Lakeside camping in New South Wales with wildlife watching
Beaches, snow-capped peaks, rainforest wilderness, and vast outback plains, NSW has it all.
- New South Wales
Popular camping styles for New South Wales
Dog-friendly getaways
Star Hosts in New South Wales
12 top lakeside campgrounds in New South Wales with wildlife watching
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Lakeside camping in New South Wales with wildlife watching guide
Overview
Head north and south of Sydney and you’ll find more beaches than you can count, as well as lakes and winding rivers, thundering waterfalls, and lush rainforests. Beyond the sandstone curtain of the Great Dividing Range, with its gorges in the north and snow-covered alps in the south, stretch the western slopes and plains, full of country towns and hidden surprises. Head to the far west and you’ll find yourself on the edge of the Outback. With more national parks than any other state (and more diversity of landscapes, too) New South Wales delivers the goods when it comes to unforgettable getaways.
Where to go
The Blue Mountains
Lace up your boots for one of Australia's best bushwalking destinations. The ridge of mountains two hours west of Sydney by road or train is a World Heritage-listed wonderland of sandstone canyons, waterfalls, valleys, and clifftop lookouts. The national park offers remote bush campsites, or you can go for a bit more comfort in one of the region’s many caravan and holiday parks.
NSW North Coast
The coastline of northern NSW, from north of Newcastle to the Queensland border, is classic beach holiday territory. Almost every town has at least one caravan park, often with waterfront campsites, and most of the coastline is protected by national parks with fantastic camping spots and facilities. Flanked by the Great Dividing Range and World Heritage rainforests, the North Coast has Hipcampers spoilt for choice.
NSW South Coast
Every bit as wild as the North Coast, the South Coast stretches south of Sydney to the Victorian border with a string of national parks, state forests, campgrounds, and seaside towns with family-friendly holiday parks. Kangaroos and wallabies graze the camping grounds and laze on the beaches, which have some of the whitest sand in the world. Kayak the waterways, bushwalk the forests, and soak in the views from the mountaintops.
Snowy Mountains
Alpine New South Wales, also known as the Snowy Mountains, stretches from the ACT south to the Victorian border along the spine of the Great Dividing Range. Along with hundreds of camping spots, the big attraction of Kosciuszko National Park—the largest national park in NSW—is Australia’s highest peak, Mount Kosciuszko. In winter, the area is a magnet for skiers, and in summer, fishing, bushwalking, and mountain biking reign supreme.
NSW Outback
The far western corner of NSW is a great introduction to the Outback, where endless red dust plains seem to stretch on forever under cloudless blue skies. Take a road trip out here and you'll see plenty of kangaroos and emus, but not many people. National parks such as Mungo, Mutawintji, and Kinchega offer superb camping spots, Aboriginal art sites, and stunning scenery.
