Adventurers Diary
47 Caravan Motorhome RV & Camping Accessories to make life easier
For a great road trip around Australia you’re going to want a number of our 47 Caravan Motorhome RV & Camping Accessories to get you through and make the trip comfortable and enjoyable.
We can’t take everything but there’s some essential items that will make life a lot easier when traveling and we have put together this list of our most popular 47 Caravan Motorhome RV & Camping Accessories.
These are all the essential gadgets, tools, safety and security equipment, power, water, photography and planning must haves we use for our road trip.
Table of Contents
Our 47 Caravan Motorhome RV & Camping Accessories
Here is our full list in no particular order:
1. WikiCamps
No list can start without the number one essential.
WikiCamps is a phone app which allows you to find Caravan Parks, Campgrounds, Free Camps, Water, Dump Points, Information Centres and other places of interest. You can map out your course and mark your favourite places you want to stay.
It’s an absolute essential for anyone traveling Australia. Cost is just $7.95 in your app store.
It’s not the only app to finding the best locations though, you can also download the CamperMate app which is Free.
2. Camps 10 Book
The Camps 10 Book is another great way to find the best locations to stay in Australia.
The book has been out for years and is now in its 10th edition. Take it with you and find all the best camping locations and more from right around the country. By far the cheapest place I found it is on ebay.
3. Hema Maps
Hema Maps are the best source of maps for traveling Australia and we use ours all the time.
They have a large range of detailed maps for wherever you are looking to go.
No need to get lost, unless you want to….
4. Fire Extinguisher & Fire Blanket
We learnt the hard way just how vital a Fire extinguisher is and it’s high on our list of must have items. In our story Get the F###ing Fire Extinguisher, we discuss the reason and importance of having a fire extinguisher on board.
We highly recommend ensuring you have the right fire extinguisher and it is in working condition plus a good Fire Blanket as well.
5. First Aid Kit
One of the first items we bought when we worked out what accessories we needed for our Motorhome was a good First Aid Kit. You want to make sure in case of an emergency you have all the right equipment at hand.
We also made sure ours included a snake bite kit just in case.
6. Camping Table & Chairs
One of most used essential items in our Motorhome, and it would be the same in any Caravan, is the simple Camping Table and good value Camping Chairs that don’t cost a fortune.
You’re going to put them to good use so it’s worth getting a table that works well and chairs that are robust and comfortable. You will be packing these up often, dragging them over to happy hours and giving them a thorough workout.
There are so many choices to suit each individual.
7. Personal Fan
Adele bought herself a little present for summer and she uses it all the time. This “cool” little Portable Mini Neck fan gives her some relief from the relentless summer heat and she loves it.
Adele bought this one for under $20 from Ebay.
8. Portable Speaker
A good Portable Stereo speaker is a great addition. It doesn’t need to be too elaborate because most of the time you can’t have it too loud but it’s great to listen to your favourite music through a good speaker even in our RV.
We have this JBL Portable Bluetooth Speaker and it’s perfect for us.
9. Headphones
Headphones are really handy on the road and I use mine a lot when I’m on my laptop. Sometimes I might be watching YouTube after Adele has fallen asleep and I’ll use them to make sure I don’t wake her up. I’ve got a set of Bauhn headphones that provide great sound but there’s a huge range on Ebay.
10. Binoculars
With so much to see and not everything can be viewed closely, a pair of binoculars are a vital bit of equipment for your travels. We use ours especially when watching Humpback Whales but their use is never ending and you’ll be glad you have some on hand when you need them.
11. Headlamp
We were walking back to camp from finishing up watching Origin on the big screen at Big 4 Rollingstone one night and if it wasn’t for our headlamp we were wearing we would have stood on a massive snake. That told us just how important they are.
No good comes from walking around in the Australian outdoors in the dark without a light.
They are also great to use when fishing at night. They have so many uses and they aren’t expensive to purchase.
12. Extendable Tension Rods
Extendable tension rods are fantastic for overhead cupboards so when you open the door everything doesn’t fall out. The first person to open our cupboards after setting up camp would always have something fall on their head.
It was almost guaranteed.
That is until we bought these extendable rods from Daiso and placed them across to stop anything falling out. It works brilliantly and it’s really easy and cheap to do.
If you don’t have a Daiso store handy you can order them on Ebay
13. Torch
We really love our 1000 lumens Tech Light torch.
It is made of Heavy Duty, Aircraft Grade Aluminium and it’s beam reaches up to 390m. Perfect for spotting wildlife at night and keeping you safe when heading to the amenities at night. It has 3 settings, High Low and a Strobe light.
The adjustable head means you can widen or focus the beam plus the torch is fully rechargeable, no batteries.
We use ours all the time and it’s been perfect. We can highly recommend it.
Read more: One of our favourite most used items we travel with
14. Board Games
Board games are a great way to spend an evening as a family of a couple. Great games we all know such as Scrabble, Battleships, Snakes and Ladders, Chess and Monopoly are perfect along with Pass the Pigs, Balderdash or Cards against Humanity.
Even a simple pack of cards can produce hours of fun and challenges.
Adele remains our Snakes and Ladders Champion while Matt & I are tied level at Big Chess.
15. Pet Accessories
For the first 2 years we traveled with our Golden Retriever and before we left we bought her a new collar, lead, dog bowl, a nice comfy bed and a mat. We found a lot of what we wanted on Ebay and it was so much cheaper than in store.
16. Sirocco Fans
Every Caravan, Motorhome or RV should be fitted out with Sirocco Fans. Built originally for marine craft they are perfect for our use. They can be tilted and moved to face every direction, are very low draw on power and work great.
They are small and compact and take up only a small amount of space.
17. Hand Held UHF
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 handy if you need help.
We use our Hand Held UHF also to talk to truck drivers as we travel as we did in this situation and learnt about why our dashboard speedo was incorrect.
18. Toilet Deodoriser Satchets
You’re going to need some chemicals for your toilet in your Caravan or Motorhome. We use the Porta Pak range of chemicals which break everything down and reduces smells.
19. Portable Barbecue
A great BBQ on the road is the best addition to your cooking needs and there’s nothing better then the Weber. Cook a steak, heat up a Pizza, it even backs up as an oven.
We have the Weber Baby Q and wouldn’t be without it.
20. Jerry Cans
I really like these low profile designed Scepter 20L Diesel Jerry Cans. I find them so much easier to handle and they have a air valve to provide faster flow when pouring. They come with their own built in funnel also.
I’ve got 2 of these and they are ideal for storing fuel when travelling.
They are available for either Diesel or Petrol.
Check out our blog: Tips on Saving Fuel Costs While Traveling
21. Mobile Phone
When we first started traveling we started out with iPhones but then found that Samsung took far better photos. When we first switched over Adele had a Samsung 8, then we both got Samsung 9’s and now the Samsung Note 10 Plus which are amazing for photography.
Personally we would recommend Samsung phones over iPhones when doing the lap simply for their photographic capabilities.
22. Drone
We love our DJI Mavic Pro Platinum Drone. A good drone captures insane footage and provides a perspective you wouldn’t see any other way.
The Mavic Pro range are perfect for travelers as they fold down to such a compact size.
I also use my drone for fishing and have even caught sharks with it. I use the Gannet Bait release as an attachment to my drone which releases my bait wherever I want to land it.
23. DSLR Camera
We have a Canon 800d with all sorts of lens but we aren’t photographers and aren’t trying to be one. For us this simple easy to use basic DSLR does the job we are looking for.
This Nikon Coolpix 1000 might not take professional photos but they shoot great images and the 125x optical zoom means you can get a closeup of a crocodile or a Humpback Whale from a long safe distance away. Even photos of the moon can be captured brilliantly. This will be our next camera.
24. Action/Underwater Camera
Our videos and underwater footage changed when we bought our Go Pro 7 Hero Black. These are insane action cameras that record at incredible quality.
We also bought an extra battery for those times you urgently need it only to find the battery in it is flat. My head mount is another one I use a lot plus the car mount.
5 Essentials – Camera Equipment
The Mavic Pro Platinum Drone Fly More Combo will provide you with everything you will need and it is what I use this for all my aerial footage
The GoPro 7 Hero Black is an awesome piece of equipment. I use this for all underwater, action video and some general use.
We both love our Samsung Note 10 Plus Phone. Most of our photos are simply from our Samsung Phones. The cameras in the Samsung phone are pretty insane.
The distances you can shoot with the Camera – Nikon P1000 are simply amazing. It has an incredible optical and digital zoom!
We use our HP Sphere 360 Laptop with 8th Generation Intel Core i7 processor for our everyday use and for editing our photos
25. Selfie Stick
When any old Selfie Stick won’t do we bought this Hoco Wireless Selfie Stick which is extendable to 1.6m. It comes with an inbuilt fold out tripod, remote control and a light.
We bought ours in Black but they also come in Pink. We have found it on ebay for $24.95 which is less than we paid for it.
26. USB Charger
There’s lots of Dual USB chargers available to buy but most have one port at high speed and the other is low speed. When both of us need to charge our phones in the car only one of us gets any decent charge before arriving at our destination.
I went looking for a Dual USB Charger that has both ports charge at high speed and whilst they aren’t that easy to find I did end up successful.
This Baseus Dual USB Car Charger can provide equal max output from both ports or choose one with a c port.
27. Power Bank
Having back up power has been absolutely essential, especially when we have a full day of adventures and we want to ensure we stayed charged to capture all the photos and footage on our phones.
We have a couple of different sized Power banks. The smaller compact and light 5000mah Cygnett models are easy to carry and give us at least one full charge. The bigger Cygnett 15,000mah model gives us 3-4 full charges and is no bigger then our phone.
28. Ampfibian Power Adaptor
An Ampfibian is an essential device for every Motorhome, Caravan and RV. This will allow you to plug your 15amp power cable from your Van to any household 10amp/ 240v power outlet. It’s waterproof, safe and so easy to use.
We have been using ours for over 4 years and it still works perfectly every time.
Read more on the Ampfibian: 15 Amp to 10 Amp – Ampfibian
29. Extension Power Lead
We use a 20m power extension lead to ensure we can reach our power source when we need to. Campgrounds will sometimes have the power socket a small distance away or if we’re staying with friends this ensure we can reach where we need to.
30. Drinking Water Hose
Hoses comes in different colours signifying their intended use. A common green garden hose isn’t graded for drinking purposes and you’ll need a Blue or White Drinking Hose which is designed for potable water.
31. Grey Water Hose
You don’t want your grey water running back into your outdoor under awning space so direct it away to under a tree or an area suitable with your own Grey Water Hose.
32. Tyre Deflators
When you are driving on sand or corrugated roads deflating your tyres provides a better ride and ensure improved traction. These great deflators are perfect.
Simply set the desired tyre pressure, install it on your tyre and it will deflate to the desired tyre pressure.
There are 4 in the pack, set the first tyre before heading around to each other tyre. By the time you finish they’ll be deflated and ready to remove. Fast, easy and compact, the perfect way to lower your tyre pressure.
33. Collapsible Water Containers
We carry an extra 100L of drinking water in collapsible water containers the same as these ones from BCF. This doubles our capacity to 200L allowing us to Free camp for longer.
Another option is these Scepter Jerry cans available on Ebay which we like also.
34. Water Bladders
Water bladders are another great idea. We have several friends who travel with them and love them and we’re looking at going down this option too. They are designed to simply fit across the floor in the back seat of your 4wd.
There’s a 60L option that will fit in front of the back seat or the 125L option that goes right across the back floor. They are made from Premium Grade material and meet Australian Standards.
Read about: Finding Water as you Travel
35. Wheel Levellers
We destroyed plenty of Wheel Levellers over our first few years. Many couldn’t handle the weight of our 4.5t Motorhome so I ended up making my own.
The option of making your own though isn’t for everyone. Ours are great and a couple of years on they still work perfectly but they are big and a bit heavy.
A mate of mine had a Wheel Leveller he was going to throw out and he offered it to me so I took it and have used it a few times when I needed an extra one and have been pleasantly surprised at it’s quality.
It’s a Blue Camec Wheel Leveller and it’s really sturdy. After the use we have given it I still can’t fault it. At around $30-40 each or $65 – 70 for a pair they are good value. They are rated for 4t and are made from tough polypropylene plastic.
36. McHitch Trailer Coupling
The McHitch Automatic Coupling is a must have security device for every Caravan or Trailer. An Australian invention the McHitch has won awards worldwide and has the right size to suit you.
Check out the popular 3.5t model on Ebay, however there are lighter and heavier types for different requirements.
37. Brass Hose Fittings
Buy some good quality brass hose fittings and you’ll have so many less problems with leaking water and broken parts. I always used cheaper plastic ones that would break or leak all the time. Since buying these good brass Hose fittings I haven’t had any issues.
It doesn’t hurt to have a back up set either. I’ve left my tap connector behind more than once.
38. 4 Way Tap Handle
If you are on the road full time traveling Australia there’s going to be times when the only access you have to drinking water is through a tap without a handle. Sometimes this will be at Information Centres, Water Stations, Parks or other places you source water.
The 4 way tap handle ensures you have access to fresh drinking water when you need it.
Read more about: The 4 way Tap Handle
39. Portable Folding Clothesline
A folding clothesline is the ideal way to dry your clothes when traveling. Once you are finished simply fold it up and pack it away. They are easy to use and the base can be pegged down to keep it from falling over.
40. Collapsible Bucket, Washing Basket & Kitchen Sink
Collapsible bucket, washing basket, kitchen sink.
We have had so many uses for our collapsible buckets, the kitchen sink and the collapsible washing basket while travelling and camping. The 4wd Supacentre Ebay store has a great range of collapsible items perfect for reducing space.
41. Generator
A good Generator is going to ensure you have power supply regardless of weather. If anything goes wrong with your power supply you’re not going to be left without much needed electricity. It also allows you to use a few appliances you may not be able to otherwise.
We have a EU20i Honda Generator we bought from the Generator Place at Capalaba in Brisbane. It hasn’t missed a beat and the Honda’s are a fantastic quality and generally quiet generator. Check out the range on their Generator Place website
Yamaha are another fantastic Generator. We travelled for around 2 years with another family who used a Yamaha ef2400is and it was brilliant. At 2.4kva it had extra grunt and was very quiet for it’s size. You can check out the range of Yamaha generators from Tentworld.
Another option is the much cheaper Kings generators from 4wd Supacentre. They have their detractors but there’s no doubting their popularity if your budget isn’t as high. At almost a quarter of the price you could buy 3 and still be ahead.
Read more: Generators and our Honda E20i and Changing Oil in Honda Generator
42. Portable Fridge/Freezer
A portable Fridge/ Freezer is a great back up to your main fridge in your Caravan or Motorhome. We went with a Waeco for our Motorhome which we also began using in the 4wd. The Waeco 75L combi is an excellent option.
Engel are commonly considered the best quality portable fridge freezer and many people attest to having had their’s for decades. The Engel 75L portable Fridge/ Freezer is another great option.
The 4wd Supacentre produces the Kings range at a much cheaper price and have a 70L portable Fridge Freezer that may be more suitable to your budget.
We now have a Vitrifrigo upright fridge in our 4wd. It provides us much greater access to our fridge space, it cost a lot less then a portable fridge freezer plus slide and with a big 130L capacity it has ample room for everything we want to put in the fridge.
43. Recovery Tracks
Recovery tracks are an essential item for your 4WD if you are heading off the bitumen. These will get you out of a lot of situations you might find yourself in, especially if you get bogged in sand.
We didn’t bother with the expensive models and bought these ones for up to a third of the price of others. Whilst I haven’t needed them personally they have been used to get others out of some tricky situations and worked perfectly. They are less then $100.
TREDS are a very good Australian made set of recovery tracks and very popular.
MAXTRAX are also Australian made and high quality recovery tracks. Often retailing for $299 you can buy a set much cheaper on Ebay. Save yourself almost $50.
44. Compressor
We have been spending a lot of time on the sand at Fraser Island, Moreton and Straddie and therefore a Compressor to air up our tyres is an essential part of our gear.
Our Thumper Max Twin Compressor from Kings hasn’t missed a beat and we have no hesitation in recommending it for value for money.
45. Portable Solar Panel
A 200w folding solar panel from 4wd Supacentre has been an excellent addition to our travel gear. I can simply put it on the car roof or wherever it will best access the sun when we pull up. The only negative is it only works with AGM batteries and we now have Lithium in our 4WD.
Read about: Solar – Creating and Managing our Power
46. Battery Charger
One of my very favourite extra bits of kit has been the new Battery charger. This Victron 15A Bluesmart Battery Charger allows me to quickly provide a boost charge any time my batteries get low. You can track it via bluetooth and an app on your phone and it is very fast to charge the battery if it is low.
47. Rechargeable Drill, Light, Dustbuster, Blower & Chainsaw
For great value cordless power tools I like my Ryobi gear. I’ve got a few tools in the range now and each one does the job exactly as I want it to. They all come with us in the Motorhome and take up little space or weight and are all very handy Caravan Motorhome RV & Camping Accessories.
Cordless Drill
The Cordless Drill was the first of my tools in the set. I’ve had it for years now and it’s always been brilliant.
Portable Light
We have an 18v portable Light which we use outside often at night. It always works and never lets us down.
Dustbuster
Next we added the Dustbuster to our range. We’ve always found Cordless Hand Vacuum’s can be very hit and miss in their capacity to do the job but this one works great. It’s a bit noisy but they usually are.
Cordless Blower
For our time on Fraser Island for almost 5 months as Caretakers I bought a Cordless Blower and the new model is a ripper. It claims to blow up to 245kmh. I’m not sure if it reached those levels but it worked brilliantly and got a lot of use without any issues.
Cordless Chainsaw
My next purchase will likely be the new Ryobi 18v Cordless Chainsaw. I’ve heard previous models haven’t been so great but this latest offering might just do the job I need. The reviews I’ve read suggest it works much better.
Pin – 47 Caravan Motorhome RV & Camping Accessories!
Our Readers also enjoy reading:
Having the right gear for traveling is important and we wanted to research some great opportunities for researching and buying these products for you.
This also provides you some ideas about the gear we use when on the road. Do you have any other items that you can recommend for us to add to our list of 47 Caravan Motorhome RV Camping Accessories?
Safe travels
Kev & 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 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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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
Read all about: The Very Best of Things to See and Do in Tasmania
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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
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
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
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
Book your Gordon River Cruise here>
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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
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
Book a Huon Valley Tour from Hobart with Tahune Forest Air Walk here>
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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
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
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
Book a Hobart City Mt Wellington and Richmond Day Tour here>
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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
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
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.
________________________________________________________________________________
Photography and Socials
Our camera equipment we use for all 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/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.
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.
_______________________________________________________________________
Follow us, Subscribe, Like, Share, and Comment on our website and social media here:-
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
______________________________________________________________________
This post contains affiliate links. If you buy something through a link on this page we may receive a small commission. It will not cost you any more, in fact we’ve sourced out some great deals for you. Thank you for supporting us.
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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
______________________________________________________________________________________
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.
Photography and Socials
Our camera equipment we use for all 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/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.
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.
_______________________________________________________________________
Follow us, Subscribe, Like, Share, and Comment on our website and social media here:-
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
______________________________________________________________________
This post contains affiliate links. If you buy something through a link on this page we may receive a small commission. It will not cost you any more, in fact we’ve sourced out some great deals for you. Thank you for supporting us.
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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
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 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/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.
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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Great Low Cost Campgrounds in Tasmania
Little Roper Stockcamp, Mataranka Northern Territory
Uluru by Sunrise Free Camp, Uluru/ Ayers Rock NT
