When it was announced that Victorians would have access to free camping, we were all for it. It was supposed to be a cost of living helping hand to get people into the great outdoors – what could go wrong? It turns out, a few things. After the change didn't go according to plan, the state government has announced camping will no longer be free of charge.
The state government brought in the switch to make campsites across Victoria fee-free at the beginning of December 2024. This included all sites managed by Parks Victoria, 131 campgrounds in total, many of them within beloved state and national parks like the Great Otway National Park, Wilson's Promontory National Park, and many more. Typically, to camp at one of the most popular Victorian camping spots like Tidal River, you'd pay around $40 per night.
The free camping was initially flagged as a temporary change, with an end date of June 30 this year, and now the state government has confirmed it won't be extended. Instead, it announced that campsites will be available at half-price until June 2027. Hey, we'll take it!
Several news outlets have reported that the period of free campsites actually caused more harm than good for regional tourism, due to many people not showing up for reservations at fully-booked campgrounds. So here's hoping that this half-price change won't cause the same problems.
To manage the high-demand for cheap camping, bookings will be staggered by location, with the most popular campsites becoming available first. Bookings for Tidal River (undoubtedly the most coveted spot) will open on Monday, June 2, followed by other spots like Johanna Beach, Lake Catani and Banksia Bluff on June 4. This will apply for bookings up until December 17, with bookings for peak season becoming available from June 30.
For more information, check out the Parks Victoria website. Or if you're looking for a free campsite outside of those dates, take a look at this list of spots that are always free for campers.
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