Camps Australia Wide
Showgrounds and country clubs are one of the best-kept secrets of travelling New South Wales. Many open their grounds to caravans and self-contained travellers for a small fee, with a level site, basic facilities and a friendly local welcome. We have been checking camps and stopovers around New South Wales since 1992, so the guidance here comes from travellers who have actually stayed.
Below is our guide to showgrounds and club stays across New South Wales, grouped by region and by season. When you are planning the trip, CAMPS 13 lists showgrounds and club stays right around the country, and the Camps Australia Wide App puts Personally Checked sites, with GPS coordinates and offline maps, in your pocket.
We are adding our favourite Personally Checked New South Wales showgrounds and club stays to this page. In the meantime, CAMPS 13 lists showgrounds and club stays across the state, and the Camps Australia Wide App helps you find and map verified sites as you travel.
New South Wales is a big place, so timing shapes both the weather and how busy it gets. Here is the rough rhythm of the year.
Summer brings warm water to the coast and mild days to the Snowy Mountains, so both fill over the school holidays. Book early for the North and South Coast and expect higher rates.
Good for: The North Coast, the South Coast and the Snowy Mountains.
Autumn and spring are ideal for the Central West, the Riverina and the outback, with mild days and quiet towns. Winter is snow season in the Snowy Mountains and a fine time for the warmer north.
Good for: The Central West, the Riverina and the Blue Mountains.
New South Wales breaks roughly into these travelling regions. Here is the lay of the land, then open the Camps Australia Wide App or CAMPS 13 to find sites in the area you are headed.
Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour and Byron, warm water and holiday towns along the Pacific.
Jervis Bay, Batemans Bay and the Sapphire Coast, white sand and quiet inlets south of Sydney.
The Australian Alps, cool in summer and snow country in winter.
Wagga Wagga, Albury and the river towns along the Victorian border.
Dubbo, Broken Hill and the wide western plains.
The ranges, vineyards and valleys within reach of Sydney and the ACT.
Fresh from our blog. These update on their own as we publish new New South Wales stories, so the page never goes stale.
Prefer a book on the dash? CAMPS 13 is our go-to for free and low-cost camping right around the country, including showgrounds and club stays, all personally checked.
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The Camps Australia Wide App finds Personally Checked sites near wherever you are, works offline when you lose coverage, and lets you filter for your setup. It is $14.99 a year, and most travellers tell us it pays for itself on the first night of the trip.
Get the Camps Australia Wide AppA little planning goes a long way. A few simple habits help every time.
Many New South Wales showgrounds open their grounds to self-contained travellers and caravans for a small fee, especially outside show week and events. Facilities vary, and grounds are often run by local committees. Check current availability in the Camps Australia Wide App and CAMPS 13.
It is usually low cost, often a small nightly fee paid to a caretaker or an honesty box, which helps the local show society. Prices vary, so check the listing or call ahead.
Often you can just turn up, but it pays to call ahead, especially around show dates and long weekends when grounds may be closed to campers or booked out.
Most have toilets, many have showers and power, and some have a dump point. Facilities are basic and vary a lot, so confirm what is available before you arrive.
Many are, since they are open grounds, but rules vary and some close to pets during events. Always check before you bring the dog.
Heading across the border? We have it covered there too.
Wherever the road takes you in New South Wales, we hope you find a cracking spot and love it out there. For new sites as we check them, our free weekly newsletter is well worth a look.