| Cost | CAMPS 13 guide available – features 4,250+ free and budget campsites |
|---|---|
| Location | Nationwide – covers all Australian states and territories |
| Pet Friendly | 3,300+ pet-friendly stays featured in guide |
| Facilities | Water and dump points included in listings |
| In Camps App | Yes – bonus one-year subscription included with CAMPS 13 |
If you’ve ever spent a night beside a creek, pulled into a country showground, or followed a red-dirt track just to see where it leads, there’s a good chance you’ve used CAMPS AUSTRALIA WIDE.
What began as a few scribbled notes in a motorhome has become one of Australia’s most trusted travel companions — a guide that’s been sitting on dashboards, picnic tables, and campervan shelves for 25 years.
From Scribbles to a Movement
It started in early 2001 when motorhomer Phil Procter realised his hand-written maps and research were more than memories — they were a resource. “After eight years of travels,” he wrote, “I had amassed quite a collection of notes — enough to share with other travellers.”
A few fellow nomads sent him their lists, one with over a thousand camps. By November 2001, the first CAMPS AUSTRALIA WIDE book rolled off the press — 3,000 hardcovers with hand-drawn maps and 2,300 listings. The phones started ringing, and a legend was born.
Growing with the Road
Through the early 2000s, Phil hit the road relentlessly. CAMPS 2 launched in 2004, followed by CAMPS 3 the next year, complete with the first Hema Road Atlas integration. Demand exploded.
In 2006, Philip and Cathryn Fennell took the wheel. Their commitment was pure road time — around 50,000 km every year, personally checking camps and snapping photos. By 2011 they’d published Camps 6 and Caravan Parks 2, firmly cementing CAMPS as the essential guide for budget and free camping.
Digital Frontiers and Family Adventures
The Camps App arrived in 2012, bringing the beloved guide into the smartphone era. Around that same time, Heatley and Michelle Gilmore were travelling Australia with their four kids, using Camps 7 to find family-friendly stays across every mainland state and territory.
Six years later, in 2018, they became the new custodians of CAMPS — and have kept the brand evolving ever since.
Since then, CAMPS has released new editions, a redesigned app, and the beautifully crafted Camps Pendium, a boxed collector’s set of state-by-state guides.
The 25th Anniversary Edition – CAMPS 13
Now in 2025, CAMPS marks its 25-year milestone with CAMPS 13 — the most comprehensive guide yet, featuring:
● 4,250+ free and budget campsites
● 3,300+ pet-friendly stays
● Hema maps with B4 grid references
● More water and dump points
● Simplified icons and layout
● A bonus one-year CAMPS APP subscription
Available in both Standard Spiral-Bound and Easy-to-Read editions, it’s proof that even after a quarter century, CAMPS is still the traveller’s best mate.
More Than Maps
From those first pages and handwritten maps to today’s spiral cover guides and smart app, CAMPS has always been about connection — between travellers, towns and the land itself. Every pin on the map is an invitation to stop, explore and support a small community.
Because as long as there are people who’d rather take the road less travelled, CAMPS will be there to guide them.
Camps by the Numbers
● 2001: First edition published – 3,000 copies
● 2006-2018: Philip and Cathryn Fennell travel 900,000 km researching sites
● 2012: First CAMPS App launch
● 2018: Heatley and Michelle Gilmore take over
● 2021: Camps Pendium collector’s set released
● 2025: CAMPS 13 – 25th Anniversary Edition released
● Over 1.4 million sold!
● Today: Over 4,250 free and budget camps, 3,300 pet-friendly stays, Hema maps, and 33 years of on-the-road research
✔ See the Camps Australia Wide timeline.
✔ Click here to find out which CAMPS guide is best for you.
✔ Or go straight to the CAMPS shop and get camping!
Download the Camps App for iPhone/iPad or Android
Frequently Asked Questions
When was CAMPS AUSTRALIA WIDE first published?
The first CAMPS AUSTRALIA WIDE book was published in November 2001, featuring 2,300 listings and hand-drawn maps. It started from Phil Procter’s hand-written notes collected over eight years of motorhome travels.
What’s included in the 25th Anniversary CAMPS 13 edition?
CAMPS 13 features over 4,250 free and budget campsites, 3,300+ pet-friendly stays, Hema maps with B4 grid references, water and dump points, simplified icons and layout, plus a bonus one-year CAMPS APP subscription. It’s available in both Standard Spiral-Bound and Easy-to-Read editions.
Who currently owns and operates CAMPS AUSTRALIA WIDE?
Heatley and Michelle Gilmore have been the custodians of CAMPS since 2018. They took over from Philip and Cathryn Fennell, who travelled 900,000 km researching sites between 2006 and 2018.
Is there a CAMPS app available?
Yes, the Camps App launched in 2012 and has been redesigned since. It’s available for iPhone/iPad and Android devices. CAMPS 13 includes a bonus one-year app subscription.
How many copies of CAMPS guides have been sold?
Over 1.4 million CAMPS guides have been sold since the first edition in 2001.
What is the Camps Pendium?
The Camps Pendium is a beautifully crafted boxed collector’s set of state-by-state guides, released in 2021.
How often is the CAMPS guide updated?
CAMPS has released 13 editions over 25 years, with ongoing research. Philip and Cathryn Fennell travelled around 50,000 km every year personally checking camps and snapping photos during their custodianship from 2006-2018.
What types of campsites are included in CAMPS guides?
CAMPS specialises in free and budget camping, including country showgrounds, creekside camps, and off-the-beaten-track locations. The guides also feature pet-friendly stays and support small community camping areas.
