Published 23 July 2026
Campsite availability in Australia has changed over the years. Starting from the late 1990s, caravan parks were declining as prime coastal land was being developed. However, Australia still has plenty of camping spots including prime coastal spots.
How many campsites are there in Australia?
There are over 8,220 campsite locations in Australia as of 2023. This includes commercial caravan parks, national/state park campgrounds and free/informal sites. The figures are as follows:
- 2,600 commercial caravan and holiday parks.
- Approximately 1,120 national and state park campgrounds.
- 4,500 free or informal campsites.
What are the different types of campsites in Australia?
- National Park & State Forest Campgrounds: Government-managed. Basic facilities like pit toilets, water tanks and picnic tables.
- Commercial Caravan/Holiday Parks: Privately owned. 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. No fee or donation-based.
- Other campsites: Private farm or station stays and showground camping. Unique rural and regional experiences.
Campgrounds in Australia
There are 1,120 listed campgrounds in Australia as of October 2025, a 2.56% increase since 2023 based on previous estimates.
- 70.09% (785 campgrounds) are single-owner operations. The remaining 29.91% (335) are owned by larger brands.
- The average age of campgrounds across Australia is 6 years and 11 months
- Queensland has the highest number with 342 public campgrounds, followed by New South Wales (290) and Victoria (207).
| Campsite Distribution by State/Territory (Estimates) | ||
|---|---|---|
| State/Territory | Caravan/Holiday Parks | Number of Campgrounds |
| Queensland | 700 | 342 |
| New South Wales | 800 | 290 |
| Victoria | 400 | 207 |
| Western Australia | 300 | 79 |
| Tasmania | 100 | 72 |
| South Australia | 200 | 66 |
| Northern Territory | 50 | 53 |
| Australian Capital Territory | 10 | 11 |
Source · “Campgrounds” refers to designated camping areas managed by national and state park agencies.
Which state has the highest number of campsites?
Queensland (342) and New South Wales (290) are the top two states in Australia for campsites in 2025.
- New South Wales has about 30% of the country’s caravan parks and hundreds of national park campgrounds.
- Queensland has 342 official camping areas in parks and many commercial sites.
- Victoria has many camping networks across its 207 campgrounds. South Australia, Tasmania, the Northern Territory and the ACT have fewer campsites compared to their size.
Many of these are in national parks, though some are private or council run.
What percentage of campsites are private vs. public?
Roughly half of the camping nights in Australia are in private (commercial) sites. The rest are in public or free campgrounds.
- Private Sites: About 50%-60% of camping nights are in caravan and holiday parks.
- Public/Free Sites: Around 40%-50% of camping nights are in government-managed parks and free campsites.
How many free campsites are available in Australia?
There are over 4,500 free or low-cost campsites across Australia.
- Roadside rest areas, state forest camps and community-run sites.
- Free campsites are common in Queensland, Western Australia and regional areas.
How popular is camping in Australia?
There were over 15.3 million camping trips and 60.7 million nights spent camping in Australia in 2023.
- 8 million trips in 2010. This number increased by around 75% by 2019.
- The number of trips bounced back in 2021-2023 after a 21.4% decline in 2020 (during the pandemic).
How many Australians go camping each year?
Approximately 25%-30% of Australian households camp at least once per year.
- Domestic camping accounts for nearly 15% of all overnight visitor nights in Australia.
- The average camper takes 1-2 trips per year, totaling around 10-12 nights.
How much does camping cost in Australia?
Camping costs vary depending on the site and region. The average powered site cost went up by 29% from A$59 in 2016 to A$76 in 2023.
- National Park Campgrounds: Free or up to A$15 per person per night. Queensland parks are A$7.25 per person per night.
- Commercial Caravan Parks: Unpowered sites cost A$20-A$40 per night. Powered sites cost A$30-A$60 per night.
- Premium Sites: In touristy areas, premium sites (coastal or peak season) can be more than A$70 per night.
- Free Campsites: Free or donation-based.
| Campsite Type | Average Cost per Night (AUD) |
|---|---|
| National Park Campground (Basic) | A$0-A$15 per person |
| Caravan Park - Unpowered Site | A$20-A$40 per site |
| Caravan Park - Powered Site | A$30-A$60 per site |
| Premium/Resort-style Holiday Park | A$70-A$100+ per night |
| Free Campsite/Informal | Free |
Other Resources
Additional Camping Expenses
- Extras include park entry fees (e.g. Kosciuszko National Park which is A$17 off-peak and A$29 in peak season per vehicle).
- Glamping options are A$150-A$400 per night (the luxury end of the market).
- Expect additional camping trip expenses, which include fuel, food and other equipment, that average about A$941 per trip.
Note: A$941 is based on A$14.3 billion total spending across 15.2 million trips.
What are the most visited campsites in Australia?
The most popular campsites are in high-demand coastal and national park areas in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia.
- National park campgrounds in New South Wales, like the Blue Mountains and Kosciuszko National Park, had 4.96 million visits in 2023.
- Queensland had 2.96 million visits mainly along the Great Barrier Reef coast and Fraser Island.
- Victoria and Western Australia had 3.79 million and 1.91 million visits respectively in 2023.
Seasonal Demand
- Peak season is during school holidays and summer. Some popular campgrounds reach nearly 100% capacity.
- Off-peak occupancy averages around 48-50% while peak periods (such as Easter) see occupancy rates as high as 75-80%.
Campervan hire in Australia
- Brisbane campervan rental
- Campervan hire in Bunbury
- Darwin campervan rental
- Devonport campervan rental
- Geraldton campervan rental
- Campervan hire in Gold Coast
- Campervan hire in Noosa
- Campervan hire in Perth
- Sunshine Coast campervan rental
- Campervan hire in Toowoomba
References
- ABS Building Activity, Dec 2025 · abs.gov.au
- Tourism Spending Statistics - The Great Barrier Reef · tra.gov.au
- 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
- List Of Campgrounds in Australia · rentechdigital.com
