Here they are - Australia’s best FREE camping spots

Sick of expensive campground fees? These family-friendly spots will cost you nothing. And it's not too late to get in, either.

Do away with paying extra for kids and pets and skyrocketing nightly rates. These top camping locations won’t cost you a cent and the kids will LOVE them. 

Gone are the days when staying at a private campground was a ‘cheap’ way to take the family on a holiday. 

Post-COVID, prices have skyrocketed around Australia - but all is not lost for camping devotees. 

From coast to coast, there are dozens of completely free spots to pull up the caravan or pitch a tent.

Some require being more self-sufficient than others, but we’ve pulled a list of Australia’s best where you don’t have to dive into your wallet to enjoy the great outdoors. 

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Stingray Head, NT and Lucky Bay campground, WA. Image: WikiCamps, and @flossyd

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Australian Capital Territory

Nestled in the Snowy Mountains, Perkins Flat Campgrounds offers access to national parks, with opportunities for swimming, hiking and other activities. It also provides non-drinking water.  

A hidden gem, Flea Creek Campground is great for families. There’s access to national parks, fishing, walking trails, swimming and 4WD trails. Fires are allowed too. This one gets busy in summer. 

New South Wales 

Located west of Lake Macquarie, Old Olney Camping Area is a picturesque spot with lovely walking trails and access to swimming in nearby creeks. It’s campfire and pet-friendly and BBQs are available to use. 

Ngarigo Campground, in Jindabyne, is a fishing haven, with rivers filled with trout. It’s great for hikes and mountain biking, too. 

Near the Victorian border, 30 minutes from Cobran is Kyffins Reserve, a lakeside camp that oozes relaxation, but you’ll need to be completely self-sufficient to enjoy it. 

Reef Reserve, a few minutes from Lake Oberon, west of the Blue Mountains, has a 72-hour limit but it’s enough time to explore the local sights. There are drop toilets, big sites suitable for vans, picnic tables, gas BBQs and fire pits. 

Just under two hours from Sydney on the central coast, Olney State Forest is suitable for tents and small vans. The camping areas all have toilets and wood BBQs. 

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Northern Territory 

Little River Rest Area, in Cape Cape Crawford, is a paradise for nature lovers, offering a perfect blend of stunning landscapes, pristine waterholes, and exotic wildlife.

Also referred to as the Zircon Fossicking area, Mud Tank is located at Alcoota Station in the Harts Range district. Keen fossickers will love the mine sites and creek beds and friendly locals are known to lend equipment for visitors. There are drop toilets and large caravans are welcome. 

Conveniently located between Uluru and Kings Canyon, the Salt Creek Rest Area is a popular pet-friendly campground. Grab a spot in the shaded picnic area if it’s not already 

taken, and bring all your own water. 

During World War II, the Gorrie Airstrip became the NT’s biggest airbase for repairs and services. These days, it’s a 1,800-metre-long abandoned airstrip with lots of room to set up camp. It’s pet friendly but you’ll need to be fully self-contained. 

Queensland 

If it’s a lush rainforest and emerald green swimming hole you’re after, look no further than Babinda Boulders Camping Area, just south of Cairns. There are toilets, showers and BBQs but stays are limited to 72 hours. 

Less than an hour from Townsville, Toomulla Beach Campground is a beachside camping spot that’s good for fishing, has well-lit picnic areas, a boat ramp and even a shaded kid’s playground. While it’s free, this one needs to be booked through the council in advance. 

Set in the rolling hills of the Gympie Region, Kinbombi Falls is a spacious rest area with access to beautiful rock pools. 

At Lake Tinaroo, Kauri Creek Campground is perfect for watersport lovers, with all manner of vessels and activities having access to the dam. There are showers, toilets, BBQs, picnic tables and fire pits. 

Lake Elphinstone Campground, 90 minutes from Mackay, is a beautiful spot with lake views and facilities such as toilets, showers, BBQs and picnic tables. It’s pet-friendly, but check the level or the lake before arriving as it’s not always full. 

Bedford Weir ticks all the outdoorsy boxes, with fishing on the Mackenzie River, bird watching, scenic walks, water skiing, kayaking and swimming all on offer. Families are well taken care of with the wood barbecue area and a playground nearby. 

In the Sunshine Coast hinterland, Little Yabba Creek has prime access to the famous Kenilworth Bakery and the Maleny Botanic Gardens & Bird World. BYO firewood. 

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South Australia

Narrung Ferry Campsite, two hours south of Adelaide, has stunning views of the nearby Malcolm Lighthouse and the surrounding ocean. It’s a great base for exploring the Coorong National Park, but stays are limited to 72 hours. There are bins, toilets and water taps. 

Greenways Landing, on the Murray River is a spacious campground providing access to the famous waterway. There’s a toilet block and 2km away, a handy general store.

Fitzgerald Bay Camping Area is an ideal choice to explore the Whyalla region. There are 30 campsites but you’ll need to be self-sufficient.  

Point Brown Campground is tucked away in the west of the Eyre Peninsula near a town called Smoky Bay, which is famous for its oysters. Campers must be self-sufficient. 

Frank Potts Reserve, in the town of Alexandrina, is less than an hour from Adelaide. There are toilets and picnic facilities on-site, and access to drinking water. 

Bay of Fires, TAS and Sandy Cape Campground, WA. Image: @bayoffirestasmania and @exploreoz_withus

Tasmania 

The Bay of Fires Conservation Area, on the east coast, has eight free camping areas and all allow pets. Facilities are limited, so check for a toilet where you choose to stay. 

South of Hobart, South Bruny National Park is a wildlife paradise, with penguins, seals, rare white wallabies and many more. The Pines campsite, one of four in the park, is free but you’ll need to be self-sufficient as there are only pit toilets and no water. 

Victoria 

Away from the hustle and bustle, Aire Crossing Campsite is within reach of Apollo Bay. There are only five sites, and facilities are limited to drop toilets. No fires are allowed but the kids will love a walk at dusk searching for glow worms. 

Ninety Mile Beach, in East Gippsland, offers hundreds of sites of different shapes and sizes. Some are dog friendly and have facilities such as non-flush toilets and bins, so it pays to check first. BYO drinking water. 

On the bank of the Freestone Creek at the base of the Victorian high country, the Quarries Reserve Campground and Blue Pool Campground are top picks. There are toilets, fire pits and bins but BYO drinking water and firewood. 

The Plantation Campground, in the Grampians, has 30 campsites with toilets but no drinking water.  

It can get a little dusty but Gunbower National Park, on the Murray River, is still worth a stop. There are 114 river, and 25 creek campsites, so there’s plenty of choice. 

Just outside the town of Noojee in West Gippsland, Toorongo Falls Campground is a magnificent location in the secluded bush. There are non-flush toilets, picnic tables, fire pits and it’s dog friendly. 

Western Australia

The council of Bunbury provides several spaces in their public parking lots for overnight use to self-contained vehicles. Some are beachside within walking distance to cafes, and come early, because these are popular. 

Overlooking Two Peoples Bay, east of Albany, Betty’s Beach is a simple campsite that’s pet-friendly and the six spots have seven-day limits. We’ve heard it’s a great spot for fishing and whale watching. 

Located in the Kimberley area between Purnululu National Park and Fitzroy Crossing, Mary Pool Campsite sits near the river and offers beautiful views - but don’t forget to keep your distance because it’s croc territory. It’s dog friendly with toilets and perfect for a visit to the Bungle Bungles. 

Have we missed a free camping spot? What are your favourites? 

Originally published as Here they are - Australia’s best FREE camping spots