Five free campgrounds near Melbourne to check out
If you want the fresh air and freedom that only the Australian bush can provide, how about camping for your next road trip adventure?Feel like you’ve been stuck indoors too long? Want to get back to nature? If you’ve got some basic camping equipment there are plenty of free campgrounds – as opposed to private holiday parks – where you can pitch a tent or unfurl the camper trailer and relax. Here are five we’d recommend.
Stevensons Falls Campsite, Great Otway National Park, near Forrest
Escaping Melbourne to head for the coast down the Great Ocean Road seems irresistible, but what about stopping before you get to the beach? Stevensons Falls campground in the Great Otway National Park is a world away from crowded caravan parks being a free campsite deep in the forest, near the town of Forrest. It’s right on the walking track to beautiful Stevensons Falls, has fireplaces and long-drop dunnies and it’s only another 30 minutes drive to the beach at Skenes Creek.
Gunbower National Park, near Echuca
The Gunbower National Park is spread along the mighty Murray River near Echuca, about a three-hour drive from Melbourne, and if you’re looking for free campsites, you got ’em! There are 114 campgrounds by the river, another 25 by creeks leading to it so forget about paying for water views, these are on the house (or rather, tent), plus there are shady river red gums, walking and mountain bike trails, plus swimming, fishing and boating options. Pitch a tent, park the caravan, get your site organised and … relax.
Johanna Beach Campground, Great Ocean Road
The Great Ocean Road can get pretty busy, especially in summer with hordes of holidaymakers filling the campgrounds of the seaside towns. For a bit of seclusion, and a sensational beachfront location, try camping at Johanna Beach down past Apollo Bay. There’s no power, the loos don’t flush and it’s BYO everything but the view is sensational, there are no fees to pay and the somewhat wild beach attracts plenty of surfers.
Lake Crosbie Campground, Murray-Sunset National Park, near Ouyen
You’d be lucky to find water in Lake Crosbie, but what you get instead is a mystical, pink-tinged salt pan in the middle of Victoria’s arid north-west. The campground is on its shoreline and consists of individual campsites each with a fire pit and picnic table and nearby toilet facilities. This is the Murray-Sunset National Park, and as the sun goes down a walk on the lake as the colours change is a magical experience. During the day, explore the abandoned salt-mining equipment, check out the bird-life but most of all, enjoy the solitude.
Aberfeldy River Camping, Baw Baw National Park
One of Victoria’s great attractions is the diversity of landscapes so if you’re not into beaches, rainforests, rivers or deserts, you can head for the hills. The Aberfeldy River campground is near Mt Baw Baw east of Melbourne and as a free campsite is a good base for hiking the national park, or you can just relax by the river to fish, swim or simply contemplate nature. Amenities are basic (long-drop dunnies, and you’ll need to provide your own stove) but the scenery and peaceful setting are just glorious.
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