Desert camping in Australia with swimming

If you love camping adventures—or road trips with a camper trailer or caravan—you’ll love every part of Australia.

93% (328 reviews)
93% (328 reviews)

Popular camping styles for Australia

Under $50

Dog-friendly getaways

12 top desert campgrounds in Australia with swimming

100%
(7)

Cheela Plains Station Stay

28 sites · RVs, Tents500000 acres · Nanutarra, WA
Cheela Plains Station is a family-owned and managed working cattle station nestled in the semi-arid, pastoral rangelands of the Pilbara in northern Western Australia. Our station stay is a welcome stop for travelers on the Nanutarra-Munjina Road between the World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Reef and Karijini National Park. On a station the size of Cheela Plains there are plenty of amazing locations to explore. Our self-guided walks and trails make for adventure-filled days. Stay a little longer and explore them all. We have Telstra and Optus signal, hot showers, coin-operated washing machines, a communal fire pit and camp kitchen with a fridge, stove and sink. Children 6yrs to 15years half price and 0 to 5yrs are FOC. If electing to stay at the station stay campground for two or more nights, you have the option of a complimentary Gorge Safari Self Drive 4X4, which is a true taste of the outback off the beaten track. The Red Plains Café is open daily from 7:30am till 2:30pm, serving barista coffee, cake, snacks and lunch.
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from 
AU$21
 / night
* Before taxes and fees
93%
(164)

Meralda Station Cobar

22 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents400 acres · Cobar, NSW
Meralda is a family owned property, we are nestled in the outback town of Cobar. We are offering seasonal paddock eco camping stays on our gorgeous little property only minutes from the Cobar town centre. If you after a secluded, peaceful outback setting where you can immerse yourself into bush nature, Then our place is for you. We have allocated a nice open space for you to choose your site; set up under the shade of a majestic gum or in the open paddock by our dam. Unwind and cosy up around our campfire and enjoy our magnificent sunsets and as the evening turns into night and the breathtaking star show begins. With no artificial light, stargazing at our property is simply incredible. You can also see native wildlife kangaroos, emus and echidnas among some of the native wildlife that can be spotted here. If you’re a bird-watcher, you’ll love the vast array of galahs, major mitchell's, parrots and wrens nestled in the trees. On our little property we farm sheep and goats. There are always strays, and dropped off orphans that become our little babies. We offer a complimentary petting tour for families who want to get up close with our station friendly animals. Lots of fun can be had in the dam -Swimming is permitted and water sport activities on request or BYO Kayak. We recommend extending your stay at least two nights at the station and taking the time to explore Cobar; a unique town, rich in mining heritage and natural attractions. Visitors will be amazed by open-cut mines, Aboriginal rock art, museums and colonial buildings and new sound chapel. If your into bike riding or long walks we have a bitumen walking/bike track that goes into town not far from our station entry. If you want to duck into the local club to have dinner, or a few drinks there's a courtesy bus to Golf Club Available that will collect you from our front gate. Add on extras to make your stay more memorable with tours, hampers, animal feeding, holistic treatments and if any farm work is happening your welcome to watch or join in.
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from 
AU$35
 / night
* Before taxes and fees
100%
(1)

Gilgooma Camp Ground

29 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents3000 acres · Gilgooma, NSW
Nestled of the edge of the Australian outback is Gilgooma, a quintessential Australian family farm. Owned and occupied by three generations of farmers, Gilgooma has swung open the farm gate and is taking bookings for an unforgettable experience. Set against the backdrop of rugged bush beauty and sprawling landscapes, Gilgooma offers a unique opportunity to connect with the land and be immersed in the tranquillity and sometimes trials of rural life. Gilgooma provides a pet and family friendly, low-impact camping experience on a family-run property, allowing guests to unwind amidst the untouched beauty of the Australian bush. Guests can choose from unpowered camp sites, limited powered sites, or cozy cabin accommodations, each offering a private space under starry skies. Gilgooma offers an entirely undeveloped camp site, off the beaten track, about halfway between Coonamble and Pilliga. You have the freedom and space to stretch out in your own private space under wide skies. You will need to be self-sufficient and leave no trace. Gilgooma offers a low impact camping experience on a family farm and provides you with a genuine opportunity to connect with the land. Experience the unpredictable, rough, real country of Gilgooma. With no mobile reception or wifi, Gilgooma provides the perfect setting for you to unplug and unwind on the edge of the Pilliga West State Conservation Area; in an iconic Australian landscape offering rugged beauty on a grand scale. Gilgooma makes the ideal stopover for your travels and provides a convenient home base for local day trips. Itineraries revealing hidden gems and providing invaluable local insight have been designed by your hosts and are available to guests camping at Gilgooma. From meandering along tranquil creek beds to exploring rugged trails on bikes, Gilgooma offers a myriad of activities for guests to create their own adventures. Visitors can bird watch, stargaze from the shearer's stretchers or embark on self-guided tours to uncover hidden gems within the farm and its surrounding areas. For those seeking a deeper understanding of farm life, personalised farm tours are available, providing an immersive experience alongside the family. It is possible for you to have exclusive access to the entire site, just contact us with your proposed dates to arrange your private stay.
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from 
AU$50
 / night
* Before taxes and fees
99%
(45)

Adavale Farm

15 sites · RVs, Tents40000 acres · Langlo, QLD
Our property is located 67km North West of Chareville on Adavale Road. We are in the Queensland Outback on 40,000 acres. Our large sites offer the perfect place to base yourself and explore or to just relax and enjoy the serenity. Our sites have access to amenities including toilet, shower and laundry. We also have areas for table tennis, hand ball and yabbying for the kids to enjoy. We welcome guests to join us for the animal feeding each afternoon, please let us know if you would like to do this. The lookout camp sites are located 3kms from the main camping area and facilities and is for fully self contained campers only. Come soak up the sunset and stunning views in the afternoon. You can also explore the unique caves and rock formations. and enjoy some wildlife watching. New cave walk is a must see. Enjoy a BBQ on the mountain overlooking the property and have your own personal campfire or join in with your fellow campers at the communal campfire. Plenty of firewood to collect. This location provides you with some great photo opportunities. We welcome guests to join us for the animal feeding each afternoon, please let us know if you would like to do this. We are also only a short drive from the Langlo River which is a great spot to catch a fish, go kayaking, swim or just relax by the water. Pets are welcome but must be on a leash at all times to protect the livestock and wildlife.
Pets
Potable water
Toilets
Campfires
Showers
from 
AU$20
 / night
* Before taxes and fees

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Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field
Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

Desert camping in Australia with swimming guide

Overview

Australia is a wild-at-heart continent, and camping is a part of its DNA thanks to Aussies who love camping holidays. It isn't hard to find a good caravan park or camping area—from five-star glamping at Uluru and family-friendly coastal holiday parks to rustic campsites at cattle stations and bush camping in national parks. Pitch your tent near the dunes and be lulled asleep by the sound of the surf, or wake up to bird calls and frog song in the rainforest. Take in the views from a country peak, or head out into the wilderness on an Outback road trip. And the best thing about camping in Australia? There's always perfect camping weather somewhere, no matter the time of year.

Where to go

New South Wales

New South Wales has a bit of everything that makes Australia such a great place to camp. Hipcampers can choose from snow-covered mountains, beaches, rainforest, and Outback plains—you can always find a good camping spot in NSW.

Queensland

Australia’s favourite place to escape the cold, the white-sand beaches north and south of Brisbane in southeast Queensland are warm enough to swim in all year-round. It may be too wet in summer to camp comfortably in the rainforest of Cairns, the Tropical North, and along the Great Barrier Reef, but winter is the best time to swim in the sea. The Outback, too, is at its best in the cooler months.

South Australia

A wild, dramatic, and mostly deserted coastline, South Australia’s rugged outback ranges and fantastic wine are just a few reasons to pitch a tent or park your caravan here. It may not always be swimming weather (the ocean waters are cold), but the beach camping here is some of the best in Australia.

Tasmania

Any time's a good time to visit Tasmania, a place that will delight intrepid Hipcampers with its wild and remote national parks and camping sites. You'll need a warm sleeping bag and good wet weather gear, as it can snow on the peaks near Hobart even in summer. But don't let a little dampness put you off, because it rains here all the time, which is why the World Heritage wilderness areas are so beautifully lush.

Victoria

Just down the road a bit from Melbourne, Victoria’s Great Ocean Road is a bucket-list road trip that lives up to the hype, with some of the best coastal camping areas around. Hiking and camping in the Grampians is good year-round, although the snow-covered high country peaks and the east coast national parks are best saved for the warmer months.

Western Australia

Western Australia is huge, so don’t expect to see it all in a couple of weeks. Let the weather be your guide and explore the coastal national parks, forests, wineries, and beaches south of Perth during the hot, dry summer, then head north to Broome and the Kimberley for a 4WD camping adventure in winter, when it rarely rains.

Northern Territory

When the wintertime chills hit the south, the Northern Territory is the place to be, especially if you’re fond of campervan road trips. The deserts of the Red Centre offer warm, fly-free days and cold nights ideal for gathering around the campfire. Kakadu National Park and the Top End are hot and dry—perfect for swimming.

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Hipcamp acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders past, present and future and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.