Wagga Wagga is the largest inland city in New South Wales, with free camps close to the Murrumbidgee River, and yes, they are pet friendly with toilets on site.
We rolled in after a long day of towing, to catch up with our boy and his mates. There is something about the free camps around and along the Murrumbidgee that we just love. No bookings, the river close by, and no need to unhitch. What more could you want?
Why we love the free camps along the Murrumbidgee
The Murrumbidgee threads right through Wagga Wagga, and the free camps sitting on and around the river make it an easy place to break up a big drive or settle in for a few nights. Wilks Park is dog friendly and has toilets, which ticks the boxes for a lot of travellers rolling through with a pet on board.
We chose it because it was convenient for our catch-up, it was a walk over the river into town and the RSL. The closest restaurants and pub are only 800 m away. Wilks Park has a 72-hour limit for self-contained vehicles and no tents. Council is working on ways to help people who are not following those guidelines.
However, there are less populated and highly recommended free camps at Oura Beach, north-west of Wagga Wagga, or Kohlhagens Beach in the west (where we had a river swim). Other locals and travellers suggested that the showgrounds were the ideal stay, especially if you need facilities. Pricing is not budget, but it is cheaper than the most of the caravan parks around town. There’s an excellent choice of caravan parks, too.
Pheobe told us: “Wilks Park is directly over the bridge pictured to the main street of Wagga, 10 mins walk to Woolies and even less to restaurants including Thaigga the best Thai ever. There are at least 20-30 vans parked at Wilks park at any time. It’s an excellent free park. Oura Beach is remote, no restaurants or supermarkets nearby but suitable if that’s what you seek in your adventures. I would personally feel safer at Wilks park. Showgrounds is 10 mins drive from the main street, 5 mins drive to Glenfield shops and no river and bush atmosphere or access to restaurants in walking distance. Be smart, secure your belongings as anywhere as you travel.”
We, too, felt safe at Wilks Park and do recommend it to others:
A quick and honest tip from our team. Always check the current conditions before you rely on any riverside camp. Rivers rise and fall, access can change, and stay limits and rules are set by the local council. That is exactly why we personally check our campsites, so you know what you are actually rolling into.
Eating in Wagga Wagga
The Wagga RSL is huge, and it made a cracking spot for a family catch up. If you would rather dine closer to camp, there are other restaurants in North Wagga that are a shorter hop from Wilks Park.
One of our fondest Wagga Wagga memories was staying here for our daughter’s army march out. She took us to where the soldiers loved the pancakes, a long cafe with endless pancake choices that the kids adored. I don’t remember the name so tell us if you do – hopefully it is still there. Thiagga Thai also gave us a scrumptious dinner back then, and we would happily return.
Funny sidenotes
After that long drive, Heatley was knackered and happy for Michelle to keep navigating. So Michelle popped Wagga RSL into Google Maps, saw it was only 3 km away, and we decided to walk rather than unhitch. You know the feeling.
Lovely idea, except Google took us to the RSL Memorial Park right in town, not the RSL where you actually eat. So it turned into a few extra kilometres to reach our son. Oh well, good exercise, and a good stretch of the legs after a long day of travel. Did we mention it was freezing? Bring your warm layers if you are visiting in the cooler months.
I guess we would have missed the lightshow on in town too, which was compensation for the wrong turn after a long day on the road! Festival of W is held in the winter school holidays at Wollundry Lagoon Precinct and Victory Memorial Gardens.
Another thing to remember is that although it is written Wagga Wagga, it is pronounced Wagga. It’s even in song lyrics:
“Never ever ever call Wagga ‘Wagga Wagga’
Calling Wagga ‘Wagga Wagga’ is wrong”!
Worth a listen! The song is all about pronouncing Australia’s funny double-barrelled names.
Great for Families
The first time we camped in Wagga was on our lap around Australia, and our family loved:
- Turvey Park, home to a great adventure playground for the kids.
- Wagga Beach, a lovely riverside spot in town – bring your swimmers.
- Victory Memorial Park, right in the centre of town.
- The botanic gardens, with its little zoo, and the painted water tower up at Willans Hill.
More to see and do around Wagga Wagga
We have a soft spot for what country cities offer, and Wagga delivers. Traveller Brennan advised: “Plenty of parks and cycling tracks. Water sports on Lake Albert. The largest inland city in NSW is definitely worth holidaying at.”
The shopping is great, the op shops are worth a rummage, and there is plenty to fill a day or two.
A few more spots we have enjoyed over our visits:
- Kohlhagens Beach, where we had a beaut swim in the Murrumbidgee.
- Great restaurants and pubs
- Lake Talbot Skywalk and waterpark
- Murals and public art trails
- Fishing, swimming, water sports
- RAAF Wagga Aviation Heritage Centre and other museums
- Art gallery also hosts the National Art Glass Collection
- Charles Sturt University Winery (Wollundry Olive Grove is close by)
- Beautiful churches
Planning your own Wagga Wagga stop
If you are mapping out a run through the Riverina, Wagga Wagga is a natural place to pause – as it is where the Sturt and Olympic Highways meet. Think west of Canberra, and north of Albury. We really love this region, and there are loads of interesting country towns and free/budget camps worth visiting in the Wagga Wagga district. For instance, The Rock (cool name for a town!), Tarcutta (on the Hume Highway), Junee and the enticing liquorice factory, Bethungra, Coolamon, and Ganmain, to name a few!
For more free camps across the state, have a browse of our free camping in New South Wales guide.
To find the closest personally checked campsites wherever you are, the Camps Australia Wide App does the work for you, and it works offline once it is loaded, which is handy when signal drops out along the river. Prefer paper on the dash? CAMPS 13 and CAMPSPendium 2 are our camping guides for the big trips, and Caravan Parks 7 has you covered when you want a powered site.
Every campsite we list is personally checked by our team against 12 criteria. We have been on the road since 1992, and there are no paid listings, ever.
Frequently asked questions
Is Wilks Park in Wagga Wagga a free camp?
Yes, Wilks Park is a free camp in North Wagga Wagga, right on the Murrumbidgee River. It is a riverside spot within easy reach of town. Always check current conditions and any council stay limits before you go, because riverside access and rules can change.
Is Wilks Park pet friendly?
Yes, Wilks Park is pet friendly, so you can bring the dog along. As always, keep pets under control and clean up after them so these free camps stay open for everyone.
Does Wilks Park have toilets?
Yes, there are toilets at Wilks Park. It is a good idea to travel self sufficient at any free camp, so top up your water and use your own facilities where you can.
Where can I eat near Wilks Park in Wagga Wagga?
The Wagga RSL is a big, popular spot. There are also restaurants closer to camp in North Wagga, and we had a lovely meal at Thiagga Thai (just over 1 km walk one way). Just double check you are heading to the Wagga RSL club (2 km walk one way) and not the RSL Memorial Park in town, as we learned the hard way.
What else is there to do in Wagga Wagga?
Plenty. Wagga Wagga is the largest inland city in New South Wales, with great shopping and op shops, riverside spots like Wagga Beach and Kohlhagen’s Beach, the botanic gardens and zoo, the adventure playground at Turvey Park, and the painted water tower at Willans Hill.
How do I find more free camps near Wagga Wagga?
The Camps Australia Wide App lists personally checked campsites near you and works offline once loaded. You can also browse our free camping in New South Wales guide, or carry CAMPS 13 or CAMPSPendium 2 on the dash for the whole trip.
Come camping with us
We could talk about camping, travel and rivers all day, so thanks for coming along on this one. If you would like more honest, personally checked camps and friendly trip stories like this landing in your inbox, join our free newsletter. Happy travels, and we hope you love Wagga Wagga as much as we do.
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