Updated
Australia has around 5,000 listed campsite locations in 2026, from commercial caravan parks and national park campgrounds to free campsites. Below are the numbers by type and state, what a night costs and how many Australians go camping.
At a Glance
- Australia has around 5,000 listed campsite locations in 2026, including about 2,100 caravan and holiday parks1 and 1,120 campgrounds2.
- CamperMate lists 1,796 free campsites (November 2026)3.
- Queensland has the most listed campgrounds (342)2, while New South Wales has the most caravan parks (1,418)4.
- 70% of caravan and camping nights in 2025 were spent at commercial caravan parks and camping grounds5.
- Australians took 17.3 million caravan and camping trips in 2025, adding up to 57.9 million nights5.
- Powered sites at caravan parks averaged A$64 a night in September 20266.
How many campsites are there in Australia?
There are around 5,000 listed campsite locations in Australia as of 2026. The total takes in commercial caravan parks, national and state park campgrounds and free or informal sites:
- About 2,100 commercial caravan and holiday parks.1
- About 1,120 listed campgrounds, including park, private and community-run camps.2
- 1,796 free campsites listed on CamperMate (November 2026).3
These counts come from different directories, so some sites may be counted more than once.
What are the different types of campsites in Australia?
- National Park & State Forest Campgrounds: Run by government agencies, with basic facilities such as pit toilets, water tanks and picnic tables.
- Commercial Caravan/Holiday Parks: Privately owned, with powered and unpowered sites, flush toilets, showers, camp kitchens and sometimes cabins.
- Free Campsites and Informal Camping Areas: Roadside rest areas, state forest sites and community-run campsites that are free or ask for a donation.
- Other campsites: Private farm or station stays and showground camping in rural and regional areas.
How many caravan parks are there in Australia?
How many campgrounds are there in Australia?
There are 1,120 listed campgrounds in Australia as of April 2026, up 2.56% on earlier estimates from 2023.2
- 70.09% (785 campgrounds) are single-owner operations. The remaining 29.91% (335) are owned by larger brands.2
- The average age of campgrounds across Australia is 6 years and 11 months.2
- Queensland has the highest number with 342 listed campgrounds, followed by New South Wales (290) and Victoria (207).2
Caravan parks and campgrounds by state and territory
| Estimated listings, 2026 | ||
|---|---|---|
| State/Territory | Caravan/Holiday Parks | Number of Campgrounds |
| Queensland | 9964 | 3422 |
| New South Wales | 1,4184 | 2902 |
| Victoria | 7564 | 2072 |
| Western Australia | 4954 | 792 |
| Tasmania | 1474 | 722 |
| South Australia | 5394 | 662 |
| Northern Territory | 1294 | 532 |
| Australian Capital Territory | 104 | 112 |
Source · “Caravan/Holiday Parks” counts parks listed by VanScout (October 2026), which also include showgrounds and park campgrounds. “Number of Campgrounds” counts business listings compiled by SmartScrapers (April 2026), which include park, private and scout camps.
Which state has the highest number of campsites?
Queensland (342) and New South Wales (290) have the most listed campgrounds in 2026,2 but New South Wales leads once caravan parks are counted.
- New South Wales has the most listed caravan parks: 1,418 of the 4,490 on VanScout (about 32%).4
- Queensland has 342 listed campgrounds2 and many commercial sites.
- Victoria is third, with 207 campgrounds.2 Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, the Northern Territory and the ACT have fewer listed campgrounds.
Many of these are in national parks, though some are privately or council-run.
What percentage of campsites are private vs. public?
There is no national count that splits campsites into private and public, so the clearest guide is where Australians spend their camping nights. Most of those are at commercial parks.
How many free campsites are available in Australia?
CamperMate lists 1,796 free campsites across Australia (November 2026).3
- They include roadside rest areas, state forest camps and community-run sites.
- Free campsites are common in Queensland, Western Australia and across regional Australia.
How popular is camping in Australia?
Travellers spent 57.9 million nights camping in Australia in 2025.5 For long-term trends in trips, nights and spending, see our Australian camping statistics.
Campervan hire in Australia
How many Australians go camping each year?
Australians took 17.3 million caravan and camping trips in 2025, and registered caravans and campervans hit a record of almost 938,000.5
How much does camping cost in Australia?
Powered sites at caravan parks averaged A$64 a night in September 2026, up 5% on September 2025.6 What you pay depends on the type of site and the region.
- National Park Campgrounds: Some cost little or nothing. The Pines in Kosciuszko National Park has no camping fee, just a A$6 booking fee.7 Queensland park campsites cost A$7.75 per person per night from 1 July 2026.8
- Commercial Caravan Parks: Unpowered sites averaged A$50.23 a night in 2025, and powered sites A$62.27.6
- Caravan Park Cabins: Averaged A$212.78 a night in 2025.6
- Free Campsites: No fee, though some ask for a donation.
Average nightly camping costs in Australia
| Campsite Type | Average Cost per Night (AUD) |
|---|---|
| National Park Campground (Basic) | Free-A$7.75 per person78 |
| Caravan Park - Unpowered Site | A$50.23 per site6 |
| Caravan Park - Powered Site | A$62.27 per site6 |
| Caravan Park - Cabin | A$212.78 per cabin6 |
| Free Campsite/Informal | Free |
Source · Caravan park figures are 2025 national averages from the Caravan Industry Association of Australia (State of Industry 2026). National park fees: NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and Queensland Parks.
Additional Camping Expenses
- Some national parks also charge a vehicle entry fee. At Kosciuszko National Park it is A$17 per vehicle off-peak and A$29 in peak season.9
- Glamping options sit at the luxury end of the market.
- Total spending averaged about A$728 per caravan and camping trip in 2025, covering site fees as well as fuel, food and equipment.
Note: A$728 is based on A$12.6 billion total spending across 17.3 million trips in 2025.5 Tourism Research Australia now uses a new survey model, so this is not directly comparable with earlier years.
Where do Australians camp the most?
Demand is strongest on the coast and in national parks, especially in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia.
- New South Wales, home to the Blue Mountains and Kosciuszko National Park, drew 5.5 million domestic caravan and camping visitors in 2025, more than one in three nationally.10
- Queensland draws campers mainly along the Great Barrier Reef coast and on K'gari (Fraser Island).
Seasonal Demand
- Demand peaks over summer and the school holidays. In December 2025, caravan park cabins reached 64% occupancy and powered sites 49%, both records for the month.11
- The Gold Coast (87%), Sunshine Coast (83%) and NSW Central Coast (80%) had the highest cabin occupancy that December, while Perth led powered sites at 85%.11
- Across 2025, caravan park cabins averaged 69.7% occupancy, powered sites 58.1% and unpowered sites 34.2%.6
FAQs
How long is the average camping trip in Australia?
The average caravan and camping trip lasted 3.4 nights in 20256.
Are most campgrounds in Australia independently owned?
Yes. About 70% of listed campgrounds (785 of 1,120) are single-owner operations, while the other 30% (335) are owned by larger brands2.
Why do campsite numbers differ between sources?
Each directory counts something different. VanScout lists 4,490 caravan parks, including showgrounds and park campgrounds4. The 1,120 campgrounds are business listings compiled by SmartScrapers2, and CamperMate lists free sites separately. Some sites appear in more than one directory, so the national total of around 5,000 is an estimate.
More on camping in Australia
- Camping in Australia
- Australia Campervan Ownership Statistics
- Camping Statistics in Australia
- Glamping Statistics in Australia
- Hiking Statistics in Australia
- National Park Statistics in Australia
- Peer-to-Peer RV Rental Statistics in Australia
- Wild Camping Rules in Australia
- Wildlife Statistics in Australia
References
- Inside Australia's $27 billion caravan boom · forbes.com.au ↑ b c
- List Of Campgrounds in Australia · rentechdigital.com ↑ b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u
- Free Campsites in Australia – CamperMate · campermate.com ↑ b c
- Caravan parks in Australia, state by state – VanScout directory · vanscout.com.au ↑ b c d e f g h i j k l m n
- Caravan and Camping Data (Tourism Research Australia) · Tourism Research Australia ↑ b c d e f g h
- Australian caravan and camping industry statistics (Caravan Industry Association of Australia, updated 8 September 2026) · caravanindustry.com.au ↑ b c d e f g h i j
- The Pines campground – Kosciuszko National Park (NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service) · nationalparks.nsw.gov.au ↑ b c
- Camping bookings and fees – Queensland Parks · parks.qld.gov.au ↑ b c
- Kosciuszko National Park visitor info — NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service · nationalparks.nsw.gov.au ↑ b
- NSW number one for caravan and camping trips (Destination NSW media release, 14 August 2026) · destinationnsw.com.au ↑
- Australian caravan holiday parks just set this record (Caravan Industry Association of Australia, 14 January 2026) · caravanindustry.com.au ↑ b
- ABS Building Activity, Dec 2025 · Australian Bureau of Statistics
- Tourism Spending Statistics - The Great Barrier Reef · Tourism Research Australia
- Western Australia National Parks Camping Data · dbca.wa.gov.au
- Caravan Park Statistics and Industry Reports · caravanindustry.com.au
- New South Wales Camping Data · nationalparks.nsw.gov.au
- Queensland Camping Data · qld.gov.au
- Great Ocean Road Tourist Attraction (Parks Victoria) · parks.vic.gov.au
