The 10 best free campgrounds in Australia

Tucked away in Queensland’s rugged north-west, Julia Creek is a popular outback stopover for travellers doing a full lap of Australia. The town’s award-winning caravan park offers everything from self-contained cabins and twin-single units to powered sites, but for those keen on keeping things budget-friendly, there’s a designated free camping area right on the water’s edge of Julia Creek. You can grab a free, four-day camping permit from the onsite Camp Hosts during peak tourist season (April to September) or from the Julia Creek Visitor Information Centre from October to March. While you’re in town, make use of the free cruiser bikes or soak your worries away in Julia Creek’s famous artesian baths – just make sure to book ahead. 

Where: Julia Creek, North Outback QLD

How far: Seven-hour drive from Townsville

Facilities: Unpowered camping sites, picnic tables, bush cook camps, bins

Tasmania’s East Coast is without a doubt one of the most beautiful places in the entire world. At the heart of it is Freycinet National Park – a wildly popular destination known for the postcard-perfect Wineglass Bay. Within the park, you’ll find the free Friendly Beaches Campground that was recently restored after fire damage in 2023. The beachside site now features two new toilet blocks, viewing platforms with easy access to the sandy shores and smoother road access. You’ll need a valid parks pass to enter Freycinet National Park, but camping here won’t cost a cent – it’s first-in, first-served, and you can stay for up to two weeks.

Where: Freycinet National Park, Coles Bay, TAS

How far: 2.5-hour drive from Hobart

Facilities: Unpowered sites for tents and caravans, pit toilets, picnic tables, electric barbecues

Thredbo is the place to be in Australia during our snow season. But the more hardcore opt for camping at Thredbo Diggings down by Thredbo River, rather than the village’s cosy chalets. Be warned that this location is chilly all year round, but especially in the winter months of July and August, when the lake freezes over and snow peppers the campground. The lake is prime for catching wild trout, and the ground is only a 15-minute drive to the slopes. While the campground is free, you will need to purchase a National Park pass, and if you’re booking online in advance, a small booking fee applies.

Where: Kosciuszko National Park, Thredbo-Perisher, NSW

How far: 5.5-hour drive from Sydney CBD, or 2.5-hour drive from Canberra

Facilities: Unpowered sites for tents, trailers or campervans, toilets, barbecues, picnic tables

Despite its tropical location, this popular Cairns swimming hole is a surprisingly cool refuge from Queensland’s muggy heat. The Babinda Boulders lining the waterway have been smoothed over by water flowing from the nearby Mount Bartle Frere, making for awesome spots to lie out and soak up the sun, reptile-style. A 1.3 kilometre walk downstream from the picnic area will lead you to the Devil’s Pool, which was named after a dreamtime story from the Yidinji people involving two lovers, adultery, an escape and a whole lot of tears (spoiler: they flowed into the gushing waters you see today). You can stay in the campground for free for up to three nights, with no bookings required.

Where: Babinda, Cairns Region, QLD

How far: One-hour drive from Cairns

Facilities: Unpowered sites for tents, caravans and large motorhomes, plus toilets, hot showers ($2 coin-operated), barbecues, shaded picnic tables

This scenic little spot near Albany is the perfect landing pad for exploring the region's bluer than blue coastlines. Due to its beauty and tiny secluded location, the place could be at full capacity by the time you arrive – but fear not, because there are multiple campgrounds speckled along Albany's coastal reserves. East Bay is especially popular for swimming, and the vistas are unreal. The free campground backs onto the beach’s sand dunes, making it only a couple of paces from your bed to the water, while nearby Cosy Corner Campground is set up with picnic facilities.

Where: Manypeaks, City of Albany, WA

How far: Five-hour drive from Perth

Facilities: Tent sites, drop toilets

Venture to the southernmost point of Australia accessible by car, where the only thing separating you from Antarctica is the Southern Ocean. While its location way down south means Cockle Creek and its surrounds in Recherche Bay are a little chilly, the beach is certainly still to be admired and is swimmable in the summer months (prepare for it to be more on the refreshing side). You can also snorkel, explore the bay and bushwalk the many tracks snaking through the bushland. The campground is free, but make sure you’ve got a pass to the Southwest National Park. PS: It's first come, first served, so cross your fingers and don't arrive too late.

Where: Southwest National Park, Cockle Creek, TAS

How far: Two-hour drive from Hobart

Facilities: Unpowered sites for tents and caravans, pit toilets, picnic tables, a water tank

If your great Aussie road trip has brought you to Uluru in the heart of the land Down Under, this pit stop will be a great (and scenic) break from your travels. Many have actually mistaken Mount Conner for Uluru, and while it stands a couple of metres shorter than the famed Australian monolith, the views are still pretty unreal. The rest area is a small detour off from Lasseter Highway and is situated on a cattle farm. The private property charges for their powered sites and cabins, but unpowered sites are free. They operate on a first-in-best-dressed basis, so try to arrive earlier in the day.

Where: Curtin Springs Station, Alice Springs region, NT 

How far: One-hour drive from Uluru

Facilities: Free unpowered sites, showers ($4) and fire (BYO firewood), plus a restaurant and barbecue area nearby

South Australia's Eyre Peninsula is one of the best places for a coastal road trip in Australia. Once you've watched the sunset peak its rays through Talia Caves – a gorgeous keyhole lookout leading to many rockpools and home to dolphins and seals – set up camp for the night at the nearby Lake Newland Conservation Park. Free, self-suf­fi­cient bush camp­ing is per­mit­ted in the park – just don't expect any frills, like toilets or barbecues. 

Where: Talia, Eyre Peninsula, SA

How far: Seven-hour drive from Adelaide

Facilities: Self-sufficient bush camping 

Hidden just out of Kangaroo Valley, this beautiful open flat stretch of grass is a perfect place to set up camp for all its neighbouring attractions. The campsite itself is situated on the banks of Kangaroo River and is complete with quaint little picnic areas. This spot even has the luxury of toilets. Explore the river and Lake Yarrunga where you can fish, kayak and swim. While seeing kangaroos and wallabies is almost a guarantee at any Aussie campground, Bendeela is especially known for visits from regular wombat residents. Although free, you'll need to pre-book this popular site, and there is a small online booking fee.

Where: Lake Yarrunga (Tallowa Dam), Kangaroo Valley, NSW

How far: Two-hour drive from Sydney CBD

Facilities: Unpowered campsites, toilets, drinking water

Victoria's Barmah National Park is home to an abundance of free campgrounds, all of which will give you a front row seat to the area’s bountiful flora and fauna. Twitchers can spot more than 200 species of feathered friends and should stay on the lookout for emus, koalas and, of course, kangaroos. The park sits on the land of the native Yorta Yorta people and is carefully preserved, so be sure to leave nothing but footprints. Barmah Lakes campground and picnic area is perched right on the edge of the waterway belonging to Australia’s largest river, the expansive Murray River. No bookings are required for this free site.

Where: Barmah National Park, VIC

How far: Three-hour drive from Melbourne

Facilities: Shaded sites for tents and caravans, drop toilets, picnic tables, fire pits