Camping is a popular outdoor activity in Australia, with millions of residents and international visitors choosing to camp each year. The country’s diverse landscapes, from coastal regions to outback deserts, attract campers interested in exploring natural environments.
Recent camping statistics provide insights into the trends, growth, and preferences among campers in Australia.
How many people go camping in Australia every year?
Over 15.3 million caravan and camping trips were taken by Australians in 2023, with 60.7 million nights spent camping.
- This marked a slight increase in trips compared to 2022, which saw 15.1 million trips and 60.9 million nights spent, a small decrease in nights compared to the peak in 2022.
- Compared to 2020, camping trips in 2023 rose by 44.3%, up from 10.6 million trips recorded that year. While nights spent increased by 48.1%, rising from 41 million nights in 2020.
The slight decrease in nights despite more trips indicates that while more people are camping, they may be taking shorter trips.
How much do campers spend on their camping trips?
Over $14.3 billion was spent on camping trips in Australia in 2023.
- Of this, $10.72 billion was spent in regional areas, reflecting a strong economic contribution to local communities.
This total spending includes all trip-related costs (transportation, food, activities).
Why do people go camping in Australia?
In the year ending December 2023, Australians camped for various reasons:
- 77% of caravan and camping trips were for holidays and leisure.
- 10% were to visit friends or family.
- Another 10% were for business or work.
- And the remaining 3% were for other purposes.
How popular is camping in Australia?
Camping has become a major part of the Australian travel landscape.
- In 2023, one in every three domestic overnight holiday trips in Australia was a camping or caravan trip, contributing one in every five dollars spent on holiday travel in regional areas.
Camping Preferences: Where Did People Camp the Most?
The majority of camping holidays took place in regional Australia.
The 91% of holiday trips and nights and 90% of holiday spending (amounting to $7.6 billion) in 2023 occurred in regional areas.
According to a 2019 report on commercial sites, out of 7.2 million trips:
- 40% of campers stayed in cabins
- 27% travelled with a caravan
- 22% camped in tents
- Smaller groups chose on-site vans (7%) or motorhomes and campervans (6%).
How do caravan and camping trips impact regional Australia?
For the year ending December 2023, in regional Australia, caravan and camping trips represented:
- One in every three domestic overnight holiday trips
- One in every three holiday nights spent
- One in every five dollars spent on holiday trips
Impacts on Regional Australia
(Visitors, Nights, and Expenditure in 2023)
STATE/TERRITORY | Visitors (‘000s) | Nights (‘000s) | Expenditure ($M) |
---|---|---|---|
Australian Capital Territory (ACT) | 132 | 133 | 13 |
New South Wales (NWS) | 4,901 | 12,953 | 2,008 |
Northern Territory (NT) | 320 | 1,306 | 235 |
Queensland (QLD) | 2,962 | 11,459 | 1,634 |
South Australia (SA) | 1,250 | 4,546 | 696 |
Tasmania (TAS) | 438 | 1,415 | 201 |
Victoria (VIC) | 3,793 | 10,535 | 1,479 |
Western Australia (WA) | 1,915 | 7,780 | 1,110 |
Despite decreases in some areas, the national total of camping trips increased, indicating growth in other regions.
Number of Visitors (‘000s) to Regional Australia Over the Years
YEAR | ACT | NSW | NT | QLD | SA | TAS | VIC | WA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | 85 | 3,582 | 226 | 2,085 | 919 | 327 | 2,497 | 1,620 |
2015 | 86 | 3,698 | 341 | 2,322 | 962 | 312 | 2,636 | 1,590 |
2016 | 88 | 3,989 | 322 | 2,352 | 1,076 | 385 | 2,821 | 1,544 |
2017 | 99 | 4,104 | 282 | 2,338 | 1,048 | 360 | 3,099 | 1,415 |
2018 | 96 | 4,258 | 393 | 2,621 | 1,151 | 382 | 3,150 | 1,473 |
2019 | 108 | 4,758 | 406 | 2,665 | 1,361 | 414 | 3,542 | 1,642 |
2020 | 39 | 3,403 | 282 | 2,076 | 1,043 | 360 | 2,137 | 1,556 |
2021 | 45 | 3,511 | 357 | 2,769 | 1,277 | 403 | 2,928 | 1,705 |
2022 | 163 | 4,612 | 395 | 3,114 | 1,250 | 408 | 3,739 | 1,985 |
2023 | 132 | 4,901 | 320 | 2,962 | 1,250 | 438 | 3,793 | 1,915 |
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Caravan and Camping in Australia
- The number of caravan and camping trips taken by Australians dropped by approximately 24% compared to 2019, falling from around 14 million trips to about 10.6 million. Nights spent camping decreased by about 31%, from roughly 59 million nights in 2019 to 41 million nights in 2020.
- In 2021, as restrictions eased in some regions, the industry began to recover. Caravan and camping trips increased by about 19% from the previous year, rising to approximately 12.6 million trips. Nights spent camping saw a boost of around 23%, reaching about 50.6 million nights.
Camping Demographics: Who camps the most?
- Based on findings from the 2019 report, nearly half of campers (46%) were aged 50 or older, with 24% of this group being retired or receiving a pension.
- And approximately 34% of camping trips included children.
What types of campsites are most popular?
Commercial campgrounds are widely used by Australian campers.
- In 2023, 56% of all caravan and camping holiday trips, 64% of nights, and 68% of holiday spending were at commercial camping sites.