Best summer camping spots around Australia
Dirk Hartog Island, Coral Coast, WA. (Image: Will Wardle)

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Curated selection of points

We reveal nine of the best camping spots to pitch a tent this summer in Australia.

Get ready to https://www.australiantraveller.com/reclaim-summer/ with our pick of the best places to camp in your own backyard.Be it a remote and rugged bush camp or a glampsite that leans toward luxe, it's time to plot a course to some of the best campgrounds across the country.
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1
NRMA Merimbula Beach Holiday Resort

Camp next to golden beaches just outside the kitsch seaside town of Merimbula.

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2 Short Point Road, Merimbula, NSW, Australia, 2548
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Commanding clifftop views over the Pacific Ocean isn’t the only surprising feature at this http://nrmaparksandresorts.com.au/merimbula-beach. Those who live for hot summer days with their toes in the sand and sea salt on their skin won’t be disappointed: the resort is flanked by two quiet golden beaches, and there are plenty more shores to explore just a short drive away (Bar Beach is a beautiful little lick of silica).
2
The Neck Campsite, Bruny Island

The Neck is Tassie at its most endearingly elemental.

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Tourism Australia
South Bruny, TAS, Australia
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Sheltered behind sand dunes and amid a grove of lofty eucalyptus trees, this unpowered https://parks.tas.gov.au/explore-our-parks/south-bruny-national-park/south-bruny-camping is only 20 metres from the beach. Take a twilight stroll along the windswept shoreline for big gulps of salty sea air and a chance to spot fairy penguins coming home to roost. You’ll doze off to the sounds of the ocean, and wake up to golden light streaming through the trees. Arrive early if you want to secure a spot at this popular (and unbookable) site.
3
Bellwether Wines GlampingBellwether

Bellwether is a bucolic farm-cum-boutique-winery on South Australia’s Limestone Coast.

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14183 Riddoch Hwy, Coonawarra, SA, Australia, SA 5263
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Pitch your tent or glamp among the lush grass and ancient gum trees on one of the six sites at https://www.bellwetherwines.com.au/. All guests get a private hour of wine tasting in the old stone shearing shed. The rustic camp kitchen has everything you might need. Pluck fresh herbs and produce from the kitchen garden for dinner, and crack a few of the truly ‘farm fresh’ eggs for breakfast.
4
Leliyn (Edith Falls), Nitmiluk National ParkEdith Falls NT

In the heart of Jawoyn country, amid the ochre sandstone, lies a serene waterhole that has captured the heart of many a camper.

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Tourism NT/Mitch Cox
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Leliyn, also known as Edith Falls, promises respite from the pulls of modern life. Here, just a short walk from the campground, you’ll find tiered natural pools linked by a waterfall that emerge from behind the trees and scrub like a mirage. https://northernterritory.com/katherine-and-surrounds/see-and-do/leliyn----nitmiluk-national-park itself offers every basic amenity you could need – gas barbecues, picnic tables, hot showers, and a kiosk dishing up homemade fare that earns rave reviews. There are also water fountains dotted around the grassy flat.
5
Dirk Hartog Island

Load up the four-wheel drive and set the GPS for Dirk Hartog Island when only the wildest, most remote escape will do.

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Will Wardle
Dirk Hartog Island, WA, Australia
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Here, there are no powered camp sites, phone reception is extremely limited and only eight vehicles are allowed on the island at any one time.There are three different https://www.dirkhartogisland.com/ available at DHI, all of which feature hot showers and fresh drinking water; two of these can be booked for exclusive use with private camp kitchens. More intrepid or budget-conscious campers can opt for one of the island’s nine basic national park campsites.
6
Smalleys Beach Cape hillsborough

Spend your summer holidays at Smalleys Beach campground and you don’t have to choose between the beach and the bush.

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Tourism Australia
Cape Hillsborough, QLD, Australia
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https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/cape-hillsborough/camping has just 11 spacious, sun-dappled camping spots on offer, some with beach views.After a camp breakfast, explore the ridge-top lookouts, mangrove forests and boardwalks frequented by birds and butterflies within the Cape Hillsborough National Park.Book online in advance to reserve your pitch.
7
Mt Barney Lodge

The Sunshine State might be best known for its beaches, but delve into the verdant hinterland and you’ll question why you didn’t sooner.

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@jonesysjourneys
1093 Upper Logan Rd Mt Barney QLD, Mount Barney, QLD, Australia, 4287
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Skirting Mount Barney National Park ’s entrance is https://www.mtbarneylodge.com.au/, a 12-hectare property that fronts onto a creek and boasts a screensaver-worthy shot of the eponymous mountain as its backdrop.This rural retreat takes sustainability seriously, too, from pressing guests to bring reusable water bottles to placing compost bins in every building, using energy-saving light-bulbs and plenty more beyond.
8
Cowes Foreshore Tourist Park

Now, here is a campsite that doesn’t feel like a tourist bubble cut off from civilisation.

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164 Church St, Cowes, VIC, Australia, 3922
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Not only does https://www.cowesforeshoretouristpark.com.au/ occupy a plum beachfront setting and all the mod cons you could ask for, but the township of Cowes is just a 10-minute walk away. Mosey into town for a tasting paddle at modern and minimalist Ocean Reach Brewing, or a flute of local sparkling at the cosy Grenache Wine Bar without worrying about designated drivers. You can also stroll into town along the beach without worrying about where to park when the daytrippers descend.
9
Lime Bay State Reserve - Tasmania

This campground on the Tasman Peninsula campsite suits those who crave more than palm trees, sundowners and beaches.

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Hobart, TAS, Australia
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You can still wander barefoot on pristine white sand and marvel at grand blue skies; in fact, this https://parks.tas.gov.au/explore-our-parks/lime-bay-state-reserve/lime-bay-camping is well-known as prime boating, kayaking and snorkelling territory thanks to its sheltered bay location and fetching turquoise waters. But the bigger draw here is arguably the local history: explore the bleak legacy of Tassie’s former penal colonies at the World Heritage-listed Coal Mines Historic Site and the Port Arthur Historic Site.

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