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 11 Book
The Camps 11 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 11th 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.
Now there’s the new Samsung s21 out and we have friends and our son who have one and they look insane for photography. If you’re looking for a new phone for your road trip I’d be going for this.
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.
Since I bought mine there’s a lot of new great drones now available.
I’d look very seriously at the Splash Drone 3 plus for my next drone. The drone and the remote are both waterproof and it has a bait release available to use your drone for fishing.
The Splash Drone can record in 4k and it has a 3 axis gimbal.
The Mavic Pro 2 is a great drone which will perform superbly. With it’s longer lasting battery and capabilities of flying in strong winds it’s very popular with drone flyers.
The Mavic Mini 2 is super popular with it’s more affordable price tag and amazing features. You can buy the Drone plus Fly More Combo kit for under $1000.
It comes with most of the great features of it’s bigger Mavic Pro brother and the photos and videos are still high quality.
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.
We have the Nikon Coolpix 900 which has now been superseded by the Nikon Coolpix 1000.
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 have since added the Go Pro 8 Hero Black and more recently the Go Pro 9 Hero Black to our range which has been an awesome upgrade, with a better camera and improved sound recording.
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 2 will provide you with everything you will need for all of your aerial footage
Our Go Pro 9 Hero Black – https://ebay.us/6CQOVC – 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.nd some general use.
We both love our Samsung Phones. Most of our photos are simply from our Samsung Phones. Now there’s the new Samsung s21 out and we have friends and our son who have one and they look insane for photography. If you’re looking for a new phone for your road trip I’d be going for this.
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.
These power banks have come down a lot on price in recent times, we have found some great deals on Ebay for them.
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. 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 150L 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.
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 – http://ebay.us/9vMXEH – 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.
Samsung s21 Phone – https://ebay.us/QAdwva – this looks an insane camera within a phone. We have friends and our son who own one and it seems quite extraordinary with their camera quality. If you’re after a new phone this is what I’d be looking at.
Canon 800d – https://ebay.us/Q0UV1z – the latest DSLR Canon 24mp camera, buy here to save.
Nikon Coolpix p1000 – https://ebay.to/37cORUV – We have the Nikon P900 and this is the new model. The zoom lens is unbelievable and so awesome when travelling and you want to capture photos from a distance.
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.us/br9MeO 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 – http://ebay.us/zWvfuI – My wide angle lens for all my inside photos & video plus lots more, love this lens.
Our Go Pro 8 Hero Black – https://ebay.us/6CQOVC – 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
Camping NSW North Coast
There’s so many amazing places to go Camping in NSW North Coast along the Coastline between Sydney and Brisbane.
We love this stretch of Australia’s Coastline with so many stunning beaches, great waves, good fishing and fantastic places to go camping.
Much of the Camping in NSW along the Coastline is National Park which are wonderful places to enjoy the amazing wildlife in the area.
Table of Contents
Great Camping Sites in the NSW North Coast region:
Free Camping NSW North Coast
There are very few free camping opportunities between Brisbane and Sydney on NSW North Coast.
Here are four that we know of but you may be aware of more and also enjoyed an overnight free camping stay at.
Branxton Park
Location:
Branxton, Hunter Valley region, New South Wales
Distance from Brisbane & Sydney:
Brisbane to Branxton Park – 795.6kms
Sydney to Branxton Park – 180.4kms
What facilities are available:
Camping is permitted in Self-contained vehicles only and you must have a toilet, waste water collection along with washing and cooking facilities on board.
There are toilets available at the Branxton Park Free Camp as it is the old sports grounds. It is within easy walking distance to the local IGA.
Both Potable and non-drinking water, rubbish bins and picnic tables are also available.
Type of Sites:
No designated sites and the camping area is all unpowered.
How much does it cost?
Cost to stay is Free!
How to book?
No booking is required as it is a Free Camping facility
Maximum Stay:
72 hours in any 14 day period
Is it Pet Friendly?
Yes however dogs must be on a lead
Dump Point:
Yes
Are you allowed to have a fire?
No
Are Generators permitted?
No
Accessibility?
Accessible to Motorhomes, Caravans and Big Rigs as long as vehicle is self-contained. Tent camping and camping in non self-contained vehicles is not permitted.
Mobile Phone Service:
Good Telstra and Vodafone coverage
Contact Details:
Phone: N/A
Address: John Rose Avenue, Branxton New South Wales
Website: N/A
Things to do in the Branxton region:
Hunter Valley Wine Region
Big Kookaburra, Kurri Kurri
Big Ugg Boots, Thornton
Read more: Branxton Park
Kew Driver Reviver Rest Area
Location:
iKew Visitor Information Centre, Kew, New South Wales
Distance from Brisbane & Sydney:
Brisbane to iKew Visitor Information Centre – 559.5kms
Sydney to iKew Visitor Information Centre- 354.1kms
What facilities are available:
Camping overnight is permitted at the iKew Visitor Information Centre for a donation. They also operate a Driver Reviver Community Program during each school holidays.
There are toilets available at the iKew Visitor Information Centre as well as drinking water, rubbish bins, picnic tables and kids playground.
Type of Sites:
Limited number of spots in the car park and all unpowered.
How much does it cost?
Cost to stay by donation! Donation Box is located near the toilets
How to book?
No booking is required as it is a Community Initiative
Maximum Stay:
Overnight stay only
Is it Pet Friendly?
Yes
Dump Point:
Yes
Are you allowed to have a fire?
No
Are Generators permitted?
No
Accessibility?
Accessible to Motorhomes, Caravans and Campervans. No tent camping is permitted.
Mobile Phone Service:
Good Telstra and Vodafone coverage
Contact Details:
Phone: 02 6559 4400
Address: 133 Nancy Bird Walton Drive, Kew, New South Wales
Website:
Things to do in the Kew region:
The Big Axe
Queens Lake
Laurieton
Read more: Big Things of Australia
Truckers Memorial Rest Area
Location:
Grafton, New South Wales
Distance from Brisbane & Sydney:
Brisbane to Truckers Memorial Rest Area – 313.0kms
Sydney to Truckers Memorial Rest Area – 608.4kms
What facilities are available:
Camping is permitted in Self-contained vehicles only.
There are no facilities available at the Truckers Memorial Free Camp in South Grafton. It is close to Macdonalds and Bunnings. There is also a fuel station and boat ramp nearby.
Type of Sites:
No designated sites and the camping area is all unpowered.
How much does it cost?
Cost to stay is Free!
How to book?
No booking is required as it is a Free Camping facility
Maximum Stay:
Overnight stay only
Is it Pet Friendly?
Yes
Dump Point:
No
Are you allowed to have a fire?
No
Are Generators permitted?
No
Accessibility?
Accessible to Motorhomes, Caravans as long as vehicle is self-contained. No tent camping or camping in non self-contained vehicles is permitted.
Mobile Phone Service:
Good Telstra coverage
Contact Details:
Phone: N/A
Address: Spring Street/Big River Way, Grafton, New South Wales
Website: N/A
Things to do in the Grafton region:
Clarence Gorge
Jacaranda Festival
Read more: Everything you need to know to go Free Camping
Macksville Overnight Parking Area
Location:
Macksville, New South Wales
Distance from Brisbane & Sydney:
Brisbane to Macksville – 439.9kms
Sydney to Macksville – 473.5kms
What facilities are available?
Camping overnight is permitted in Self-contained vehicles only and you must have a toilet, sleeping and cooking facilities located within the vehicle and all waste water able to be collected and disposed of at a lawful location.
Toilets are available at the Macksville Overnight Parking Area as well as non-drinking water. Please take your rubbish with you.
There are picnic tables and a boat ramp is nearby.
Type of Sites:
4 parking bays only and the area is all unpowered. Vehicles must only be parked in marked bays.
How much does it cost?
Cost to stay is Free!
How to book?
No booking is required as it is a Free Camping facility
Maximum Stay:
1 night only
Is it Pet Friendly?
Yes but must be restrained
Dump Point:
No – Dump Point is available at the Nambucca Tourist Information Centre and Nambucca Highway Service Centre
Are you allowed to have a fire?
No
Are Generators permitted?
No
Accessibility?
Accessible to Motorhomes and Campervans under 6metres only and as long as vehicle is self-contained. No tent camping or camping in non self-contained vehicles is permitted.
Mobile Phone Service:
Good Telstra coverage as well as other mobile providers
Contact Details:
Phone: N/A
Address: Western end of River Street, Macksville, New South Wales
Website: N/A
Things to do in the Macksville region:
Valley of the Mist
Mary Boulton’s Pioneer Cottage and Museum
Nambucca Foreshaw Walk
Read more: Our Best Free Camps in Australia
NSW North Coast Camping in Showgrounds and Sporting grounds
A number of showgrounds and sporting clubs along the NSW North Coast offer low-cost camping.
We have personally stayed at many showgrounds and sporting grounds and found them a great place to stay and explore the region.
Tuncurry Sporties
Location:
Tuncurry, New South Wales
Distance from Brisbane & Sydney:
Brisbane to Tuncurry – 632.6kms
Sydney to Tuncurry – 305.7kms
What facilities are available:
The Sporties Tuncurry RV Friendly overnight reserve is for Self-Contained RV with their own internal toilet and shower on board. Tents are not allowed.
Drinking water and bins are available however there are no other facilities in the camping area.
Type of Sites:
The Sporties Tuncurry RV Friendly overnight reserve is for Self-Contained RV with their own internal toilet and shower on board. Tents are not allowed.
No designated sites and camping area is all unpowered
How much does it cost?
$5 per person per night
How to book?
Please pay at Sporties Tuncurry Reception or to the Duty Manager located in the club
Maximum Stay:
48hrs
Is it Pet Friendly?
Yes but must be on a leash
Dump Point:
Yes – it is located on the other side of the sporting grounds
Are you allowed to have a fire?
No
Are Generators permitted?
Yes but not after 8pm
Accessibility?
Accessible to Motorhomes, Caravans and Big Rigs as long as vehicle is self-contained
Mobile Phone Service:
We had excellent Telstra and Vodafone coverage
Contact Details:
Phone: 02 6554 9270
Address: 66 Beach Street, Tuncurry New South Wales
Website:
Things to do in the Tuncurry region:
Forster
Seal Rocks
Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse & Blowhole
Read more: Sporties Tuncurry
Wauchope Showground
Location:
Wauchope, New South Wales
Distance from Brisbane & Sydney:
Brisbane to Wauchope Showground – 544.4kms
Sydney to Wauchope Showground – 376.2kms
What facilities are available:
Basic facilities include drinking water, toilets and hot showers as well as bins. Toilets and showers are coded.
Water fill-up if not staying at the Wauchope Showground is $5.
Type of Sites:
16 Powered sites. Camping is not available during the Wauchope Show
How much does it cost?
Power & Water – $20 per night for 2 Adults and $5 per additional person
How to book?
You must book in advance with the On-site Caretaker by calling 0475 111 074
Maximum Stay:
No maximum listed
Is it Pet Friendly?
Yes
Dump Point:
Yes
Are you allowed to have a fire?
No
Are Generators permitted?
No
Accessibility?
Accessible to all size vehicles and tent camping is allowed
Mobile Phone Service:
We had good coverage with Telstra as well as Vodafone
Contact Details:
Phone: 0475 111 074
Address: 93A High Street, Wauchope New South Wales
Website:
Things to do in the Wauchope region:
Wauchope Country Club
Port Macquarie Koala Hospital
Billabong Zoo
Read more: Wauchope Showgrounds
Maclean Showground
Location:
Beside the Clarence River, Maclean, New South Wales
Distance from Brisbane & Sydney:
Brisbane to Maclean Showground – 272.2kms
Sydney to Maclean Showground – 641.4kms
What facilities are available:
Maclean Showground offers camping only for Self-Contained Vehicles with facilities same as in a home – living area, kitchen, sleeping area, toilet and shower.
Camping facilities at the Maclean Showground are limited. There are toilets but no showers. Drinking water and bins are available and it is just an 800 metre walk into town.
Type of Sites:
Maximum of 10 designated sites, some along the river bank with the remainder around the main showground ring
How much does it cost?
$10 per night for 2 people
How to book?
No bookings – it is a first in first served basis
Maximum Stay:
72hrs
Is it Pet Friendly?
Yes – must be on a leash
Dump Point:
Yes
Are you allowed to have a fire?
No
Are Generators permitted?
No
Accessibility?
Accessible to Motorhomes, Caravans and Big Rigs as long as vehicle is self-contained. No camping in tents, campervans or camper trailers is allowed.
Mobile Phone Service:
We had good Telstra, Vodafone and Optus service during our stay
Contact Details:
Phone: 0487 101 151
Address: 12 Cameron Street, Maclean New South Wales
Website:
Things to do in the Maclean region:
Clarence River
Maclean Lookout
Check out the power poles painted with the Scottish Tartans
Read more: Maclean Showgrounds
Nambucca Bowls Club
Location:
Nambucca Heads, New South Wales
Distance from Brisbane & Sydney:
Brisbane to Nambucca Bowls Club – 431.6kms
Sydney to Nambucca Bowls Club – 487.4kms
What facilities are available:
Camping is limited to Self-Contained vehicles with their own toilet, shower, fresh and grey water tanks, fridge and own power by way of solar or generator.
No washing, drying or cooking outdoors is permitted and no alcohol is allowed to be consumed on the camping grounds.
There are no facilities provided in the camping area alongside the Nambucca Bowls Club
Type of Sites:
6 – all unpowered
How much does it cost?
Free and only available to Nambucca Bowls Club Members. Cost of once-off membership is $5
How to book?
Telephone the Club on 02 6568 6132 or pop into the bar upon arrival
Maximum Stay:
24hrs
Is it Pet Friendly?
No
Dump Point:
Yes
Are you allowed to have a fire?
No
Are Generators permitted?
Yes – between 8.30am – 9pm
Accessibility?
Accessible for Club Members with Self-Contained Motorhomes and Caravans only
Mobile Phone Service:
We had good Telstra and Vodafone coverage during our overnight stay
Contact Details:
Phone: 02 6558 6132
Address: 12-18 Nelson St, Nambucca Heads, New South Wales
Website:
Things to do in the region:
The V-Wall – check out the painted rocks along breakwater
Captain Cook Lookout
Read more: Nambucca Bowls Club
Coffs Leagues Club
Location:
Coffs Harbour, New South Wales
Distance from Brisbane & Sydney:
Brisbane to Coffs Leagues Club – 388.7kms
Sydney to Coffs Leagues Club – 523.8kms
What facilities are available:
Camping facilities at the Coffs Leagues Club include toilets, showers, camp kitchen, bins and drinking water is also available.
Type of Sites:
A small number of Powered and Unpowered sites are available.
How much does it cost?
Powered Site – $25 per night for 2 people
Unpowered Site – $20 per night for 2 people
How to book?
Bookings are essential. Office hours: Monday to Friday 8am – 2pm and 10am – 12noon on Saturday and Sunday
Maximum Stay:
7 days
Is it Pet Friendly?
Yes
Dump Point:
No
Are you allowed to have a fire?
No
Are Generators permitted?
Unknown
Accessibility?
Accessible for Motorhomes, Caravans, Camper trailers and tent camping
Mobile Phone Service:
Telstra and other mobile network coverage available
Contact Details:
Phone: 0412 722 942
Address: 1 Stadium Drive, Coffs Harbour, New South Wales
Facebook:
Things to do in the region:
The Big Banana Fun Park
Coffs Harbour Muttonbird Island
Forest Sky Pier
Dolphin Marine Conservation Park
Read more: Our Best Low Cost Campgrounds in Australia
Great Low-Cost Camping grounds in NSW North Coast
We love the beach and are always searching out great low cost camping grounds alongside the beach or somewhere with river or lake views.
All of these great NSW North Coast camping grounds are located beside the ocean or alongside a creek or river.
These campsites not only provide an awesome place to stay but you also have the added advantage of a stunning beach close by and possibly an opportunity for fishing.
Ingenia Holidays, Lake Macquarie
Location:
Lake Macquarie, New South Wales
Distance from Brisbane & Sydney:
Brisbane to Ingenia Holidays Lake Macquarie – 812.4kms
Sydney to Ingenia Holidays Lake Macquarie – 115.4kms
What facilities are available:
The Ingenia Holiday Park, Lake Macquarie has great facilities including a camp kitchen, communal BBQs, laundry, swimming pool, kids playground and jumping cushion.
Type of Sites:
Grassy Powered sites, Waterfront Powered sites with lake views and Tent Camping sites
How much does it cost?
Waterfront Powered Site – Midweek From $32/Weekend From $45
Powered Site back from the Water – Midweek From $28/ Weekend from $40
Early Bird 20% off – when you book 28 days or more in advance
Mid Week 30% off – when you book 2 or more nights between Sunday and Thursday
Seniors 10% off – standard rate
Value Seeker – Stay 4 pay 3
How to book?
Book on-line or call 02 4359 1033
Maximum Stay:
N/A
Is it Pet Friendly?
Yes – Seasonal and at the Park Manager’s discretion
Dump Point:
Yes
Are you allowed to have a fire?
No
Are Generators permitted?
No
Accessibility?
All RVs and tent camping
Mobile Phone Service:
We had good Telstra and Vodafone coverage
Contact Details:
Phone: 02 4359 1033
Address: Monterey Avenue, Mannering Park, New South Wales
Website:
Things to do in the region:
Lake Macquarie boating, fishing or kayaking
Lake Macquarie Cruise
Caves Beach
Catherine Hill Bay Beach
Read more: Ingenia Holiday Parks Lake Macquarie
Diamond Head Campground
Location:
Crowdy Bay National Park, New South Wales
Distance from Brisbane & Sydney:
Brisbane to Diamond Head Campground – 569.7kms
Sydney to Diamond Head Campground – 350.5km
What facilities are available:
Facilities at the Diamond Head Campground include flushing toilets, cold showers, beach showers, sheltered areas with picnic tables and BBQs.
No water is available so you need to bring along your own. Firewood and Ice can be purchased from the on-site office.
Type of Sites:
75 grassed campsites – all are unpowered and some are shaded
How much does it cost?
$12 per Adult per night plus Park Entry Fee of $8 per vehicle per day. Note – if you are visiting a number of NSW National Parks it is worthwhile purchasing an Annual Pass
How to book?
Book on-line or call 1300 072 757
Maximum Stay:
21 days
Is it Pet Friendly?
No – as it is in Crowdy Bay National Park
Dump Point:
Yes
Are you allowed to have a fire?
Yes – fires are permitted in on-the-ground braziers only. Brazier Hire and firewood is available from the office.
Are Generators permitted?
No
Accessibility?
Accessible for motorhomes, caravans, campervans, camper trailers and tents
Mobile Phone Service:
We had both Telstra and Vodafone coverage during our stay
Contact Details:
Phone: 1300 072 757 or 13000 PARKS
Address: 763 Diamond Head Road, Diamond Head, New South Wales
Website:
Things to do in the Crowdy Bay National Park region:
North Brother Mountain Lookout, Laurieton
Diamond Head Loop Walk
Check out the amazing Split Rock
Read more: Diamond Head Campground
Trial Bay Gaol Campground
Location:
South West Rocks, New South Wales
Distance from Brisbane & Sydney:
Brisbane to Trial Bay Gaol Campground – 489.0kms
Sydney to Trial Bay Gaol Campground – 458.4kms
What facilities are available:
Camping facilities at the Trial Bay Gaol Campground include 3 amenities blocks with toilets and showers accessed with a Pin-code, camp kitchen, barbecues and laundry facilities.
There are picnic tables, a boat ramp and the Trial Bay Kiosk Restaurant is a short walk from the campground.
Drinking water and bins are also available throughout the campground.
Type of Sites:
Powered and Unpowered Sites, some with direct ocean views
How much does it cost?
General Unpowered Site – From $34.85 per night
Bay View Unpowered Site – From $45.10 per night
General Powered Site – From $45.10 per night
In addition, Park Entry Fee of $8 per vehicle per day also applies. Note – if you are visiting a number of NSW National Parks it is worthwhile purchasing an Annual Pass.
How to book?
Book on-line or call 1300 072 757
Maximum Stay:
21 days
Is it Pet Friendly?
No – as it is in the Arakoon National Park
Dump Point:
Yes
Are you allowed to have a fire?
No
Are Generators permitted?
No
Accessibility?
Accessible for motorhomes, caravans, big rigs, campervans, camper trailers and tents
Mobile Phone Service:
We had great Telstra and Vodafone coverage during our stay
Contact Details:
Phone: 1300 072 757 or 13000 PARKS
Address: 2 Cardwell Street, South West Rocks, New South Wales
Website:
Things to do in the South West Rocks region:
Trial Bay Gaol Tour
Mermaid Pools
Smoky Cape Lighthouse
South West Rocks Country Club
Read more: Trial Bay Gaol, South West Rocks
Smoky Cape Campground
Location:
South West Rocks, New South Wales
Distance from Brisbane & Sydney:
Brisbane to Smoky Cape Campground – 487.5kms
Sydney to Smoky Cape Campground – 457.0kms
What facilities are available:
Basic facilities are available at the Smoky Cape Campground including non-flush toilets, bins and picnic tables.
There is no water available so you will need to bring along a supply of water and drinking water.
Type of Sites:
20 campsites, all are unpowered and most are shaded
How much does it cost?
$12.30 per night for 2 people
In addition, Park Entry Fee of $8 per vehicle per day also applies. Note – if you are visiting a number of NSW National Parks it is worthwhile purchasing an Annual Pass.
How to book?
Book on-line or call Trial Bay Gaol Visitor Centre on 02 6566 6168
Maximum Stay:
21 days
Is it Pet Friendly?
No – as it is in the Hat Head National Park
Dump Point:
No – however there is a Dump Point at the Trial Bay Gaol Campground nearby
Are you allowed to have a fire?
Yes – only in an above-the-ground firepit or brazier
Are Generators permitted?
Unknown
Accessibility?
Accessible to Caravans, Motorhomes, Camper Trailers and tent camping is permitted.
Mobile Phone Service:
There is no phone service in the Camping Area however there is some on the beach
Contact Details:
Phone: 02 6566 6168 or 1300 072 757
Address: 73 Trial Bay Gaol Road, Arakoon, New South Wales
Website:
Things to do in the South West Rocks region:
Smoky Cape Lighthouse
Trial Bay Gaol
Mermaid Pools
South West Rocks Country Club
Read more: Smoky Cape Campground
Gumma Reserve
Location:
Gumma via Macksville, New South Wales
Distance from Brisbane & Sydney:
Brisbane to Gumma Reserve – 446.2kms
Sydney to Gumma Reserve – 479.8kms
What facilities are available:
Basic facilities include an amenities block with flushing toilets, cold showers, drinking water and bins. There is drinking water, picnic tables and BBQ facilities.
The road to the campground is now sealed and there is a boat ramp.
Type of Sites:
Limited campsites are available. There must be 6 metres between caravans and 3 metres between tents. No camping within 10 metres of the creek bank.
How much does it cost?
$25 for Families up to 4 people all year round
$20 for 2 people off season and $25 in peak season (NSW School Holidays – Apr, Sep/Oct & Dec/Jan)
$15 for 1 person and $20 in peak season
$8 for each additional person
Camping fees are to be paid by EFTPOS and collected by Council Caretaker anytime between 9am – 4pm daily
How to book?
Bookings are not taken. Availability can be checked prior to arrival by calling the Council Caretaker between 8am and 12 noon daily on 0429 366 456
Maximum Stay:
50 days in any one financial year
Is it Pet Friendly?
Yes – dogs must be on a leash at all times. Maximum 2 dogs
Dump Point:
Yes
Are you allowed to have a fire?
Yes – only when there are no bans are in place. BYO Firewood as it cannot be collected from the park or surrounding areas
Are Generators permitted?
Unknown
Accessibility?
Accessible for Motorhomes, Caravans, Camper trailers, Big Rigs and tent camping is permitted
Mobile Phone Service:
Limited mobile phone coverage is available
Contact Details:
Phone: 02 6568 2555
Address: Boultons Crossing Road, Gumma via Macksville, New South Wales
Website:
Things to do in the Macksville region:
Scotts Head
Collect oysters from Nambucca River
Reflections Red Rock Caravan Park
Location:
Red Rock, New South Wales
Distance from Brisbane & Sydney:
Brisbane to Reflections Red Rock Caravan Park – 355.2kms
Sydney to Reflections Red Rock Caravan Park – 570.0kms
What facilities are available:
Reflections Red Rock has several amenities blocks, a camp kitchen, barbecue facilities, a number of laundry blocks, an on-site Cafe/Kiosk and a Boat Ramp.
Water is available from rain water tanks. Water from site taps is bore water and not suitable for drinking therefore we suggest you bring your own drinking water.
Type of Sites:
Powered and Unpowered sites
Cabins and Glamping Beach Tents are also available
How much does it cost?
Powered Site – From $42 per night for 2 people
Unpowered Site – From $33 per night
How to book?
Book on-line or call Reflections Holiday Parks, Red Rock on 02 6649 2730
Maximum Stay:
N/A
Is it Pet Friendly?
Yes – only during Off Peak Season and on selected sites only
Dump Point:
Yes
Are you allowed to have a fire?
No
Are Generators permitted?
Unknown
Accessibility?
Accessible for Motorhomes, Caravans, Camper trailers, Big Rigs and tent camping is allowed
Mobile Phone Service:
We had good Telstra and Vodafone coverage during our stay
Contact Details:
Phone: 02 6649 2730
Address: 1 Lawson Street, Red Rock, New South Wales
Website:
Things to do in the Red Rock region:
Yarrawarra Aboriginal Cultural Centre
Coffs Harbour Butterfly House
Carobana Confectionery Factory
Read more: Reflections Holiday Parks Red Rock
Illaroo North Campground
Location:
Yuraygir National Park, New South Wales
Distance from Brisbane & Sydney:
Brisbane to Illaroo North Campground – 334.6kms
Sydney to Illaroo North Campground – 631.5kms
What facilities are available:
Facilities at the Illaroo North Campground include toilets, picnic tables, barbecues and bins.
There are also drinking water taps at each end of the park.
Type of Sites:
60 unpowered campsites in total for Illaroo North and South Campgrounds
How much does it cost?
Tent/Trailer/Campervan/Small Caravan Site – From $24.60
Motorhome/Caravan Hardened Surface Premium Site – From $34.85
Group Tent/Trailer/Campervan/Small Caravan Site (suitable for 3 set-ups) – From $73.80
In addition, Park Entry Fee of $8 per vehicle per day also applies. Note – if you are visiting a number of NSW National Parks it is worthwhile purchasing an Annual Pass.
How to book?
Sites must be pre-booked. Book online or call National Parks Contact Centre on 1300 072 757
Maximum Stay:
21 days
Is it Pet Friendly?
No – as it is in the Yuraygir National Park
Dump Point:
No
Are you allowed to have a fire?
Yes – only when there are no fire bans in place
Are Generators permitted?
No
Accessibility?
Accessible for Motorhomes, Caravans, Campervans, Camper trailers and tent camping is allowed. Access road to the campground is unsealed and can become boggy in wet weather.
Mobile Phone Service:
We had no Telstra or Vodafone coverage during our stay but there is Optus
Contact Details:
Phone: 1300 072 757 or 13000 PARKS
Address: Illaroo Road, Minnie Water, New South Wales
Website:
Things to do in the Minnie Water region:
Angophora Grove Walk
Shoalhaven Zoo and Adventure World
Illawarra Fly Treetop Walk
Read more: Illaroo North Campground
Sandon River Campground
Location:
Yuraygir National Park, New South Wales
Distance from Brisbane & Sydney:
Brisbane to Sandon River Campground – 301.7kms
Sydney to Sandon River Campground – 671.8kms
What facilities are available:
Sandon River facilities include non-flushing toilets, shelters with lights, picnic tables and electric barbecues.
Tank water is available for general washing and your own camp showers, but not suitable for drinking. Bring along your own drinking water.
Rubbish and recycling bins are available at the entry to the campground and there is a boat ramp.
Type of Sites:
29 Unpowered sites. Campsites are not suitable for large caravans or motorhomes over 7.5m.
How much does it cost?
$24.60 for 2 people
In addition, Park Entry Fee of $8 per vehicle per day also applies. Note – if you are visiting a number of NSW National Parks it is worthwhile purchasing an Annual Pass.
How to book?
Book on-line or call the Grafton Office on 02 6641 1500
Maximum Stay:
21 days and a 2 night minimum stay applies during NSW and Qld School hols and on NSW Long Weekends
Is it Pet Friendly?
No – as it is in the Yuraygir National Park
Dump Point:
No
Are you allowed to have a fire?
Yes – only in the designated wood barbecues or in your own off-ground fire brazier. Collection of firewood from the park is prohibited so BYO firewood.
Are Generators permitted?
No
Accessibility?
Accessible for Motorhomes, Caravans, Camper trailers and tent camping is allowed. Unsealed gravel access road can become boggy in wet weather and water flows over the little bridge in heavy rainfall.
Mobile Phone Service:
Limited mobile reception. There is a coin-operated Public Phone located at the access ramp of the main toilet building.
Contact Details:
Phone: 02 6641 1500
Address: Sandon River Road, Yuraygir National Park, New South Wales
Website:
Things to do in the Sandon River region:
Brooms Head
Yamba River Markets
Yamba Ocean Pool
Woody Head Campground
Location:
Bundjalung National Park, New South Wales
Distance from Brisbane & Sydney:
Brisbane to Woody Head Campground – 270.0kms
Sydney to Woody Head Campground – 669.3kms
What facilities are available:
Facilities at the Woody Head Campground include toilets, cold showers or hot showers are $1 for 4 minutes, picnic tables and barbecue facilities.
Free Gas/electric barbecues and wood barbecues with wood supplied.
There is drinking water available and a boat ramp.
Type of Sites:
94 sites – all sites are unpowered
How much does it cost?
$34.85 per night for 2 people
In addition, Park Entry Fee of $8 per vehicle per day also applies. Note – if you are visiting a number of NSW National Parks it is worthwhile purchasing an Annual Pass.
How to book?
Book on-line or call 1300 072 757
Maximum Stay:
21 days
Is it Pet Friendly?
No – as it is in the Bundjalung National Park
Dump Point:
Yes
Are you allowed to have a fire?
Yes – only in wood barbecues provided or your own small off-the-ground braziers but it must have a solid base able to catch all ash and coals, be 300mm off-ground and under 300mm diameter in size
Are Generators permitted?
No
Accessibility?
Accessible for Motorhomes, Caravans, Camper trailers and tent camping is allowed.
Mobile Phone Service:
We had good reception with both Telstra and Vodafone during our stay. A Telstra Public Phone is also available near the Woody Head Office.
Contact Details:
Phone: 02 6646 6134 or 1300 072 757
Address: 92 Woody Head Road, Woody Head, New South Wales
Website:
Things to do in the Illuka region:
Illuka/Yamba Ferry
Illuka Rainforest Walking Track
Illuka Museum
Read more: Woody Head Campground
Black Rocks Campground
Location:
Bundjalung National Park, New South Wales
Distance from Brisbane & Sydney:
Brisbane to Black Rocks Campground – 245.4kms
Sydney to Black Rocks Campground – 711.2kms
What facilities are available:
Black Rocks Campground has non-flush toilets however there are no showers, water or rubbish bins available.
You will need to bring your own water supply and drinking water and take your rubbish with you.
Picnic Tables and free gas/electric and wood barbecues are available throughout the campground.
Type of Sites:
50 Unpowered sites. There is a clothes line, picnic table and fire ring at each of the private individual campsites
How much does it cost?
$24.60 for 2 people
$147.60 for 27m x 20m Group Tent site – Max 30 people
In addition, Park Entry Fee of $8 per vehicle per day also applies. Note – if you are visiting a number of NSW National Parks it is worthwhile purchasing an Annual Pass.
How to book?
Book on-line or call 1300 072 757
Maximum Stay:
21 days
Is it Pet Friendly?
No – as it is in the Bundjalung National Park
Dump Point:
Yes
Are you allowed to have a fire?
Yes – in the fire ring provided as long as there are no fire bans at the time. BYO firewood as it cannot be collected from within the park
Are Generators permitted?
Unknown
Accessibility?
Accessible for Motorhomes, Caravans, Camper Trailers and Campervans. Camping in tents is also permitted.
Mobile Phone Service:
Limited Telstra phone reception and Vodafone reception is sporadic
Contact Details:
Phone: 02 9585 6831 or 1300 072 757
Address: The Gap Road, Bundjalung National Park, New South Wales
Website:
Things to do in the Black Rocks region:
Jeruselum Creek
Evans Head
Read more: Black Rocks Campground
Best time to go camping between Brisbane and Sydney
We found the best time to do a camping trip of the NSW North Coast between Brisbane and Sydney was in the warmer months of the year.
Wanting to escape the heat of Brisbane, we travelled south down along the NSW North Coast in search of cooler temperatures in November and December returning for Christmas before doing a trip of the NSW South Coast in February – April.
Things to take with you when exploring Brisbane to Sydney
- Camera
- Binoculars
- Snorkel Gear
- Speargun
- Wetsuit
- Hema Maps
- Water Bottle
- Sunscreen
- Hat
- Torch
- Hiking Shoes
- Swimmers and Towel
- First Aid Kit
- Cooling Towel
- Insect Repellent
Check out these other great blogs on camping:
Pin – Camping NSW North Coast
Have you stayed at any of these great camping sites on the NSW North Coast? Tell us if you have stayed at any other awesome NSW North Coast camping grounds, showgrounds, free camps or caravan parks.
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 – http://ebay.us/9vMXEH – 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.
Samsung s21 Phone – https://ebay.us/QAdwva – this looks an insane camera within a phone. We have friends and our son who own one and it seems quite extraordinary with their camera quality. If you’re after a new phone this is what I’d be looking at.
Canon 800d – https://ebay.us/Q0UV1z – the latest DSLR Canon 24mp camera, buy here to save.
Nikon Coolpix p1000 – https://ebay.to/37cORUV – We have the Nikon P900 and this is the new model. The zoom lens is unbelievable and so awesome when travelling and you want to capture photos from a distance.
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.us/br9MeO – 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 – http://ebay.us/zWvfuI – My wide angle lens for all my inside photos & video plus lots more, love this lens.
Our Go Pro 9 Hero Black – https://ebay.us/6CQOVC – 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
12 Ways to Stay Awake when Driving on Long Trips
If you are looking to roadtrip Australia, you will want to find ways to stay awake when driving on long trips.
It’s been 6 years now since we packed up, sold off and gave away all our belongings and left our home to Travel Australia.
Every moment has been amazing and we wouldn’t change a thing.
We have been all of the way around the Country including Tasmania and in the meantime we have racked up plenty of kilometres along the way.
The East Coast is fairly easy with most days consisting of short drives to reach your destination but the Northern Territory and Western Australia are often longer days with big stretches before reaching your next camp site.
These days can be exhausting.
Fatigue when driving can happen anytime, not just on long drives.
For me I notice I get tired more when I’m driving long straight boring roads. This can happen regardless of how long I’ve been driving that day.
Driving when tired as we all know is a very common cause of traffic accidents and we need to ensure we do everything possible to prepare for long road trips and take the right precautions should we feel tired.
Table of Contents
Our 12 Ways to Stay Awake when Driving Long Trips
Here are some ideas and tips to ensure you stay awake when driving on long trips and arrive at your destination safely.
1. Sleep
Getting good sleep at night is paramount to handling days on the road driving the highways on our adventures.
Did you know, when you are fatigued even without falling asleep our brain can have short “microsleeps”, which are short periods of sleep.
Microsleeps can last from a fraction of a second up to 10 full seconds.
It’s important to recognise the signs of driving tired. These include:
- Yawning
- Blinking more often
- Stiffness, cramps, aches and pains. Sore shoulders or neck areas.
- Losses of concentration and daydreaming
- Drifting across lanes or onto the edge of the road
- Eyes become sore or lose focus
Take regular breaks and share the driving if you can.
If you feel tired then stop, refresh and have something healthy to eat and drink. Try not to have too much sugar which will give you a quick hit of energy but will likely leave you feeling fatigued soon after.
2. Meals
On days where you are driving consider what you eat and it’s possible effects on how it may make you feel.
It’s a well known fact that speakers at conferences and seminars who talk after lunch are getting the graveyard shift. It’s the hardest session to keep the audience awake and alert.
What you eat at meal times can have a big influence on your fatigue factor.
Fresh foods, fruits and drinking water is ideal and limiting Pasta, Rice and other high in Carbs meals as well as Sugar and Trans fats will all assist you to keep alert and stay safe when driving long trips.
Making your own meals when on the road rather then stopping at a Fast Food outlet or Highway Truck Stop will likely help reduce tiredness as you drive.
3. Alcohol
It goes without saying that we should never drink alcohol whilst driving or straight after consuming too much.
However, what about the night before?
A night of heavy drinking can take your body 18 hours to get back to zero blood alcohol concentration level.
Alcohol effects us all very differently based on:
- our weight
- our age
- if we are male or female
- the metabolism of our individual bodies
- type of alcohol we are drinking
- food we have consumed and when we ate
- stress levels
We all understand the consequences of driving over the limit however what about the effect drinking the night before has on our ability to remain focused and vigilant the next day despite being under the alcohol limit.
A study has shown that even a moderate level of alcohol intake, even below what is legally drunk, along with a bad night sleep produced greater drowsiness and more attention deficit than normal.
Taking it easy the night before a road trip the next morning might be the safe option.
4. Stop & Revive
We know that once we get tired we should pull over to take a rest but what should we do while we are stopped.
If you simply pull over and sit in your drivers seat for a short period you will find you will return back to your original state of drowsiness fairly quickly.
Here are some ideas on what to do while you pull over and take some time out from driving.
- Exercise whilst you are stopped. Do lots of stretches that cover all of your bodies muscles. Walk around and increase your blood flow, oxygen and heart rate.
- Drink water. Our bodies naturally lose fluids each day and re-hydrating is essential. If we become low on fluids we will become tired and weak. Always drink plenty of water whenever driving and taking a rest stop.
- Now is the right time to take a toilet break.
- I”m not sure about you but whenever we hit the highway Adele falls asleep in the passengers seat very quickly. This leaves me with my music and my thoughts. When we arrive at a rest stop I find it important to talk. This helps stimulate my brain and gets my mind functioning and alert at peak levels once again. This is also a good time to make a phone call to family or friends as well as chat with your partner and kids.
There’s lots of Rest Areas all around our country’s highways, make sure to utilise them whenever necessary to ensure you stay awake when driving long trips.
5. Put your left foot in put you’re your left foot out and shake it all about
While you are driving keep stretching and moving wherever you can. Stretch your shoulders, neck and arms however possible.
Apply pressure by stretching them over your head or pushing up and down on solid parts of the inside of your car.
Stretch and move your left leg about and set your cruise control to allow you to do the same with your right leg.
Exerting your tendons and ligaments will help the flow of blood and oxygen and keep your body awake.
6. Music
It’s the first thing I do when I drive. Find some great music that I love and turn it up as loud as Adele will let me. Which isn’t very loud lol.
Great music and singing as you drive is both great for staying awake when driving on long trips but a lot of fun too.
In this article I listed some of my favourite Driving songs I like to play and sign to while I’m driving.
Read more: My 15 Favourite Driving Songs as I Travel
7. Audio Books
These are a great way to keep focused while driving.
You can find all sort of audio books to suit your interests.
From funny and humurous to educational or just great stories, you will find an audio book to suit you.
An Audio Book is book you would normally purchase and read but through audio books you listen while someone reads the book to you.
You can download Audio Books through your Google Play or Apple Books app or you can sign up to places such as Audible which is owned by Amazon.
This is another great way to keep energised and stay awake while driving long trips.
8. Use your UHF
A UHF is an excellent bit of equipment to have when travelling Australia by road.
It’s an essential safety tool and a great method to be aware of changing conditions and monitor roadworks.
A UHF is also a great way to be in contact with truck drivers, other road users or friends you may have in convoy.
Read more: Why Trucks Pass You When You’re doing the Speed Limit
9. Play games
As kids I still vividly remember our camping trips and holidays when we were all in the car playing eye spy or counting specific cars we could see.
No doubt this was done to entertain us 4 boys and keep our minds occupied and stop us from getting bored but it’s also a great opportunity from drivers to stay awake.
In Queensland the Government has even recognised this and installed road signs on the highways with questions and answers designed to keep us alert.
Personally I think those signs should be able to be rotated and each month a new question and answer can be changed over but it’s still a great idea.
We play similar games at times when we are driving just between us.
Now that we drive separate vehicles we will come up with a letter and we both have to name places we have travelled to starting with that letter.
We use our UHF to give our answers.
As we remember places it also reminds us of stories and funny things we chat about that happened during our stay there.
Have some fun playing your own quizzes and games to stay awake on your long road trips and find how it helps break up the monotony of driving.
10. Fresh Air
Every half hour to an hour I like to wind down my window and allow fresh air in to the vehicle.
The air inside gets stale and it can’t hurt to release the carbon dioxide we’ve been breathing out over time.
Most of the time when I’m driving below 80kmh I prefer my window down to the air conditioning anyway.
In the country it’s great to enjoy the wind in your face and the smells of the countryside.
Wind down your window and let some fresh air in. Depending on your vehicle size and how many of you are in the car as to how often.
I often do this as we slow down to drive through small towns along the way.
11. Sit Correctly
It’s a simple thing but I’ve noticed that occasionally when my arms, shoulders or back get sore that my seating position could improve.
Either I’m stretching too far to reach the steering wheel or I’m not quite sitting straight.
Make sure your seat is in the correct position to ensure maximum comfort for you and the correct position to sustain longer periods in the drivers seat.
Over stretching to reach the steering wheel can cause aches and pain in your arms, shoulders and back which can ultimately add to fatigue and making it harder to stay awake when driving long trips.
This might be just a very minor tweak of your seat or your sitting position that can make a big difference on your comfort while driving.
12. Early Morning Driving
Neither Adele or I are naturally morning people and it’s usually mid morning before we hit the road.
To be honest, we often struggle to get out of Caravan Parks before the designated time of 10am on leaving day. It’s one of the extra reasons we love Free camping.
On our recent trip back up to the Northern Territory and North Queensland though we found it great to be up early and on the road around 7.30am, especially on the days we knew we had some bigger kms to travel.
It’s so much cooler and the sun beating in through the side window wasn’t nearly as harsh.
There was less traffic and we could choose to get an extra few kms in and closer to our destination or arrive earlier at a roadside rest stop and get a good position.
The most important thing is to arrive safely.
Make sure you manage your fatigue factor and arrive safely where you are going.
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Summary
These are just some of the many ways to stay awake when driving long trips or driving in general. None of which cost anything to apply but may hopefully help to save your life and lives of others.
- Get good sleep before driving
- Eat well before driving
- Do not drink excessively before driving
- Stop regularly on long trips
- Stretch often
- Listen to Music or Audio Books
- Utilise your UHF
- Breath in fresh air
- Ensure you sit correctly
- Drive early in the morning where possible
Other blogs you may find interesting:
Pin – Ways to stay awake when driving long trips
Do you have any other tips for ways to stay awake when driving on long trips while you are travelling?
Let us know in the comments below.
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 – http://ebay.us/9vMXEH – 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.
Samsung s21 Phone – https://ebay.us/QAdwva – this looks an insane camera within a phone. We have friends and our son who own one and it seems quite extraordinary with their camera quality. If you’re after a new phone this is what I’d be looking at.
Canon 800d – https://ebay.us/Q0UV1z – the latest DSLR Canon 24mp camera, buy here to save.
Nikon Coolpix p1000 – https://ebay.to/37cORUV – We have the Nikon P900 and this is the new model. The zoom lens is unbelievable and so awesome when travelling and you want to capture photos from a distance.
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.us/br9MeO – 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 – http://ebay.us/zWvfuI – My wide angle lens for all my inside photos & video plus lots more, love this lens.
Our Go Pro 9 Hero Black – https://ebay.us/6CQOVC – 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
Exmouth Campsites in the Cape Range National Park
Dotted all along the Western Australian coast within the shire of Exmouth are a number of campsites in the Cape Range National Park just south of Exmouth itself.
Exmouth is located on the North West Cape of Western Australia and is the gateway to the magnificent Ningaloo Marine Park.
It’s 1250kms north from Perth between Carnarvon and Karratha and is a drive of approximately 13 hours from Western Australia’s capital city.
The Ningaloo Reef is 260kms long and is located close to the coastline and in some areas it is easy to swim and snorkel amongst the coral and enormous array of marine life.
Migrating humpback whales, Whale sharks, Dugong, Dolphins, Manta Rays, Turtles, beautiful coral and colourful fish are all common residents of the stunning Ningaloo Reef Marine Park.
This is an extraordinary part of Australia’s coastline and there’s some amazing camping areas where you can stay overlooking the reef and enjoy some of the best snorkelling in our country.
In total, there are 11 great campsites within just 100kms of Exmouth all of which have beach access within a short stroll of the campground.
Table of Contents
Exmouth Campsites – Fees and Park Passes
Besides booking the camping fees to stay at these great Exmouth campsites through the Department of Parks and Wildlife, you will also need to purchase a Western Australia Parks Pass to enter the Cape Range National Park.
Types of Park Passes
Park Passes are available as follows:
- Holiday Pass – 5 day, 14 day and 1 month: from $25
- Annual Local Parks Pass (Western Australian local residents and ratepayers only): $25
- Annual All Parks Pass: $120
- Concession All Parks Pass: $75
- Goldstar Subscription Annual All Parks Pass (Annual All Parks Pass & Subscription to Landscope Magazine: $150
Purchase e-passes from the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions website
Passes must then be printed and displayed on your vehicle at all times.
11 Great Exmouth Campsites
Here is a list of the 11 great Exmouth Campsites along with details of the camping facilities at each of these beachside camping grounds south of Exmouth.
Mesa Campsite
How far is this campsite from Exmouth?
49.8kms
Location:
Northern end of Cape Range National Park, Western Australia
What Facilities are available?
The Mesa Campground is a beachside campground overlooking the small bay and offers some shade.
It is the most northern of the campsites from Exmouth and the beach is just a 100m stroll away.
Pit toilets are available. Bins and picnic tables are also available. Bring along your own drinking water and general water supply.
Camping in tents and swags is allowed and it is accessible to Caravans, Camper Trailers, Motorhomes and Big Rigs.
Telstra reception is available.
Campground hosts manage the Mesa Campsite from April to the end of November.
Number of Sites:
23 Unpowered – hard surfaced sites
How much does it cost?
Adults – $11 per night
Concession Holders- $7 per night
Children aged 5 – 16 – $3 per night
How to book?
Book prior to arrival via the DPAW website
Maximum Stay:
28 nights and 14 nights if any one night falls within the WA School Holiday period
Is it Pet Friendly?
No, Mesa Campground is not pet friendly as it is in National Park
Are you allowed to have a fire?
No
Are Generators permitted?
Yes – between the hours of 8am – 9pm
Accessibility:
Unsealed access but suitable for 2WD
Contact Details:
Phone: 08 9949 2808
Address: Cape Range National Park, via Murat Road, Learmonth-Minilya Road and Yardie Creek Road
Website:
Mesa Campground Activities:
Swimming
Fishing
Snorkelling
Canoeing & Kayaking
Read more: 47 Caravan Motorhome RV & Camping Accessories
Neds Campsite
How far is this campsite from Exmouth?
49.8kms
Location:
Northern end of Cape Range National Park, Western Australia
What Facilities are available?
The Neds Campground is a beachside campground overlooking the small bay and offers some shade. Beach is just a 100m stroll away.
Non-flush toilets and picnic tables are available. Bring along your own drinking water and general water supply.
Camping in tents and swags is allowed and Neds is only suitable for Camper Trailers and Rooftoppers.
Telstra reception is available.
Number of Sites:
9 Unpowered sites
How much does it cost?
Adults – $11 per night
Concession Holders- $7 per night
Children aged 5 – 16 – $3 per night
How to book?
Book prior to arrival via the DPAW website
Maximum Stay:
28 nights and 14 nights if any one night falls within the WA School Holiday period
Is it Pet Friendly?
No, Neds Campground and Day Use Area is not pet friendly as it is in National Park
Are you allowed to have a fire?
No
Are Generators permitted?
No
Accessibility:
Suitable for 2WD vehicles
Contact Details:
Phone: 08 9949 2808
Address: Cape Range National Park, via Murat Road and Yardie Creek Road
Website:
Neds Campground Activities:
Swimming
Fishing
Snorkelling
Bushwalking
Read More: Travelling Australia with our dog MACKS
Tulki Beach Campsite
How far is this campsite from Exmouth?
58.4kms
Location:
Northern end of Cape Range National Park, Western Australia
What Facilities are available?
The Tulki Beach Campsite is the closest campground to the stunning Turquoise Bay.
The campground is located near the mouth of a dry creek system and just a 200m stroll to the beach from all sites.
Pit toilets are available. Bins and picnic tables are also available. Bring along your own drinking water and general water supply.
Camping in tents and swags is allowed and it is accessible to Caravans, Camper Trailers, Motorhomes and Big Rigs. Note – the hard surface makes it difficult to drive pegs.
Mobile phone reception is not available.
Camp hosts are on site at the campground.
Number of Sites:
11 Unpowered sites – compacted surface
How much does it cost?
Adults – $11 per night
Concession Holders- $7 per night
Children aged 5 – 16 – $3 per night
How to book?
Book prior to arrival via the DPAW website
Maximum Stay:
28 nights and 14 nights if any one night falls within the WA School Holiday period
Is it Pet Friendly?
No, Tulki Beach Campground is not pet friendly as it is in National Park
Are you allowed to have a fire?
No
Are Generators permitted?
Yes – between the hours of 8am – 9pm
Accessibility:
Suitable for 2WD and larger vehicles – unsealed roads within campground
Contact Details:
Phone: 08 9949 2808
Address: Cape Range National Park, Western Australia via Murat Road & Yardie Creek Road
Website:
Tulki Beach Campground Activities:
Swimming
Snorkelling
Canoeing & Kayaking
Turquoise Bay is one of our: Best Beaches in Australia 1-10
North Mandu Campsite
How far is this campsite from Exmouth?
65.9kms
Location:
Cape Range National Park, Western Australia
What Facilities are available?
The Mandu North Campground is a small campground tucked behind the sand dunes providing partial protection against any strong winds. It is only 50metres to the beach from the campsites.
Non-flush Pit toilets are the only facilities available. Bring along your own drinking water and general water supply.
Camping in tents and swags is allowed and it is accessible to Caravans, Camper Trailers and Motorhomes. Surface is hard so driving pegs may be difficult.
There is no mobile phone reception available.
Number of Sites:
5 Unpowered sites
How much does it cost?
Adults – $11 per night
Concession Holders- $7 per night
Children aged 5 – 16 – $3 per night
How to book?
Book prior to arrival via the DPAW website
Maximum Stay:
28 nights and 14 nights if any one night falls within the WA School Holiday period
Is it Pet Friendly?
No, North Mandu Campground is not pet friendly as it is in National Park
Are you allowed to have a fire?
No
Are Generators permitted?
No
Accessibility:
2WD accessible
Contact Details:
Phone: 08 9949 2808
Address: Cape Range National Park, via Murat Road, Learmonth-Minilya Road and Yardie Creek Road
Website:
Mandu North Campground Activities:
Swimming
Bushwalking
Snorkelling
Canoeing & Kayaking
North Kurrajong Campsite
How far is this campsite from Exmouth?
70.7kms
Location:
Cape Range National Park, Western Australia
What Facilities are available?
Adjacent to the North Kurrajong Campground is a beautiful sandy beach and only a short walk from each campsite of the campground which is nestled behind the sand dunes.
You can take in the excellent coastal views from the viewing platform made from recycled plastic.
A modern toilet block with 3 cubicles is available as well as a sheltered picnic area including 4 tables. Bring along your own drinking water and general water supply.
Camping in tents and swags is allowed and it is accessible to Caravans, Camper Trailers and Motorhomes. Surface is hard so driving pegs may be difficult.
There is no mobile phone reception available. Milyering Centre has phone reception.
Camp hosts on site at the campground.
Number of Sites:
10 Unpowererd campsites
How much does it cost?
Adults – $11 per night
Concession Holders- $7 per night
Children aged 5 – 16 – $3 per night
How to book?
Book prior to arrival via the DPAW website
Maximum Stay:
28 nights and 14 nights if any one night falls within the WA School Holiday period
Is it Pet Friendly?
No, North Kurrajong Campground is not pet friendly as it is in National Park
Are you allowed to have a fire?
No
Are Generators permitted?
No
Accessibility:
2WD accessible
Contact Details:
Phone: 08 9949 2808
Address: Cape Range National Park, via Murat Road and Yardie Creek Road
Website:
North Kurrajong Campground Activities:
Swimming
Fishing
Snorkelling
Canoeing & Kayaking
Read more: Best Mobile Network in Australia for travellers
Kurrajong Campsite
How far is this campsite from Exmouth?
70.7kms
Location:
Cape Range National Park, Western Australia
What Facilities are available?
Nestled behind the sand dunes the Kurrajong Campground is a only a 150 metre walk to the beach from all campsites.
The Ningaloo Reef is directly out from the campsite and provides great snorkelling.
Non-flush toilets as well as picnic tables are available. Bring along your own drinking water and general water supply.
Camping in tents and swags is allowed and it is accessible to Caravans, Camper Trailers and Motorhomes. Surface is hard so driving pegs may be difficult.
There is no mobile phone reception available. Milyering Discovery Centre has phone reception.
Camp hosts on site at the campground.
Number of Sites:
26 Unpowered campsites
How much does it cost?
Adults – $11 per night
Concession Holders- $7 per night
Children aged 5 – 16 – $3 per night
How to book?
Book prior to arrival via the DPAW website
Maximum Stay:
28 nights and 14 nights if any one night falls within the WA School Holiday period
Is it Pet Friendly?
No, Kurrajong Campground is not pet friendly as it is in National Park
Are you allowed to have a fire?
No
Are Generators permitted?
No
Accessibility:
2WD accessible– unsealed road within campground
Contact Details:
Phone: 08 9949 2808
Address: Cape Range National Park, via Murat Road and Yardie Creek Road
Website:
Kurrajong Campground Activities:
Swimming
Fishing
Snorkelling
5 Essentials – Camera Equipment
The Mavic Pro 2 will provide you with everything you will need for all of your aerial footage
Our Go Pro 9 Hero Black – https://ebay.us/6CQOVC – 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.nd some general use.
We both love our Samsung Phones. Most of our photos are simply from our Samsung Phones. Now there’s the new Samsung s21 out and we have friends and our son who have one and they look insane for photography. If you’re looking for a new phone for your road trip I’d be going for this.
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
Osprey Bay Campsite
How far is this campsite from Exmouth?
78.6kms
Location:
Cape Range National Park, Western Australia
What Facilities are available?
Osprey Campground is the largest campsites in the Cape Range National Park south of Exmouth.
It’s just a short walk from the Osprey Campground and day use area to the sandy beach.
Enjoy a walk along the trail that leads to Sandy Bay and look out for echidnas, kangaroos and any birds of prey flying overhead.
Shore based fishing is permitted in the special purpose zone adjacent to the Osprey Bay Sanctuary Zone. Visit the Fisheries website or download a copy of the Ningaloo Coast World Heritage Map.
Non-flush toilets and picnic tables are available in the day use area. Bring along your own drinking water and general water supply.
Camping in tents and swags is allowed and it is accessible to Caravans, Camper Trailers and Motorhomes. Surface is hard so driving pegs may be difficult.
There is no mobile phone reception. Milyering Discovery Centre has phone reception.
Volunteer Camp hosts are at the campground.
Number of Sites:
46 Unpowered campsites
How much does it cost?
Adults – $11 per night
Concession Holders- $7 per night
Children aged 5 – 16 – $3 per night
How to book?
Book prior to arrival via the DPAW website
Maximum Stay:
28 nights and 14 nights if any one night falls within the WA School Holiday period
Is it Pet Friendly?
No, Osprey Campground is not pet friendly as it is in National Park
Are you allowed to have a fire?
No
Are Generators permitted?
Yes – 8am – 9pm in specific sites only
Accessibility:
Accessible for 2WD and large vehicles
Contact Details:
Phone: 08 9949 2808
Address: Cape Range National Park, via Murat Road and Yardie Creek Road
Website:
Osprey Campground Activities:
Swimming
Fishing
Snorkelling
Kayaking
Read about more campgrounds: Our Best Low Cost Campgrounds in Australia
Bungarra Campsite
How far is this campsite from Exmouth?
79.1kms
Location:
Cape Range National Park, Western Australia
What Facilities are available?
Bungarra Campground is one of the small campsites out of Exmouth in the Cape Range National Park making it a peaceful place to stay.
It’s just a short walk from the Campground to the beach where you can enjoy swimming, snorkelling and canoeing.
Non-flush toilets are the only facilities at this campground. Bring along your own drinking water and general water supply.
Camping in tents and swags is allowed and it is accessible to Caravans, Camper Trailers and Motorhomes. Surface is hard so driving pegs may be difficult.
There is no mobile phone reception available. Milyering Discovery Centre has phone reception.
Number of Sites:
5 Unpowered campsites
How much does it cost?
Adults – $11 per night
Concession Holders- $7 per night
Children aged 5 – 16 – $3 per night
How to book?
Book prior to arrival via the DPAW website
Maximum Stay:
28 nights and 14 nights if any one night falls within the WA School Holiday period
Is it Pet Friendly?
No, Bungarra Campground is not pet friendly as it is in National Park
Are you allowed to have a fire?
No
Are Generators permitted?
No
Accessibility:
Accessible – unsealed roads within in campground
Contact Details:
Phone: 08 9949 2808
Address: Cape Range National Park, via Murat Road and Yardie Creek Road
Website:
Bungarra Campground Activities:
Swimming
Snorkelling
Canoeing
Yardie Creek Campsite
How far is this campsite from Exmouth?
87.5kms
Location:
Southern end of Cape Range National Park, Western Australia
What Facilities are available?
The Yardie Creek Campground is a reasonably small campground near the spectacular Yardie Creek Gorge. All campsites are within 80 metres of the beach.
It’s just a short walk to picnic area and walking trails as well as the departure point for cruises at Yardie Creek.
Non-flush toilets are the only facilities at this campground. Bring along your own drinking water and general water supply.
Camping in tents and swags is allowed and it is accessible to Caravans, Camper Trailers and Motorhomes.
There is Telstra phone reception available. A Dump Point is located nearby off Yardie Creek Road.
Number of Sites:
10 Unpowered campsites
How much does it cost?
Adults – $11 per night
Concession Holders- $7 per night
Children aged 5 – 16 – $3 per night
How to book?
Book prior to arrival via the DPAW website
Maximum Stay:
28 nights and 14 nights if any one night falls within the WA School Holiday period
Is it Pet Friendly?
No, Yardie Creek Campground is not pet friendly as it is in National Park
Are you allowed to have a fire?
No
Are Generators permitted?
Yes – between 8am – 9pm
Accessibility:
2WD accessible – unsealed roads within in campground
Contact Details:
Phone: 08 9949 2808
Address: Cape Range National Park, via Murat Road and Yardie Creek Road
Website:
Yardie Creek Campground Activities:
Swimming
Snorkelling
Canoeing & Kayaking
Bushwalking
Read more: 17 Handy Items for Families Travelling with Kids
One K Campsite
How far is this campsite from Exmouth?
89.1kms
Location:
Southern end of Cape Range National Park, Western Australia and one of the Exmouth campsites furthest south
What Facilities are available?
The One K Campground requires crossing the tidal Yardie Creek.
Crossing the soft shifting sand is not always possible so therefore access is not guaranteed and is at your own risk.
Check tide predictions and only attempt crossing is you have the appropriate experience and equipment.
Non-flush toilets are the only facilities at this campground. Bring along your own drinking water and general water supply.
Camping in tents and swags is allowed and it is accessible to Off-road Caravans and Camper Trailers.
Campsites at One K are in high demand from Easter through to October.
There is Telstra phone reception available. A Dump Point is located nearby off Yardie Creek Road.
Number of Sites:
7 Unpowered campsites
How much does it cost?
Adults – $11 per night
Concession Holders- $7 per night
Children aged 5 – 16 – $3 per night
How to book?
Book prior to arrival via the DPAW website
Maximum Stay:
28 nights and 14 nights if any one night falls within the WA School Holiday period
Is it Pet Friendly?
No, One K Campground is not pet friendly as it is in National Park
Are you allowed to have a fire?
No
Are Generators permitted?
Yes – between 8am – 9pm
Accessibility:
Only accessible by 4WD
Contact Details:
Phone: 08 9949 2808
Address: Cape Range National Park, via Murat Road and Yardie Creek Road
Website:
One K Campground Activities:
Swimming
Snorkelling
Canoeing & Kayaking
Bushwalking
Boat Harbour Campsite
How far is this campsite from Exmouth?
90.5kms
Location:
Southern end of Cape Range National Park, Western Australia and the furthest south of the Exmouth campsites.
What Facilities are available?
The Boat Harbour Campground is just 3kms south of Yardie Creek. When accessing from the north it will be necessary to cross the tidal Yardie Creek.
Crossing the soft shifting sand is not always possible and you do so at your own risk.
Check tide predictions and only attempt crossing if you have the appropriate experience and equipment.
Non-flush toilets are available. Bring along your own drinking water and general water supply.
Camping in tents and swags is allowed. Only suitable for Off-road Caravans and Camper Trailers.
Boat Harbour Campground is adjacent to a Recreational Zone of the Ningaloo Marine Park, which allows the launching of small boats. It is the furthest south of the Exmouth Campsites.
There is no Telstra phone reception. A Dump Point is located nearby off Yardie Creek Road.
Number of Sites:
5 Unpowered campsites
How much does it cost?
Adults – $11 per night
Concession Holders- $7 per night
Children aged 5 – 16 – $3 per night
How to book?
Book prior to arrival via the DPAW website
Maximum Stay:
28 nights and 14 nights if any one night falls within the WA School Holiday period
Is it Pet Friendly?
No, Boat Harbour Campground is not pet friendly as it is in National Park
Are you allowed to have a fire?
No
Are Generators permitted?
Yes – between 8am – 9pm
Accessibility:
Only accessible by 4WD
Contact Details:
Phone: 08 9949 2808
Address: Cape Range National Park, Minilya-Exmouth Road via Ningaloo Road and Ningaloo-Yardie Creek Road
Website:
Boat Harbour Campground Activities:
Swimming
Snorkelling
Canoeing & Kayaking
Diving
Fishing
Read more: 49 Amazing Things to do in Western Australia
Exmouth Weather
The weather in and around Exmouth is generally warm and can be quite windy. A great time to visit Exmouth is during the months of May to September with August being the best month of the year.
The coastline from Broome down to Exmouth is the region most prone to cyclones in Australia. Cyclone season runs from 1 November through to 30 April.
July is usually the coolest month with temperatures averaging 24 degrees C. As expected the hottest months are Jan and February with the average temperatures around 37 degrees C.
Read about: Always take the weather, the weather with you
Great Tours around Exmouth and Ningaloo Reef
There are some once in a lifetime tours that you can do out of Exmouth in the amazing Ningaloo Reef region.
Swim with Humpback Whales
One of our most memorable tours to date as we travel Australia has been swimming with Humpback Whales out of Exmouth.
Ocean Eco Adventures have a Gyrocopter above spotting the suitable whales while you are ready to jump off the back of the boat where you can have a humpback whale swim underneath or near you which is such an amazing experience.
Whale Shark Swim
During the months of March to July you can swim with Whale Sharks out of Exmouth in WA.
The 8hr tour includes the amazing in-water experience with the whale sharks and snorkeling the Ningaloo Reef along with lunch and morning and afternoon tea.
Book your: Whale Shark Swim and Catamaran Cruise here>
Muiron Islands Dive Tour
Spend the day exploring and diving the Muiron Islands just a few nautical miles out from Exmouth. This World Heritage area are famous for their colourful soft corals.
An unbelievable aquatic experience where you will be diving among potato cod, turtles, sharks and thousands of fish.
Book your: Muiron Islands Dive Tour here>
Outer Reef or Island Snorkel Tour
Enjoy discovering great snorkelling sites at coral reefs only accessible by boat. Snorkel among beautiful coral gardens and swim alongside turtles and mantarays.
Suitable for all levels of snorkelling experience. Tours operate from March through to December and include complimentary snorkel hire, a pre-packed lunch and refreshments.
Book your: Outer Reef or Island Snorkel Tour here>
Things to take with you when exploring the Exmouth Campsites region:
- Camera
- Snorkel gear
- Wet Suit
- Kayak
- Binoculars
- Hema Maps
- Water Bottle
- Sunscreen
- Hat
- Torch
- Hiking Shoes
- Swimmers and Towel
- First Aid Kit
- Cooling Towel
- Insect Repellent
Read more: Winning the War against Midges or Sand Flies
Pin – Exmouth Campsites
Have you stayed in any of these campsites near Exmouth?
Tell us in the comments which of the Exmouth campsites you stayed in and how you rate it!
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 – http://ebay.us/9vMXEH – 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.
Samsung s21 Phone – https://ebay.us/QAdwva – this looks an insane camera within a phone. We have friends and our son who own one and it seems quite extraordinary with their camera quality. If you’re after a new phone this is what I’d be looking at.
Canon 800d – https://ebay.us/Q0UV1z – the latest DSLR Canon 24mp camera, buy here to save.
Nikon Coolpix p1000 – https://ebay.to/37cORUV – We have the Nikon P900 and this is the new model. The zoom lens is unbelievable and so awesome when travelling and you want to capture photos from a distance.
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.us/br9MeO – 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 – http://ebay.us/zWvfuI – My wide angle lens for all my inside photos & video plus lots more, love this lens.
Our Go Pro 9 Hero Black – https://ebay.us/6CQOVC – 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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Coledale Camping Reserve, Coledale NSW
Black Rocks Campground, Bundjalung National Park, NSW
Illaroo Campground, Yuraygir National Park, NSW
