If you are looking for somewhere amazing to go camping this weekend, here are the top 10 campsites within a couple of hours from Sydney.

From family friendly camping to cracking boys trips. Campsites on the blacktop to hardcore 4WD destinations. Every single one of these campsites can be found on the VMS Touring700HDX.

 

#10 Burralow Creek Camping Ground

Incredible free campsite less than an hour from home!

Search for ‘Burralow Creek Camping Area’ near Lithgow on VMS On-Road Navigation for turn by turn directions.

Open Sprawling, grassy campground makes the list as it is less than an hour from home offers Sydney based campers a huge amount of wide-open space, and clean and tidy facilities like drop toilets and permanent fire pits.

 

Leave the caravan at home for this campsite location though, the track in is rough, rocky and steep 4WDing tracks, standard 4WD vehicles driven with care will easily gain access, but LOW range gearing is a must for the climb out, particularly when the conditions are damp.

This spot is perfect for larger groups thanks to its sprawling open grassy campsites under the gumtrees, but because it is in the national park there are no dogs allowed and collecting firewood is prohibited.

 

#9 Tattersall’s Camping Area (Karuah)

Cracking boys fishing trip campsite!

Search for ‘Tattersall’s Camping Area’ near Newcastle in VMS On-Road Navigation for turn by turn directions.

This has to be the perfect boys trip destination, it is isolated and rugged bush camping with heaps of room for a campfire and big groups along with sensational fishing right on the edge of your Adventure Kings Swag, located just 30 minutes north of Newcastle, it is a rippa of a bush campsite, with only basic facilities, you might want to bring your own amenities, like a Kings 20L Portable Camping Toilet.

 

Access is off ‘The Buckets Way” with approximately 5km of gravel roads, but be aware it can get boggy after a bit of rain, so don’t forget your recovery gear.

What this destination lacks in facilities it makes up for in isolation, if you want to crank your music and get the fire roaring with your mates, then this is the place for your next camp, plenty of space to spread out, and even a high tide dirt boat ramp for dropping in the tinny!

 

 

#8 Gap Creek Camping Area   

Camp amongst a genuine freshwater waterfall just outside of Newcastle!

Search for ‘Gap Creek Camping Area’ near Newcastle in VMS On-Road Navigation for turn by turn directions.

The perfect place to take the family for an incredible experience of the best the Aussie bush has to offer.

 

A couple of hours out of Sydney & about 45 mins out the back of Newcastle, and you are in  the middle of a proper rainforest, how EPIC is that. With easy access via 2WD friendly graded dirt roads, the only issue with access would be smaller campsites with tight access ways which are unsuitable for larger caravans.

With excellent toilet blocks, a couple of concrete pads for caravanners, permanent fire pits, and FREE gas Barbeques, you would expect to pay for the privilege of staying here, but the best part is that there are NO CAMPING FEES here.

Amazing facilities, incredible views and some of the most rewarding bushwalks you will ever do, directly from your campsite, it’s the perfect campsite to escape with your family, you are going to love it!

 

#7 Blacksmiths Beach (Belmont)

 A full blown beach camping you can’t miss, only half an hour south of Newcastle!

Enter a waypoint at E151°41’12.5” S33°01’13.6” into VMS On-Road Navigation for turn by turn directions to entry gate.

4WD’s ONLY, You will need to air your 4WD tyres all way down to 16psi to avoid getting bogged on the notoriously soft sand.

 

You can actually drive nearly the whole length of the beach, from Swansea in the south, to Belmont in the north, for a bit of fun on the way to camp and leave the camper trailer at home unless you are a highly experienced 4WDer.

Just two hours from Sydney and you are camping right on the beach, the only downside is there are NO FACILITIES HERE, and you are exposed to the brunt of a storm if a strong southerly hits, but when the weather is good, camping at Blacksmiths beach is simply UNMATCHED!

You do require a permit for access to beach driving and camping but these can be bought from a local service station, this is one location that should be experienced by EVERY 4WDer at some stage!

 

#6 Wild Bull Camping Area

This location is further away from Sydney but is worth making a long weekend trip out of it.

Search for ‘Wild bull Camping Area’ near Port Macquarie in VMS On-Road Navigation for turn by turn directions.

Wild bull Campgrounds are located in Kippara, which is out the back of Wauchope, and is one of the best fresh water swimming holes you will find anywhere, plus it has excellent clean facilities that wont cost you a cent.

The fresh water swimming here, rivals ANYTHING in the Northern Territory, this spot has been a local secret for years, and thanks to sustainable logging in the area there are plenty of funds to maintain these grounds without costing you a cent in camping fees.

The campgrounds here do have bollards blocking them in, meaning this location is ideal for swags and tents, as camping is forbidden in the carpark.

A warm weekend will see you swimming in the crystal clear water for hours, plan your visit for a couple of weeks after a good rain has flushed out the swimming holes, and remember to bring your snorkel!

#5 Ganyamalbaa Camping Area _– Stockton Beach 

Stockton beach is world famous for being a coastal beach driving location, right in the heart of Newcastle, but back in 2012 camping was banned seemingly ending decades of travel.

Enter a waypoint at E151°50’37.5” S32°49’02.3” into VMS On-Road Navigation for turn by turn directions to entry gate.

Stockton Beach has earned its reputation for some of the best sand driving in Oz and the ability to get up close and personal with some of the biggest dunes in Australia in your 4WD.

 

 

Happily we can report that you can now camp back on Stockton beach again! Ganyamalbaa Camping Area is a stretch of 26 predefined camping areas, nestled right in the forward dunes in the southern section of Stockton Beach.

You can drive the 32Km length of the beach from top to bottom, chuck in a fishing line or kick back and enjoy the sunset over the dunes.

These campsites area rigidly controlled, with a maximum of 2 cars and 8 people for each site, with online prebooking being essential, and you MUST bring your own camping toilet like the Adventure Kings 20L Portable Camping Toilet. Whilst these might seem like a minor inconvenience to some, it doesn’t really matter because now we can all still get out and camp right on Stockton beach again!

 

#4 Coorongooba Campground    6:21-

This gem takes us out west, about one hour out the back of Lithgow, with only one word to describe this spot in Wollomi National Park…. Stunning!

Enter a waypoint at E150°19’11.2” S33°07’20.6” into VMS On-Road Navigation for turn by turn directions.

 

This Beautiful massive open grassy campsite has impressive amounts of space to spread out, some of the best camping facilities we’ve ever seen at any campsite, and breathtaking scenery.

You will be camping amongst all the locals with plenty of friendly kangaroo’s eager to say G’day at happy hour! Coupled with plenty of easy bushwalks offering incredible scenery, and a shallow river nearby, perfect for paddling in after a bit of rain!

All of this is located just a couple of hours out of Sydney, and is truly a next level campsite you MUST visit this camping season, and thanks to its slightly further proximity from Sydney, it’s often much more quiet when other sites are packed!

 

#3 Swans Crossing Camping & Picnic Area

3 hours north of Sydney, this is one of the most family friendly campsites we’ve ever camped at.

Search for ‘Swans Crossing’ near Port Macquarie in VMS On-Road Navigation for turn by turn directions.

 

 

This well kept location is another forestry NSW maintained campsite, and features massive sprawling green grass campgrounds, and boasts amazing facilities such as toilet blocks, rainwater tanks, undercover picnic areas, permanent fire pits, and a fully fledged kids playground.

Only 20 minutes off the highway, and you have the best family campsite you will ever come across and it is entirely FREE, and sits approximately half way between Sydney and Brisbane, making it the perfect stopover point to break up the drive!

There is a beautiful creek just by the campsite, perfect for a dip on those scorching days, and access is easy even for 2WD’s along the regularly graded roads, earning 3^rd place on our list!

 

#2 Newnes Campground.
The perfect campground to take the family to, this campsite has excellent facilities, EPIC scenery and plenty of things to see and do and only just north west of Lithgow.

Search for ‘Newnes Camping Area’ near Lithgow in VMS On-Road Navigation for turn by turn directions.

The camping here is superb, with plenty of space, abundant wildlife, but the Newnes area is dripping with history and even a bush museum in the middle nowhere, that will keep the whole family, young and old entertained for hours.

For hot days, there is even a freshwater creek with sandy riverbanks perfect for taking the edge off! 

Access is via Lithgow on easy graded roads, with plenty of room for camper trailers and caravans.

No dogs or collecting firewood, as it is part of the beautiful Wollomi National park, but the best thing about it is that it is 100% free to stay here!

#1 Mungo Brush Camping & Picnic Area

The single best bit of summer camping we have ever done – Just a couple of hours north of Sydney this spectacular location has EVERYTHING!

Enter a waypoint at E152°18’37.3” S32°32’38.2” into VMS On-Road Navigation for turn by turn directions.

 

It doesn’t get much better than this, Mungo Brush has toilet blocks, free gas barbeques, and sheltered picnic areas, and a concrete boat ramp offering instant access to the stunning Myall Lakes.

This spot does get busy, so definitely book ahead to secure a space. But it is certainly worth it with the lake lapping at your campsite and the beach just 500m away, you don’t even need to leave the blacktop to get to Mungo Brush!

A family of 5 would expect to pay up to around $40 a night, it certainly isnt the cheapest site around, but this is a true bucket list campsite, offering life long memories, and has earned our #1 spot on the top 10 Ultimate camping escapes from Sydney!

 

To find out more about setting up your campsite, or to get your hands on the VMS touring 700HDX for over 1000+ other Campsite locations all across Oz, head to www.4WDSupacentre.com.au call us on 1800 88 39 64 or visit one of our stores or dealerships to ask an expert in person and leave with the best tips and tricks and an epic bargain on your setup!

 

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