Boar Gully Campground

Boar Gully Campground is a small, secluded camp in Brisbane Ranges National Park, tucked into the dry forest country between Melbourne and Geelong. It's the trailhead for the three-day Burchell Trail and the easiest way to spend a night under the stars within 90 minutes of the Melbourne CBD. Just seven sites, basic facilities, no power, and a setting that feels properly remote despite the short drive.

Getting there#

Location: Northern end of Brisbane Ranges National Park, accessed via Brisbane Ranges Road off the Geelong–Bacchus Marsh Road.

Drive options:

• From Melbourne CBD (~80 km, 1 hour 20 minutes) — Western Highway to Bacchus Marsh, then south on the Geelong–Bacchus Marsh Road, turning west onto Brisbane Ranges Road.
• From Geelong (~50 km, 50 minutes) — north on the Geelong–Bacchus Marsh Road, then onto Brisbane Ranges Road.
• From Ballarat (~75 km, 1 hour 15 minutes) — south through Lal Lal and Meredith.

The access road is generally suitable for 2WD vehicles in dry conditions. After heavy rain, sections become rough; check Parks Victoria for current road status before driving in.

Mobile reception is patchy throughout the park — download offline maps before you leave.

Sites and facilities#

Seven unpowered sites, each accommodating up to six people:

• Six tent-only sites
• One site suitable for a small camper trailer or short caravan

Check-in is from 2pm; check-out is before 11am.

On site:

• Non-flushing pit toilet
• Picnic table at each site
• Communal fireplaces (subject to seasonal fire bans)

Bring with you:

• All drinking and cooking water (no tap water on site)
• Firewood (collecting in the park is prohibited — purchase from licensed sellers in Bacchus Marsh or Anakie)
• Fuel stove as backup for total fire ban days
• Extra layers — the Brisbane Ranges sit at 200–400m and overnight temps can drop sharply year-round

Dogs are not permitted.

Nearest town and supplies#

• Bacchus Marsh (~25 km, 30 minutes) — full supermarkets (Coles, Woolworths, IGA), fuel, hardware, bottle shops. The right place to do a real shop.
• Anakie (~15 km, 20 minutes) — small village south of the park with a general store and pub. Useful for last-minute supplies.
• Geelong (~50 km, 50 minutes) — full supply town if you're approaching from the south.
• Ballan (~30 km, 35 minutes north) — country town with a supermarket and bakery if you're coming via the Western Freeway.

The pragmatic plan: buy everything in Bacchus Marsh or Geelong before you turn off into the park.

What to do at Boar Gully#

• Burchell Trail — the campground is the northern trailhead for the three-day, 35 km Burchell Trail through the heart of Brisbane Ranges National Park. Even a one-day section walk south to the Reids Road junction is rewarding.
• Spring wildflower walks — Brisbane Ranges has one of the highest concentrations of wildflowers in southern Victoria. September through November is peak.
• Wildlife viewing — eastern grey kangaroos, swamp wallabies, koalas, and a strong birdlife including powerful owls.
• Steiglitz historic township — about 30 minutes south, a former gold-rush settlement now part of Steiglitz Historic Park.
• Anakie Gorge walk — a popular short walk with rock scrambles and seasonal waterfalls, about 20 minutes south.

Best time to visit#

• Spring (September–November) is the headline season — wildflowers, mild temperatures, low fire risk, and the bush at its best.
• Autumn (March–May) is excellent for walking with stable weather and few crowds.
• Summer (December–February) runs hot and dry; total fire bans are common, restricting fires and sometimes camping.
• Winter (June–August) is quiet and frosty. Boar Gully sometimes closes briefly in heavy rain — check status before driving.

Camping fees#

Camping fees at Boar Gully fall under Parks Victoria's half-price camping subsidy — typically around $14 per site per night for unpowered camping (subject to seasonal pricing). A $7 Parks Victoria booking fee applies per reservation. No vehicle entry fee for Brisbane Ranges National Park.

Confirm current pricing on the Parks Victoria booking page when you book.

Can't get a booking?#

Boar Gully's seven-site cap means warm-weather weekends and Burchell Trail trip dates fill quickly. Cancellations happen, especially on weather-watch weekends.

Set up a free CampWatch alert and we'll text you the moment a Boar Gully site opens up. No app, no account — just your phone number.