Our Ten Favourite Campgrounds of 2018.

Smallys Beach Campground.

1. Smalleys Beach Camping Area, Cape Hillsborough National Park, QLD:

Smallys Beach 

Smalleys Beach Camping Area has secluded campsites with direct beach access and is only a few kilometers away from great walks at Cape Hillsborough. There are only 11 numbered sites so book early online before you arrive.


2. Lemon Tree Flat Campground, Kwiamble National Park, NSW:

Lemon Tree Flat Campground

Lemon Tree Flat is a classic national park campground. There are plenty of things to do at Kwiamble National Park: from simply relaxing by the Severn River, taking The Junction Walk which leaves from the campground, going for a plunge at Macintyre Falls or experiencing history via a self-guided walk through the Limestone Caves.

Severn River at Lemon Tree Flat Campground.

3. Burrum Point Camping Area, Burrum Coast National Park, QLD:

Burrum Point Campground.

Burrum Point Camping Area is a coastal getaway near Woodgate. You will need a high clearance 4WD to access the campground and to do a spot of beach fishing. There is a great walk directly from the campground.

Beach in front of Burrum Point Campground.

4. Illaroo South Campground, Yuraygir National Park, NSW:

Campsite at Illaroo South Campground.

We stayed at Illaroo South Campground but Illaroo North is just as beautiful. Right on an open surf beach this well laid out campground is very relaxing.

Beach in front of Illaroo South Campground.

5. Black Rocks Campground, Bundjalung National Park, NSW: 

Black Rocks Campground.

Black Rocks is a large coastal campground with distinctive exposed coffee rocks along Ten Mile Beach. We particularly enjoyed the Jerusalem Creek Walk.

Beach in front of Black Rocks Campground.

6. Trial Bay Gaol Campground, Arakoon National Park, NSW:

Front Beach camping at Trial Bay Gaol Campground.

Trial Bay Gaol Campground has more facilities than most national park campgrounds and has a price tag to match but it was nice to spoil ourselves with hot showers and a key coded camp kitchen. We enjoyed visiting the gaol, whale watching and the Monument Hill walks.

Trial Bay Gaol.

7. Diamond Head Campground, Crowdy Bay National Park, NSW:

Diamond Head Campground, Crowdy Bay National Park.

Despite being evacuated from a bush fire while camping in Diamond Head Campground we still rate this campground in the top 10 for the year. This campground is a little bit like a caravan park in layout so if bush camping is more your thing, the Kylies Beach Campground is a good alternative.

Beach in front of Diamond Head Campground.

8. Thungutti Campground, New England National Park, NSW:

Campsite at Thungutti Campground.

Thungutti Campground is a tent only campground but there is an alternative just down the road at the free Little Styx River Camping Area for caravans and motorhomes. New England National Park has stunning lookouts, great walks and plenty of wildlife.

Camp Kitchen at Thungutti Campground.

9. Dangars Gorge Campground, Oxley Wild Rivers National Park, NSW:

Dangars Gorge Campground.

Dangars Gorge Campground has everything you would expect in a national park campground and it's free! We loved the wood barbecues, camp kitchen, the waterfalls and all the walks.

Kitchen shelter at Dangars Gorge.

10. Blackmans Campground, Warrumbungle National Park, NSW:

Camp Blackman, Warrumbungle National Park.

We stayed in the tent section of Blackmans Camp in Warrumbungle National Park. We were surprised to find hot showers and flush toilets in a campground located in country New South Wales off the Newell Highway. Another campground with great walks and abundant wildlife.

Emus at Camp Blackman.

Old Favourites Revisited:

1. Bald Rock Campground, Bald Rock National Park, NSW: 

Campsite at Bald Rock National Park

We love climbing Bald Rock and always try to find time to camp at Bald Rock Campground whenever we can. We managed to camp there twice this year.


2. Charlie Moreland Campground, Imbil State Forest, QLD:

Charlie Moreland Camping Area.

Charlie Moreland Campground, is close to our home on the Sunshine Coast and we never tire of camping there. We love the birdlife, Little Yabba Creek and the walks. I think we have camped there three times this year.


3. Booloumba Creek Camping Area 3, Conondale National Park, QLD.

Booloumba Creek Campground Area 3.

Camping right beside Booloumba Creek in our tent is one of our all time favourite camping experiences. We do it every year without fail. A high clearance 4WD is advised for this campground due to creek crossings.


Non-national park campgrounds we enjoyed:
Occasionally we camp outside national parks and this year we stayed at three great non-national park campgrounds.

1. Cania Gorge Tourist Retreat, Cania Gorge, Monto, QLD:

Cania Gorge Tourist Retreat.

We have camped here several times over the years and this year was no exception.  Cania Gorge Tourist Retreat has all the facilities of a normal caravan park but it also has a large grassy unpowered camping area which suits us just fine. It is right on the border of Cania Gorge National Park and has its own access to many of the walking tracks.

2. Flat Rock Tent Park, East Ballina, NSW:

Flat Rock Tent Park.

We made a couple of trips to Ballina this year to visit Ballina Campervans, Motorhomes & Caravans Centre to look at the Horizon Motorhome range. We chose Flat Rock Tent Park to stay both times and as we really enjoy the great facilities, the surfing and kite surfing in front of the campground and birding at Flat Rock.

3. Cranky Rock Nature Reserve, Warialda, NSW:

Cranky Rock Nature Reserve Campground.

On our way to the Pilliga region we camped overnight at Cranky Rock Nature Reserve. We loved exploring the rocks at Cranky Rock and getting close to an emu on our walks.