Camping under the stars is a wonderful way to recharge, and you don’t have to travel very far from the city to do it. Pitch your tent at these campsites close to Sydney.
- 7 min read
Cockatoo Island Waterfront Camping
Where: Sydney Harbour
Distance from Sydney: 8km (15min ferry ride)
Facilities: Toilets, hot showers, drinking water, camp kitchen, firepit, cinema
Accessible: Yes; contact operator for more information
Spend a night under the stars in the middle of Sydney Harbour at Cockatoo Island Waterfront Camping. Catch a ferry over from Circular Quay, Barangaroo or wharves along the Parramatta River and set up camp. You can bring your own tent, book one of the existing tents or take it up a notch with the premium package that includes a spacious dome tent with electricity, a double bed and an outdoor deck with sun loungers. Explore the World Heritage-listed convict site, take a guided tour, play games on the lawn and toast marshmallows around the campfire.
Cockatoo Island Waterfront Camping, Sydney Harbour
Discovery Parks - Lane Cove
Where: Lane Cove National Park
Distance from Sydney: 15km (20min)
Facilities: Toilets, hot showers, drinking water, barbecues, camp kitchen, laundry, playground, swimming pool
Accessible: Yes; contact operator for more information
Lane Cove National Park is a piece of untouched bushland running through the northern suburbs of Sydney. Discovery Parks - Lane Cove sits within the park and offers everything from basic tent sites and cabins to a super-stylish glamping experience. Check in to the chic safari tent and enjoy a plush king-size bed, freestanding bathtub and a barbecue on your sunny private deck.
Discovery Parks - Lane Cove, Lane Cove - Credit: Discovery Parks Lane Cove
The Basin Campground
Where: Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park
Distance from Sydney: 46km (1hr)
Facilities: Toilets, showers, drinking water, barbecues, picnic tables, public phone
Accessible: Yes; contact operator for more information
The only campsite in the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, The Basin campground is a large grassy area overlooking Pittwater. Hike or cycle through the park, swim at the sheltered beach or calm lagoon and keep an eye out for curious swamp wallabies. There’s no road directly to the site; access is via a 3km walk from the car park or a ferry from Palm Beach.
The Basin campground, Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park - Credit: John Spencer/DCCEEW
Cattai Campground
Where: Cattai National Park
Distance from Sydney: 60km (1hr)
Facilities: Toilets, hot showers, barbecues
Accessible: Yes; contact operator for more information
Cattai Campground’s lush bushland escape is on the edge of the Hawkesbury River. Pitch your tent among the trees and you’ll wake to the sound of birdsong and maybe even a few kangaroos nibbling the grass. Bring your bikes, canoes, kayaks and fishing gear for fun on the river, follow hiking trails through the park, or visit nearby Cattai Homestead, a historic farm dating back to the 1820s.
Cattai Campground, Cattai - Credit: John Spencer | DCCEEW
Bonnie Vale Campground*
Where: Royal National Park
Distance from Sydney: 55km (1hr 10min)
Facilities: Toilets, hot showers, drinking water, barbecues, picnic tables
Accessible: Yes; contact operator for more information
Bonnie Vale Campground is the most popular campsite in the Royal National Park as it’s the largest and most easily accessible. Bring your tent, camper trailer or caravan and get set up with a powered or unpowered site. Right beside the calm blue waters of Cabbage Tree Basin, it’s ideal for families looking to swim, fish and build sandcastles. Hire a kayak from Bundeena Kayaks nearby and paddle out into the mellow Hacking River.
*Bonnie Vale Campground is closed until December 2025. Check for closures at nationalparks.nsw.gov.au closer to your planned stay for updates.
Bonnie Vale Campground, Bonnie Vale - Credit: Andrew Elliot/DPIE
Uloola Falls Campground*
Where: Royal National Park
Distance from Sydney: 57km (1hr 15min)
Facilities: Toilets
Accessible: No
Accessed by fire trail on foot or mountain bike, serene Uloola Falls Campground is worth the effort. This remote Royal National Park spot is set on the shores of a crystal-clear pool with gently rushing waterfalls and suits fully self-sufficient campers able to carry their gear in and out. Stake your claim on the sandy flats (sites are unmarked) and drift off to sleep under a starry sky. Leave the way you came (taking all your rubbish with you) or walk out via the more challenging Karloo Walking Track ending in Heathcote.
*Uloola Falls Campground is closed until mid-December 2025. Check for closures at nationalparks.nsw.gov.au closer to your planned stay for updates.
Uloola Falls campground, Uloola - Credit: Andrew Richards | DPIE
Euroka Campground
Where: Glenbrook
Distance from Sydney: 70km (1hr 15min)
Facilities: Toilets, barbecues, picnic tables
Accessible: Yes; contact operator for more information
Close to the Nepean River at the base of the Blue Mountains, Euroka Campground is quintessential bush retreat that only offers tent sites. There are five separate camping areas, so you can always find a quiet spot. Watch the colourful flocks of cockatoos and parrots that live in the tall eucalyptus trees, admire the spectacular vistas from Tunnel View Lookout and see ancient Aboriginal rock art at Red Hands Cave.
Euroka Campground, Blue Mountains National Park - Credit: Nick Cubbin/DCCEEW
Coledale Beach Camping Reserve
Where: Coledale
Distance from Sydney: 75km (1hr 15min)
Facilities: Toilets, hot showers, kitchen, laundry, drinking water, barbecues
Accessible: Yes; contact operator for more information
This is as close as you can get to camping on the sand in NSW. Operated by the Coledale Surf Life Saving Club, Coledale Beach Camping Reserve looks directly out onto the rolling waves, making it a popular site for surfers. There’s also a protected rock pool at the southern edge of the beach, perfect for families. The village of Coledale is a short walk to pick up supplies or have dinner at the local RSL.
Coledale Beach, Thirroul
Upper Colo Reserve
Where: Hawkesbury
Distance from Sydney: 95km (1hr 30mins)
Facilities: Toilets, showers, barbecue, picnic tables, pet-friendly
Accessible: No
Surrounded by the Wollemi National Park, Upper Colo Reserve is a secluded wilderness campsite within easy reach of the city. Beautifully basic in terms of amenities, this spot is ideal for pitching a tent or bringing a campervan, as caravans won’t be able to access the site. Deep in nature, you’ll be able to swim, paddle or fish in the calm water of the Colo River; explore the surrounding bushland on foot or mountain bike; and relax in the tranquil surrounds.
Upper Colo Reserve, Upper Colo
Little Beach Campground
Where: Bouddi National Park
Distance from Sydney: 100km (1hr 30min)
Facilities: Toilets, barbecues, picnic tables
Accessible: No
Be lulled to sleep by the sound of crashing waves at Little Beach Campground at the northern end of Bouddi National Park. Surrounded by littoral (coastal, closed-canopy) rainforest and facing onto a quiet cove, this is a secluded retreat for nature-lovers with only six sites on offer. Spend your days surfing, hiking and fishing, then cook up your catch on the barbecue as the sun goes down.
Little Beach campground, Bouddi National Park - Credit: John Spencer | DCCEEW
Putty Beach Campground
Where: Bouddi National Park
Distance from Sydney: 100km (1hr 30min)
Facilities: Toilets, outdoor shower, drinking water, barbecues, picnic tables
Accessible: No
Putty Beach Campground’s compact site is just steps from the golden sands of Putty Beach and a two-minute drive from Killcare. The spectacular Bouddi Coastal Walk starts at the eastern end of the beach and runs for 8km past rocky cliffs, shady rainforest and fields of wildflowers all the way to MacMasters Beach. If you’re camping in winter or spring, look for whales cruising along the coast.
Putty Beach Campground, Killcare Heights - Credit: John Yurasek/DCCEEW
Patonga Camping Area
Where: Central Coast
Distance from Sydney: 101km (1hr 30min)
Facilities: Toilets, showers, laundry, drinking water, barbecues, tennis courts and playground, boat ramp
Accessible: Yes; contact operator for more information
Patonga is a fishing village at the southernmost point of the Central Coast, an eco-certified destination. The town is accessed by road from Umina or ferry from Palm Beach. Patonga Camping Area campground sits across from a sandy spit that separates Patonga Creek from Brisk Bay. Here, you can relax on the beach, do a spot of fishing off the end of the wharf (a NSW fishing licence is required) or follow the 4km walking track to Pearl Beach.
Patonga Camping Area, Patonga - Credit: Patonga Camping Area
Newnes Campground
Where: Lithgow
Distance from Sydney: 186km (2hr 45min)
Facilities: Toilets, barbecues
Accessible: No
The 10km walk to Newnes Campground means this sublime slice of nature is best for self-sufficient campers. Pick a spot on the grassy expanse below towering sandstone cliffs and cool off in the shallow currents of the Wolgan River before setting up camp. Follow one of the many walking trails leading to dramatic lookouts or explore the tracks and tunnels of the nearby historic shale oil ruins.
Newnes Campground, Wollemi National Park - Credit: Stephen Alton | DPEI
Coolendel Camp
Where: Shoalhaven River
Distance from Sydney: 200km (2hr 50min)
Facilities: Toilets, hot showers, drinking water, camp kitchen, barbecues, public phone
Accessible: Yes; contact operator for more information
Coolendel Camp is a 53-hectare nature reserve on the banks of the Shoalhaven River in Morton National Park. There are 10 different camping areas, with space for tents and caravans, plus cabins and glamping tents. Quiet sections of the river are perfect for swimming, kayaking and canoeing with kids, while the adventurous-at-heart will love the network of 4WD tracks. Walking and mountain biking trails wind through the remote reserve, and there’s a general store for necessities.
Coolendel Camp, Buangla - Credit: Coolendel Camp
Turon Gates Mountain Retreat
Where: Capertee
Distance from Sydney: 200km (3hr)
Facilities: Toilets, hot showers, drinking water, pet-friendly
Accessible: No
Turon Gates’ 2,428-hectare off-grid retreat in Capertee Valley has something to suit everyone, from outdoorsy types to those who appreciate luxury. Pitch a tent along the pristine Turon River or bed down in a stylish safari tent complete with air-conditioning and a coffee machine. There are pet-friendly accommodation options and an abundance of activities, including horse riding, mountain biking, swimming, gold panning and trout fishing.
Turon Gates Mountain Retreat, Capertee - Credit: Turon Gates Mountain Retreat
Broughton Island Campground
Where: Myall Lakes National Park
Distance from Sydney: 240km (3hr)
Facilities: Toilets
Accessible: No
With just five campsites, Broughton Island Campground will make you feel like you’ve got your own private island. Self-sufficient campers will be rewarded with a stay at the only place in NSW within an active seabird colony, so expect plenty of wedge-tailed shearwaters for neighbours. The turquoise ocean is ideal for swimming, snorkelling, scuba diving and fishing, or just relax on your own secluded strip of sand. Broughton Island is only accessible by boat – use your own or book a charter with a local operator.
Broughton Island campground in Myall Lakes National Parks, Hawks Nest - Credit: John Spencer/DCCEEW
Before booking your trip, visit nationalparks.nsw.go.au to stay up to date on news and closures.
