Adventurers Diary

The Very Best Things to See and Do in Tasmania

If you haven’t been to Tasmania you should start planning a trip and do it. It really is one of Australia’s best travel destinations with so much to see and do.

The great benefit of traveling Tasmania is that everything is so close. You don’t have to drive far to reach another amazing location and therefore you can pack a lot into a short time.

Table of Contents

Arriving in Devonport

With good planning you can see so much, regardless if you are flying in to Hobart or catching the Spirit of Tasmania and arriving by Ferry at Devonport.

The North and East coasts are warmer, less windy and have a higher population concentration. The South West of Tasmania has a lot of winding mountain roads, steep inclines and slow travel.

It is generally colder and more sparsely populated.

There are so many varied but fantastic places to stay and so many people travelling by different modes of transport.

We saw a lot of people travelling by Motorbike around the island as well as cars, campervans and caravans.

Tasmania Accommodation in Devonport
Discovery Holiday Park
Horsehead Creek camping $10

The Very Best of Tasmania – Things to See and Do

Tasmania offers an incredible amount of unique and interesting things to see and do. You’re visit to the Apple Isle is guaranteed to be amazing and the people are so friendly.

When planning to visit Tassie, ensure each of these are included in your must see list.

These are the Best of the Best experiences to see and do in Tasmania.

Hobart

The capital city of Tasmania is Hobart, located in the South East corner of the state. Hobart is protected from the regular windy conditions from the West by Mount Wellington which stands 1200m high.

Mount Wellington

It snows at the top of Mount Wellington and is approximately 10 degrees cooler than at ground level.

They say you take 1 degree off for each 100m you travel up the mountain.

The views are endless taking in the Tasman Bridge, Derwent River, Bruny Island and so much more.

We took the motorhome up to the top of Mount Wellington but if you don’t want to drive, you might rather enjoy a leisurely 2 hour return tour on the hop on/hop off Mount Wellington bus!

Book your Hop on Hop Off Kunanyi Mount Wellington Tour here>

Tasman Bridge

The Tasman Bridge in Hobart is a vital part of their infrastructure as it links the city both sides of the Derwent River.

It is a beautiful 1.4km long bridge which is great for photos especially late in the afternoon.

The Tasman Bridge opened in August 1964 however soon after its importance was tested in 1975 when a bulk carrier taking zinc ore up the river crashed into the bridge taking out the 18th and 19th pylons and segregating the city.

Sadly, 12 people died from this disaster. It took 2 years to repair the bridge before it reopened in 1977.

Tasmania Accommodation in Hobart
Hobart Showgrounds

The Very Best Things to see and do in Tasmania — *Drinks at Cascade Brewery*

When in Hobart also visit the Salamanca Markets which is open every Saturday. Then take the afternoon out to relax at the Cascade Brewery.

Cascade Brewery

Established in 1832, the Cascade Brewery survived a devastating fire of southern Tasmania in 1967 and with the help of locals, they were back brewing again within 3 months.

Today it’s history is revealed through tours of the brewery and tasting of their fabulous range of Beers and Ciders.

MONA

Hobart is also the home of MONA, the Museum of Old and New Art.

This is a fascinating look at the creative ideas and completions from artists with bursts of colour, imagination and thought provoking pieces of art.

Catch the Mona Ferry from Hobart dock and cruise the Derwent River for a fantastic entrance.

Book a Hobart City Tour including entry to MONA and Ferry Transfer here>

Richmond

Richmond Bridge

The Richmond Bridge is an historic bridge which is Heritage listed and just 25kms from Hobart. It is the oldest bridge still in operation in Australia.

It has a very English feel and a beautiful park setting perfect for enjoying a picnic lunch.

Take a walk through the old town where the buildings have so much character and the iconic pubs and local shops are fun to explore.

Hounville

Willie Smith’s Apple Shed

If Cascade Brewery isn’t enough Cider for you, a visit to Willie Smith’s Apple Shed at Grove just outside of Hounville and just 30 minutes south of Hobart, is a perfect location.

Visit the Museum and take a self guided tour through the history of Tasmania’s Apple industry through the eyes of the Smith family.

Bruny Island

While south of Hobart, now is the perfect time to take the 15 minute ferry from the town of Kettering to Bruny Island.

The Narrow Neck

The island is made up of 2 small islands, North Bruny Island and South Bruny Island, linked by a narrow strip of land known as the Narrow Neck.

It is here as day turns to night that Penguins come up the beach to their burrows after a day out feeding. During the day, go to the top and take in the incredible views from the lookout.

Adventure Bay

Adventure Bay on Bruny Island is stunning and also where you can take the multi award winning Bruny Island Wilderness Cruise with Pennicott Wilderness Journeys.

The Cruise takes you along the wild East coast of the island to take in caves, amazing natural sculptures of the cliffs and see big Fur Seals, wild dolphins and even Humpback Whales when in season.

Book your Bruny Island Wilderness Cruise from Adventure Bay here>

Things to See and Do on Bruny Island

There is so much more to Bruny Island including Cape Bruny lighthouse, Bruny Cheese Co, Bruny Island Chocolate Factory, Bruny Island Berry Farm and Bruny Island Premium Wines.

Spend at least a couple of nights on the island and you won’t be disappointed.

If you are pushed for time however, you can do a 9 hour Full Day tour of Bruny Island which includes a 6 course lunch, yummm!

Book a Bruny Island Full Day Tour including 6 Course Lunch here>

Tasmania Accommodation Bruny Island
Bruny Island Hotel $5 per night

Port Arthur

The East Coast of Tasmania is the gift that keeps on giving.

Heading north from Hobart will take you to Port Arthur, a historic convict settlement site where you walk around the grounds and take tours while learning all about the convict history of Tasmania.

There’s even a Port Arthur Ghost Tour if you are interested in doing a night walking tour of one of Australia’s most haunted sites!

Book your Port Arthur Historical Site Entry, Walking Tour & Cruise here>

Tasman Island Cruise

Pennicott Wilderness Journeys also offers a Tasman Island Cruise which is another great tour worth completing.

Here you will also visit Devils Kitchen, Tasman Arch and Tasman Blowhole which are also ideally visited by land for another perspective.

Book your Tasman Island Cruise from Port Arthur here>

Book your Tasman Island Cruise from Bruny Island here>

Tasmania Accommodation
Taranna Cottages Port Arthur

Tesselated Pavement Tasmania — *Adele’s second visit to The Tessellated Pavement*

The Tessellated Pavement

Tessellated Pavement is a geological phenomenon you need to see before you enter Port Arthur.

These are tiled rocks formed over millions of years of ocean and wind movement leaving indelible markings on the rocks resembling pavements.

7 Essentials – Tours to Experience

Reefsleep in the Whitsundays is an amazing adventure. Spend the night on a pontoon sleeping in a swag on Hardy’s Reef in the Great Barrier Reef
The Ocean Rafting tour from Airlie Beach is a truly fun day out. They took us to the best snorkeling places and the entire day was amazing
For the best Full Day Island tour in Cairns we recommend the Fitzroy Island tour
The Humpback Whale Swim in Exmouth remains one of our ultimate highlights of our time around Australia. We highly recommend doing this tour
If you are on the East Coast, you can swim with Humpback Whales on the Sunshine Coast. The tour leaves from Mooloolaba
Swimming with Whale Sharks at Exmouth is also extremely popular and a great day out with the team from Eco Adventures on Lattitude 22
One of Tasmania’s best tours is the Tasman Island Cruise with Pennicott Wilderness Journeys out of Port Arthur. Three hours of cruising the highest sea cliffs in the Southern Hemisphere and enjoying an up close look at hundreds of seals as well as dolphins and birdlife.

Freycinet National Park

Freycinet National Park is north of Port Arthur and no trip to Tasmania is complete without visiting this truly beautiful region with gorgeous beaches and fantastic walking tracks that will provide views that will leave you speechless.

Friendly Beach is the first you will discover and it’s definitely worth seeing.

Next is Coles Bay, a seaside holiday village offering stunning views over the mountains of the national park, crystal clear waters and a great base to explore the region.

Tasmania Accommodation Freycinet National Park
The Pondering Frog
Freycinet Golf club

*Views of Wineglass Bay (top) and at Cape Tourville*

Wineglass Bay

Wineglass Bay is the pinnacle.

A 30 minute hike up the mountain brings you to the lookout with breathtaking views of this gorgeous sheltered bay, a perfect boating haven.

A further half hour walk will take you to the beach to absorb all its beauty.

Of course, this means you have a 1 hour return trip back to the carpark or you can take a Wineglass Bay Cruise and visit in style.

A short drive from Wineglass Bay will take you to the Cape Tourville Lighthouse. From here you can witness the most incredible ocean views and look out over rolling mountains.

You may see Humpback Whales, Dolphins, Birds in a feeding frenzy or ships as they pass on by.

Between Wineglass Bay and Cape Tourville is Sleepy Bay. Take the track for a short walk along the rugged coastline with views overlooking the Bay until you reach Sleepy Bay beach.

Here you find big hollowed rocks to climb in, red algae covered rocks and clear ocean waters from the beach.

There’s so much to see and love about Freycinet National Park.

Book a Wineglass Bay and Freycinet National Park tour from Hobart here>

The Pondering Frog

Just 400m from the turnoff to Freycinet National Park is The Pondering Frog, a fantastic little shop with the most amazing ice cream I’ve ever tasted.

I had the Berry mix and it is to die for. Do yourself a favour and stop for a treat.

Spring Beach Tasmania — *Fishing at Spring Beach* –*the very best beach of Tasmania*

Spring Beach and Maria Island

Further north will bring you to the small town of Orford. Turn right and follow the beach just a further 5 minutes back south to our favourite beach in Tasmania, Spring Beach.

The beach has the clearest water I’ve ever seen, you can see directly through the waves like they aren’t even there.

With Maria Island as a backdrop and fantastic Salmon fishing from the beach, Spring Beach was easily our pick for the best beach.

We didn’t get over to Maria Island due to the weather but hope to next time we are in Tasmania.

Book a Maria Island National Park Tour from Hobart here>

Tasmania Accommodation Triabunna
Spring Bay Hotel $2 per night

Swimcart Beach Sunrise — *Bay of Fires* – *The Very Best of Tasmania in Free Camping*

Bay of Fires

The top North East of the island offers the Bay of Fires, a series of spectacular beaches.

Swimcart Beach

Base yourself at Swimcart Beach and explore these magnificent beaches where red rocks make an amazing location to sit and absorb the views.

The sunrises from Bay of Fires are truly exquisite.

Drive north and discover some of Australia’s most stunning beaches.

Tasmania Accommodation
Bay of Fires Free Camp

Russell Fall Mount Field National Park — *Russell Falls , Mt Field National Park*

Mt Field National Park

Heading West of Hobart brings you to the Mt Field National Park.

Russell Falls

There’s a range of walking trails however the most popular one is past the fallen trees and flowing waters to Russell Falls.

These falls are a tiered drop from the streams above cascading down the hillside.

Horseshoe Falls

Take the steps up and find Horseshoe Falls and a view of Russell Falls from above.

Book a tour to Russell Falls Mt Field National Park from Hobart here>

Derwent Bridge

The Wall in the Wilderness

Derwent Bridge is where The Wall in the Wilderness is located. Local Artist, Greg Duncan, features carved timber walls commemorating Tasmania and those who have played important roles within its history.

This isn’t like anything you have seen before and photos inside the building are forbidden.

You will have to go there and take a look for yourself.

Lake St Clair

Lake St Clair is just 6kms from Derwent Bridge and is the southern end of Cradle Mountain.

It is the deepest lake in Australia and the end of the infamous Overland Track, a 6-7 day trek starting at Cradle Mountain and challenging walkers to a week of a cold, mountainous path to a magnificent scenic lake.

Strahan

Traveling further west to the other side of the island is the small town of Strahan, mostly famous in recent history for the political battle fought over the Gordon River and the planned damming of the river.

Gordon River Cruise

From Strahan the Gordon River Cruise takes you through the region to witness its beauty.

The tour also takes you to Hells Gate, a rough and treacherous ocean entrance which has captured many boats and Sarah Island, where life was made unbearable for convicts when sent to the island for their transgressions.

This is one of the Best tours with lots to see and do in the south west of Tasmania.

Book your Gordon River Cruise here>

Launceston

Launceston is located in the Central North of the island and is home of one of Australia’s favourite Breweries, a perfect location for lunch and a beer.

Boags Brewery

James Boag and his son, also named James, formed J. BOAGS AND CO in 1883. Enjoy a tour of their brewery or you can have a walk through the museum for free.

Boags Beer are well known for their creative marketing and intriguing commercials.

Cataract Gorge, Launceston

Cataract Gorge

The Cataract Gorge is the highlight of Launceston. Walk the Gorge to find all it has to offer. We even came across a Seal sunning himself and scratching his back on a rock.

The short walk into the Gorge brings you to a swing bridge, swimming pool, chair lift and cafes, all worth seeing and part of the fun.

We also enjoyed a relaxing afternoon cruise on the Tamar River which included afternoon tea and local beer and wine tasting.

Plus the cruise takes you into Cataract Gorge so it is fabulous to see it from the water!

Book your Tamar River & Cataract Gorge Cruise here>

Burnie

Little Penguin Observation Centre

In Burnie ensure you go to the Penguin Observatory, a great opportunity to have guides give you lots of information about Penguins and help you to see them in their natural habitat.

Arrive just before sunset and they will provide a talk about Penguins providing information about the different seasons and habits of the Fairy Penguin.

Stanley

In the North West is Stanley and it is a truly gorgeous little town where in 2014 the Hollywood movie The Light Between Oceans was filmed.

The Nut

It is also best known for The Nut, a Volcanic Plug 143m high. You can walk to the top or take the chairlift for stunning 360 degree views.

Tasmania Accommodation Stanley
Stanley Campground $8 per night

Tasmazia & The Village of Lower Crackpot

Heading to the centre of Tassie find the small township called Tasmazia and The Village of Lower Crackpot. A series of 8 mazes provides unique fun for children and adults.

There are small villages and all sorts of quirky and funny things to see and read.

The café also does the best pancakes you could ever hope to devour.

Mole Creek

Trowunna Wildlife Park

Trowunna Wildlife Park is located at Mole Creek and is the best place to see Tasmanian Devils and learn all about them.

Each day there’s shows featuring these cute and interesting endangered little animals and you can watch them being fed which is an experience in itself.

But don’t miss Waddle the Wombat, the very friendly kangaroos, Echidna and the Wedge Tailed Eagles who sadly are no longer able to soar.

Cradle Mountain

In the Central Highlands sits Cradle Mountain, the start of the Overland Track and primary tourist location of Tasmania.

Snow is often found on the tops of the mountain which sits at 1,545m high.

Dove Lake

A walk around the stunning Dove Lake provides various spectacular views with Cradle Mountain as its backdrop.

Tasmania Accommodation
Lake Mackintosh Free Camp

The Very Best of Tasmania Fishing

Catching your own seafood in Tasmania is easier and better than anywhere else in Australia. Beach fishing provides great catches of Salmon, Mullet, Flathead and Whiting.

From many jetty’s and piers a great feed of Squid can easily be caught and Oysters and Mussels are easily found on rocks around Tasmania.

Even Crayfish can be easily caught close to the beach, check your compliance requirements before heading off to catch your dinner.

The very best of things to see and do in Tasmania - Seahorse World — Seahorse World

Beauty Point

Another fun and relatively inexpensive attraction is Seahorse World at Beauty Point. It is very interesting and educational for kids big and small!

Book your Seahorse World tour here>

Very Best of Tasmania Accommodation

Check out our video reviews on all of the places we stayed in Tasmania here>

Here we have highlighted the places where we stayed in some popular Tassie locations:

Devonport – Discovery Holiday Park Devonport – Our first night’s stay in Tassie

Bay of Fires – Swimcart Beach Campground – Free and a fabulous campground overlooking the beach. Our No. 2 Free Camp in Oz!

Port Arthur – Taranna Cottages just 10 kms out of Port Arthur

Hobart – Hobart Showgrounds a great base to explore Hobart including MONA, Salamanca Markets and Hobart itself

Bruny Island – Hotel Bruny only $5 per night at the time of our stay!

Cradle Mountain – Lake Mackintosh a free camp which is 65kms from Cradle Mountain

Stanley – Stanley RV and Caravan Campground – great spot on the North East Coast of Tassie which overlooks ‘The Nut”

Pin – The Very Best of Tasmania

Have you been to Tassie?

What was your favourite memory?

Thanks
Kevin & Adele
Indefinite Leave

We are Adele & Kevin, an Aussie couple from Brisbane in Queensland Australia who have embraced our adventurous spirit and ventured out to explore the world around us. We had spent so much time overseas we decided it was time to see our own truly amazing country and we needed to take some time to see everything it has to offer.

Our Aim is to inspire others to travel and help design the greatest adventure they can experience.

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Photography and Socials

Our camera equipment we use for all of our photos and videos are:

Samsung Note 10 Plus Phone – https://ebay.to/2XOjXhi – Most of our photos are simply from our phones. The Samsung phone cameras are pretty insane. Our phones have 512gb storage in ours but the 256gb in this one is heaps. We have sourced this one which is approx $500 less than we paid for ours.

Canon 800d – https://ebay.to/2XQYnsk – the latest DSLR Canon 24mp camera, buy here to save.

Lenses

Canon 50mm lens – https://ebay.to/3nx5pyG This is the lens I use the least, ideal for still, close up shots.
Canon 24-105mm lens – https://ebay.to/3eCueUo This is my all round, everyday use, zoom lens. Amazing quality, great price.
Canon 70-300mm lens – https://ebay.to/33xYeht – I use this one a lot for long range shots.
Sigma 10-20mm lens – https://ebay.to/2TWt0vA – My wide angle lens for all my inside photos & video plus lots more, love this lens.

Our Go Pro 7 Hero Black – https://ebay.to/34thTP1 – is an awesome piece of equipment. I use this for all underwater, action video and some general use. Buy here brand new and great value.

Mavic Pro Platinum Drone – https://ebay.to/2ARPxTo This is an absolute ripper of a drone. The Fly More Combo will provide you with everything you will need. I use this for all my aerial footage and this price is well below other retail stores.

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Where to Find Us

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2 Comments

Stephen Galbraith
May 23, 2017 at 7:46 am
Do the cave tour at Hastings caves, very good.
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- Indefinite Leave
  May 29, 2017 at 8:57 am
  Thanks Stephen 🙂
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Adventurers Diary

Great Low Cost Campgrounds in Tasmania

Tasmania has quite a number of great low cost campgrounds alongside rivers, in National Parks and many in and around golf and sporting clubs at very reasonable prices.

Low Cost Campgrounds in Tasmania range from as little as $5 per night through to $25 per night based on 2 Adults. Generally the nightly fee for low cost campgrounds depends on the range of facilities. Campgrounds charging around $25 per night include power and possibly water.

You will find the campgrounds charging around $10 per night have fairly basic facilities. Naturally there are no powered sites available in the lower price category, and they are for an unpowered campsite only.

We have compiled a list of Great Low Cost Campgrounds in Tasmania breaking them down into the different price categories. These are just the campgrounds that we have discovered on our travels and naturally there are many more around Tassie.

There are also a lot of Free Camps right throughout Tasmania which makes it a very affordable place to visit for an extended period of time. We spent 6 weeks exploring Tassie and could have easily enjoyed another 2 weeks.

Read all about: Great Free Camping in Tasmania

Table of Contents

Here is our list of Great Low Cost Campgrounds in Tasmania

We have broken our great low cost campgrounds in Tasmania into 3 categories:

$25 and Under per night Low Cost Campgrounds
$10 and Under per night Low Cost Campgrounds
$5 and Under per night Low Cost Campgrounds

Campgrounds $25 and Under per night

Ulverstone Blue Wren Tearooms

Location: West Ulverstone, Tasmania

About: A campground area is provided for self contained RV’s and Caravans within the grounds of the beautiful gardens and tearooms with views of the Bass Straight.

Pop along to Burnie to the Burnie Little Penguins Observation Centre and see the gorgeous little creatures come up out of the water after dark.

Full review: https://indefiniteleave.com.au/blue-wren-tea-gardens-ulverstone-tasmania/

Cost: $12 for 2 Adults Unpowered /No Water and $22 for 2 Adults Power & Water
Max Nights Stay: No limit
Toilets: No
Showers: No
Potable Water: Available by donation
Bins: Yes
Power: Yes – at an additional cost outlined above
Pet Friendly: Yes
Dump Point: No
Free Wifi: No
Telstra Coverage: Yes as well as Vodafone

Contact Phone: 0455 533 979

Facebook:

Read all about: The Very Best of Things to See and Do in Tasmania

Burnie Little penguins — Little Penguins on our Burnie Little Penguin Observation Centre visit

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Mt Field National Park and Low Cost Campground in Tasmania

Mount Field Campground

Location: Mount Field National Park adjacent to the Visitor Information Centre, Tasmania

About: The Mount Field Campground is the perfect place to explore Russell Falls and Horseshoe Falls which are right at the doorstep. It has excellent facilities. Apart from an amenities block, it also has coin-operated washing machines and driers plus a camp cooking shelter including free electric barbecues as well as a sink with hot water.

Just a reminder, a valid Tasmanian Parks pass is also required.

Cost: $16 per night Unpowered and $20 powered for 2 Adults
Max Nights Stay: N/A
Toilets: Yes
Showers: Yes, hot free showers
Potable Water: Yes
Bins: Yes
Power: Yes – 14 sites
Pet Friendly: No as it is National Park
Dump Point: No
Free Wifi: No
Telstra Coverage: Yes

Contact Phone: (03) 6288 1149

Website:

Email:

Book a Russell Falls & Mount Field National Park Tour from Hobart here>

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Rosedale Homestead previously Taranna Cottages

Location: Taranna, 10 kms from Port Arthur in Tasmania

About: Rosedale Homestead previously Taranna Cottages offers self contained RV parking as well as 3 self-contained cottages in a beautiful farm and bush setting. There’s also a Restaurant, Animal Farm and Heritage Museum.

This location is perfect for exploring Port Arthur Historical Site as it is just 10kms from Taranna. A visit to Port Arthur during the day is a definite must but you can also do a Port Arthur Ghost Tour and explore at night.

We can highly recommend the Pennicott Wilderness Journeys Tasman Island Cruise from Port Arthur as well.

Full Review: https://indefiniteleave.com .au/taranna-cottages-taranna-tasmania/

Cost: $25 per night Unpowered (Additional $2.50 if paying by card)
Max Nights Stay: No limit
Toilets: Available at the Museum during opening hours only
Showers: $2 for 3 minutes
Potable Water: No
Bins: Yes
Power: $33 per night
Pet Friendly: Yes
Dump Point: No
Free Wifi: No
Telstra Coverage: Yes however no Vodafone

Contact Phone: 0418 126 151

Website:

Email

Book your Pennicott Wilderness Journeys Tasman Island Cruise here>

5 Essentials – Outside RV Accessories

To plug your RV with standard 15amp in to standard residential 10amp power source you will need a converter. We love our waterproof Ampfibian and after over 4 years it’s still perfect.
Most people carry a Generator for back up power. 4wd Supacentre has a good low cost and popular generator while the Yamaha 2000w is a robust yet quiet excellent performer.
A 20m 15amp Power Lead will ensure you reach your power source in Caravan Parks and Campgrounds.
You will want a good blue Drinking Water Hose. Your typical green garden hose is not suitable for drinking from.
A 4 way tap handle will help you find water whenever you need it

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Low Cost Campgrounds $10 and Under per night

Neck Game Reserve Camping

Location: Narrowneck South Bruny Island

About: The campground is tucked in behind the dunes at the south of the Isthmus and has easy access to the beach.

Note as the Camping area is just outside the South Bruny National Park boundaries, no National Park Fees apply, just the camping fees.

Bruny Island is a great place to get your taste buds flowing. Be sure to check out the Bruny Island Chocolate, Bruny Island Premium Wines, Bruny Island Cheese Co, Bruny Island Berry Farm.

Also we highly recommend the Bruny Island Wilderness Tour.

Cost: $10 per night ($15 for family of 2 Adults & 2 Children)
Max Nights Stay: No limit
Toilets: Yes, Drop Toilets
Showers: No
Potable Water: No, water available but recommended you boil water for drinking
Bins: No – Must take all rubbish with you
Power: No
Pet Friendly: No
Dump Point: No
Free Wifi: No
Telstra Coverage: Yes but not a strong signal

Contact Phone: (03) 6121 7026

Website

Email

Book your Bruny Island Wilderness Cruise from Adventure Bay here>

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Strahan Golf Club

Location: Strahan, Tasmania

About: The Strahan Golf Club offers a camping area for self contained RV’s and Caravans. You must have your own self-contained toilet to camp at the golf club. Tent camping is not permitted.

The Golf Club Bar opens from 4pm for drink.

While in Strahan, don’t miss the famous Gordon River Cruise which takes you into ancient rainforest of the UNESCO Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area which is stunning and cruising the Gordon River is so serene.

Full Review: https://indefiniteleave.com.au/strahan-golf-club-camping-area-strahan-tasmania/

Cost: $10 per night
Max Nights Stay: 7 nights
Toilets: Yes
Showers: No
Potable Water: Yes
Bins: N/A – Must take all rubbish with you
Power: No
Pet Friendly: Yes, however pets must be restrained and kept quiet at all times
Dump Point: No
Free Wifi: No
Telstra Coverage: Yes but no Vodafone

Contact Phone: (03) 6471 7242

Facebook:

Email

Book your Gordon River Cruise here>

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Horsehead Creek Low Cost Campground in Tasmania — Horsehead Creek

Horsehead Creek Campground

Location: Devonport, Tasmania

About: The Horsehead Creek right alongside the Mersey River is a great low cost campgrounds for when you arrive in Tasmania or are about to re-board the Spirit of Tasmania.

This camping facility for self-contained vehicles and caravans only.

A Camping Permit is required and can be obtained from the Devonport Visitor Information Centre during office hours or via the EasyPark app

Full Review: https://indefiniteleave.com.au/horsehead-creek-devonport-tasmania/

Cost: $10 per night
Max Nights Stay: 72 hour limit
Toilets: No
Showers: No
Potable Water: No
Bins: Yes
Power: No
Pet Friendly: Yes
Dump Point: Yes
Free Wifi: No
Telstra Coverage: Yes but no Vodafone

Contact Phone: (03) 6420 2900

Website:

Email

Book a Cradle Mountain Day Tour from Devonport here>

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Franklin Campground

Location: Franklin, 50kms south of Hobart in Tasmania

About: Grassy campground ideally located right beside the Huon River for RV’s. Camping in tents is not permitted. Stay 4 nights and the 4th night is free.

Check out Willy Smith’s Cider House and Apple Shed Museum in Grove which is just under 20 minutes away,

Full Review: https://indefiniteleave.com.au/franklin-campground-franklin-tasmania/

Cost: $10 per night per vehicle
Max Nights Stay: 4 nights
Toilets: Yes
Showers: No.
Potable Water: Yes
Bins: Yes
Power: No
Pet Friendly: Yes, dogs are allowed but must be on a leash
Dump Point: Yes
Free Wifi: No
Telstra Coverage: Telstra and Vodafone

Contact Phone: (03) 6264 8400 or 0428 875 619

Website:

Email

Book a Huon Valley Tour from Hobart with Tahune Forest Air Walk here>

Willy Smiths Cider House and Apple Shed Museum

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Freycinet Golf Club

Location: Swanwick Tasmania

About: The Freycinet Golf Club provides a great level campground which is only 6kms from Coles Bay so a great base for exploring the Freycinet National Park and fabulous Wineglass Bay.

Be sure to visit the world famous Wineglass Bay. We did the Wineglass Bay Lookout walk and you can also take a Wineglass Bay Cruise which includes lunch.

Full Review: https://indefiniteleave.com.au/freycinet-golf-club-swanwick-tasmania/

Cost: $10 per night per site
Max Nights Stay: 5 nights
Toilets: Available at the Golf Club 24/7
Showers: No
Potable Water: No
Bins: Yes
Power: No
Pet Friendly: Yes
Dump Point: No
Free Wifi: No
Telstra Coverage: Yes

Contact Phone: (03) 6257 0053

Website:

Email

Book a Wineglass Bay and Freycinet Day Tour from Hobart here>

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Stanley RV and Caravan Campground

Location: Stanley, North West Tasmania

About: The Camping area kindly allocated by the Circular Head Council, is right alongside Tatlows Beach near the entrance to the Stanley Golf Club.

Fees are collected by the Site Manager evenings and mornings.

Full Review: https://indefiniteleave.com.au/stanley-rv-and-caravan-campground-stanley-tas/

Cost: $10 per night
Max Nights Stay: 7 day stopover
Toilets: No
Showers: No
Potable Water: Yes
Bins: Yes
Power: No
Pet Friendly: Yes
Dump Point: Just around the corner
Free Wifi: No
Telstra Coverage: Telstra and Vodafone

Contact Phone: (03) 6452 4800

Website:

Email

Book a Stanley Day Tour from Burnie or Devonport here>

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Sorell Sports Complex

Location: Sorell, 25kms from Hobart in Tasmania

About: The Council run RV Park is a great rest area for self-contained Caravans and Motorhomes.

A permit fee is payable and permits may be obtained from the Sorell Council Chambers between 8am and 4.45pm Mon – Fri or onsite from the deposit box near the Dump Point.

Full Review: https://indefiniteleave.com.au/sorell-sports-complex-sorell-tasmania/

Cost: $7.50 per night per vehicle (or $26 for 5 nights)
Max Nights Stay: 10 nights
Toilets: No
Showers: No
Potable Water: Yes
Bins: No
Power: No
Pet Friendly: Yes, dogs must be on a lead and there is a dog park next door
Free Wifi: No
Telstra Coverage: Yes

Contact Phone: (03) 6269 0000

Website:

Email

Book a Hobart City Mt Wellington and Richmond Day Tour here>

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Gordon Recreation Reserve Campground in Tasmania

Campgrounds – $5 and Under per night

Gordon Recreation Reserve, Three Hut Point

Location: Three Hut Point, Gordon south of Hobart

About: Although we didn’t stay here, it looked the perfect place to stay for a few nights with lots of level grassy sites right on the water overlooking Bruny Island. It is one of the cheapest low cost campgrounds in Tasmania and even has water views. You couldn’t ask for more!

Plus, it is an ideal spot for fishing and swimming.

Full Review: https://indefiniteleave.com.au/gordon-recreation-reserve-three-hut-point-tasmania/

Cost: $5 per night
Max Nights Stay: No limit
Toilets: Yes
Showers: No
Potable Water: No
Pet Friendly: Yes
Dump Point: Yes
Free Wifi: No
Telstra Coverage: Yes

Contact Phone: (03) 6211 8200

Website:

Email

Book a Hobart City Tour with MONA Ferry and Entry here>

Pin – Great Low Cost Campgrounds in Tasmania!

Hope our list of great low cost campgrounds is useful and helps you plan your road trip around Tasmania. Let us know of any other great places you find or have stayed at.

Safe travels

Kev & Adele
Indefinite Leave

Our Aim is to inspire others to travel and help design the greatest adventure they can experience.

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Photography and Socials

Our camera equipment we use for all our photos and videos are:

Canon 800d – https://ebay.to/2XQYnsk – the latest DSLR Canon 24mp camera, buy here to save.

Lenses

Canon 50mm lens – https://ebay.to/2yQwPed This is the lens I use the least, ideal for still, close up shots.
Canon 24-105mm lens – https://ebay.to/3eCueUo This is my all round, everyday use, zoom lens. Amazing quality, great price.
Canon 70-300mm lens – https://ebay.to/2XlOZ0I – I use this one a lot for long range shots.
Sigma 10-20mm lens – https://ebay.to/2TWt0vA – My wide angle lens for all my inside photos & video plus lots more, love this lens.

Our Go Pro 7 Hero Black – https://ebay.to/38wMc7V – is an awesome piece of equipment. I use this for all underwater, action video and some general use. Buy here brand new and great value.

_______________________________________________________________________

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/indefiniteleave/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/indefinite_leave/

Website: https://indefiniteleave .com.au/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/indefiniteleave

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com.au/indefiniteleave/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/indefiniteleav3

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Adventurers Diary

Should I sell my house and everything to travel

What to do with your house when you travel, should you sell everything and go travelling?

Table of Contents

Should I sell my House and everything we own, Rent out my House or Lock the Doors to go travelling?

For a lot of people about to set off on the Big Lap of our Country, choosing whether to sell your home, rent your house to travel or just lock the doors and leave is a tough decision.

As a Real Estate Agent myself since 1997 I believe in property as a wise investment.

Should I sell my house and everything to travel — Our home

History shows that over the long term prices always increase.

Every circumstance however is different, both in terms of how much a property will increase and if it’s better to sell or rent your home.

Recently I spoke with someone else who left to travel just before us and they sold their house before leaving and put the money away from the sale of the property.

They still have those funds, they haven’t spent it and they are probably earning some interest from it, however, I doubt they have generated the return on their money that we have from our house.

Deciding whether to sell our house and everything to travel — The final moment we drove away from home in our Winnebago

Keeping your Property vs Selling your House and Everything to Travel

It got me thinking about our choice to keep our property versus selling and cashing up.

From a Real Estate Agent’s perspective it does bother me to see families selling up in their 30’s and taking the kids around Australia and then potentially coming back to higher property prices and having to start all over again.

A year is a long time when it comes to property and the market can change dramatically in that time. Of course, that change could be either way, but if it does go up then it can make it so much harder to start over again.

Another option would be to move to an area with lower property values. This might even be ideal anyway, new surroundings, maybe more space, new beginnings.

If you are young and face the question of selling or renting your home to travel, the decision needs a lot of thought and understanding to make the right decision.

Read about our: 7 Towns in Australia we could live

Should I sell our house in Brisbane and everything to travel

Increased Value of our Property

Our home is a 1960’s highset chamferboard timber house located 14kms from Brisbane CBD as the crow flies.

It is in a quiet cul-de-sac street backing on to a park, within walking distance to schools and rail.

We bought it in October 2000 for $130,000 and in 2004 we did a renovation of around $150,000.

When we left on our trip in Feb 2016 we estimated our house was worth approximately $530,000. The Council rated land value was $430,000 at that time.

3 years later a house in our street was demolished and the vacant land the same size as ours has then been sold for $600,000.

We couldn’t believe it when the tenants told us. Prices had obviously increased a lot since we have left.

Story Bridge in Brisbane — Brisbane City

I rang some of my mates in Real Estate and they thought I would go close to about $700,000 for our property. I have to admit, we were pretty bloody happy with that news.

Another 2 years later in late 2020 our tenant suggested he would be interested in buying our house so we arranged a valuer to complete a proper valuation.

I suggested to the Valuer we thought it was worth around $680,000 to $700,000 but maybe $720,000 at a stretch. Basically I had no idea, we’ve been away a long time.

All we really knew was our land value had just increased again and it was now $610,000.

When the valuation came back at $880,000 we were literally in shock. We couldn’t believe it.

We picked up our jaws from the floor and stopped doing cart wheels and I picked up my phone to message him to say he had made a typo. I stopped for a moment and thought maybe I should read the report first.

Sure enough, one had sold in our street for $800,000 on the other side of the road that doesn’t have our values as we back on to a park.

We had just picked up another $200,000 in asset value.

Since we left home to travel Australia our asset had increased by $350,000.

We still have a loan balance of around $276,000 on our house. Also, we have a loan on the Motorhome of $107,000 alongside the house loan, so we still have plenty of debt there.

Should I sell my House and everything to Travel – FAQ

It’s not an easy decision deciding should I sell my House to travel or what to actually do with your home when you leave.

Selling would make things so much easier and stress free while travelling and for many families the rent wouldn’t go close to covering the mortgage.

On the other hand, if you own your property the rent would give you an income or in other circumstances if you’ve had your mortgage for awhile it may pay off the mortgage or at least most of it.

But renting comes with it’s challenges.

You could just close the doors and windows and leave however check the affect on your insurance by doing this.

I believe many policies have a condition where they won’t cover the property if you’re away longer than a certain period, often around 2 or 3 months.

Closing up is also a potential financial loss of the rental income however this will depend on a range of factors including how much the property would rent for, how long you plan to travel for and what you would do with your possessions.

Read about: The Privilege of being able to travel Australia is not lost on us

Motorhome views — We love the views from our new place

Q. 1 – What if I get bad tenants?

This is a great fear for many homeowners and the anxiety can be even more because it’s your home, not a property you bought purposely for investment.

We have had 2 tenants in 5 years and both have been great.

Some might say we have been lucky but it’s more about the position of our home and therefore it’s ability to attract the right people.

This is a huge consideration you should make in your decision making.

Will your property attract good tenants and if not, will the rental income be enough to make it worth renting or are you better off just selling it?

When it came to pricing our house to rent, we did our own research and we put it on at market value or fractionally under.

The first open home had a great response and we carefully took our time to select the best tenant.

Should I sell my house and everything to travel, we didn't — Our house under renovations

Q. 2 – What if tenants damage our property?

You need to take the emotion out of the process of renting your property. It will do your head in otherwise.

If we were unlucky and had bad tenants and they did do a thousand dollars in damage, or even more, let’s look at what that actually means.

If a tenant were to do damage we can claim it from the bond. Tenants should always pay an upfront 4 weeks bond which is held by the Rental Tenancy Authority (RTA) in Qld or a similar authority in other states.

If damages were to exceed the bond amount held we have our Landlord Insurance to cover any damage.

Whilst Landlord Insurance is there for these circumstances we don’t really want to use it so it’s important to get the choice right from the beginning.

The steps to good tenants are:

Screen tenant applications thoroughly
Have a clear induction process to your property. For instance we meet the tenants if possible to allow us to make the final decision. We have written a manual which is provided to our Property Manager to give to the tenants to explain our house, how it works, when is bin day, alarm codes and our recommended local businesses to use plus other information.
Manage them throughout the tenancy. Inspections must be completed, any arrears dealt with urgently etc. If they know the Property Manager and the Landlord are proactive they will be more likely to realise they won’t get away with poor behaviour.
Tenant arrears, where rent hasn’t been paid, is almost always an attitude issue rather then a financial one.
Be proactive in fixing issues and ensure the work is done promptly.
Be kind and respectful to your tenants

Our love of travel — A lot has happened since we left home

Q. 3 – Is it worth renting out our home?

Let’s start by looking at our own personal experience over almost 5 years and it might serve as a guide for you.

We have rented our house for $545 per week the whole 5 years we have been travelling. Over the 5 years we have been away this is our income report.

The rental income is:

Feb-June 2016 = $12,535
2016-7 = $28,885
2017-8 = $27,910.40
2018-9 = 28,384
2019-20 = 28,591.32
July-Nov 2020 = $11,990

Total income = $138,295.72

The outgoings/ expenses for the property are:

Feb-June 2016 = $3,036.43
2016-7 = $7,909.10
2017-8 = $6,772.44
2018-9 = $6,997.05
2019-20 = $9,982.15
July-Nov 2020 = $2,372.05

Total costs are $37,069.22

Nett Income

This gives us an income of = $101,226.50 over almost 5 years.

Our Mortgage repayments are now $1434 per month. We try to pay $450 per week which is $1949 a month however this always gets drawn down when there are maintenance issues with the house and a shortfall in funds.

Our Motorhome repayments are $558 per month and we pay $650 per month.

Our minimum payments per year are therefore $23,904 which leaves us almost $3000 short per year.

These figures are based off our Property Managers statements and also wouldn’t include any costs we may have paid for directly.

Overall that’s a pretty good outcome.

The tenants cover our mortgage and the cost of our Motorhome except around $58 a week we have to put in to top it up.

There’s enough income there that we don’t have to fear a bad tenant. We don’t want one but between the Bond, Landlord insurance and overall income we can cover pretty much any issues.

Our house when we bought it in 2000 — What our place looked like when we bought it

Increased Property Value

Now let’s look at the increased Property Value.

In 5 years the price of our home has increased by $350,000. That’s a staggering $70,000 per year.

Now you can see why I suggest taking emotion out of renting your property.

Even if your property can cover the cost of just your mortgage and it increased only $20-30,000 per year over 5 years, having to spend some money every few years to cover a few repairs, in the big scheme isn’t really an issue.

Q. 4 – What if we weren’t happy with our last Property Manager?

Let me start by saying, being a Property Manager is one of the toughest jobs there is.

It’s relentless, expectations are high, emotions are high and the money they are paid rarely befits the responsibility and massive commitment the role demands.

But good Property Managers love their work, are passionate about doing their role well and care about you and the rental properties they look after.

In my role now since 2008 selling Real Estate businesses, one of the biggest issues I face is the disappointment for Property Managers in breaking the relationship and bond they have with their Landlords.

Most Property Managers try to do the best they can but it’s a people business in an often highly emotional situation and if they don’t have the right support and infrastructure in place things can and do go wrong.

Real Estate days — One of my first sales in my business. Former home of Aust cricketer Ken “Slasher” Mackay

Regularly Monitor your Property Manager

My suggestion is to monitor the basics of the Property Manager’s role and ensure they are completed. After all, it’s your property and your money on the line. Treat it as a business.

Do your own research of rental prices and make suggestions and ask questions of the properties value if needed but never over price it. It’s value is only based on what else is available at that time in the market, not what you need, not what you want to get from it or even what it was rented for previously.
Ensure any maintenance requests are seen to and completed.
Make sure your Property Manager completes their property inspections as agreed, usually quarterly, and you receive a prompt report with photos.
If you find your calls and emails are not being responded to, you can be assured that’s happening with customers as well including your tenants and any enquiry.
Change agency!!

Q. 5 – What if I hate Real Estate Agents?

If you hate Real Estate Agents, the question around Should I sell my house and everything to Travel is easy! Don’t rent your property, just sell it.

You need to have a good relationship with your Property Manager and that approach you have will always see things turn sour.

You’re going to need an agent to look after it if you’re going to travel the country and you won’t be nearby to do what needs to be done, so they are your only real option.

Sell it or just close the doors and windows and go enjoy your trip.

Check out our: 47 Caravan Motorhome RV & Camping Accessories

Sunrises and Sunsets while we travel Australia — Extraordinary Sunrises and Sunsets are part of the experience travelling Australia

Should I sell my house and everything to travel – A few tips:

Look after your Tenants

Our tenants have been awesome, they love the house, they look after it and we look after them. Occasionally we provide a gift and we fix everything as quickly as possible so we have had no issues at all.

It is your property but it’s your tenants home

Location of your Property

There’s going to be lots of variables in this scenario.

Our house is approx 14kms from Brisbane CBD and we chose that property to purchase because as a Real Estate Agent I knew it would always perform well.

Actually, I purposely drove that street looking for a house to buy when we began looking because I knew it would be a great place to live and values would always be strong.

A house in most regional areas of Australia would be unlikely to realise the same level of capital growth as we have achieved during that time.

Our rent covers our mortgage, for others that may not be the case and therefore selling may appear the only option.

Do your own Research

My point here is: Take the time to research all of your options.

If your property has already achieved some capital growth or you expect it will, it may be prudent to keep it and realise further capital growth while you are away as well as the rental income.

Sea Clifff Bridge — Time to hit the road

Cosmetic Improvements after tenanted

Yes tenants won’t care for it the way you do but you can repaint walls, put a new kitchen bench top on, replant the gardens, replace carpet and make cosmetic changes if necessary when you choose to move back in.

That’s exactly what we plan to do if we move back.

Refreshing the house will add value and also make it like new again for us.

Keep in mind, usually any money you spend on the house during a tenancy is tax deductible. Once you move back in this may not be the case.

Check with your accountant to confirm when the best time will be to complete any renovations.

Best Option for you

Before selling make for absolute certain it’s the best option for you. We are very happy we chose not to sell our house and everything to travel.

If you have any Real Estate questions feel free to message me and I’ll try to help. Keep in mind each state has different legislation and it’s a long time since I was an active Real Estate Agent 🙂

Final Point on Should I sell my house and everything to travel

I am not an Accountant and this should not be taken as Financial advice.

Please discuss your direct financial matters with your Accountant or Financial Advisor as to whether you should sell your house and everything to travel or whether you keep it and possibly rent it out.

Pin – Should I sell my house and everything to travel

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Other great blogs you may like to read:

Are you planning to travel Australia?

Are you facing the difficult decision – Should I sell my house and everything to travel?

Hope this information is useful in helping you choose the best option for you.

Safe travels

Kev & Adele
Indefinite Leave

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Our Aim is to inspire others to travel and help design the greatest adventure they can experience.

Photography and Socials

Our camera equipment we use for all our photos and videos are:

Canon 800d – https://ebay.to/2XQYnsk – the latest DSLR Canon 24mp camera, buy here to save.

Lenses

Our Go Pro 7 Hero Black – https://ebay.to/38wMc7V – is an awesome piece of equipment. I use this for all underwater, action video and some general use. Buy here brand new and great value.

_______________________________________________________________________

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/indefiniteleave/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/indefinite_leave/

Website: https://indefiniteleave.com.au/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/indefiniteleave

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com.au/indefiniteleave/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/indefiniteleav3

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Adventurers Diary

Our Best Free Camps in Australia

In more than 5 years around Australia we have found some fantastic Free Camps and places for Free camping.

For us, we love the ocean and therefore most of our best free camps in Australia are places overlooking a beach.

There are many free camps around Oz but sometimes you pull up and are just blown away with how amazing one is and these are the ones we have included here.

The Free Camps are remembered for Friendly people, extraordinary views, fun activities the location provides or the sunrises and sunsets that welcome you or complete another magnificent day on the road in this incredible country we get to call home.

We all have our own perceptions of what that is for us, the following places are the ones that have appealed the most to us.

We continue to add to the list over time, all updates are noted below.

Table of Contents

What qualifies as the Best Free Camps in Australia

For clarity, we consider Free camps as totally free and are not campgrounds, Pub stays or other organised locations. Free camps mostly have no or limited facilities.

There are normally no designated sites at Free camps and no powered options. Usually you are expected to be self contained with your own toilets and showers, the capability of carrying your own water and storing your grey and black water.

All are completely free, at the time of writing there was no charge to stay.

Read all about: Our Best Campgrounds in Australia

Our Best Free Camps in Australia Updates

December 2017 Update – Our Best Free Camps in Australia

Uluru has been removed as it is now closed. Wallangarra, Lake Wyangan, Quicks Beach, Lake Malwala and Doolans Bend have been added.

September 2018 Update – Our Best Free Camps in Australia

17 is now 18 with inclusion of Calliope River.

June 2019 Update – Our Best Free Camps in Australia

18 becomes 22 with McGuarans, Yarrawonga River Camp, Cann River, Snowy River added.

January 2021 Update – Our Best Free Camps in Australia

22 becomes 25. Workman’s Campground at Agnes Water now becomes a Free camp. We also add Proserpine Dam and Kingsley Grove Estate Winery to our list.

Here is a list of Our Best Free Camps in Australia

25. Snowy River

Location: Snowy River Roadside Rest Area 6, Orbost Victoria

About: One of several fabulous river side Free Rest Areas along the Snowy River as it snakes its way to Marlo before it reaches the oceans. They are close to the road so some road noise is inevitable.

Cost: Free

Max nights stay: 48 hours

Toilets: No

Showers: No

Potable water: No

Pet Friendly: Yes

Dump point: No

Free Wifi: No

Telstra coverage: Yes

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24. Cann River

Location: Cann River, Victoria

About: A former Caravan Park now abandoned and provided by local council for now for everyone to stay. Most of the facilities are all operational including toilets and dump point making this the perfect stay when traveling the highway in South East Victoria.

Cost: Free

Max nights stay: 48 hours

Toilets: Yes

Showers: Yes, cold showers

Potable water: Yes

Pet Friendly: Yes

Dump point: Yes

Free Wifi: No

Telstra coverage: Yes

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Wallangarra Rest Stop right on the Qld and NSW Border

23. Wallangarra Rest Stop

Location: At the Qld/ NSW border in the Southern Downs region

About: An excellent free camp area with lots of facilities and heaps of space when traveling the New England Highway. It is located directly on the border of Qld and NSW.

There are plenty of facilities making this an ideal stopover for free.

Full review: https://indefiniteleave.com.au/wallangarra-driver-revivor-rest-area-wallangarra-queensland/

Cost: Free

Max nights stay: No limit

Toilets: Yes

Showers: No

Potable water: Yes

Pet Friendly: Yes

Dump point: No

Free Wifi: No

Telstra coverage: Yes

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Lake Wyangan a great free camp right on the water

22. Lake Wyangan

Location: Griffith, NSW

About: A beautiful lake with great fishing in a quiet country town and excellent wineries close by, what’s not to like.
Toilets and showers are available but byo your drinking water.

Full review: https://indefiniteleave.com.au/lake-wyangan-griffith-new-south-wales/

Cost: Free

Max nights stay: 72 hours

Toilets: Yes

Showers: Yes

Potable water: No

Pet Friendly: No

Dump point: No

Free Wifi: No

Telstra coverage: Yes

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21. 7 Mile Beach WA

Location: South of Geraldton, WA

About: A simple free camp spot with no facilities but lots of beach and amazing sunsets every night. A short few kms from the Highway.

Full review: https://indefiniteleave.com.au/7-mile-beach-campground-bookara-wa/

Cost: Free

Max nights stay: 72 hours

Toilets: No

Showers: No

Potable water: No

Pet Friendly: Yes

Dump point: No

Free Wifi: No

Telstra coverage: Yes

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20. Calliope River

Location: 15 mins from Gladstone in Qld

About: A great Free camp right on the Calliope River just a short drive into Gladstone. There are campgrounds either side of the river, just choose your spot and set up. We did hear of some fish caught when we stayed there so drop in a line, enjoy a campfire and your favourite drink or two.

Full review: https://indefiniteleave.com.au/calliope-river-rest-area-river-ranch-queensland/

Cost: Free

Max nights stay: 48 hours

Toilets: Yes

Showers: No

Potable water: No

Pet Friendly: Yes

Dump point: No

Free Wifi: No

Telstra coverage: Yes

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19. Lake Mulwala

Location: Mulwala, NSW near Yarrawonga on the Murray River

About: This is a fabulous free camp just a few kms from town and right on the bank of Lake Mulwala, part of the amazing Murray River on the NSW/ Victoria border.

Known for it’s fantastic fishing you can find a camp site right on the banks and enjoy up to 2 weeks in this amazing location. There are no facilities, you will need to have your own arrangements for toilet, showers and bring your own water.

Full review: https://indefiniteleave.com.au/kyffins-reserve-lake-mulwala-new-south-wales/

Cost: Free

Max nights stay: 14 nights in any 3 month period

Toilets: No

Showers: No

Potable water: No

Pet Friendly: Yes

Dump point: No

Free Wifi: No

Telstra coverage: Yes

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Yarrawonga River Camp right on the Murray River — Yarrawonga on the Murray River is one of the Best Free Camps in Australia

18. Yarrawonga River Camp

Location: Yarrawonga on the Murray River, Victoria

About: A great spot to stay right on the Murray River. The town of Yarrawonga is only 10 minutes drive and has a Coles and all you will need. Good fishing, great fun and fires when permitted make this one of the best stays around Australia.

Cost: Free

Max nights stay: N/A

Toilets: Yes

Showers: No

Potable water: No

Pet Friendly: Yes

Dump point: No

Free Wifi: No

Telstra coverage: Yes

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17. Doolans Bend

Location: Murray River Browns Plains Victoria, 30 kms from Albury.

About: One night here just wasn’t enough. A fantastic location directly on the banks of the Murray River. Set up a fire, cast out a line and enjoy this amazing locationin a beautiful bush setting.

There are no facilities so bring your own water and you will need to take your rubbish back with you.

Full review: https://indefiniteleave.com.au/doolans-bend-on-the-murray-river-browns-plains-victoria/

Cost: Free

Max nights stay: No limit

Toilets: No

Showers: No

Potable water: No

Pet Friendly: Yes

Dump point: No

Free Wifi: No

Telstra coverage: Yes

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16. Cliff Head Campground

Location: near Arrowsmith, WA

About: Cliff Head has 3 free camp grounds, Cliff Head South, Cliff Head North which looks fantastic and this one which is in the middle. We chose this one as it had more space and good protection from the wind.

A beautiful beach withgreat sunsets and the campground has plenty of room to move.

When we were there new toilets had just been installed.

Full review: https://indefiniteleave.com.au/cliff-head-campground-north-of-arrowsmith-wa/

Cost: Free

Max nights stay: 72 hours

Toilets: Yes

Showers: No

Potable water: No

Pet Friendly: Yes

Dump point: No

Free Wifi: No

Telstra coverage: Yes

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15. Babinda RV Stay

Location: North Queensland

About: This is a brilliant Free campground in North Queensland providing all the facilities you would need. A new shower block provide great hot showers for $2, there’s a separate toilet block, good water and a dump point.

Beside the campground is a great shallow creek perfect to lay in and relax.

Lots of space and plenty of good level space to park.Best facilities of any Free camp we’ve seen in Oz.

Full review: https://indefiniteleave.com.au/babinda-rotary-park-rest-area-babinda-queensland/

Cost: Free

Max nights stay: 72 hours

Toilets: Yes

Showers: Yes, $2

Potable water: Yes

Pet Friendly: Yes

Dump point: Yes

Free Wifi: No

Telstra coverage: Yes. Also Vodafone and Optus.

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14. McGaurans Beach

Location: Giffard, Victoria

About: A beach front location in a secluded area with no facilities or amenities close by but it is absolute beachfront and a great place to stay a night or two, maybe even three!!

Cost: Free

Max nights stay: N/A

Toilets: No

Showers: No

Potable water: No

Pet Friendly: Yes

Dump point: No

Free Wifi: No

Telstra coverage: Yes

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5 Essentials – Camping Accessories

A good Tent or Swag is the first decision for going camping. We like the Coleman Tent from Tentworld or the Wanderer 7 Man Tent from BCF. For a Swag, we were so close to buying the Kings Double Swag from 4WD Supacentre.

We like our BCF Wanderers Camping Chair which gets a lot of use as we travel Australia.

No more lugging around a huge BBQ and gas bottle now that we have a brilliant Gasmate Dual Burner Butane Cooktop from Tentworld

A good Portable Fridge Freezer we have found to keep the beers cold and steaks frozen are the Kings 70 L Fridge Freezer in the budget range, the Waeco 75L Dual Zone Fridge Freezer or the ever popular and long lasting Engel 75L Fridge Freezer.

A good quality Hand Held UHF is ideal and I like this Uniden UH750 5 watt UHF for long range and quality. The 5 watt range will give you maximum distance, especially if you need help!

13. Brown Bay, Port MacDonnell

Location: East of Port MacDonnell, South Australia

About: The opportunity to park with an extraordinary view directly from our Motorhome gets this one into our Best Free Camps.

There is a bitumen car park with designated spaces perfect for staying the night however there is also a track to the beach and it leads to an awesome space to park right on the beachfront.

The beach is very popular with local surfers and you can swim and fish the day away or just absorb the fantastic views.

Full review: https://indefiniteleave.com.au/brown-bay-eight-mile-creek-south-australia/

Cost: Free

Max nights stay: 24 hours

Toilets: Yes

Showers: Yes, outdoor cold shower

Potable water: No but water is available back in town at Port MacDonnell

Pet Friendly: Yes

Dump point: No

Free Wifi: No

Telstra coverage: Yes

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Garden Island is a great free camp in Tasmania

12. Garden Island

Location: Clarence Point, Tasmania

About: Located just north of Beaconsfield in Tasmania this is a great Free camp in the middle of the River Tamar.
If you like fishing you will love it here and we saw Seals playing in the River right in front of us.
Enjoy the views directly across the river to the town of George Town during the day and see big ships sail on by.
There are no amenities so bring plenty of water with you.

Full review: https://indefiniteleave.com.au/garden-island-clarence-point/

Cost: Free

Max nights stay: Unlimited

Toilets: No

Showers: No

Potable water: No

Pet Friendly: Yes

Dump point: No

Free Wifi: No

Telstra coverage: Yes

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Lake Macintosh is one of our 22 Best Free Camps

11. Lake Mackintosh

Location: Mackintosh Dam, Tasmania

About: Not far from Cradle Mountain is Lake Mackintosh, a very beautiful lake where even Darryl Kerrigan would be pleased with the serenity.
We built a fire and enjoyed the incredible views, peace and tranquility.

Full review: https://indefiniteleave.com.au/lake-mackintosh-tullah-tasmania/

Cost: Free

Max nights stay: Unlimited

Toilets: No

Showers: No

Potable water: Yes

Pet Friendly: Yes

Dump point: No

Free Wifi: No

Telstra coverage: Yes

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One of our 22 Best Free Camps in Australia - Robe Jetty

10. Robe Jetty

Location: Robe, South Australia

About: This is not well noted as an official free camp site however the Information Centre in town made us aware of it’s availability. We further heard that it is known to be OK to free camp here.

It is used as a turning circle for vehicles so we stayed back out of the way to allow the traffic to easily use the area.

Swim, snorkel and fish from the beach or jetty. Only 5 minutes to the Town Centre.

Full review: https://indefiniteleave.com.au/robe-jetty-robe-south-australia/

Cost: Free

Max nights stay: No limit

Toilets: No

Showers: No

Potable water: No, we accessed water from the park nearby next to the BBQ’s.

Pet Friendly: Yes

Dump point: No but one is available in town approx. 5 minutes away

Free Wifi: No

Telstra coverage: Yes

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Free Camping on Kangaroo Island is great!

9. Kangaroo Island, anywhere you want to stay but Stokes Bay was great.

Location: Kangaroo Island, South Australia

About: The cost to travel to KI turns many people away so the island doesn’t have the issues of mainland Australia and at this point, whilst all the information provided to travelers consists of the caravan parks and campgrounds, we found there were almost no “no camping” signs on the island and no rangers to wake you early in the morning asking you to move. We spent 12 nights parked wherever we could find the most stunning location and there were many.

We were generally able to find water and arrange for access to a dump point. From one corner of the island to the furthest point is approx. a max 1.5 to 2 hours drive.

We really enjoyed Kingscote Jetty, Stokes Bay, Vivienne Bay, Pennington Bay

Full reviews:
Stokes Bay – https://indefiniteleave.com.au/stokes-bay-kangaroo-island-south-australia/
Vivonne Bay – https://indefiniteleave.com.au/vivonne-bay-kangaroo-island-south-australia/
American River – https://indefiniteleave.com.au/american-river-kangaroo-island-south-australia/

Cost: Free

Max nights stay: No limit

Toilets: No

Showers: No

Potable water: No

Pet Friendly: Yes

Dump point: At Penneshaw and Parndana

Free Wifi: No

Telstra coverage: Only at Kingscote and Penneshaw

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8. Henty Park Campground

Location: Portland, Victoria

About: A superb Free camp and fantastic small town. We loved our stay here and spent almost a week in Portland (we left after 3 nights, was 72 hours, and came back for 2 more). We highly recommend the Seal by Sea tour at nearby Cape Bridgewater. There is so much to see and do in town.
You can surf, swim, snorkel and fish as much as you want. Take the time and explore this great little town.
The campground provides great level, grassed space to park. The Ranger came around each day but was friendly and fair.

Full review: https://indefiniteleave.com.au/henty-park-campground-portland-victoria/

Cost: Free

Max nights stay: Now 48 hours

Toilets: Yes

Showers: Available at Pool complex next door for $2

Potable water: Yes

Pet Friendly: Yes

Dump point: Yes

Free Wifi: No

Telstra coverage: Yes, plus Optus and Vodafone

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7. Proserpine Dam

Location: Proserpine Qld

About: The Proserpine Dam is a fabulous Free camp just outside of the town of Proserpine near Airlie Beach in North Qld. The views and facilities are fantastic with the one negative being there is no phone coverage. Fantastic sunsets and cows roam around. It can get very windy here at times.

Cost: Free

Max nights stay: 72 hours

Toilets: Yes

Showers: Yes

Potable water: No

Pet Friendly: Yes

Dump point: No

Free Wifi: No

Telstra coverage: No

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6. Kingsley Grove Estate Winery

Location: Near Kingaroy Qld

About: The Kingsley Grove Estate Winery is a fantastic Free camp. Located at the winery where the wines are superb, there’s great woodfired pizzas which get delivered to your door, delicious wine ice cream and the owners are really friendly. Limited facilities so you need to be self contained.

Full review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XehwaSO8MXE&t=5s

Cost: Free

Max nights stay: 48 hours

Toilets: Yes but only during opening hours

Showers: No

Potable water: No

Pet Friendly: Yes

Dump point: No

Free Wifi: No

Telstra coverage: Yes

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Quicks Beach is one of the Best Free Camps in Australia — Quicks Beach – One of the 5 Best Free Camps in Australia

5. Quicks Beach

Location: Murray River, Barooga Victoria

About: Our favourite location along the Murray River, a sandy beach with a flowing river, space and freedom.

It can be very busy here however we got lucky and picked the perfect time to be there. Take your kayaks and tubes and enjoy the best place to swim along the Murray.

Full review: https://indefiniteleave.com.au/quicks-beach-murray-river-barooga-new-south-wales/

Cost: Free

Max nights stay: No limit

Toilets: Yes

Showers: No

Potable water: No

Pet Friendly: No

Dump point: No

Free Wifi: No

Telstra coverage: Yes

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4. Workmans Beach Campground

Location: Agnes Water Qld

About: A great campground close to the beach and town of Agnes Water. A short stroll to stunning Workman’s Beach or take an oceanfront walk for a few kms to nearby beaches and bays. Great value and the best Rangers looking after the campground.

Full review: https://indefiniteleave.com.au/workmans-campground-agnes-water/

Cost: Free

Max nights stay: No limit

Toilets: Yes

Showers: Yes, cold outdoor shower

Potable water: Yes

Pet Friendly: Yes

Dump point: No but one is 5 mins away at 1770

Free Wifi: No

Telstra coverage: Yes

Read about our: 16 Great Queensland Free Camps from Brisbane to Cairns

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3. Corella Dam

Location: Between Cloncurry and Mt Isa, Queensland

About: A fantastic free camp 50kms west from Cloncurry in Queensland. Easy short dirt road in, lots of space and if you’re lucky you might get a spot on the dam. Lots of Red Claw and you’ll also be visited by lots of cows.

An amazing free camp which fully deserves our Top 5 spot.

Full review: https://indefiniteleave.com.au/corella-dam-queensland/

Cost: Free

Max nights stay: No limit

Toilets: No

Showers: No

Potable water: No

Pet Friendly: Yes

Dump point: No

Free Wifi: No

Telstra coverage: Very limited

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Swimcart Beach Bay of Fires in Tasmania is our No.2 Best Free Camp in Australia — Bay of Fires is 2nd on our list of Best Free Camps in Australia

2. Bay of Fires

Location: North East coast of Tasmania

About: The Bay of Fires Campground in Tasmania provides a fantastic free camp on one of Australia’s most spectacular beaches. Located just out of the town of St Helens where you can access everything you need for your time there.

Be sure to wake early to witness the spectacular Sunrise each morning from the beach.

Full review: https://indefiniteleave.com.au/swimcart-beach-bay-of-fires-tasmania/

Cost: Free

Max nights stay: 28 Days

Toilets: Yes

Showers: No

Potable water: No

Pet Friendly: Yes

Dump point: No

Free Wifi: No

Telstra coverage: Very limited

Read more about the: Great Free Camping in Tasmania

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Gregory River - Our Best Free Camp in Australia — Ranked No. 1 in Our Best Free Camps in Australia

1. Gregory River

Location: Gregory, North Queensland

About: A magnificent location with a campground above the river or you can free camp beside the river.
Simply relax and enjoy the amazing scenery and the opportunity to float down the river.
This is a popular spot for those traveling on to Adels Grove and Lawn Hill National Park.

Full review: https://indefiniteleave.com.au/gregory-river-free-camping-gregory-queensland/

Cost: Free

Max nights stay: No limit

Toilets: No, but free toilets are walking distance away in town of Gregory

Showers: No, but free showers are walking distance away in town of Gregory

Potable water: No, but water is available walking distance away in Gregory

Pet Friendly: Yes

Dump point: No but dump point is available close by in town

Free Wifi: No

Telstra coverage: No

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Pin – Best Free Camps in Australia!

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Readers who like this post also read:

How do you like our list of our Best Free Camps in Australia?

Tell us of any we have missed and we will look to go there and add them to our list of Australia’s Best Free Camps.

Safe travels

Kevin & Adele
Indefinite Leave

Our Aim is to inspire others to travel and help design the greatest adventure they can experience.

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Photography and Socials

Our camera equipment we use for all our photos and videos are:

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Lenses – Canon 50mm lens – https://ebay.to/2yQwPed This is the lens I use the least, ideal for still, close up shots.
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Sigma 10-20mm lens – https://ebay.to/2TWt0vA – My wide angle lens for all my inside photos & video plus lots more, love this lens.

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