The Aussie family’s camping bucket list

Aleney De Winter travels across our sunburnt country to find 9 must-see camping destinations with heaps of activities for families.

When it comes to bucket list camping, Australia is a veritable gold mine with beach, mountain, outback and bush destinations liberally dotted all over the country. But with camping accommodation options from canvas to cabin, stunning locations, friendly community atmospheres and plenty of activities to keep both kids and parents entertained, these nine hotspots are a must for your next outdoors getaway.

The Great Ocean Road, VIC

Winding its way alongside the Southern Ocean, the Great Ocean Road is one of the world’s great ocean drives and with an abundance of natural attractions, pristine beaches, fishing villages, shipwrecks, the Twelve Apostles and migrating whales, it’s packed full of fun for every family.

Must do

• Take advantage of binocular hire and the Digital Detective and high-tech scavenger hunt programs at the Twelve Apostles Marine National Park.
• Climb the stairs of Cape Otway Lightstation, the oldest surviving lighthouse in Australia today.
• Spot whales from one of the many coastal lookouts along the way.
• Commune with nature at Tower Hill, an extinct volcano that’s now home to a tranquil wildlife reserve.
• Try a surfing lesson at Torquay, Lorne or Warrnambool.
• Head to massive Adventure Park Geelong for thrill rides, water play zones and water slides galore.

Where to stay

Sleep under the stars on tranquil beachside sites or at one of the many camping grounds along this route. There are also dozens of holiday parks with amazing kid-friendly facilities in the area.

Legendary Pacific Coast, NSW

Sun, sand and sea are all a family really needs for an unforgettable holiday, and NSW’s North Coast is abundantly blessed in all three. Follow the Legendary Pacific Coast, a magnificent touring route that runs through 48 national parks and 12 state forests, as well as buzzing tourist towns and quaint villages.

Must do

• Go dolphin watching at Port Stephens, by boat or by land.
• Spot humpbacks and southern rights
  between May and November.
• Stroll the elevated boardwalk at the Sea Acres Rainforest Centre in Port Macquarie
• Enjoy a snorkelling adventure with turtles in Solitary Islands Marine Park
• Ride a camel along the beach, bite into the Big Banana or get face to fin with the residents of Dolphin Marine Magic on the Coffs Coast
• Explore the ancient Tweed Valley, a natural amphitheatre that is one of the most biodiverse regions in Australia.
• Walk to Byron Bay Lighthouse or learn the art of surfing on one of the bohemian town’s perfect waves.
• Hire a kayak to explore Lake Macquarie, Australia’s largest coastal saltwater lake.

Where to stay

Whether you want to stay in a tent to immerse your family in nature or would prefer to opt for a holiday park packed with fun and games for the kids, you’ll be spoiled for choice.

The Whitsundays, QLD

Nestled midway along Queensland’s coast and encircled by the Great Barrier Reef, the Whitsunday Islands are one of Australia’s great family holiday destinations. Dig your toes into the sands of one the many picture-perfect beaches, island hop or explore the reef.

Must do

• Take a family cruise around the islands
• Try your hand at sea kayaking off Airlie Beach or learn to scuba dive
• Snorkel among the abundance of colourful coral and marine life or head on a guided crocodile safari

Where to stay

Choose from more than a dozen national park campsites located throughout the Whitsunday Islands, sleep in a swag on the reef itself with Cruise Whitsundays Reefsleep, or stay at one of the holiday parks at Airlie Beach.

Fraser Island, QLD

UNESCO World Heritage-listed Fraser Island, located 250 kilometres north of Brisbane and just south of the Great Barrier Reef’s coral cays, is the world’s largest sand island. Families will love exploring the island’s unique wildlife, bone-white sand dunes, beautiful ocean beaches, sparkling freshwater lakes and towering rainforests.

Must do

• Take a dip in the calm, translucent waters of Lake Mackenzie or Lake Birrabeen.
• Explore the wreck of the SS Maheno.
• See the coloured sands at Rainbow Beach, a sight little adventurers won’t soon forget.
• Float swiftly along Eli Creek with the help of an invigorating current that pours up to four million litres of fresh, clear water into the ocean every hour.
• Stop to spot fish, turtles and eels in crystal-clear Wanggoolba Creek.
• Surf the Fraser Island sand dunes on a boogie board.

Where to stay

Choose from one of 45 designated camping areas. Central Station, Dundubara, Lake Boomanjin and Waddy Point have dingodeterring fences, making them ideal spots for family campers.

Broome & the Kimberley, WA

Broome, in northwest Australia, is one of our country’s most beautiful and activity-packed destinations. It’s also the gateway to one of the world’s most incredible wilderness areas, the Kimberley, where visitors can swim and fish in gorges and rivers, hike unique landscapes and immerse themselves in local Indigenous culture.

Must do

• Visit Willie Creek Pearl Farm to see how pearls are cultivated.
• Swim the turquoise blue water of Cable Beach or Town Beach on Broome’s Roebuck Bay side.
• Visit the over-280,000-hectare El Questro Wilderness Park for guided hikes, cruises, fishing and horse riding.
• Take a scenic flight over Cape Leveque.
• Visit the Malcolm Douglas Wilderness Park, a 30-hectare animal refuge.
• Stomp into Gauntheaume Point, home to a collection of ancient dinosaur prints.

Where to stay

Enjoy all the facilities of a holiday park in Broome, sleep on a cattle station or stay in one of the campsites in the Kimberley.

Coral Coast, WA

Stretching along the Indian Ocean from south of Geraldton to Exmouth, the Coral Coast is home to some of the world’s most diverse marine habitats, pristine beaches and is a must to add to any nature-loving family’s bucket list.

Must do

• Explore the natural rock formations of the Pinnacles in Nambung National Park
• Feed the dolphins at Monkey Mia
• Swim with the largest species of fish in the sea, the whale shark, at Ningaloo Reef
• Get spaced out at the Carnarvon Space & Technology Museum
• Gaze in awe at Port Gregory’s pink lake
• Get the adrenaline going by quad biking the Kalbarri or sandboarding Sandy Cape

Where to stay

Whether you are travelling with your own caravan, tent or camper trailer or prefer self-contained onsite accommodation, Coral Coast has great value accommodation options and offers an ideal way for families to enjoy the region’s wide open space, natural beauty and epic star-filled sky.

Uluru, NT

The Red Centre is the spiritual heart of Australia and an incredible place for a family holiday. The main attraction is, of course, Uluru and while you can marvel at its size and changing colour all day, here a family holiday is about more than a getaway; it’s about discovery and connection.

Must do

• Ride a bicycle or a camel with the mega monolith serving as your stunning backdrop
• Head to the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park Cultural Centre for a fun hands-on introduction to Aboriginal art
• Explore the sacred rocks of Kata Tjuta
• Take a scenic flight, hop on a motorcycle for a spin or take a bush tucker tour
• If mum and dad need some couple time, enjoy dinner in the desert at the Sounds of Silence restaurant

Where to stay

While there is no accommodation available inside Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, in nearby Yulara there are camping grounds within the Ayers Rock Resort complex offering everything from basic tent sites to caravan parks with a variety of services and facilities.