Discover the best free camping spots in Victoria for family adventures

A hugely popular way to explore our beautiful country is to ‘free camp’. Free camping provides an opportunity to holiday surrounded by nature and is also a cost-effective way to travel in more serene areas away from populated tourist areas. 

Enjoying a little solitude in Victoria is easy, with many unique places to visit. We are here to assist you in discovering the best free camping spots in Victoria for family adventures.

Even in winter – there are many places to explore with your family and your Great Escape Caravan. 

Just some of the best free camping spots in Victoria include:

Toolangi Recreation Reserve, Toolangi State Park – Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges

The spectacular Toolangi State Park is an excellent place for a long weekend free camping trip or a more extended stay. Its gullies are full of ferns and cool-climate rainforests that can capture anyone’s attention. Its waterways are home to plenty of aquatic residents, including platypus. 

If you are keen to hike and explore on foot, the Toolangi Recreation Reserve is a great home base to explore the area’s many walking trails. It is also a popular area for four-wheel driving.

Visit the Parks Victoria website for more information.

Sheepyard Flat, Howqua Hills – High Country Victoria

The Victorian High Country is an excellent base for hiking, fishing, and four-wheel driving. It is a vast area that begs to be explored. There are many free camping spots right next to creeks and rivers. 

Sheepyard Flat’s spacious camping area includes drop toilets, fireplaces, and picnic tables. Although it is a popular spot, it remains pretty secluded even when busy, as you are surrounded by the bushland of one of Victoria’s most beautiful historic areas.  

Visit the Victoria’s High Country website to explore the area before you go.

Stevensons Falls, Otway Region.

Easily accessible to all, including prams and wheelchairs, the spectacular Stevensons Falls is a beautiful walk through large Californian redwood trees and over the Gellibrand River. The nearby free campground has designated camping areas, although, for those with caravans, the nearby Dando’s campground is recommended for small caravans.  

The campground is a large grassy area with toilets, firepits, and picnic tables. It makes a great base camp for exploring the area on foot, on bikes, or by 4WD. 

With access to the Gellibrand River, fishing and swimming are great options for families looking for a free camp spot with an excellent place to cool down in summer.

Dando’s Campground has a helpful page with all its features and instructions on how to get there HERE.

Travelling through our beautiful state allows you to connect with nature in settings that include dense bushland, alpine regions and glorious waterfalls. These are just a few of Victoria’s most popular free camping spots!

Camping on a budget with a family.

One of the apparent bonuses to free camping is the cost! 

Avoiding the fees and costs of staying in a holiday park can allow more families to enjoy a quick weekend away or extend their holiday by saving precious dollars.

The cost savings may also allow you to enjoy more luxuries while away, such as a trip to the local shops for lunch or a museum in a town close to your camping spot. 

Camping fees can quickly add up when staying in a holiday park, so if you are game, free camping can be a great way to enjoy some beautiful secluded destinations with your family. There are also no check-in and check-out times, meaning your trip just got a little more relaxing, as you can come and go as you please—no bookings required!

Stay in your chosen free camping location for as little or as long as you like. 

Being well-prepared and informed is essential when free-camping. 

Knowing the area’s local practices, such as burnoff times and total fire bans, before visiting is highly recommended before you set off.  It also helps to be prepared for anything when camping with a young family. 

Great Escape Caravan families who appreciate free camping in the more secluded areas of our beautiful country often look to our Maximus range for its ability to travel effortlessly off-grid while keeping everyone comfortable and with the creature comforts of home. 

Enjoy travelling into remote areas as a family with a full off-road caravan with bunks. With plenty of storage and little luxuries that can make even the most secluded free campsite feel homely, it’s little wonder this is one of our most popular caravans for families travelling off-road.

Free camping in Victoria rules and regulations.

While there are many free camping sites in Victoria, we recommend continuously checking any rules and regulations for your chosen destination before you travel.  

Many state and national parks have designated free camping areas; however, some areas are prohibited. Respecting these areas can not only help protect our natural areas from unwanted degradation of natural grassland and environments, but it can also attract hefty fines for those who do not obey those regulations. 

Free camping in Victoria offers a relaxed way of enjoying our diverse landscapes without the expense. 

Here are a few places we would encourage you to explore and add to our list:

Andersons Garden, Mount Disappointment. 

Gunbower National Park, Murray River and Echuca Region.

Lerderderg Campground, Lerderderg State Park.

We invite you to comment with your reviews of our listed camp spots or add your suggestions below. Where would you recommend worthy of a visit as a free-camping spot in Victoria?