The Best Places To Go Camping In And Around Sydney
‘Camping,’ said my friend, ‘that’s just housework… but harder, isn’t it?’
No, no, no it isn’t!! Well, yes it is sometimes, but for loads of us camping makes a great way to reconnect with nature and to get the kids off their electronic devices.
Here’s a list of great camp sites in and around Sydney, I keep on adding to it regularly, so do please let us know of other favourite places in the comments below.
How many of these places have you visited?
One of my first sources was Justin Casey the managing director of Coleman who knows a thing or two about camping. It’s part of his job description.
Justin takes his family camping regularly and can highly recommend many sites. Then I’ve added to the list with a few more, my own faves and those of my friends and some Facebook pals too.
Justin Casey
Camping In Sydney
Lane Cove River Tourist Park
This is quite a luxurious tourist park in Lane Cove National Park, it even has a swimming pool. There are caravan spaces and cabins there too.
Website here
NRMA Sydney Lakeside Park in Narrabeen
This extentive tourist park is at Narrabeen on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. It has camping spots, caravan spaces and cabins too. It’s a walk away from beautiful North Narrabeen Rock Pool and the iconic surf beach.
Read our blog post about camping at Narrabeen here.
Check prices and availability NRMA Sydney Lakeside Park in Narrabeen here.
The Basin on Pittwater
This waterfront campside is the only place you can camp in Ku-ring-gai Chase national Park. You have to catch the ferry from Palm Beach to get there.
Read MrsDPlus3’s report on it on this blog here.
Website here
Cockatoo Island, Sydney Harbour
Isn’t it great that you can camp in the middle of the Harbour? You can take your tent, or just bring sleeping bags etc and use the tents set up there. Check out all the accommodation options on this historic island.
Check prices and availability at Cockatoo Island here.
Camping Near Sydney
Upper Colo Reserve, near Windsor
Right beside the Wollemi National Park, Upper Colo is very close to Sydney. It’s on the Colo river, is very inexpensive and you can light open fires.
Website here
Del Rio Riverside Resort, on the Hawkesbury
Just one and a half hours from central Sydney, this campsite has great amenities and riverside frontage, and comes highly recommended by watersports’ lovers.
Check availability and pricing at Del Rio Riverside Resort here.
Coolendel Campsite
Bush camping on the Shoalhaven River, near Nowra, about three hours south of Sydney. There are kid-friendly rapids on the river, they can whizz down in lilos and it’s safe for kids aged over five or so. It’s got open camping, meaning you pick your own site, and you can have open fires.
Website here
Glenworth Valley
Again, this campsite at the popular horse riding and outdoor adventure centre has a creek nearby. It’s just an hour north of Sydney, you can have open fires and enjoy the 3000 acre wilderness property.
Website here
Newnes Campground, Wolgan Valley Blue Mountains
This is a free camping site, meaning it costs nothing and you cannot book ahead. It’s run by the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
Read our post on Newnes Campground here.
Royal National Park
Just to the south of Sydney lies the huge Royal National Park. There are several campsites within the park. We stayed at Bonnie Vale, which is right on safe, calm water, great for the kids to play in. Gorgeous spot.
Bonnie Vale Website here
Royal National Park campsites website here
Patonga Camping Ground
Just a quick drive north from Sydney up on the central Coast is this council run website which a friend highly recommends.
Website here
Green Patch at Jervis Bay
Within Booderee National Park is this much-loved camping area, right by the beautiful clear waters of Jervis Bay. Very popular in school holidays.
Website here
Heaps of ideas for things to do at Jervis Bay with kids on this post.
Turon Gates
In the beautiful Blue Mountains just a couple of hours from Sydney, this rural retreat has lots of camping space, and even some glamping available too.
Website here
Read more about the camping equipment we recommend on this post: Gifts For Campers and Would-Be Campers.
We’ll keep adding to this list of the best places to go camping in and around Sydney, so please do let us know of any favourite places we’ve missed.
Where’s your family’s favourite camping spot?
Go on, admit it, it’s the backyard!
No seriously, please let others know of places you love, and we’ll catch you there.
Happy camping
