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Victoria’s purpose-built campsites are pretty damn perfect for when you need an easy escape into nature, but if you’re keen to really get off-grid, the state’s wild camping sites are where it’s at. To help you get your fix of fresh air – without wasting heaps of time driving in the car – we spoke with the outdoor pros at Hipcamp for their picks of the very best wild camping spots all within a two-hour drive from Melbourne.
Seven Hills Tallarook, Tallarook
Drive time from Melbourne: Approx. 1 hour 15 minutes
Spread across 600 acres of rolling bushland, valleys and working farmland, this Tallarook escape lets you choose your own camping adventure. Go full back-to-basics or book a site with hot showers, flush toilets and kitchen facilities – then embrace your inner farmer and spend your downtime saying hello to alpacas, ponies, pigs, goats and other friendly farm residents.
Bushy Ridge Hideaway, Flowerdale
Drive time from Melbourne: Approx. 1 hour 20 minutes
Hidden among the “valley of a thousand hills” on Taungurung Country, this secluded Flowerdale campsite is all about peaceful bush views and simple country charm. With just two campsites, ridge-top panoramas, friendly farm animals, a yabby-filled dam and optional power and water, it's a brilliant base for exploring the Murrindindi and Kinglake region.
The Fern Glade, Murrindindi
Drive time from Melbourne: Approx. 1 hour 40 minutes
If riverside camping is your love language, this private 20-acre retreat ticks all the boxes with three spacious campsites bordering the Murrindindi River. Spend your days fishing, bird-watching or visiting nearby Wilhelmina Falls before settling in around the fire under some of Victoria's darkest, star-filled skies.
Tea Tree Creek Bush Camp, Elaine
Drive time from Melbourne: Approx. 1 hour 30 minutes
This 550-acre working sheep farm offers more than your average paddock stay, with yabby and trout-filled fishing dams (and even some resident eels) to keep campers entertained. Kangaroos, echidnas and gorgeous native birds will be your neighbours, but you'll need to come fully self-contained as there are no toilets, showers or drinking water.
Toolangi Springwater Forest Camp, Toolangi
Drive time from Melbourne: Approx. 1 hour 15 minutes
Nature lovers will fall deeply in love with this private forest campsite surrounded by towering native bush, spring-fed ponds and abundant wildlife. Borrow the rowboat, wander to the nearby Yea River or explore Toolangi State Forest and the Black Spur, keeping an eye out for the critically endangered round-leaf pomaderris growing nearby.
Anakie Gorge Getaway, Staughton Vale
Drive time from Melbourne: Approx. 1 hour 15 minutes
Set right beside the entrance to the Anakie Gorge Walk, this off-grid campsite is one of the best places to base yourself before or after tackling one of the Brisbane Ranges' most scenic hikes. Expect open grassland, peaceful surrounds and easy access to nearby picnic facilities, making it ideal for walkers looking for a quiet overnight escape.
Wildcroft – An Escape to the Country, Yea
Drive time from Melbourne: Approx. 1 hour 40 minutes
Whether you're after a comfortable country camp or a rugged 4WD adventure, this sprawling 600-acre Yea property has got you. Set up your tent among horses, cows, wombats and kangaroos in the main campground with hot showers and toilets, or head up to the remote Hilton site for a true off-grid experience complete with spectacular hilltop views.
