Free Camps
Free camps we’ve actually stayed at
Some of our best nights on the road haven’t cost us anything.
As we travel Australia, we’re keeping track of the free camps we’ve actually stayed at — from camping beside the Murray to remote outback stops along the highway.
These aren’t pins we’ve collected from a camping app. We’ve actually pulled up, set up and stayed at every place listed here.
Free Camps We’ve Stayed At
Places we’ve personally camped for free around Australia.
Bunnerungee Bridge
This was exactly the sort of free camp we enjoy finding on the road. Quiet, plenty of room and well away from a caravan park. We had the whole place to ourselves during our stay, which made an already good free camp even better.
Setting
Anabranch / bush
Suitable for
Caravan & off-grid setups
Cost when we stayed
Free
Our Take
Quiet, easy and having the whole place to ourselves made this one a winner.
Echuca — Murray River
Free camping along the Murray around Echuca is exactly the sort of camping we enjoy — the river right there, plenty of bush around us and room to spread out. It’s a completely different experience to staying in town and one of the reasons we enjoy camping along the Murray.
Setting
Murray River / bush
Suitable for
4WDs, caravans & self-contained setups
Cost when we stayed
Free
Our Take
Camping beside the Murray for nothing is pretty hard to beat.
Welbourne Hill
Welbourne Hill was an excellent free stop while travelling through South Australia. Plenty of room for our Y62 and caravan and a great place to pull up for the night before continuing further north.
Setting
Outback / off the highway
Suitable for
Caravans & self-contained setups
Our stay
Big Lap 2026
Cost when we stayed
Free
Our Take
Excellent free camping off the highway and a great overnight stop.
Marla
Marla gave us another excellent free camping spot while heading north through remote South Australia. It was off the highway with plenty of room for the caravan and made for a great overnight stop while covering the long distances through the outback.
Setting
Outback / off the highway
Suitable for
Caravans & self-contained setups
Our stay
Big Lap 2026
Cost when we stayed
Free
Our Take
Plenty of room, off the highway and an excellent free overnight stop.
Curtin Springs
We spent two nights at Curtin Springs while travelling through the Red Centre and being able to camp there for free made it an excellent base for this part of the trip. The kids also loved the birds around Curtin Springs, especially Peek-a-Boo the cockatoo, who could say his own name along with hello, hi and bye.
Setting
Red Centre / outback
Suitable for
Caravan & self-contained setups
Nights stayed
2
Our stay
Big Lap 2026
Cost when we stayed
Free
Our Take
Two free nights in the Red Centre and somewhere the kids genuinely enjoyed staying.
Why We Free Camp
Free camping isn’t just about saving money. Some of the best places we’ve stayed have also been some of the simplest.
We like having room around us, camping beside a river or out in the bush and finding places that feel completely different to a caravan park.
Having our own power, water and off-grid setup means we can comfortably make the most of these camps as we travel Australia.
More Space
Room for the caravan, 4WD and the kids.
Off-Grid
Our setup lets us comfortably stay away from powered sites.
Great Locations
Sometimes the free camp beside the river or out in the bush is better than anything in town.
Before You Go
Free camps can change. Access, time limits, road conditions and camping rules may be different from when we stayed. Everything here is based on our own stay, so always check the latest local information before heading in.
More Free Camps As We Travel
This list will keep growing as our lap continues. If we’ve personally stayed there, it was genuinely free and we reckon it’s worth sharing, we’ll add it here.