Camping near Melbourne is better than most people realise. Rainforest campgrounds along the Great Ocean Road. Beach camping on the Mornington Peninsula. Alpine lakes surrounded by snow gums. And Parks Victoria's bookable campgrounds are currently discounted under the Victorian Government's two-year half-price camping program that began on 1 July 2025.
There are a couple of important changes to know in 2026. Some Great Ocean Road campgrounds moved from Parks Victoria to the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority (GORCAPA) booking system on 1 July 2026, and several mountain campgrounds have seasonal winter access.
We've picked 10 campgrounds within roughly 3 hours of Melbourne's CBD, grouped by distance so you can match the drive to how much time you've got. Always check the linked land-manager page before departure because access, fire rules and booking arrangements can change.
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Camping fees | Half-price at Parks Victoria bookable campgrounds under the current two-year program; other managers set their own live prices |
| Booking | Parks Victoria, GORCAPA, or first-come depending on the site |
| Best season | Usually spring to autumn; check alpine and seasonal closures |
| Free options | Several bush campgrounds have no camping fee |
| Peak periods | Christmas, Easter, and school holidays book out fast |
Half-price camping in Victoria#
The Victorian Government reintroduced half-price camping at Parks Victoria bookable campgrounds from 1 July 2025 for two years. The discount applies to eligible Parks Victoria bookings, but not every campground in Victoria is managed through the same booking system.
From 1 July 2026, several Great Ocean Road campgrounds — including Johanna Beach and Blanket Bay — moved to GORCAPA's booking system. Check the live page for the exact campground rather than assuming the Parks Victoria price or booking process applies.
For Parks Victoria sites, use the Parks Victoria booking information and booking release schedule. For Great Ocean Road sites, use the campground's current GORCAPA page.
Within 1.5 hours of Melbourne#
1. The Gums Campground, Kinglake National Park#
Drive: ~1 hour from Melbourne CBD Facilities: Toilets, picnic facilities and designated fireplaces; check current facility notices Fee: Check Parks Victoria Best for: A close bush escape when the campground is open
The Gums is in Kinglake National Park, not Lerderderg State Park. It has 15 campsites in tall forest beside Island Creek.
The campground closes during the Victorian third school term. In 2026, Term 3 runs from 13 July to 18 September, so The Gums is currently closed during this period. Check the Parks Victoria campground page and current park changes before travelling rather than assuming reopening solely from the school-term date.
2. Lerderderg Campground, Lerderderg State Park#
Drive: ~1 hour from Melbourne CBD Facilities: Toilets and fireplaces Fee: Free Best for: Simple drive-in bush camping close to Melbourne
Lerderderg Campground is the main designated 2WD drive-in campground in Lerderderg State Park. Camping is free and no booking is required, so sites are first-come-first-served.
Bring your own drinking water and check current road and fire conditions before heading in. Dogs are allowed on lead at this campground.
3. Mornington Peninsula foreshore camping#
Drive: ~1.5 hours from Melbourne CBD Facilities: Powered and unpowered sites, toilets, showers, playgrounds at various foreshore reserves Fee: Varies by foreshore Best for: Families wanting beach camping close to the city
The Mornington Peninsula has several foreshore campgrounds stretching from Rosebud to Rye. These are not Parks Victoria national-park campgrounds, so they set their own prices and booking rules.
Book well ahead for summer. Foreshore campgrounds can fill months in advance over Christmas and school holidays.
Within 2–3 hours of Melbourne#
4. Johanna Beach Campground, Great Otway National Park#
Drive: ~3 hours from Melbourne by the inland route Facilities: 25 unpowered sites, toilets, no showers Fee: Fees apply; check the live GORCAPA booking page Best for: Wild beach camping on the Great Ocean Road
Johanna Beach sits on a grassy headland behind a dramatic, unpatrolled beach. As of 1 July 2026, camping bookings are managed by the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority rather than the Parks Victoria booking system.
Bookings and payment are required year-round. Solid-fuel fires are not permitted at the campground. Check GORCAPA's Johanna Beach page for current booking and access information.
Warning: The beach is unpatrolled and can have strong rips. Follow current beach-safety advice.
5. Lake Catani Campground, Mount Buffalo National Park#
Drive: ~3 hours from Melbourne Facilities: Full facilities during the normal camping season; reduced winter facilities Fee: Seasonal — check Parks Victoria Best for: Alpine camping when seasonal access permits
Lake Catani sits at about 1,300 metres elevation in Mount Buffalo National Park. Its normal bookable camping season runs through the warmer months, but winter is different.
Parks Victoria's 2026 winter walk-in period ended on 31 August. The campground is now closed for all camping from 31 August to 30 October 2026. Its seasonal guidance says Lake Catani Road normally remains closed to vehicles until mid-September and can stay closed longer if snow affects it, but the live page does not confirm that vehicle access resumed after 15 September. Do not infer reopening from the calendar; check the current notice before travel. The normal summer season begins around the start of November.
Follow current snow-chain and road signage for your vehicle. Check the Lake Catani campground page and current Mount Buffalo conditions immediately before travel.
6. Blanket Bay Campground, Great Otway National Park#
Drive: ~2.5–3 hours from Melbourne Facilities: Toilets and basic campground facilities Fee: Fees apply; check GORCAPA Best for: Secluded rainforest-meets-coast camping
Blanket Bay is tucked into coastal forest near Cape Otway. From 1 July 2026 its camping bookings are managed by GORCAPA rather than Parks Victoria.
Book through the current GORCAPA Blanket Bay page and check local access and fire conditions before travelling.
7. Cathedral Range State Park#
Drive: ~2 hours from Melbourne Facilities: Vary by campground Fee: Depends on the campground Best for: Hikers and adventure seekers
Cathedral Range has several camping options, but they do not all work the same way. Cooks Mill and Neds Gully require bookings, while The Farmyard is a free hike-in campground with no vehicle access and no facilities.
The Farmyard is therefore not the drive-in "main base" it is sometimes described as. During August 2026, Parks Victoria also has weekday daylight roadworks on Cerberus Road between Sugarloaf Saddle Carpark and Mount Margaret Road, with no vehicle access through that work section; current advice directs Sugarloaf Saddle access via Little River Road and the northern end of Cerberus Road. Choose your campground based on whether you want car access or a hike-in experience and check the Cathedral Range camping information and current conditions before leaving.
8. Tidal River, Wilsons Promontory National Park#
Drive: ~3 hours from Melbourne Facilities: Powered and unpowered sites, hot showers, flushing toilets, camp kitchen, general store Fee: Check Parks Victoria Best for: Beach, wildlife, bushwalks and full campground facilities
Tidal River is the main camping hub at Wilsons Promontory. Peak bookings are not allocated by ballot anymore. Parks Victoria releases future booking periods on scheduled release days, and high-demand releases can use an online Lobby or Virtual Waiting Room. Minimum stays can apply during peak periods.
Check the Parks Victoria booking release schedule and the Wilsons Prom camping page for the latest release and access information.
Our Wilsons Prom camping booking guide has more detail on current booking strategy.
9. Lake Eildon National Park#
Drive: ~2.5 hours from Melbourne Facilities: Vary by campground Fee: Varies by campground Best for: Lakeside camping, fishing, and water sports
Lake Eildon has multiple campgrounds with different booking, facility and dog rules. Coller Bay and Devils Cove are among the managed options. Check each campground's current Parks Victoria page rather than relying on a single park-wide price or booking rule.
10. Lightwood Creek Camping Area, Mornington Peninsula National Park#
Drive: ~1.5 hours from Melbourne Facilities: Very basic; hike-in campground Fee: Free Best for: A small walk-in national-park camping option close to Melbourne
Lightwood Creek is the public campground in Mornington Peninsula National Park. It is a walk-in campground with four sites, operates on a first-come-first-served basis, and has a maximum stay of two nights.
There is no drive-in campground at Gunnamatta Ocean Beach of the type previously described here. Check the Parks Victoria Lightwood Creek page before your trip.
Camping tips for Melbourne campers#
Book early for peak periods. Christmas, January, Easter, and long weekends are the busiest times. For Tidal River, use Parks Victoria's booking release schedule rather than looking for a ballot.
Check who manages the campground. Parks Victoria no longer handles bookings for several Great Ocean Road campgrounds that transferred to GORCAPA on 1 July 2026.
Bring your own water. Many bush campgrounds don't have drinking water. Check the individual campground page before relying on onsite supply.
Check for seasonal access. Alpine campgrounds such as Lake Catani change significantly in winter, and some campgrounds close entirely for part of the year.
Check fire restrictions. Victoria has strict fire regulations and campground-specific restrictions. Check both CFA and the land manager before lighting a fire.
Pack for changing weather. Conditions can shift quickly, especially in alpine and coastal areas. Bring layers and weather-appropriate shelter.
Free camping near Melbourne#
Free options include:
- Lerderderg Campground (Lerderderg State Park) — drive-in, no booking
- The Farmyard (Cathedral Range State Park) — hike-in, no facilities
- Lightwood Creek (Mornington Peninsula National Park) — hike-in, four sites, first-come
- Various state-forest campgrounds where the current land-manager rules permit camping
Do not assume a campground is free or first-come because it was in the past. Johanna Beach and Neds Gully, for example, require bookings under their current arrangements.
Start planning your next camping trip#
Melbourne campers have excellent beach, bush, mountain and lakeside camping within a few hours' drive. The main thing that has changed is that booking systems, seasonal access and management responsibility now vary more than a simple "Parks Victoria or free" split suggests.
Use the live land-manager page for the campground you want, then CampWatch can help you monitor supported campgrounds for cancellations when dates are sold out.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How much does camping cost in Victoria?
Parks Victoria's bookable campgrounds are currently half-price under the Victorian Government's two-year discount running from 1 July 2025. Exact prices vary by campground. Some Great Ocean Road campgrounds moved to the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority booking system from 1 July 2026, so always check the live booking page for the current fee.
Do I need to book campgrounds near Melbourne?
Many managed campgrounds require advance booking, while some free bush campgrounds are first-come-first-served. Parks Victoria and the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority now operate separate booking systems for some locations, so check the current campground page before travelling.
How does the Wilsons Promontory ballot work?
Tidal River no longer uses a peak-season ballot. Parks Victoria releases future booking periods on scheduled release days and may use an online lobby or virtual waiting room when demand is high. Peak periods can also have minimum-stay requirements.
Can I take my dog camping near Melbourne?
Dogs are not permitted in most Victorian national parks, with limited exceptions at specified locations. Some state forests, regional parks and coastal campgrounds allow dogs under site-specific rules. Check the current land-manager page before you go.
When is the best time for camping near Melbourne?
November to May offers the mildest camping conditions at many locations, but alpine and seasonal campgrounds can have very different opening dates. Always check current access before travelling.
Are campfires allowed?
Only where the campground allows them and current fire restrictions permit them. Total Fire Bans and park-specific restrictions can prohibit fires even where a fireplace is installed. Check Parks Victoria and CFA before use.