13 Best Free Camping Spots Near Melbourne

Looking for a getaway from Melbourne on a budget? Discover free camping spots close to Melbourne!

Get out into nature and bid the busy world farewell. We all need to get away sometime, and getting to do it without breaking the bank? Even better! Grab a GoGet today and hit the road. And don’t worry if you want to bring your canine companion along for the ride – there are some great options on the list too.

Best Free Campgrounds Near Melbourne

1. Kurth Kiln Camping Area (Dog-friendly Campground)

Distance: 90 minutes from Melbourne

One of the closest free campgrounds on the list, it checks the crucial criteria of being both dog-friendly and free! What more could you want? Kurth Kiln Regional Park is located close to Gembrook, 65 kilometres east of Melbourne. A word of warning, the facilities at this campground are rather modest. There are no showers and only drop toilets, so this is best suited to campers looking to be fully immersed in nature. Your dog will undoubtedly thank you for taking one of the many beautiful walks in the region.

2. Beauchamp Falls Campground, Great Otway National Park (Dog-friendly Campground)

Distance: 2.5 hours from Melbourne

This one is a bit further from Melbourne, so is a great option for a long weekend or holiday getaway. The Beauchamp Falls campground is verdant, lush, and, given it’s in the Otways National Park, you’ll be surrounded by beautiful trees. The Great Ocean Road is nearby, and three of Victoria’s top waterfalls – Triplet Falls, Hopetoun Falls, and Beauchamp Falls – are not far away. Even better, this is a dog-friendly campground (just make sure you book a pet friendly GoGet!).  After your camping trip take a leisurely cruise back along the Great Ocean Road, stopping off at some of the gorgeous beaches along the way.

3. Meredith Park, Lake Colac

Distance: 2 hours from Melbourne

Being so close to the lake, this enormous campground offers plenty of breathtaking views of the water and sunsets as you relax by your tent. There’s also lots to do nearby, including biking and fishing. Keep an eye out for the Corangamite Water Skink, an endangered species of lizard that calls the lake home. If you’re lucky, you might just be able to spot one! Water, restrooms, and wood-fired BBQs are all on-site.

4. Stevensons Falls, Great Otway National Park (Dog-Friendly Campground)

Distance: 2 hours from Melbourne

Another campground located inside the beautiful Great Otway Forest Park. It’s a camper’s dream with picnic tables, fires, caravan access, toilets, and a dog-friendly policy! This campground is ideally situated for access to some breathtaking Great Otway National Park hikes and there’s easy access to the Great Ocean Road.

5. Aire Crossing, Great Otway National Park

Distance: 2 hours from Melbourne

Aire Crossing campground is a tranquil location just north of the waterfalls in the Great Otway National Park. Immerse yourself in the lush native forest and check out some of the beautiful waterfalls nearby, or one of the great hiking trails in the area.

6. Aberfeldy River, Baw Baw National Park

Distance: 3 hours from Melbourne

If you want to lose yourself in nature, look no further than Aberledy River in the Baw Baw National Park. There’s heaps to do nearby; if you’re feeling energetic you can trek to the top of Mount St. Gwinear for some breathtaking views or go swimming in the river. There are fireplaces, restrooms, and picnic tables in the campground. However, keep in mind that using a fuel burner is recommended for cooking and that it is not permitted to gather firewood within the Park, so you will need to bring your own. There are no rubbish bins, so make sure to take away everything you bring with you.

7. Toolangi Recreation Reserve (Dog-friendly Campground)

Distance: 1.5 hours from Melbourne

This little campground is located on the banks of the Yea River, close to a sports field, and is encircled by thick gum trees. Your four-legged pals are welcome here too! Although the local sports field get bit crowded on weekends, the campsite is located at the edge of the Toolangi State Forest if you want to get away and into nature. Make sure to visit the Toolangi Sculpture Trail, which is free and open every day and features artwork made from materials discovered in the bush.

8. Mount Franklin Reserve

Distance: 1.5 hours from Melbourne

A picture-perfect camping area with magnificent conifers and deciduous trees. Mount Franklin is a great option for “glampers” because it has a range of amenities like bathrooms, fireplaces, and water. It’s also a great base to explore nearby Daylesford (a GoGet fave), a quaint little town and foodie haven.

9. Gunbower Island Campground

Distance: 3 hours from Melbourne

A gorgeous campground near the Murray River and surrounded by Red River Gum trees. Keen anglers can try their luck at hooking supper in the river, while the rest of the group can walk the 14-kilometre Koondrock Track to work up an appetite for fresh fish.

10. Johanna Beach Campground (Dog-friendly Campground)

Distance: 3 hours from Melbourne

This free on-lead dog-friendly campground is tucked away amid coastal sand dunes. A beautiful, green hinterland, and a popular surf beach; what more could you ask for?! With Cape Otway nearby, this is an excellent area to rest for the night if you’re travelling the Great Ocean Road. Johanna Beach is a free campground with 25 sites that have endless ocean views but no showers or running water. Experienced surfers will love Johanna Beach’s westward-facing breaks (this is an unpatrolled beach). It’s also a fantastic place to go surf fishing; try your hand at catching some mullet or salmon. There are also plenty of places to visit nearby. Within an hour’s drive, you can find Melba Gully, the Twelve Apostles, Cape Otway Lightstation, and Triplet Falls.

11. Andersons Garden (Dog-Friendly Camping)

Distance: 1 hour from Melbourne

Don’t be misled by the name; Anderson Garden may be located in Mount Disappointment State Forest, but you are sure to have an amazing stay! Within the State Forest, this free campsite welcomes dogs and is only one hour’s drive from Melbourne. Numerous activities including biking, hiking, fishing, and dog walking, are all available nearby. With some limitations, campfires are allowed, but be sure to check for days when all fires are prohibited. There are also picnic tables, restrooms, and wood-fired barbecues available for use. There are no rubbish bins, so campers will need to take their rubbish with them.

12. Blue Pool, East Gippsland (Dog-friendly Campground)

Distance: 3 hours from Melbourne
East Gippsland’s charming Briagolong State Forest is home to Blue Pool Campground. It’s well-known for its stunning crystal-clear swimming hole. It’s also the only campground in the forest with a bathroom, so get there quickly because it is popular! There nearby waterhole and gorge are ripe for swimming, cliff jumping, and canoeing. Keen hikers will find numerous trails that are just begging to be explored with your dog too! 

13. Plantation, The Grampians

Distance: 3 hours from Melbourne

The Plantation is the largest free camping spot in the magnificent Grampians National Park and is located on the eastern slope of the Mount Difficult Range. Over 1600 square kilometres of the Grampians are available for hiking and also provide some pretty amazing rock climbing for the thrill seekers out there. The Plantation campsite has drop toilets, unpowered sites, useable fires (bring your own firewood), and communal picnic tables. This is a definite must-add to your camping list!

What are you waiting for? GoGet out there!

If you’re a GoGet member, then there’s nothing standing in your way! Book a car today and hit the road. No Membership? No problem! We’ve got the perfect plan for you!