Want to escape the crowds? Instead of heading to a tried-and-true family favourite, Natarsha Brown suggests these alternative camping spots.
There is nothing more quintessentially Aussie than hitting the road for a spot of camping. The downside of this? You are often competing with crowds of other outdoorsy families for that perfect place to pitch your tent. But never fear … we’ve combed the country for hidden hideaways just begging for you to set up house, boil the billy and get away from it all.
If you like The Blue Mountains
You’ll love Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park
Want to feel like you have landed on Mars? This 540-million-year-old landscape is like nothing else on Earth. Full of immense gorges, natural amphitheatres and jagged peaks, the ever-changing colours of this ancient mountain range are the real star – just wait until you see its ochre-red sunset. For your own private starry night, the Wilpena Pound Campground has a mix of powered and unpowered sites, all surrounded by river red gums. Showers, toilets, laundry and a nearby general store are available.
If you like Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park
You’ll love Karlu Karlu / Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve
Australia’s outback has a thing for famous rocks: Uluru, Kata Tjuta and … Devils Marbles, of course. Varying in size, from 50 centimetres up to six metres, many precariously balanced atop one another like a bad game of Jenga, this field of gigantic granite boulders is also a vast campground in the Northern Territory. The Stuart Highway between Tennant Creek and Alice Springs is a long and lonely stretch of road, the remote location making these unusual rock formations quite a sight for sore eyes on an extended journey. Facilities include fireplaces, pit toilets, picnic areas and a self-guided walking track through the ‘marbles’.
Known as ‘Karlu Karlu’ in the local Warumungu language, the rocks are sacred to the traditional Aboriginal owners of the land, who believe they are the eggs of the Rainbow Serpent.
If you like Coffs Harbour
You’ll love Red Cliff
True to its name, Red Cliff campground takes in panoramic vistas of isolated beaches surrounded by gorgeous red cliffs, ideal for fishing, canoeing, birdwatching and swimming. Perched on the northern end of Yuraygir National Park, the longest stretch of undeveloped coastline in New South Wales, this picture-perfect retreat draws in crowds of birds and kangaroos – but not so many people. Combined with the nearby Lake Arragan campground, there are 65 grassy campsites, big enough for trailers and caravans. All are just a short walk to the beach and have picnic tables and barbecue facilities.
If you like Lucky Bay
You’ll love Cape Range National Park
Forget paying top dollar to sit around an overcrowded resort; your own pocket of paradise awaits you at Cape Range National Park. Situated right on Ningaloo Reef – which is just as incredible as its East Coast counterpart but much less frequented – this is coastal camping at its finest. Swimming, whale watching, snorkelling, scuba diving, swimming with whale sharks … the aquatic adventures are endless. Only accessible by 4WD, the 11-site Tulki Beach campground is an out-of-the- way spot that is excellent for families and a personal favourite.
If you like Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park
You’ll love Mt Field National Park
Sleeping under the careful watch of the ancient trees and greenery of Tasmania’s oldest national park is an experience that is pretty hard to beat. Wake to the sounds of the rushing Tyenna River, get lost among gargantuan fern forests, take a moment to admire the beauty of the magnificently tiered, 45-metre-high Russell Falls and take an after-dark wander through the glow- worm grotto. Along the way, be sure to spot yellow-tailed black cockatoos, crescent honey-eaters and green rosellas. The 14 powered sites that comprise the tiny, shaded camp area are scattered through the forest and amenities include a communal cooking shelter with electric barbecues, coin-operated washing machines and dryers, a toilet and shower block, and a sink with hot water.
If you like Torquay
You’ll love Johanna Beach
If you fantasise about falling asleep each night to the soundtrack of crashing waves, then this is the spot for you. At Johanna Beach, it’s all about those world-class views – Australia’s sweeping southern coastline is right on your doorstep. You can choose to nestle beachfront among the sand dunes or camp on the clifftop overlooking the world-famous surf break; either way, your tent is the launching pad for trips to Great Otway National Park and the many attractions of the Great Ocean Road. Doggies (on leads) are welcome, all sites are unpowered, non-flush toilets are available and you must bring your own water and take your rubbish with you. Due to the strong currents, swimming can be unsafe for little ones – the reason the site is so uncrowded – so take little jaunts to nearby beaches for your water fun.
This article originally appeared in Caravan & Camping with Kids magazine. To subscribe to the latest issue, click here.
Main image: Red Cliff Beach, NSW © Shutterstock/ Julio Pinto
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