It’s an interesting top 20 just released for Tourism Australia’s 2022 Best Beaches – includes some quirky spots, some with indigenous history, on islands, cities, including a lake and rivers!
Australia has the largest number of beaches of any country in the world with close to 12,000 beaches, so it would have been a tough job.
We give you their list PLUS campgrounds or caravan parks closest to each beautiful location…
1.Misery Beach, Albany WA
There are plenty of caravan parks in nearby Albany.
2. Horseshoe Bay, South West Rocks, NSW
Stop at Horseshoe Bay Holiday Park, or one of the other two caravan parks in town.
3.The Spit, Gold Coast, QLD
Main Beach Caravan Park is closest to walk and just opposite the Main Beach Surf Club. Just across the water are Broadwater and Southport Tourist Parks.
4. Flaherty’s Beach, Yorke Peninsula, SA
Point Turton Caravan Park overlooks this beautiful beach. Further north are two budget beach camps, Len Barker Reserve and Burners Beach. Point Turton is on the south west side of Yorke Peninsula, overlooking Spencer Gulf.
5. Loch Ard Gorge, Port Campbell, VIC
Port Campbell is just west of the spectacular gorge on the Great Ocean Road. Choose from the NRMA Port Campbell Holiday Park and Port Campbell Recreation Reserve.
6. The Neck, Bruny Island, TAS
The Neck Campground is budget priced and only 20 metres from the beach! There are other campgrounds, too: a donation pub stay, private campgrounds, a caravan park and budget national park campgrounds. Image by CAMPS traveller Lyn Hutton from No Boundaries, who loved their visit here.
7. Blue Pearl Bay, Whitsundays, QLD
This ‘pearler’ (excuse the pun) of a beach is on Hayman Island and we list loads of caravan parks in beautiful Airlie Beach. Whitsunday, Henning and Hook Islands in Whitsunday Islands National Park also offers camping – there are 11 tent only campgrounds. They have toilets and some have picnic tables.
8. Depot Beach, South Coast, NSW
Depot Beach Campground is only metres from the dunes. Check it out in Murramarang National Park just north of Batemans Bay. Image courtesy of Kate Gilmore.
9. Murrays Beach, Jervis Bay Territory, ACT/NSW
The closest place to bring your van is Green Patch Campground, in Booderee National Park – a haven for wildlife. Behind Murrays Beach, take the Governors Head lookout trail. This is where you’ll find out about Bowen Island and its penguins.
10. Dundee Beach, Darwin, NT
You can stay right here at Dundee Beach Holiday Park, and bring your fishing rod. Note that it is actually 133 km south west of Darwin.
11. Dudley Beach, Newcastle, NSW
This beautiful beach is in Glenrock State Conservation Area, south of Newcastle. You’ll find caravan parks further north (NRMA Stockton Beach) and south of here (Sails Holiday Park) and others on Belmont Bay. There is camping further south in beautiful Munmorah State Conservation Area.
Further west there are showgrounds, sports grounds and pub stays you can camp at.
12. Thompsons Beach, Cobram, Rural, VIC
You’ll find this so close to town! Try Wattle Tree Beach or other camps along the Murray River in Cobram Regional Park or choose from caravan parks in town.
13. Coogee Beach, Perth, WA
Discovery Holiday Parks Coogee Beach is opposite the beach, just south of Freemantle (we LOVED exploring this part of Perth). We stayed at Discovery Holiday Parks Woodman Point, beside the recreation reserve and bordering Coogee Beach.
14. Mots Beach, Marlo, VIC
We loved this place, too – we stopped at the caravan park/motel is opposite the wonderful Marlo Hotel. We had great meal and played pool at the pub, whilst looking over where the Snowy River meets the sea! Also the location of this beach. Another option is Marlo Ocean Views Caravan & Camping Park
15. Alexandria Bay, Noosa, QLD
Walking and swimming in Noosa National Park is a must do. The closest camping area is Noosa River Holiday Park, but there is a budget priced site Noosa Sea Scouts Camp. It has limited opening hours – but what a cracking spot – in walking distance to the yacht club.
16. Emu Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA
The township of Emu Bay is on the north east side of Kangaroo Island – and it has it’s very own campground, walking distance to the beach. Unpowered camping is budget priced and council run. Powered sites are available too – no bookings. It is on a first come, first served basis.
17. Lake Wabby, K’Gari (Fraser Is), QLD
The marvel that is Lake Wabby is just one on the Fraser Island Great Walk, with a walk-in campsite near the lookout. If you’re not on the Great Walk, the closest camping is in the dunes at One Tree Rocks or Cornwells camping areas. Both are fenced, which is recommended for families with young children.
18. Congwong Beach, Sydney, NSW
Sheralee Caravan Park in Rockdale, not far from Sydney Airport, is our closest listing. This beach is on the northern side of Kamay Botany Bay National Park.
19. Jellybean Pool, Blue Mountains, NSW
Just south of Glenbrook and west of the Nepean River, there is a free camp Warragamba Recreation Reserve, 22 km south west from Penrith and nearby is Wallacia Caravan Park. The closest location to camp is Ingenia Holidays, Nepean River.
10. Ethel Beach, Christmas Island, IOT
Camping is allowed in Christmas Island National Park, in the Indian Ocean Territories. However, you need a permit from the Christmas Island National Park office. There are no purpose-built campgrounds in the park, so you’ll need to bring everything you need with you.
Find all these site in the CAMPS AUSTRALIA WIDE App, the new CAMPS Pendium, Caravan Parks and CAMPS guides – include POI for your GPS.
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