Valentine’s Day is coming up! Instead of rushing to try and get a booking at one of the fine eateries in your city, or doing a takeaway & movie date at home, we thought why not mix things up and spend your Valentine’s Day with nature in the outdoors!
We can’t think of anything better than experiencing the outdoors with your loved ones and spending some quality time reconnecting and relaxing.
Here are the top camping spots in every state across Australia:
Jump to your state by clicking on it: VIC NSW QLD TAS SA WA
Victoria: The Grampians
The Grampians is located in Western Victoria and it is the fourth largest national park in the state. The area has been known as Gariwerd by the native Aboriginals for thousands of years and it is listed on Australia’s National Heritage List as the park is home to a majority of Victoria’s aboriginal rock art. The cultural significance of this area, coupled with its breath-taking mountain panoramas and stunning waterfalls make it our top recommendation for your camping trip in Victoria.
The national park is scattered with caravan parks that have camping sites as well as powered motorhome-friendly locations. Get close to nature and meet resident wildlife when staying in a forest park, or choose a campsite with access to incredible hikes just a short stroll from your tent. Camping in the Grampians will give you access to different sites with covered camp kitchens, shower facilities, wireless internet, televisions, pools and even tennis courts.
Pro Tip: Halls Gap Lakeside is one of our favourite campsites. You get fantastic views of the surrounding mountains, night-time campfires and even a woodfire-heated outdoor pool. Bookings can fill up quickly during weekends and school holiday periods, so call head to secure your spot at a campground of your choice.
New South Wales: Booderee National Park
At Booderee National Park, crystal-clear waters meet sandy white beaches and tall cliffs tower over the Pacific Ocean. Located in the Jervis Bay region of the New South Wales south coast, this area is our top pick for NSW campers. Booderee is Aboriginal land and it is owned by the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community who have been caring for the land and waters of Jervis Bay for many generations.
Just a three-hour drive from Sydney, the national park is an ideal getaway with activities like swimming, snorkelling, camping, boating and more. For a more relaxed camper, Booderee National Park features spectacular botanic gardens, native wildlife and amazing trails for bushwalking. When picking a spot to pitch your tent, Booderee offers a few options – for a natural setting and individual campsites, head over to Green Patch or the grassy area at Cave Beach. If you’re travelling with a larger group, make your way to Bristol Point.
Queensland: Noah Beach at Cape Tribulation
Let’s be honest, Noah Beach might just be the most iconic campsite in Queensland, if not across all of Australia. Imagine pitching your tent just 50 metres from where the rainforest meets the reef. Noah Beach in Cape Tribulation is huddled between the Great Barrier Reef on one side and the Daintree Rainforest on the other. This means that you’d be sleeping right in the middle of two World Heritage-listed sites with direct access to bushwalking in the rainforest and snorkelling in the reef. The campsite on Noah Beach is accessible by car and small campervans with a super scenic drive to the area, so prepare to be wow-ed by its otherworldly beauty that awaits you.
Tasmania: Freycinet National Park
Freycinet National Park is a truly magical place. It is a sanctuary to wondrous birdlife, secret bays, warm beaches and glistening granite peaks. Calling Tasmania’s east coast home, Freycinet Peninsula is best known for the breath-taking Wineglass Bay – the region’s most photographed and celebrated views.
The pretty coastal town of Coles Bay will be your camping base from which you can explore the national park, which is only a short drive away. Freycinet and Coles Bay offer a tremendous amount of activities to suit everyone – from bushwalking, sea kayaking, diving and snorkelling to beautiful beaches for a scenic picnic.
South Australia: Kuitpo Forest
South Australia is home to many rustic and long-standing forests, with Kuitpo Forest being a classic gem situated within the Mount Lofty Ranges. Less than an hour’s drive from Adelaide on the Fleurieu Peninsula, this magical forest looks like one pulled out of a fairytale. Dense canopies, native wildlife and a clear night sky enveloped in stars. Your campground to explore this area’s 3,600 hectares of native bushlands, is in Chookarloo. Around a 1.5km walk from the Kuitpo Information Centre, this location offers 23 campsites, fire pits, picnic areas and more surrounded in the dream-like setting of Kuitpo Forest. Wake up to the sound of native birdlife, take a stroll on Fleurieu Peninsula beaches, go wine-tasting in McLaren Vale and snuggle up by a warm campfire to end your day – doesn’t that sound like an ideal camping getaway?
Western Australia: Shark Bay
Shark Bay, the stunning World Heritage-listed area is a true delight for nature-lovers. The area is riddled with marine life, from inquisitive dolphins and laid-back dugongs, to fine eating fish and – as the name suggests – 28 shark species. Shark Bay encapsulates the town of Denham, the nearby communities of Monkey Mia and Hamelin Pool, as well as the jaw-droppingly beautiful national parks Francois Peron and Dirk Hartog. With all that to explore, we recommend adding this breath-taking spot in the westernmost point of Australia to your next camping plan.