7 Of The Best Campsites And Holiday Parks Near Melbourne
With a range of free camping opportunities and a plentiful supply of resort-style holiday parks, Melbourne is a great place for a motorhome holiday!
You’ll absolutely want to spend some time exploring Victoria’s loud and proud capital city, but what if you want to go camping as well? Melbourne is the perfect home base for long weekend getaways and big adventures across the state, and there are plenty of holiday parks and campgrounds in the area.
The best thing about having a motorhome hire in Melbourne is the ability to free camp, with a shower and toilet onboard! Whilst camping at holiday parks, always secure a powered site for yourself to recharge your motorhome’s batteries. We recommend doing this every second night. Also, please drive on sealed roads unless you’re travelling no more than 12km to a recognised caravan park.
Whether you’re travelling along the Great Ocean Road, seeking luxury, or simply looking for a wilderness escape, we’ve put together a list of some of the best holiday parks and campgrounds near Melbourne.
Image: Melbourne CBD – Tourism Victoria
The Gums Camping Area, Kinglake National Park
Rating: 4.3⭐
Cost: From $33 per night (Check their website for accurate pricing)
Distance to Melbourne Branch: 1 Hour 9 Minutes
Types of Camping: Unpowered Sites
Address: Kinglake-Glenburn Rd, Kinglake West VIC 3763
Hidden amongst an iconic eucalypt forest, the Gums Camping Area is a great destination if you’re looking for cheap camping near Melbourne. It’s also a chance to have an authentic camping experience with like-minded travellers.
There are 18 camping spots, but only five are suitable for a motorhome, so you’ll want to book ahead!
There are plenty of walks and picnic areas available, so why not stay a couple of nights and explore locations nearby like the Cicada Circuit, Mason Falls and the Healesville Sanctuary.
Image: Healesville Sanctuary – Tourism Victoria
Tidal River Campground, Wilsons Promontory National Park
Rating: 4.6⭐
Cost: From $35 per night (Check their website for accurate pricing)
Distance to Melbourne Branch: 3 Hours 17 Minutes
Types of Camping: Powered and Unpowered Sites
Address: Main Rd, Tidal River VIC 3960
Tidal River Campground is perfect if you’re looking for one of the more budget-friendly campgrounds in Victoria. The grounds are scenic, beginner friendly, and offers some creature comforts – like a laundry facility and on-site kiosk. This is also the perfect base to explore Wilsons Prom!
Note: There’s no service station here, so make sure you fuel up beforehand.
This is also a wonderful place to stay a few nights and explore, you can check out the Mt Oberon Lookout, Norman Beach and Wilsons Promontory.
Image: Wilsons Promontory – Tourism Victoria
Cumberland River Holiday Park, Lorne
Rating: 4.1⭐
Cost: From $50 per night (Check their website for accurate pricing)
Distance to Melbourne Branch: 2 Hours 10 Minutes
Types of Camping: Powered and Unpowered Sites
Address: 2680 Great Ocean Rd, Cumberland River VIC 3232
Website: https://www.cumberlandriver.com.au/
Cumberland River Holiday Park is a stunning holiday park in Melbourne and a convenient place to camp if you’re travelling on the Great Ocean Road! With the natural wonder of the Cumberland River, craggy cliffs, and plentiful walking tracks, this area is popular for both camping and weddings.
Note: There’s minimal phone service here, so you’ll be almost entirely disconnected – which can be a benefit if you’re looking to unplug.
You can take your time in this area to explore the Great Ocean Road, enjoy a good hike and even visit places like Apollo Bay and Kalimna Falls.
Image: Cruisin’ Motorhomes 2 berth Sandpiper
Lalgambuk (Mt Franklin) Camping Area, Hepburn Regional Park
Rating: 4.5⭐
Cost: FREE
Distance to Melbourne Branch: 1 Hour 22 Minutes
Types of Camping: Unpowered Sites
Address: 4 Powells Ln, Mount Franklin VIC 3461
The Lalgambuk (Mt Franklin) Camping Area is completely free, and great for campervans and motorhomes! The area is located in the remnants of a volcanic crater, making this an incredibly scenic spot to go free camping in Melbourne.
You’ll want to have a backup plan, or a booking with the nearby Daylesford Holiday Park since the sites fill up quickly here.
The nearby area offers everything from wine tastings to mineral springs, meaning that there is lots to see and do in the region.
Image: Daylesford – Tourism Victoria
BIG4 Ingenia Holidays Queenscliff Beacon
Rating: 4.6⭐
Cost: From $29 per night (Check their website for accurate pricing)
Distance to Melbourne Branch: 1 Hour 33 Minutes
Types of Camping: Powered and Unpowered Sites
Address: 78 Bellarine Hwy, Queenscliff VIC 3225
Website: https://www.big4.com.au/caravan-parks/vic/great-ocean-road/ingenia-holidays-queenscliff-beacon
Big4’s Ingenia Holidays Queenscliff Beacon provides everything you’ll need for a comfortable and family-friendly camping experience! This multi-award-winning resort is a popular destination amongst travellers, and perfect if you’re seeking one of the most luxurious holiday parks in Melbourne.
From here you can explore iconic locations like the Mornington Peninsula and the Great Ocean Road. You can also visit Port Phillip Heads and the Barwon Bluff Marine Sanctuary.
Image: Port Phillip Bay – Tourism Victoria
NRMA Ballarat Holiday Park
Rating: 4.4⭐
Cost: From $53 per night (Check their website for accurate pricing)
Distance to Melbourne Branch: 1 Hour 26 Minutes
Types of Camping: Powered and Unpowered Sites
Address: 108 Clayton St, Golden Point VIC 3350
Website: https://www.nrmaparksandresorts.com.au/ballarat/
Another family-friendly holiday park in Melbourne, NRMA Ballarat Holiday Park is kitted out with a wide range of activities for kids and fun for all. You’ll be returning to the perfect place to relax at the end of a busy day. It’s also conveniently close to Sovereign Hill and you’ll be sure to find plenty of things to do in Ballarat!
If you are still looking for things to do you can pay a visit to the Ballarat Wildlife Park or Botanical Gardens. You could also head to Dunnstown and visit Kryal Castle to experience some medieval knights in action.
Image: Kryal Castle – Tourism Victoria
Are You Ready For Your Camping Trip In Melbourne?
We’ve covered a wide range of budget-friendly campgrounds, as well as some of the more luxurious resort-style holiday parks in Victoria, so now it’s up to you to decide what type of van life suits you best!
There aren’t any free campgrounds in Melbourne itself, but if you hunt around or ask a local they’ll be sure to point you in the right direction. As always, when you’re in Australia you can’t simply camp anywhere, so make sure you find a designated campground or rest area to avoid a hefty fine.
Start Planning Your Road Trip!
Hire a self-contained motorhome from Cruisin’ Motorhomes and turn your holiday into the ultimate road trip.
Call our friendly reservations team on 1300 664 485 or check out our website to see the motorhomes we have available at our branches!
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