Eight of the best camping sites within 100km of Melbourne’s CBD

You don’t have to pay a premium to enjoy a room with a view. Check out the eight best east and southeast camping spots close to Melbourne.

There are plenty of great places to go camping in Victoria — and some of the best sports are close to Melbourne.

Ditch the long-term parking, the check-in queues and coughing fellow travellers in a metal tube. There are plenty of places to get away from the rush and they’re all on Melbourne doorstep.

Pitch a tent and enjoy the view. Picture: Visit Victoria.

Bunyip State Park

Pitch a tent among the diverse ecosystems at Bunyip State Park and explore the surroundings on foot, horseback, trail bike or in the comfort of a four-wheel drive.

Follow the Lawsons Falls circuit through dense bushland and fern gullies before reaching the small clearing with views across the Lawson Falls — it also boats the only waterfall in the park.

While enjoying your trip, be sure to look out for rare the southern-emu wren and swamp bush pea.

Sleep under a canopy of trees at the Upper Yarra Reservoir Park. Picture: Visit Victoria.

Upper Yarra Reservoir Park

Take a trip to the popular reservoir which has natural wonders, historical sites and picnic facilities.

With an array of shaded walks to explore through the bushland beneath tall eucalypts and green fern gullies campers can also check out the remnants of the old town used for the dam builders from 1947 to 1957.

Located close to the Yarra River there’s plenty to do including taking a walk to Batts Creek Point, visiting the dam wall lookout or strolling along the Brimbonga Walking Track.

There are plenty of amazing lookouts on offer as well as a range of native animals such as swamp wallabies, wombats, fish and kookaburras.

This campsite is decked-out with facilities including toilets, a pay phone, large weather hall, hot water, camp kitchen, picnic tables and barbecues.

Yarra Ranges National Park

Also along the Yarra River is the Yarra Ranges National Park which boasts unforgettable scenery across multiple campsites.

Take in the peaceful surroundings by checking out the rainforest gallery and soak in the views on the observation platform and rainforest walkway on the southern slopes of Mount Donna Buang.

If you’re into adventures, enjoy all this location has to offer with cross-country skiing and tobogganing at Lake Mountain or cruise along the Black Spur between Healesville and Narbethong before checking out the waterfalls at Keppel and Phantom Falls.

Kinglake National Park

Camp on the slopes of the Great Dividing Range at the Kinglake National Park camping sites, only a short drive from Melbourne’s CBD.

Relish in the barbecue facilities while keeping an eye out for a variety of native birds such as sulphur-crested cockatoos, lyrebirds, king parrots or rosellas.

The site is surrounded by bushland for you to walk or mountain bike through and boasts panoramic views of the city, Port Phillip Bay and the Yarra Valley.

For those wishing to bring a caravan, there’s plenty of room in the campgrounds.

Kurth Kiln, Gembrook

The Kurth Kiln Heritage Fence Camping Area offers campers a free site to pitch a tent and enjoy the surrounds shaded by trees.

There are toilet facilities at the grounds and the carpark is only a short walk from the four numbered sites.

Campers are advised to bring their own firewood, or to try their luck at plucking fallen wood around the campsite.

Doon Reserve

Drive into this camp area in the Yarra Junction with your caravan, RV or grab a tent.

Campers have direct access to the Yarra River as well as the Warbie Trail which is ideal to explore on bike or on-foot.

Warburton Holiday Park

An expansive site for caravans and campers is available only an hour and a half by car from Melbourne’s CBD on the edge of the historical town Warburton.

Choose one of the 250 powered or unpowered sites and enjoy a stay by the river in the Upper Yarra Valley with plenty of activities for the whole family.

There’s also a variety of accommodation on offer ranging from standard to ensuite cabins, with room for two and five guests.

Prices range from $38 to $260.

Hipcamp, Victoria

If none of these sites are for you, there’s plenty of others on offer through Hipcamp.

This site puts campers in direct contact with hosts who rent out spaces on their property for short or long-term stays.

Choose from a variety of sites to find the one to suit you — fancy a stay among the vines at a local vineyard, or maybe you’re after a family-friendly farm stay with animals?

Hipcamp has you covered.