks Trail and you will be rewarded with a day of panoramic views, rugged landscapes and dramatic peaks. You can camp in the park for just over $30 a night. Bugia Hiker Camp has a elevated timber camping platforms overlooking the scrub.
Where: Regional Victoria
Flinders Ranges, South Australia
The Flinders Ranges SA. Picture: Shutterstock
South Australia’s highest mountain range, the Flinders Ranges are about 450km from Adelaide. This place is outback camping at it’s best. Expect dusty red roads, towering ancient cliffs and deep craters.
We highly recommend a tour with an Indigenous guide who can take you along the Flinders’ dreaming trail teaching kids stories of ancestors, art and legends.
At Wilpena Pound, you can wonder at the large natural amphitheatre, carved out over millions of years of erosion.
Where: Regional South Australia
Murray River, NSW, Victoria, SA
The Murray River. Picture: Shutterstock
Australia’s longest river, The Murray is 2508 kilometres in length. It forms the border between NSW and Victoria, rising in the Alps before joining the Murrumbidgee and Darling Rivers on its way through to South Australia.
All along the Murray River’s banks, you’ll find loads of great spots to camp. Choose from red gum forests to sandy beaches, RACV holiday parks and basic bush camps.
Kids will love fishing for Murray Cod, kayaking and sitting around the campfire to cook marshmallows.
Where: From the Alps in the east to South Australia
Jervis Bay, NSW
The basin at Jervis Bay is great for kids to explore. Picture: Alison Godfrey
Jervis Bay is pure white sandy beaches, gentle waves and the smell of sea salt.
You can drive to surf beaches, climb lighthouses, go bushwalking or simply spread out and relax.
If you go at New Year’s – don’t miss the Husky Carnival. It’s great fun for kids with rides and games and carnival food.
Kids love Husky Carnival. Picture: Alison Godfrey
Where: South Coast NSW
Wilsons Promontory, Victoria
Wilsons Promontory. Picture: Shutterstock
This sprawling stretch of land at the southern tip of Victoria is National Park camping at its best. It has toilets, hot showers, laundry facilities, a playground and picnic areas.
The Prom, as it is affectionately known has stunning coastal scenery, loads of native wildlife and great walking tracks. The campgrounds here are so popular that you can only access them through a ballot system.
If you get in, you should check out Agnes Falls and the Walkerville Lime Kilns.
Where: Southern Victoria
Family Travel recommendation… Phillip Island, Victoria
Phillip Island Victoria. Picture: Shutterstock
Phillip Island is known for its incredible wildlife. Thousands of Little Penguins make their home here and thousands of families come every year to watch them waddle in from the ocean at sunset.
Whether you choose a holiday park or a basic campground, you can go wrong on Phillip Island.
Families can do laps of the Moto GP circuit, find their way through outdoor mazes, surf, fish or simply chill out like the thousands of fur seals sprawled on the island’s rocks.
Where: Just south of Melbourne.
And the winner is … Fraser Island, Qld
Fraser Island is the best place to camp in Australia. Picture: Shutterstock
Warm summer beach days, golden sand and freshwater pools – no wonder you voted for Fraser Island as your number one place to camp in Australia.
World-heritage listed Fraser Island is the world’s largest sand island, stretching for 123km and covering 166,000 hectares.
Kids love exploring the wreck of the SS Maheno on the beach at Fraser. Head to Lake McKenzie and you will find a pure freshwater lake surrounded by white sand beaches. Explore the beaches by 4WD and the rainforest on foot.
Fraser Island Queensland. Picture: Shutterstock
If you do camp here, your chances of spotting a whale are seriously high. In the migration season, these gentle creatures cruise past the island on their way to warmer, or cooler waters.
Where: Just off the coast of Hervey Bay Qld
READ MORE:
Your top holiday destinations – Best of Family Travel awards
Your top 11 regional destinations
The best off the beaten track destinations
Affordable, accessible National Parks you can stay in
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.