10 Best Campgrounds near Brisbane

Need a digital disconnect? Are you busy making plans for your upcoming holidays and struggling to find something that won’t break the bank? Great! We’ve done the legwork for you and located the best campgrounds near Brisbane. All that’s left to do now is book your favourite GoGet, throw all the essentials in the boot (well we recommend taking at least a toothbrush) and leave town on your next wild adventure.

Can You Camp For Free In Queensland?

Camping is controlled in Queensland and many campgrounds need a permit, especially in national parks and forests. Camping permits can be purchased from $7/person or $28/family per night and are a must if you stay in a state park or forest. The Queensland National Parks Booking Service takes online reservations, and your permit will be sent to you through email. For the most popular spots they advise making reservations as far in advance as you can, particularly during busy times (think public and school holidays). You can book up to 12 months in advance in some parks and forests. Visit the Queensland Parks and Forests website to find out more.

The Best Campgrounds Near Brisbane

1. Archer Camping Area, Mt Mee

D’Aguilar National Park is just an hour and a half’s drive from Brisbane: perfect for a weekend trip away! You can find secluded canyons, vast eucalyptus forests, and breathtaking vistas of Moreton Bay. And some fabulous hikes for good measure! There are several campsites to pitch a tent, with over 36,000 hectares to explore. Our fave is the Archer Camping Area, which is located close to Neurum Creek in an open, grassy, and natural bush setting. The campground has restrooms and fire pits, but no showers.

2. The Settlement Camping Area, Springbrook National Park

The Settlement Camping Area in Springbrook National Park is another great option close to Brisbane and is the perfect spot to introduce youngsters to camping. This is the sole camping location in Springbrook National Park and offers 11 well-defined sites. All camping areas are clearly marked and appropriate for campervans, camper trailers, and tents. A short trail leads from the camping area to the summit of Purling Brook Falls. The Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk is also connected via this walking trail. The campground itself has restrooms, running water, shade, and electric BBQs, but no showers! There are also no bins, so you’ll need to take your rubbish with you! You can use the community waste and recycling facility on Carricks Road close by or take your rubbish home with you. 

3. Golden Beach Holiday Park Caloundra (Pet-friendly)

If the beach is your thing and you want to be right among the action, you can’t go wrong with a camping trip on the Sunshine Coast. Check out Golden Beach Holiday Park in Caloundra for a beach-side camping experience. It’s also a dog friendly camping spot, and is only an hour’s drive away from Brisbane. Just make sure to book a pet friendly GoGet!

Now, it’s not the cheapest dog friendly camping option, but you’re paying a premium for the location. It’s certainly not secluded, and is great if you like being within walking distance of a range of activities and food options. The holiday park is a 100m stroll away from the beach and a short walk to shops and restaurants.

Pups must be kept on-leash here and have to be on their best behaviour at all times. There are also no pets allowed for unit bookings, so keep that in mind when you make your plans.

4. Tully Memorial Park, North MacLean (Pet-friendly)

There’s aren’t too many free camping spots in Brisbane, but Tully Memorial Park is one of them!  It’s important to note this site is only for caravans and motorhomes, no tent camping allowed, and you can stay for free for up to three nights. You can take day trips from here to the Scenic Rim, Brisbane, Mount Tamborine, and the Gold Coast. It’s a great starting point because it’s close to Jimboomba. Amenities include toilets and rubbish bins, but there are no showers or drinkable water.

5. Poverty Creek, Bribie Island

Bribie Island is just a short drive from Brisbane and offers stunning coastal views, quiet bush camping areas, fantastic boating and fishing in the Pumicestone Passage, superb birdlife, and spring wildflowers. If you’re on a tight budget, the appropriately called Poverty Creek Campground on the western side of the island is a gorgeous option, with breathtaking views of the Glasshouse Mountains. There are restrooms, cold showers, fire rings, and picnic tables available.

Note that only boats or 4WD vehicles can get you to this campground so you can’t take your GoGet here, though there are 4WD hire options on the island. 

6. Frog Buttress Camping Area, Mt French

Another great option for a weekend, this is within 90 minutes drive of Brisbane CBD. The sole campground in Moogerah Peaks National Park, the Frog Buttress camping area in the Scenic Rim offers stunning vistas that the whole family will adore. Book early, it gets busy! Climbing enthusiasts will also appreciate it here though with summer temperatures of up to 40 degrees, if you can’t handle the heat, you might want to visit in the spring or autumn.

7. Kinbombi Falls Campground (Pet-friendly)

This is a bit further from Brisbane, so best visited during the holidays or over a long weekend. About an hour’s drive west of Gympie lies Kinbombi Falls, which offers free camping next to a stunning gorge with decent, flat campgrounds in a bushy area. Even better, it’s free if you stay for up to three days. Who could say no when there are a few bushwalks, waterfalls, and campfires available? Amenities include toilets, rubbish bins and campfires allowed, but there are no showers or power available.

8. Little Yabba Creek, Montville (Pet-friendly)

Little Yabba Creek is a beautiful place to camp out with the family. With a creek nearby for fishing and tonnes of breathtaking scenery, the free camping near Brisbane is also pet-friendly. Heaven! Just make sure to grab a pet friendly GoGet! Explore the lovely town of Montville, take a dip in the local creek, and get some exercise by walking through the Imbil State Forest. A perfect weekend getaway!

9. Tamborine Mountain

Tamborine Mountain is an incredible part of the world, and it’s a great spot for both humans and dogs to enjoy. If you’re after something more immersive than the other camp grounds on this list, Tamborine Mountain’s Thunder Bird Park is worth considering. It’s part campground, part adventure park – the type that you’d go to for a school camp, or similar. They do take booking for individual families however.

Thunder Bird Park is dog friendly, though they’ll need to be on leash. 

10. Ngumbi Campsite, Mt Joyce

Ngumbi Campsite is one of Brisbane’s best-kept secrets; it just requires a small hike to access.

There is an old school building there that you are allowed to stay in, so there is no need to take a tent. The 2-hour journey is beautiful and simple enough for any hiker and is an ideal weekend away. Once you’re settled, leave your pack behind and trek up to the actual summit of Mt. Joyce. It’s a bit of a hike, but the view from the summit is worth it! At Lake Wyaralong, the Ngumbi Camp Site has open camping spaces, a bathroom, a basic shelter shed, and water tanks. Although there is no car access to the Ngumbi Camp Site, it is accessible via the trails and the lake. Only tank water is available for these camping spots, so campers and tourists are advised to carry their own drinking water supply.

What are you waiting for? GoGet out there!

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