Australia has the best beaches, the most scenic coastal view, and perfect weather. With so much to enjoy, who in their best of minds wouldn’t want to go camping every other week! The country is famous for some of the prettiest camping spots. And half or more than half of these campsites are for free!!
So, what are you waiting for? Let’s find out the best places to go camping this weekend.
Benefits of free camping in Australia
The biggest advantage is that you save a lot of money. In a free campsite, you decide where to pitch up your tent. Since many people still do not know how to search for free campsites on the internet, you can find campgrounds filled only half their capacity even in busy holiday months.
Free camping grounds do not have any rules concerning entering and exiting them. This means you may come in and leave however you please, no questions asked.
Downsides to free camping is the lack of facilities such as public showers & toilet facilities. It helps to invest in your own camping shower to keep clean whilst on the move.
Searching for free camping sites
- Check the website of the national parks closest to you
- Look out for signposts declaring camping areas
- Ask the tourist officers in the locality
- Pull in at community campsites
- There are a lot of bush camps located off the main highways. They are completely free for campers. You must keenly watch out for signage because they are very easy to miss.
- Search them on their dedicated websites
There are several apps and websites that will give you information on free and paid campsites near you. These applications also work offline. It is easy to view information, even if you are off the internet grid or do not have any mobile data on your devices.
Booking.com
Booking.com is one of the best websites when you are itching to find the availability of great campsites in Australia. You can read reviews of people who have been there before. If paid campsites are on your mind, then you could choose the best deals for your stay. It is possible to book, change and cancel bookings without any fee in case you are unable to make it.
Aircamp
Aircamp is an Australian application that helps you find the perfect campsite or a park for your caravan. The app is available for both Android and Apple phone users. The application is a boon to the campers as it also runs offline.
Every week a new place gets featured with complete coverage about all the facilities that are available for the campers. The application also has real campers leaving behind their reviews about the places they have visited.
Hipcamp
Hipcamp is an internet-based marketing company that offers a camping experience by partnering with private landowners who list their campsites and other places for overnight stay. There are other services too like booking cabins.
Travelers can narrow down their search to determine which Hipcamp site is closest to them, along with the landscape, the amenities offered, etc. The website displays availability of campsite in real-time along with crucial data like address, reviews and testimonials of existing clients, and photographs
Queensland National Parks
Queensland National Parks (https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/) Queensland is often called the Sunshine State because of the average 300 days of sunshine it gets! Campers across the country call it a haven with options galore for exploring and camping at its beautiful water spots and parks.
Queensland has hundreds of free campsites and paid ones that are worth every dollar you spend. Some of the most popular include Rainbow Beach, Sunshine Coast, Noosa and Stradbroke Island.
New South Wales National Parks
New South Wales National Parks (https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/camping-and-accommodation) have a bounty of free as well as paid campsites. Most national park authorities insist that you book a spot before you set out so that you do not have last-minute surprises. Pets are not allowed as they can frighten the native wildlife. It is important to note that lighting small fires is only allowed as a safe practice. You can use the application to check out the campsite that you want to reserve for yourself.
Big4 Holiday Parks
Big4 Holiday Parks is a holiday parks network that has various camping sites for enthusiastic campers. About 42 years ago, four independent caravan park owners joined together for this venture and made it a success. Today, the joint venture has a whopping 180-holiday parks in its portfolio, including all major cities and natural landscapes.
The holiday parks and camping sites are family-friendly. Apart from rental cabins, they also allow campers to park their caravans overnight. There are dozens of entertainment activities in their parks too.
Conclusion
For a camper who is on a budget, a free camping site is the best news ever. Accommodation in Australia can become costly, with some campgrounds charging you high rates.
Australia has campsites that are free or paid that you may want to try. The best way to enjoy a camping site is to book the place beforehand. You most definitely don’t want to travel all the way only to find the place that is already booked and overcrowded.
