Three of the most popular family-friendly camping destinations

Australia is blessed with great camping locations for families, but if we had to choose three that have plenty to offer for both young and old, these immediately come to mind...

Stunning scenery, superb on and off-road driving, secluded camping as well as bustling family parks… Victoria's Grampians National Park has it all.

Easily accessible at a three-hour drive west of Melbourne (or roughly five hours from Adelaide), the starting point for first-timers is Halls Gap; the small hamlet that serves as the main staging point for most Grampians adventures.

With sandstone peaks soaring up from the flat surrounds to heights in excess of 1100 metres, it’s no wonder this is a top destination for hikers and rock climbers.

But there are also plenty of fun, family-friendly wilderness walks, from 1km strolls through wildflower strewn trails to gushing waterfalls and slippery precipices, to more strenuous, awe-inspiring 5km hikes to rock-strewn summits with sweeping views.

Halls Gap offers a wide array of accommodation and plenty of eateries. We can recommend the pies and the hospitality at the bakery by the river – just keep a firm grip on your lunch, lest the fearless local magpies or kookaburras swoop in for an opportunistic feast!

To get up close to kangaroos, wallabies, emus, possums, and birdlife, book a campground (some are only accessible by four-wheel drive) in the national park on the Parks Victoria website.

There’s a good chance you’ll also spot one of the local echidnas at the NRMA Halls Gap Holiday Park; a popular stop-over set back well off the main road on a spacious 32-acre reserve, and an easy stroll from the town centre. There’s plenty of open space and grassy areas for the kids to run and play, and lots of fun activities including a swimming pool, pump track, games room, pedal karts, beach volleyball, tennis courts, and a bouncing pillow.

Make sure you visit Mackenzie Falls, where crystal-clear waters tumble over a towering precipice and continue carving their way down to the valley below. It's around a 40-minute return hike from the carpark along a largely sealed path to the base of the falls, but the surface and stairs are good, and the latter have sturdy handrails.

There are many fine examples of rock art to be found in the Grampians, including a short walk to Billimina Shelter – an ancient site of indigenous rock art located not far from a rushing waterfall.

Cape Hillsborough National Park, located 50km north-west of Mackay in Queensland, is a little bit off the main drag, but worth dropping by if you’re in this neck of the woods with the family in tow.

One of the best places to stay a few nights is the Cape Hillsborough Nature Tourist Park; a bushy coastal retreat which offers a great mix of modern amenities and close encounters with Mother Nature.

It’s about a half-hour drive after the turn off on the Bruce Highway, and the park itself is well-equipped with a good amenities block or two, a well-stocked reception shop, swimming pool, and plenty of activities for the kids during school holidays (like family movies at the outdoor cinema in the evenings).

Although you could quite easily while away the day, enjoying the peaceful surrounds from a camp chair outside your ‘van, nature lovers will want to stretch their legs to make the most of a visit to Cape Hillsborough.

There are some great nature walks accessible from the caravan park; if you’ve only got time or energy for one, the 5.2km return, Andrews Point Track walk is well worth the effort.

You’ll also want to set the alarm early for the pre-dawn spectacle. The local wallabies and kangaroos gather on the beach, with the sun rising over a rocky coastline is a spectacular backdrop.

And don't forget to take your camera for a selfie with one of the friendly, hand-raised ‘roos!

If the kids are into shell collecting, it’s worth a drive over to nearby Ball Bay. Here you’ll find a small cove where thousands of small shells have washed ashore. Take a bag if you plan to bring home a few, including some of the rarer conch shells.

A day trip to the nearby Eungella National Park is also recommended, as it’s one of the best locations in Australia to spot the elusive platypus in the wild.

A detour to the Finch Hatton Gorge also serves up some easy walking trails to swimming gorges and stunning waterfalls.

There are no jumping pillows or splash parks, but the kids will have a ball at this old-style, farm stay park near Hobart.

Part working farm, part caravan park, the Huon Valley Caravan Park is located in Huonville – the heart of Tasmania’s picturesque Huon Valley farming district.

Instead of jumping castles and swish air-conditioned cabins, the park appeals to young and old with a relaxing ‘farm to plate’ experience that includes feeding the calves, cuddling the chicks, picking fruit, and other ‘living off the land' experiences such as cheese making and bacon curing.

There’s everything you need, including big sites, a camp kitchen, laundry and an ablutions block. You can also kayak and fish in the nearby Huon River. 

While the kids are playing in the suds from the bubble machine, parents can grab a café latte from the on-site coffee van.

The park also has retired Tasmanian Devils that are no longer required in the breeding program, with 4pm feeding most days.

About a 25-minute drive south of Hobart, the park is great for visiting popular family attractions like Hobart’s MONA and Port Arthur.

It's also situated along the so-called Huon Trail which is jam-packed with touristy delights such as Bruny Island cruises, Hastings Caves, the Wooden Boat Centre, Hartz Mountains, and the Tahune Airwalk.

The best part about this destination? You can just turn up – no bookings are required – and they’ll always guarantee a powered or unpowered site on the 26-acre property.

Although we haven’t checked it out, another back-to-nature option not that far away that comes highly recommended is River’s Edge Wilderness Camping, located in the Huon Valley, Lonnavale.
 

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