The Best 5 Campgrounds Within Three Hours of Sydney

SICK of hearing about everybody else's action packed holiday, and wish you could set off on your own? Don't let limited time and budget get you down. Embark on a microadventure!

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SICK of hearing about everybody else’s action packed holiday, and wish you could set off on your own? Don’t let limited time and budget get you down. Embark on a microadventure!

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Thinking of getting out of town this weekend and taking the family on a memorable, but manageable, microadventure? Head to any of these five campgrounds within three hours drive of Sydney, and you can cram a lifetime worth of fun into the space of a single weekend, without stretching the budget. All you need is a tent and a love of the great outdoors.

 Birubu Beach Holiday Park, Anna Bay

If you’re looking north, where the water is as warm as it is clear, Anna Bay is the perfect choice. Clocking in at about a two and a half hour drive from Sydney, Anna Bay, Port Stephens, is a popular holiday destination for families thanks to its sprawling beach and mountainous sand dunes. Birubi Beach dunes are the biggest in New South Wales, so take advantage of the sand-boarding, quad-biking, and even camel ride opportunities. Birubi Beach itself is part of a sprawling 34km stretch of Stockton Bight, boasting fun waves the whole family can enjoy. After spending a day at the beach, what could be better than cooking up a feast on the BBQ or sinking a few holes at Beach Holiday Park’s mini golf course? The park offers affordable powered campsites just a short stroll from the sand, so if you’re looking for a coastal getaway that doesn’t break the bank, head to Birubu Beach Holiday Park.

Middle Rock Holiday Resort, One Mile

 Right next door you’ll find One Mile beach, hidden within the beautiful Tomaree National Park. If you’re looking to really escape the city smoke, pitching a tent amongst the trees at Middle Rock Holiday Resort is a sure fire way to reset your body, mind and spirit. Camping here is also a great option if you’re bringing the dog along for the ride, as it’s completely pet friendly. With both powered and unpowered sites at the price of a few Sydney coffees, it’s the perfect place to unwind and leave the hustle and bustle behind—if only for 48 hours. A quick stroll from your campsite you’ll find One Mile Beach, a stunning secluded beach surrounded by scenic bushland with safe, fun waves the whole family can enjoy.

 Kiama Surf Beach Holiday Park, Kiama North

If you’re more interested in exploring Sydney’s south coast, Kiama Beach is the perfect spot to take in some sand, salt, and surf. Better yet, the drive from Sydney to Kiama is only around an hour and forty-five minutes, leaving you with more time to explore upon arrival. The best place to pitch a tent is Kiama Surf beach Holiday Park, situated right next to Kiama’s main beach. From tent to sand in just a couple of steps, you can spend an incredible day splashing around at the beach with the whole family, before heading back to camp for some tucker. If cooking your own dinner isn’t part of the plan, Kiama CBD is only a short stroll away, bursting with food, drink, and shopping options. Don’t forget to look up at the sky before you zip the tent closed for the night, either. A blanket of stars illuminate Sydney’s south coast, a sight you mightn’t get to see too often in the city.

Coral Tree Lodge Tourist Park, Greenwell Point NSW

An extra forty minutes or so drive south of Kiama, you’ll find Greenwell Point, a quaint  fishing village in Shoalhaven. Coral Tree Lodge Tourist Park is the perfect spot to pitch your tent, surrounded by incredible coastal views and bushland scenery. If you’re really looking for a microadventure that’s a little different than the norm, how about taking the family fishing for the day? The park boasts a great boat ramp and jetty you can fish off, right out the front of the property. Drop a line, get comfy, and you might even get lucky enough to catch your own dinner to cook on the campsite BBQ!

Kings Point Retreat, Ulladulla

If a couple of hours in the car doesn’t bother you, the three hour drive to Ulladulla is more than worth your time. Here, you’ll really feel like you’ve escaped the city, with Kings Point Retreat surrounded by native bushland, just minutes from both Racecourse Beach and Burrill Lake. The park itself is a kid’s wonderland, boasting two waterslides, a tennis court, two swimming pools, two playgrounds, a basketball court, and a games room with air hockey and video games. You can try to pry them away from all those amenities, or you can just join them in the pool. Either way, you definitely won’t run out of things to do at Kings Point Retreat.