Free Camping NSW: 5 Terrific Camping Sites to Visit
Did you know that Australia’s tourism industry is booming? It’s expected for the country to welcome about 10 million overseas visitors this year. But no fear, there is plenty of free camping NSW wide.
If you’re visiting Australia anytime soon, camping is a great way to spend your holidays. It’s even more fulfilling if you’re doing it with your family and loved ones. With that, you’ll need to know about your free camping NSW options.
With the right destination and reliable camping supplies, you can plan an entire camping trip that can last months or even years! In this guide, you’ll learn some of the best camping sites NSW has to offer.
1. Wingham Foreshore Recreation Reserve
Located 95 kilometres south of Port Macquarie, Wingham Recreation Reserve is accessible with the use of two-wheel drive cars. Once you get to the town of Wingham, you only need to find the bitumen road and follow it. It’s a great camping site if you have tents, caravans, and camper trailers.
If you have big rigs, it’s not as ideal, but you can get cheap camping at the Wingham showgrounds. Take note, while the recreation reserve is free, it’s only available for 24-hour camping trips. If you plan to get a spot, you need to go there as early as possible since it only has 20 campsites.
As for its facilities, it has a jetty and a boat ramp. It’s perfect if you want to swim and fish in Manning River. That allows you and your loved ones to have a more natural experience, away from most amenities without inconvenience.
2. Gentleman’s Halt, Marramarra National Park
Are you trying to find a more remote campsite? If so, nothing can beat Gentleman’s Halt since you need to hike first before you reach it. It’s a secluded gem that you’ll encounter along Canoelands Ridge Track, as long as you’re willing to trek around 10 kilometres of the trail.
If you want something more challenging, you can also reach it by using a kayak, canoe, or a small boat. It’s a riverside campsite where you can relax and enjoy the waters. If you’re into animal watching, you can go to the surrounding scrub and see the lyrebirds and bandicoots.
The best part is that the campground has great amenities, such as toilets, barbecue facilities, and picnic tables. But if you need more, you’re welcome to bring your own.
3. Turon Crossing Reserve, Bridle Track
If you want a campsite during the dry months, try the Turon Crossing Reserve. It’s a camping site broke into two sites, accessible with the use of a 2WD vehicle. You have the choice to make camp on either shaded or sunny spots.
You have suitable area to prepare a camper trailer. But take note, it’s only possible if the weather conditions will allow you to haul it down the track. Regardless, it’s a great place for fishing, swimming, and relaxation.
But this camp has a unique feature—it’s a well-known fact that the area can give up some gold. If you’re an eager fossicker, you can try your luck and use metal detectors or gold pans to look for this precious metal.
The camp still requires you to carry your supplies. With 20 million tonnes of waste filling Australia’s landfills each year, the camp encourages you to do your part in maintaining its cleanliness. That means you need to dispose your trash on your own since the camp won’t accommodate it. It’s good practice anyway when you’re experiencing all the free camping NSW has to offer.
4. Sculpture in the Scrub, Timallallie National Park
A good camp for people with artistic inclinations is the Sculptures in the Scrub. Nestled within the Pilliga Forest, this campsite is a great place for caravans, campers, and tents. It’s the perfect starting point if you want to start exploring the area.
It has a walking track with the same name—a 2-kilometre loop that showcases artworks made by a collaboration of young people and local Aboriginal elders. Each piece represents a different story depicting the region’s culture and history.
If you want to see some unique wildlife, this campsite has some of the country’s elusive fauna. As for facilities, you can expect sheltered picnic tables as well as barbecue areas, toilets, and rainwater access. It’s recommended that you boil or treat the water to ensure it’s safe to drink.
An important thing to remember is that the campground will get lots of sunlight. Make sure to stay hydrated and don’t stay under the sun for too long. You can also read this guide if you’re interested in maintaining your cleanliness on outdoor trips.
5. The Barracks, Coolah Tops Park
It’s a charming campsite situated in a private area. It only has a few sites that dot the small eucalyptus trees. The Barracks has fantastic greeneries, with a stand of grass trees aged several hundred years old.
This campsite also has a creek that you can swim in, as long as you keep safety in mind. Regardless, you need to pack a pair of walking boots and a mountain bike. That is if you plan to see the picturesque views along the Warrumbungle Range from Pinnacle Road’s end.
Like the abovementioned Sculpture in the Scrub, The Barracks has some unique fauna. For example, you might encounter a red-necked wallaby or a wombat near your tent. The wildlife is friendly, so there’s no cause for you to feel unease.
Its amenities include wood barbecues, toilets, and picnic tables. But if you’re camping here, make sure to bring a gas stove along as well. Good thing you have the option of towing a caravan into the camp’s grounds or pitch a tent and call it a day.
Why Use Free Campsites?
If you’re touring New South Wales for a while, you can extend your vacation time by using free camping. This saves you a small fortune, enabling you to save more on activities and other attractions.
But that can’t be the only reason, right? Fortunately, saving cash isn’t the only benefit to trying out free camping sites. Here are some other benefits of using free camping:
1. Improve Social Skills
People who stay at free campsites know that these places draw in a lot of friendly campers. Often, you’ll find more social chats at free camps than paid caravan parks. After you finish setting up, you can always share drinks with fellow campers and have chats about your adventures.
Engaging in conversation allows you to become more comfortable with speaking to other people. Also, you can learn some tips on what to do within the campgrounds. Some of the more seasoned campers will also share their wisdom on their experiences with the free camps they visited across the country.
2. It’s Pet-Friendly
If you’re camping in sites within national parks, it’s likely to have strict rules about your pets. But lots of free camps around NSW that could cater to your fur babies. If you plan to make a trip with your dog, make sure to do your homework and find camps that welcome them.
3. No Need to Book Ahead
When you tour around the country, you won’t know the number of kilometres you’ll cover every day. That’s what makes booking in at a caravan park the night before a risky move. After all, the distance you’ll cover depends on the weather and road conditions, as well as the places where you decide to make a stop.
If you’re making the trip during the peak period, make sure to do some research beforehand. Always have a second option to put your mind at ease. That way, you can still travel to the next campsite if the current one is full or unsuitable for your needs.
Always remember that you should reach your camp of choice before nightfall. It’s an important goal to ensure your safety. That’s why it’s always better to keep tabs on all of the camps within a certain proximity radius.
Regardless, the convenience of not having to book ahead make free camps more desirable. But you should keep in mind that camps accept on a first-come-first-served basis.
Enjoy These Free Camping NSW Choices Today!
If you’re looking for the best free camping NSW options, this list is great for beginners. Each camp has its unique features, making them worth visiting more than once. Don’t hesitate and start planning to visit them whenever you have some time for a vacation.
But to make the most out of your trip, you need to get the best camping equipment around. A good piece of equipment you should get is a hiking pole. If you’re interested in learning how hiking poles benefit your camping experience, read our guide here.
