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Victoria offers a stunning array of free camping spots for those wanting to explore nature without the added expenses. Unique sites include beachside retreats and secluded forest camps to experience the beauty of Victoria.
Our guide covers five fantastic year-round free campsites plus details on the Parks Victoria free camping season for 2024/2025. Whether you’re after a refreshing swim, scenic hikes, or a peaceful riverside escape, these locations have something for everyone.
Now, let’s plan your ultimate budget-friendly camping adventure in Victoria’s great outdoors.
Blue Pool Campground
The Blue Pool Campground is one of the best camping spots in Victoria, and it’s free! It’s a popular swimming destination with 12 walk-in sites just a short walk to the natural Blue Pool swimming hole.
Caravans and large vehicles should park at the Quarries Reserve since turn-around space is tight. To get there, follow the Freestone Creek Road from Briagaolong, about 10km to the Blue Pool carpark.
The site is dog-friendly and family-friendly, with fire pits and picnic tables at each site. Some great hiking trails are also nearby, like the 2.5km Fern Gully Loop and the 6.5km Freestone Creek walking track.
Since there’s no access to power, you need a portable power station. The EcoFlow Solar Generators come in plenty of sizes. They’re ultra-reliable, rugged, and durable, providing safety for emergencies and comfort in different weather conditions.
You can even bring your EcoFlow WAVE 2 Portable Air Conditioner, which lasts wirelessly for up to 8 hours and doubles as a heater for winter camping. For an eco-friendly power option, you can quickly recharge it with your solar generator.
Aberfeldy River
This popular riverside location has excellent fishing, swimming, wildlife viewing, and relaxing in the tranquillity of the great outdoors beside a river. The eight sites are walk-in only, but the walk is short and easy.
Located in the Baw Baw National Park along the Aberfeldy River, the easiest way to get there is to drive along the unsealed Walhalla Road from Walhalla. The area has plenty of off-road tracks, so you could make it a 4×4 adventure and take other routes.
Amenities include pit toilets, firepits, and picnic tables, but there is no power or potable water, and firewood collecting is prohibited within the Park boundaries. So bring your own supplies and take your rubbish out.
Also, bring your EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max + 160W Solar Panel to recharge your electronic devices, run your lights, and recharge it with your portable solar panel during the day. It’s super lightweight, so it’s easy to pack in and out of your site.
Reeves Beach
Reeves Beach is unique since finding free sites so close to the ocean is rare; it offers direct access to 90 Mile Beach. It has five grassy sites that fill up fast on weekends and any summer holidays, so be sure to arrive early to secure a spot.
It offers swimming, fishing, and dolphin watching. It also has drop toilets, firepits, and picnic tables. However, since there is only one toilet, you might want to bring your own.
To get there from Woodside, head east on Woodside Beach Road, then turn south onto Balloong Rd. Next, turn east onto Reeves Beach Rd and follow it to the site. It has 2WD access and good reception, but bring your water, supplies, firewood, and a portable power station.
If you bring your EcoFlow Glacier Portable Refrigerator, which can wirelessly keep your food cold for up to 40 hours, you can keep your food at food-safe temperatures. It even has a built-in icemaker, so you can have ice-cold drinks while you soak in the sun on the beach. Talk about camping in style.
Ada River
The Ada River site is a 2WD access site near the Errinundra National Park entrance. It’s a long drive following the Errinundra Road 85km northeast of Orbost until you get to this quiet campground alongside the Ada River. It’s the perfect destination for those wanting peace and tranquillity in an old-growth temperate rainforest filled with gum trees and ferns.
Bring your binoculars to enjoy the bird-watching. The spots are nice and shady, with plenty of big trees along the river where you can take a cool swim on a hot day.
Amenities include drop toilets, picnic tables, fire pits, and barbeques. There’s no power, so bring your portable and lightweight EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max to recharge your electronic devices. It’s so lightweight you can even carry it hiking on the nearby tracks at Errinundra.
The Rainforest Walk through ancient forests filled with tree ferns, lichen-covered overhanging branches, and abundant wildlife will have you taking so many photos you will need a portable power station to recharge your camera.
Dando’s Campground
Dando’s campground is grassy, level, and well-maintained. Surrounded by forests with an easy walking track heading down to the Gellibrand River, you can enjoy the outdoors comfortably. However, while you can swim in the river, there are leeches.
It’s a great free, family-friendly campsite for those looking for a tent spot or a place for a small caravan, thanks to the spacious drive-in sites with 2WD access. But there are no hookups, power, or water on-site, so you must be self-sufficient. Bring your EcoFlow Solar Generator with you to keep your essential devices running.
To get there from Colac, turn south down the Colac-Lavers Hills Rd and turn left onto Gellibrand East Rd when you get to Gellibrand. It will turn into Lardners Track, but keep following it until you reach Sayers Track, then take a left. Just a short way down Sayers Track, you will see the signs.
Parks Victoria Free Camping 2024/2025 Season
You can also take advantage of Parks Victoria’s free camping at 131 paid campgrounds between December 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025, excluding huts, cabins, and other specialty sites. However, you must still reserve your site online without fees to secure a camping spot.
Frequently Asked Questions
In 2024/2025, you can stay for free at any of Parks Victoria’s 131 paid campsites between December 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025. Other free year-round sites include Blue Pool Campground, Aberfeldy River, Ada River, Reeves Beach, and Dando’s Campground.
There are plenty of paid and free campgrounds in Victoria. In addition to free sites like Blue Pool Campground, Aberfeldy River, Ada River, Reeves Beach, and Dando’s Campground, you can stay at Park Victoria’s 131 paid parks for free between December 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025.
Final Thoughts
Free camping in Victoria is an unbeatable way to enjoy the state’s incredible beauty, whether cooling off by a river, hiking through ancient forests, or watching dolphins along the coast. With the Parks Victoria free camping season, even more options will be open from December 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025, making it easier than ever to explore without extra fees.
Don’t forget essentials like water, firewood, and a reliable power source, like EcoFlow Solar Generators, to stay powered in remote locations. Now, pack your gear, head out to the bush, and take advantage of these beautiful budget-friendly sites across Victoria.