Australia So Much to See

Although many National Parks campground in New South Wales do not meet my criteria of low cost, some do. Most charge $5, $7 or $10 per adult per night unpowered, and daily park entrance fee may apply according to park). Note that New South Wales daily park entry and camping fees have increased from 6th October 2015. Those charging $20 for two per night plus daily park entrance fee are not low cost, particuladrly when park amenities are little more than a pit toilet. For those with a Parks Pass or Age Pension exemption, they are cost effective. Some park campgrounds have a seasonal fee structure with a low fee only available in off peak season. Prices quoted below are either per site for two, or per adult as specified. Discount prices for families or for children may apply. Only a few of these are listed hereunder. A full listing can be seen at NSW National Parks Campgrounds. Select Caravan Access from the picklist for your search if you need this access. Parks may be subject to closure due to seasonal conditions (fires, flooding, road damage). Check for closures at Parks Closures.

Also there are low cost camping unpowered sites available in a number of State Parks at NSW State Parks Campgrounds, some of which may be included hereunder.

A number of State Forests provide free camping areas. Some may be listed here. See NSW Forest Camping for a complete list.

New South Wales highway rest areas can be seen here; choose interactive map or table format.

Many inland New South Wales towns are providing free or low cost camping to attract visitors and business to their towns. Visit and support these towns. Even commercial caravan parks in many rural towns are around $20 - $25 for two powered site which is still good value.

Showgrounds: Read more here about showground and sports ground camping, and where to find the best directory of showgrounds and sports grounds. These are mostly in addition to what is listed on these pages.

Abercrombie Caves - 71 kilometres south of Bathurst off the Goulburn Road. Fireplaces and water. Fees apply.

Abercrombie River National Park – via Oberon. Bummaroo Ford campground in the only one of several Abercrombie National Park campgrounds that is caravan accessible. 74 kilometres south of Oberon. Pit toilets.

Albert – Community run serviced campground $10 per night

Albury region: Free. Mount Lawson - Koetong Creek, Running Creek Road, Mount Lawson State Park, 88 kilometres West of Albury Post Office (via Murray Valley Highway), no amenities. Lake Hume - Police Paddocks off Omeo Highway. 55 kilometres East of Albury Railway Station (via Murray Valley Highway) Toilets and picnic area. Lake Hume - The Kurrajongs, Murray River Road, West of Burrowye, 69.5 kilometres North East of Albury Railway Station (via Talgarno Road). Lake foreshore camping, toilets and picnic area. Albury Wodonga Equestrian Centre, Thurgoona - see AWEC website; $12 for an unpowered site ($22 for a powered site being outside of low cost range). Book on line at AWEC to ensure a place as grounds may be fully booked at times of events. Toilets, showers, kitchen with a fridge, stove and microwave, laundry for hand washing only (no machines). No time limits. Office open for payments and bookings Monday to Friday 9:30 am to 3 pm.

Alstonville Showground provides sites with water, power, amenities and accept pets. Phone number 02 66280358 $15 per site unpowered ($25 per site powered).

Ariah Park – Between Ardlethan and Temora. Campground powered sites $10 per night for two. Pay for two and get third night free. $5 unpowered. Toilets and hot showers, wood barbecues and picnic shelters. Pets permitted.

Armidale – Armidale Showground - $11 unpowered site and $22 powered site. Adequate amenities, pets permitted. Phone caretakers on 0400639630 or 0400966665

~~Dumaresq Dam fourteen kilometres west of Armidale. Lovely lakeside location with flushing toilets and picnic shelter. One power outlet – see Visitor Centre for key. Free~~ . See our review Closed see News Page

Ashford - Ashford Caravan Park,Bukkulla Street, Ashford. Full amenities, pets permitted. $13 grassy powered sites, washing machines free, dump point. Kwiambal National Park, Ashford. Lemon Tree Flat campground; $5 per person per night, toilets and water, access suitable for caravans. Wells Crossing,Pindari Dam Road, Ashford, picnic area, free. Pindari Dam is located on the Severn River 22 kilometres from Ashford and 63 kilometres from Inverell, with modern amenities block including solar heated showers. Free.

Ballina - See Wardell twelve kilometres south of Ballina

Baradine - Dandry Gorge, Timmallallie National Park, Baradine - toilet, barbecue and picnic area. Also Salt Caves in the Pilliga Forest - with toilet, barbecue and picnic area. Free

Barkers Vale – see Kyogle

Barrington - Barrington Reserve backs on to the Barrington River, small fee applies, bookings can be made by phoning the Barrington General Store 02 6558 4249. Bretti and Glory Vale free camp grounds are close to the Manning River along Thunderbolts way; old pit toilets only, fresh water can be drawn from the river. See our reviews on Bretti and Copeland. Copeland Commonon the Scone road to Barrinton Tops, west of Barrington. Old pit toilets and picnic tables. Private camp ground Poley’s Place Thunderbolts Way offers low cost camping rates except when events are held there. Private camp ground Camp Cobark on the Scone road close to Barrington Tops: Riverside Camping $11 per family; Camping area with toilets $15 a family. Camp Cobark specialises in horse riding. National Park camp grounds at Barrington Tops, Gloucester River and Woko National Parks: See NSW National Parks Not all are suitable for caravans.

Batemans Bay and Surrounds - Murramarang National Park. Park entry fee of $7 per day per vehicle or seasonal pass applies to all campgrounds in the park. Serviced camps charge $10 per person unpowered and more for powered sites if available. Free campgrounds include Oakey Beach Camping Area (in Murramarang National Park), free camping area, no facilities. North Head, South Durras Camping Area (in Murramarang National Park), free camping area, pit toilets. These free campgrounds are listed as not suited to caravans and park entry fee of $7 per day per vehicle or seasonal pass applies.

Bathurst - Up to 72 hours free at Berry Park rest area 1.3 kilometres from the CBD on eastern side of Evans Bridge. Existing park with barbecues, covered seating, rubbish bins, water. Small rigs only (eleven metres maximum). Pets allowed. Ben Chifley Dam Primitive Camping Area with a maximum of four campsites and a maximum stay of three days. Access gates are opened at 7.30 am daily and closed at 6 pm during winter and 9 pm during daylight saving. Nineteen kilometres south east of Bathurst, click for Directions to Ben Chifley Dam. See also Sunny Corner 36 kilometres east of Bathurst in the Sunny Corner State Forest, and Macquarie Woods which is approximately 27 kilometres west of Bathurst in the Vittoria State Forest.

Beckom – Overnight campground opposite the Hotel. Toilets and picnic tables. Power available – see Hotel. Donation requested. Beckom is in the Coolamon Shire, around 500 metres north of the Newell Highway nine kilometres north east of Ardlethan.

Bega - Gillards Campground, Mimosa Rock National Park. $10 per person per night. Pit toilets, barbecues. Four week time limit and two week limit during school holidays.

Bendemeer - Rodeo ground Rest Area. 24 hours only, toilets on site but no showers. Note that a fee of $5 now applies and is payable at Bendeeer Tourist Park or in honesty box on site out of hours.

Berrima – See also Wingello and Bundanoon. Berrima River Reserve, Oxley Drive, Berrima, four sites only, currently $15 per night per site, with toilets, cold showers, grey water disposal, picnic tables/shelter, barbecue, playground, fishing, bushwalking. Maximum stay two nights within any four week period. Maximum rig length thirteen metres. No generators, fires, outdoor showers or running of water onto the ground. No bins. Phone 1300125944 to book and arrange payment. Wingecarribee Shire Council phone 02 48680888 Email wscmail@nsw.gov.au. Daly’s Clearing Campground, Belanglo State Forest Berrima, free bush camping, toilets, dogs allowed. Mackay VC Rest Area, Hume Highway, Sutton Forest (southbound) eight kilometres south west of Berrima, toilets, wheelchair accessible, picnic table, water (boil first), dogs allowed, will take large rigs. Kingsbury VC Rest Areasouth of Berrima and Mittagong, Penrose State Forest, Hume Highway, (southbound only), toilets, wheelchair accessible, picnic tables, water (boil first), dogs allowed, will take large rigs. These VC rest areas are part of a memorial to prominent soldiers which has been created along the Hume Highway.

Berry - Berry Showground $10 per person per night unpowered ($13 per person powered). Showers and toilets, pets on leashes. Cretaker on site. Closed to casual campers around show time. Berry Lions Park, free, toilets, five sites.

Bethungra (between Cootamundra and Junee) - Free camping at Bethungra Dam, Olympic Highway, access via Bethungra Waterworks Road; toilets, barbecues and bins

Bigga - Recreation Ground near Cowra offers 72 hours free camping right in the heart of Bigga village and $10 per night thereafter. Renovated amenities block including toilets and hot showers. No powered sites. Grabine Lakeside State Park at Lake Wyangala; campground with unpowered sites $10 (limited powered sites $20). Toilets and hot showers, no drinking water. Pets permitted. $7 park entry fee applies.

Binda - 21 kilometres north of Crookwell on the road to Tuena, opposite General Store. Free. Public toilets, picnic tables, barbecues, potable water, playground, pet friendly.

Binnaway - Pumphouse Camping Ground, Bullinda Street, Binnaway, coin operated powered sites $2 for three hours, toilets, coin operated hot showers $2, gas barbecues. Independent camping free or donation.

Bombala Shire – Camping areas can be found within the South East Forests however many of these are not suitable for caravans. For a summary of suitability see: NSW National Park Camping No camping fees and park entry fees apply to this park.

Boorowa - Currently closed to casual campers Unpowered camping $15 per night at Showground; toilets always open but showers are locked - a key can be obtained from the Shire office. Saleyards camping
$16.50 per night.

Brewarrina -

Four Mile Reserve, six kilometres south east of Brewarrina in the Barwon River. Basic toilets and a cold shower by boat ramp and jetty. A track heads east along the river to camping sites amongst shady trees. Free.

Broke (Singleton Shire) – Free campground with flush toilets with barbecues and picnic area at McNamara Park spread out alongside Wollombi Brook. Three day limit.

Bulahdelah - Lions Park freecamp (donation) alongside river, toilets across bridge in town, dump point in town. Bulahdelah Showground has a small area for fully self contained motorhomes only weeknights only, no caravans, no facilities, three day limit and fees apply.

Bundanoon south of Berrima and Mittagong - Gambells Rest, Morton National Park, Bundanoon. Bookings necessary – phone 02 4887 7270. Cost applies – currently $10 per night per adult – peak, $7 per person per night – off peak. Toilets, showers, barbecues, water.

Bungendore –Showground $20 for powered or unpowered site subject to some conditions. Toilets and showers. Caretaker on site. Plenty of room to choose your spot but do not camp near main buildings or at horse yards area. Check first as camping is not available during major events. 0428 3030 23 (please leave a message with contact details) or email msthor81@gmail.com. Bungendore Showground is located three kilometres west of Bungendore on Mathews lane, off Bungendore Road. Bungendore is a convenient thirty minute drive east of Canberra. In town -Unofficial 24 hour camping in the park near the swimming pool (and opposite the police station) is free, toilets.

Bungonia - National Parks campground. Showers, toilets, water. Book on line. Park entry fees apply.

Burcher – Community run campground with hot showers, camp kitchen, scheme water from dam and tank water for drinking available, powered sites. Gold coin donation (make your donation at hotel). See our review

Burren Junction (betweenNarrabri and Walgett) – Burren Junction Bore Baths; Free. Toilets, showers, power to amenities block, Kamilaroi Highway Burren Junction

Burrowye - Burrowye Reserve, Murray River Road, Burrowye, eighty kilometres North East of Albury (via Talgarno Road). Riverside camping, no amenities. Free. See also Albury, Lake Hume.

Carcoar - Carcoar Dam, seven kilometres from Carcoar and south of Blayney Free camping with toilets, cold showers and water. Power points in amenities block but no power for campsites.

Carinda Sports ground 69 kilometres south west of Walgett – Free, with toilets and cold showers.

Caroona – 30 kilometres north west of Quirindi - free basic campground.

Cobar – Note Old Reservoir and Neweys dam are not authorised camping. The only authorised area is the Cornish Rest Area, Kidman Way and Barrier Highway which has a toilet and covered picnic tables.

Collarenebri – Free primitive camping ground. Toilets, showers and dump point provided. Also showground camping $11.

Conargo - between Wagga and Deniliquin. Two small free campgrounds; next to the sports ground and at Bill’s Park, both have toilets and water (non potable), with dump point at Bill’s Park.

Condobolin - Free (donation) short stay camping at Gum Bend Lake, 14 day limit. Three kilometres out of Condobolin following Bathurst Street. Hot showers and toilets, barbecues and picnic areas. Power at amenities block only. Riverview Caravan Park, for self contained vehicles 24 hour only, fees $10 per night per vehicle which includes showers plus access to dump point and the ability to refill water tanks.

Coolah – Glenron Camping Area five kilometres south of Coolah. Small bush style camp ground. $10 per vehicle unpowered and $15 per vehicle powered. Limited number of sites.

Coolamon – Council run fully serviced caravan park $10 per night.

Coopernook (Taree Shire) Coopernook Forest Park, Forest Drive, South Moorland to the north of Taree – toilets, wood barbecues, free

Corowa -Kyffins Reserve, Spring Drive, 85 kilometres west of Albury (via Corowa). Riverside camping, no amenities

Cowra – Showground camping fully serviced powered sites $20. Farleigh's Beach on Lachlan River ten kilometres from Cowra, free, basic toilets. See alsoGooloogong, Darby's Falls,Tuena, and Bigga

Crookwell – Caravan Park, Shire owned, $18 for two unpowered ($26 powered). See alsoTuena, Binda, Abercrombie River National Park

Culcairn – Culcairn Caravan Park $11 unpowered and $15 powered site

Currabubula – 35 kilometres north of Quirindi, via Werris Creek - Recreation Ground in Maitland Street, upgraded toilets and hot showers, 72 hour limit, donation requested.

Currawarna State Forest, off Old Narrandera Road, Currawarna via Wagga Wagga. boat ramp, swimming, camping, fishing, free

Darbys Falls - A small free camping area on the Lachlan River at Darbys Falls Reserve, 2.5 from Darbys Falls townsite or 26 kilometres south east of Cowra, no facilities

Delegate (Bombala Shire) – Unpowered sites $13 and powered $17.50.

Delungra - Delungra Showground, Inverell Street, Delungra. Toilets and showers. $15 powered site. Pay at Hotel.

Deniliquin - Parking area on Davidson Street for up to three days with toilets, water and dump point. Murray Valley Regional Park in Deniliquin; no facilities

Dubbo – Terramungamine fourteen kilometres from Dubbo, being four kilometres west of Brocklehurst to the north of town. Quiet location by the Macquarie River near an Aboriginal cultural site. Flushing toilets. Free. See our review. See also Eumungerie, Geurie Racecourse, Toongi Hall,

Dunedoo – Dunedoo Caravan Park $15 for two unpowered ($20 powered).

Eumungerie –Camping closed November 2023 40 kilometres north of Dubbo and one kilometre east of the Newell Highway - $10 powered and $5 unpowered. Large flat area at showground with powered site near amenities block. Good amenities block with toilets, handbasins, and showers cold only.

Forbes - RV friendly rest area on the banks of the lake in Junction Street. Free with a limit of 48 hours. Taps provided, with toilets and a dump point nearby at the Lions Park. Lachlan River (Four Mile) approximately two kilometres west of the Newell Highway on The Lachlan Valley Way (the old Forbes-Condobolin Road), riverside camping can be accessed where it is not on private property. Jemalong Weir 25 kilometres west of Forbes on the Lachlan Valley Way has a free campground, no facilities. Straney’s Bridge approximately 35 kilometres west of Forbes on The Lachlan Valley Way (the old Forbes-Condobolin Road) is another place for independent camping.

Girilambone - Free Camping at Girilambone with power and hot showers

Glen Davis – 33 kilometres east of Capertee. Free serviced camping area with toilets and hot showers, wood barbecues, in a lovely location. See our review

Glengarry Hilton in the opal fields 75 kilometres north of Walgett or 75 kilometres west of Lightning Ridge $18 per site.

Glenreagh Showground (on the inland road between Grafton and Coffs Harbour). Power, toilets and showers $10 per night.

Gloucester – See also Barrington and Copeland. National Park camp grounds at Barrington Tops, Gloucester River (now within Barrington Tops National Park) andWoko National Parks. Not all are suitable for caravans

Gooloogong - Camping Area, Gooloogong, free (donation box), hot showers, limited powered sites.

Grafton – Showgrounds $20 per night powered for two or a family, and $15 unpowered. $3 per adult above two. Alternative option at Grafton Greyhound Racing Club with showers, toilets and laundry; unpowered sites $17 ($23 for powered), room for large rigs. Not available during major events eg first two weeks in July, first week of November and usually the first week in May – check for events on website Grafton Greyhounds

Grawin/Glengarry/Sheepyard - Sheepyard Inn in the opal fields ten kilometres south of Grawin and 80 kilometres west of Lightning Ridge. Free, showers $2; use chip heaters for hot water.

Grenfell – Free camping at Company’s Dam about two kilometres north west of the town viaBradley Street. Toilets, picnic area and bins. Also Ben Hall campground in the Weddin Mountains National Park, with pit toilets and picnic area, no water - free. Grenfell Caravan Park $16 unpowered and $20 powered site for two.

Griffith -The Willows, Kookora Street. 24 hour maximum stay, toilets, dump point and water, pets permitted. Lake Wyangan, eight kilometres to the north of the town via Lakes Road. Toilets, Basic cold showers. Cocoparra National Park, approximately 25 kilometres north east of Griffith via Myall Park Road, Yenda. Pit toilets. Small campground off a forestry track, not recommended for caravans.

Geurie – 25 kilometres north west of Wellington and 30 kilometres south east of Dubbo via Mitchell Highway - Geurie racecourse and recreation reserve, $10 with power, water, toilets and hot showers.

Gunnedah - Showground $12 powered site on green grass, caretaker on site,clean toilets and showers and dump point. Dogs permitted. Access from South Street. Dump point at showground.

Gunning - (between Goulburn and Yass) Barbour Park alongside Meadow Creek, behind the swimming pool car park with good grassed area and very popular for over nighters off the Hume freeway and a short walk to the main street. Cold showers and toilets, barbecue and picnic area and water. Two day limit.

Guyra – Mother of Ducks Lagoon free campground near the town centre. Flush toilets and water provided. 48 hour limit.

Gwabegar (40 kilometres north of Baradine) - Free camping Anzac Park, Gwabegar. Picnic area, no toilets.

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