Free Camping ……. and caravanning is one of the more rewarding ways to explore and experience a place. This is especially true in a country like Australia, famous for the great outdoors.
There are plenty of campsites tucked away – but if you don’t know where they are you can easily miss them. People often assume that it won’t be difficult to find a place to stopover on a budget but soon discover it can be a lot more expensive than anticipated. Or worse, they can’t find somewhere to stop and continue driving when they are tired.
These “free camping” sites include rest areas, picnic areas, parklands or parking areas next to a business. You can also stay for free at some hotels, state forests or RV Parks – we even come across free caravan parks!
Some would only be suitable for a brief overnighter on your journey and may have a maximum time limit. Others are next to pools or rivers, with toilets and you are welcome to bring along your pets and stay for longer.
Generally, less pricey means less facilities. However, we list free camps with pools, showers, playgrounds, near boat ramps and wonderful views. Some are close to world class destinations, and Aussie icons.
Just use the symbols or the filters to find them in our comprehensive guide books and Camps Australia Wide App!
Located 10 minutes from Paringa, this camping spot offers shade and great camping on the banks of the Murray River. There is a beautiful lookout close by and also a lot of decent fishing spots along the banks where campers are known to catch Callop, Carp, Yabbies and Golden Perch. If you go walk about you will most likely see a variety of wildlife such as pelicans, wrens, kangaroos and rosellas. In the warmer months you might even come across a snake, so keep an eye out to make sure you don’t get an unpleasant surprise. Don’t miss the lookout
Red Cliff Beach in SA, just 13 km south of Tumby Bay is pet friendly, with mobile coverage and a zero price and zero facilities. But you are rewarded with priceless views and abundant fishing! Fishing is best here at high tide off the points, and in the inlet. Said CAMPS Ambassador, Manda, “Daniel went fishing with a friend in his boat and they caught enough King George Whiting and squid to feed the family every lunch and dinner. Others were fishing off the rocks and spearfishing, both were also successful!” The southern end of Red Cliff is a beachfront camping area.
“We had traversed the Nullarbor 16 times before but never stayed at a camp site for more than one night. …after travelling in non-stop rain all day we crossed the WA/SA border and stopped at the 10K peg inside SA. The next morning we woke to find the rain had cleared and there was a beautiful, clear blue sky. The other campers spread over the large area headed off, we had the site to ourselves and so decided that we would chill out, enjoy the vista, have a fire and stay a second night. We live in such a lucky
New owners for Bellum Hotel on the Limestone Coast of South Australia. Good news is still offer free camping…
Bob Cave has been sending me pictures since he was in Queensland, after lots more in NT – he is now in SA and was really impressed with Hancocks Lookout SA site 256 in CAMPS 11.
Images Courtesy of Scott Tonkin A new listing for us, and a beaut little spot to sneak away to is Greenways Landing just 3 km W of Nildottie in SA. Not far from Swan Reach and run by council, there’s plenty of room to stretch out, catch yabbies and do some fishing. Mid Murray Council has added a toilet and gravel road, best of all it’s pet friendly and free. All size vehicles are welcome here, but the road in can be slippery in the wet. You’ll find a boat ramp, nice shady campsites, and a good swimming hole. Watch
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