Campbell Town has a lovely camp called Blackburn Park Rest Area. Set next to the Elizabeth river with local tourist attraction “The Red Bridge”. It’s a short walk to town which is so handy in this historical town.
Campbell Town Camping
This camp is a huge grassed area that will fit many rigs of all sizes. Camping is for 48 hours and for self- contained vans. You do have to obtain a permit, which is free. I’ll add the details at the end of the post.
A couple of bins are here and when they get emptied all the ducks come running over from the river. They may also come and visit you if you have food. Over the bridge from the camp is a BBQ area and seating as well as a playground and wooden sculptures.
Wood Sculptures
BBQ & Playground
The Red Bridge is also here. Built in 1838 it’s the oldest surviving brick arch bridge in Australia.
Campbell Town
From your camp you can walk the five or so minutes to the main street. Apart from the bridge the other main tourist attraction is the convict brick trail. Park on ether side of the street and you will find a long row of red bricks. All have the names, age, crime, and how long they served. Back then steeling a handkerchief meant jail time. The main street has toilets as well as cafe’s, bakery, pub and other basic shops.
Convict Brick
Have A Drive
Ross – Just 10 minutes away is this lovely little town with more free tourist attractions. We visited here previously when camping at The Pondering Frog Cafe in Bechino. Ross, has a Female factory you can walk around as well as the Tasmanian Wool Center. We liked the red phone box where you can dial a number and listen to the stories of old residents.
It’s very easy to spend the 48 hours allowed here whether you are just relaxing by the river or checking out the town. Blackburn Park Rest Area in Campbell Town is one we would recommend.
Free Camps In Tasmania are still in abundance although we were told lots of free camps had closed. We stayed at 23 Free & Low Cost Camps Around Tasmania over three months. Power wasn’t an issue for us as we have a great solar and battery set so we can be off grid. With that in mind we didn’t need to plug into power for our whole stay.
Free Camps In Tasmania
Here’s our list of free, donation & low cost camps we stayed at around Tasmania. I have included the low cost camps as they are all under $13. We chose to stay in these camps, unhook the van and drive the ute to the surrounding areas. This way we weren’t towing the van everywhere.
Photo: All Our Camps In Tasmania
Each camp has a brief description and a photo or two. We have already written about each camp in full detail, including if they have Water, Showers, dump point, BBQ’s and are pet friendly etc. Also each full post has more photos information and google map location.
So, have a scroll through our list and “Click On The ORANGE Camp Name To Read The Full Post On That Particular Camp”
The Berry Patch at Turners Beach is less than 20 minutes west from the Spirit Of Tasmania (SOT). So good we stayed twice and as Larry likes to say “Berry Before you Ferry” as it’s so close. This camp has a fantastic cafe onsite and you can pick your own berries.
Sulphur Creek is one of our ocean side free camps in Tasmania. It’s just 30 minutes west of the SOT and just a hop skip and a jump from Penguin. Located by the ocean and a beautiful beach.
Tall Timbers RV Stop is one of the best free camps in Tasmania we stayed at. You camp in a large grassed area by a sweet river with ducks. Attached is the bistro, bar and bottle shop & much more. It’s in the north west a short drive from Stanley and the nut as well as the beautiful Trowutta Arch sink hole.
Farm On Franklin is only 28km from Devonport and located next to the Franklin Rivulet, a tidal estuary. A lovely quiet location near Port Sorell with kayaks, fishing, pigs and chooks.
This friendly and well located farm stay is located in Hagley, 70km south of Devonport. From here you can drive to Launceston, Deloraine, Liffiey Waterfall, Evendale, Elizabeth Town, Molle Creek, Ben Lomond National Park & Jacobs Ladder as well as the Belly Button Of Tasmania (the centre)
As the name suggests this fantastic camp is in the north east and is another one of the great free camps in Tasmania but it has a donation box should you wish to support it. This camp has everything except power and you can stay for 2 weeks. Walk to town, buy from the Amish stall or go for a drive to Bridport, The Little Blue lake or Musselroe Bay Back Beach.
90 km east of Launceston you will find another of our two week free camps in Tasmania. It has all your basics and is over the road from the pub and IGA
This huge camping area is in the north east of Tasmania is a short walk from the famous Pub In The Paddock. Bay of Fires and St Helens are a close drive away as is St Columbia Falls and beautiful rainforest walks.
White Sands Estate & Iron House Brewery is a must stay. It’s one of our top free camps in Tasmania. The camp is located by the Ocean and next to the great brewery. Have a drink, lunch or dinner, no uber needed.
Bicheno is the location of this large camp that is in driving distance to the Bicheno Blow hole and Wine Glass Bay. With a cafe on-site, goats and Alpaca this is a great camp and location.
Sorell RV Stopover has got to be the cheapest/closest camp to Hobart. Located 25 minutes north east of the city. You can stay up to two weeks and at $26 for 7 days why wouldn’t you.
If your wanting to check out the south east corner of Tasmania then this is a great place to base yourself. Have a drive to Franklin, Dover and Margate and to the end of the road. The last road you can go to on the south east of Tassie. Here you can then walk a 5 hr round trip to the end of Tasmania.
Willow Wood is a privately owned camp on the Lyell Highway in New Norfolk. This is in the south east of Tasmania. Located by the Derwent River this is a small but interesting property to camp at. This one has been opening and closing please check yourself to be sure.
Another one of our four camps heading west on the Lyell Highway. Located in walking distance to the pub, post office and cafe. You are camped next to a small river with ducks and platypus.
Camp next to this huge lake and do some boating and kayaking. Also on the Lyell Highway just 34km south east of Derwent Bridge. Free Camping in Tasmania can be so stunning!
Blackburn Park Rest Area is Campbell Towns lovely camp ground. Set next to the Elizabeth River and the famous Red Bridge. A short stroll into town to check out it’s history.
Oatlands has two camp spots in the same location. One is by Lake Dulvaston and the other is larger for you to spread out. The camp is by the windmill and historic buildings you can walk around. Also a two minute walk and you are in the main street with IGA, bakery and super friendly locals.
Derwent Bridge is another on the Lyell Highway, 85km east of Queenstown. We camped here so we could see “The Wall In The Wilderness”. For those wondering, yes it’s amazing! Any size rig will fit here and the pub is a great place to warm yourself by the fire with a glass of wine or two.
Queenstown Football Club has a camp available. Located in the west coast region, it’s a great place to base yourself. Have a drive to other places on the west side such as Strahan and Zeehan. The camp is a short walk to town and to the steam train and a short drive to a couple of waterfalls.
Manuka Campground is the camp we stayed in at Arthur River in the north west. This is a huge camp with many different camps as you drive along the gravel roads taking you in. From here you can drive to “The Edge Of the World” and catch one of the Arthur River Cruises.
Photo: The First Large Camp You Come To
Is Tasmania Worth It?
Free Camps In Tasmania are in abundance and you don’t have to drive far to find one. Yes we stayed at donation and low cost camps but you don’t have to. Tasmania is everything and more people say it is.
Catching the Spirit of Tasmania can be pricey but … When you take in to account the amount of free camps, the short distance between them as well as all the free beautiful walks, waterfalls etc. Tasmania is a state worth visiting.
Photo: Area We Covered With Our Camps – Around 10,000km of driving
Remember, Staying in free and low cost camps means we can all share our $$$ around in these beautiful, friendly Tasmanian towns
What a great name, “Pondering Frog Cafe” and it’s a good place to sit and ponder where you will visit today. We stayed for a few days and got to see the Wineglass bay area, Campbell Town and Ross.
Camping At The Pondering Frog Cafe
As you drive in you will see the layout of the parking spaces on the board. Pick your spot and set yourself up. I headed into the cafe and spoke to the owner Lester who is a friendly and talkative bloke. If you want information on places to visit he’s your guy.
The camp is big enough for any size rig and you can use one of the water taps around the place as Gary the caretaker told us.
There are goats in the next paddock which was so nice to sit inside and out watching them.
Pondering Frog Cafe
This licensed cafe has everything. Loads of information on the surrounding areas, A Fire for winter, A lounge to relax on, and plenty of meal options. I had the scallop pie (when your in Tassie etc etc) They are also known for their ice cream but we didn’t get to try it.
Out the side of the cafe is the playground and some more goats as well as a alpaca.
Have
A Drive
As Lester will tell you the Pondering Frog Cafe is a great place to base yourself at to see the surrounding areas.
Bicheno Blowhole
A great spot to see the blow hole and some more of those East Coast red rocks. If you don’t get to see bay of fires don’t worry just enjoy these.
Wineglass
Bay Area
Only 35 km away. We had a drive and checked out a couple of lookouts. One of which was the lighthouse looking out from Coles bay to Wineglass Bay. Also, sleepy bay walk with amazing boulders that seem to have the centre cut out.
Campbell Town
This town has some really interesting convict history at your feet. Bricks with the names of convicts and what they were sentenced for. 14 years for stealing a hanky WOW!
Ross
We found Ross a much quainter place and worth a visit. It has a lovely tree lined main street and picturesque church. Ross also has an old female factory with its history pictured on its walls. Your free to walk in and walk around.
Ross also has a beautiful historic bridge and a phone box which you can dial and listen to story’s of memory’s from local residents.
The Pondering Frog Cafe is handy as it’s on the main highway. If you’re heading down the East Coast you’re probably going to pass it anyway. Pop in for a look, lunch or a chat with Lester. Even better stop for a few nights and check out Wineglass Bay and the surrounds.
This is a list of all the Showgrounds, sports and recreation camps that we have visited/stayed on our travels. This is only a fraction of what is available around Australia. We cover our stops in 5 states, so far!
Some of these are free, some are a donation and some are low cost.
Kenilworth is a beautiful small country town in Sunshine Coast Hinterland. The showgrounds has over 200 sites which might account for the two dump points, two sets of toilets and showers. This one of the best showgrounds we have stayed at. It also boasts a swimming pool and skate park.
Whether you like the greens and browns of the Sunshine Coast Hinterland or the Blue’s and white sandy beaches of the coast this is Location, Location, Location.
Montville – 30 minutes
Eumundi markets – 30 minutes
Maleny – 40 minutes
Ginger factory & Nut factory – 40 minutes
Noosa & Hastings street – 50 minutes
Mooloolaba – 1 hour
Pets: Yes
Price : $20 power and water (2 people) – $15 un-powered
Water ? : Yes
Power ? : Yes
Will suit: All sized vehicles
Is it on Wikicamps ?: Yes
Drive time to nearby shops: WALK 1 minute
WIFI (tested with boost): Yes
Amenities : 2x shower and toilet blocks
Other : Loan a fire pit and buy wood, Skip bin, 2x dump points Swimming Pool, Skate Park, Shops at your door, Playground over the road, BBQ over the road, Close to the river, hinterland and beach drives
Fifty kilometres west of Bundaberg is Gin Gin and it’s large showground. A short walk to the main street with shops, pub’s and bakery’s.
Pets: Yes
Camp type : Showgrounds
Price : $20 power and water
Water ? : Yes
Power ? : Yes
Will suit: All sized vehicles
Is it on Wikicamps ?: Yes
Drive time to nearby shops: 1 minute to main street
WIFI (tested with boost): Yes
Amenities : Toilets, showers
Other :Laundry, dump point, camp kitchen, seating, BBQ, bins, near to shops. This is a great spot to spend a couple of days and visit Bundy and it’s factory’s.
You can find this beach side camp at Halliday Bay, 40 minutes north of Mackay, 1.5 hours South of Airlie Beach and only 10 minutes to Cape Hillsborough
The golf club has a large grassed area put aside for camping and it will fit any size van. You can hear the waves from your van as you sit having happy hour. The cost of this Golf Course Camp is $22 per night. No you don’t have power and water but you have a beach right there. You also have access to a bar and activities.
Beach with stinger netSea Views
Pets: Yes
Price: $22 Inc. One game of golf for one person per night paid for.
Water: Yes – You have to ask for it and pay for it separately.
Power: No
Will suit: All sized vehicles
Amenities: Toilet (take a torch at night)
Other: swimming at the beach, seating, volleyball, tennis, golf, dump point, self-contained only, Bar, Food, View
Jericho is in central west Queensland. This is a smaller yet busy showgrounds. At $60 for a week inc. power and water you can understand why. If you’re in a tent it’s only $5 a night, un-powered is $10pn and only $15pn for power and water. This is such good value, please use the yellow honesty box.
What a lovely spot to spend 72hrs. Payment is a donation, $6 or $12 for power and water. A small town with a big heart. Councillor Geoff (from the local Shire) come to see each of the vans parked up. He give us a map and some first hand information on Wagin and it’s surrounds. The showgrounds has a dump point on site and is close to some great attractions. This town loves us caravanner’s 🙂
Our top things to do:
1. Wagin Historical Village – a two minute walk away
2. Coffee at – Visual Effects Framing Gallery – also sells hand made items
3. Puntapin Rock – a great view but lots of flies
4. Giant Ram – One of Aussies many Big things
5. Old Well – A bit more history
Pets: Yes
Price: $6 Per-night or $12 Per-night with power and water
Water: Yes
Power: Yes
Will suit: All sized vehicles
Amenities: None
Other: Dump Point, close to nice town and things sight seeing.
Dumbleyung – Stubbs Park, Pavilion and Sportsground
We didn’t stay but had a look around camp site. It’s a huge area that has a dump point and is about 300 meters from the “ Grande Olde Dumbleyung In”. Close to Lake Dumbleyung and other pretty lakes. Donald Campbell broke the world water speed record here. A replica of his Bluebird K7 is on show in town.
Burra is a large showground in a interesting location. Check out the Goal and Mine site. For a bit of pop culture, see the old house down the road which was used on the cover of the famous Midnight Oil album, Diesel and Dust.
Pets: Yes
Price: $15pn powered or not
Water: Yes (only three taps)
Power: Yes
Will suit – All sized vehicles
Amenities: Toilets and a shower
Other: Some seating, Dump point, Knowledgeable caretaker
This camp site is a popular place, then for $7 you would expect it to be. Pop in to the club for a drink and some food. The club is near some salt flats and the town has a Coles, woollies, Big W, and many fast food store’s. About 30 minutes away is the small town of Quorn, well worth checking out for its links to the Ghan steam train.
Fits all size vans
Pets: yes
Price: $7
Water: Yes – some people using water by the dump point
Tallangatta has a nice feel, surrounded by hills, trees and Lake Hume. You can park around the sports oval and connect to power and water. Tallangatta is a great little town with an IGA, Library with free Wi-Fi. It also has coffee shops and Bakery, a couple of petrol stations and not forgetting the pub.
This is a 7 day donation camp, only a short drive to Bendigo. Parking is on a huge oval and has room for any van size. The toilets and BBQ area are close by. In addition to the playground and basketball hoop.
Sebastian Racecourse and Reserve
Pets: Yes
Price: donation
Water: Yes ( for container filling only)
Power: No
Will suit – All sized vehicles
15 minutes to Bendigo
Amenities : 24hr Toilet
Other : Electric BBQ, basket ball hoop, playgrounds
The showgrounds are large and clean. All the power and water points looked brand new on our stay. On three sides of the grounds are horses and on the fourth is a petrol station. A toilet/shower/laundry block is available. The caretaker arrived later in the day to collect the $20. Have a walk over the bridge in to town.
This camp is in a great location and is surrounded by greenery and trees. 112 km west of Coffs Harbour and 79 km east of Armidale. This grassy camp has 2 long drop toilets and few undercover benches to sit at. Take your own dunny paper! It’s just off the main road so no going out of your way. There is a walking track from here if you want to take in the surrounds.
Cassilis is a quiet, friendly little town. The club has parking for many vans of all sizes. Have dinner and a drink at the club or grab a take away pizza.
Pets:Yes
Price: $15 pn – Last year it was $50 a week this may have changed.
Water: Yes
Power: Yes
Will suit – All sized vehicles
Amenities: Toilet and showers
Other: Meals at the bowling club, Large flat areas
A brand new toilet and shower is by the BBQ area, as is a sink for doing your dishes if needed. For a small donation you can use the public swimming pool at the back of the club. A dump point is at the showgrounds basically on the same grounds as the Bowling Club, handy! The Showgrounds were $18 on our stay.
Pets: Yes
Price: $5pp for up to 72hrs
Water: Yes
Power: Yes
Will suit – All sized vehicles
Amenities: toilet, shower
Other: Meals, pokies, swimming pool, dump point, great town
Green grass and peace and quiet. What a lovely spot to spend 72hrs. The showgrounds has a dump point on site and is close to some great little attractions.
Payment is made by a hole in the wall $6 or $12 for power and water.
Wagin is a great stop if you’re heading towards Perth. A small town with a big heart. Also has a IGA, Foodworks, Laundry and other basic shops.
A friendly town, which you find out quickly. Counsillor Geoff (from the local Shire) come to see each of the vans parked up. He give us a map and some first hand information of Wagin and it’s surrounds.
How lovely of him to go out of his way to make sure we are informed about the local and surrounding areas.
Two hours from Perth
Two hours from Wave Rock
Two hours from Albany
My Top 5 things to do in Wagin
1. Wagin Historical Village
A one minute walk from the showgrounds is the historical village. This is also an information centre. $6 each got us a pamphlet with all the building descriptions and entry.
Some original buildings are:
The Orderly’s Cottage, built as a quarantine room in 1911. Transported to the site from Wagin hospital in 2011
The National Bank, used until 1981
Schoolhouse, which is my favorite
Other notables are:
Machinery shed, oldest tractor 1927
Post office
Mrs Stevens Cottage, replica of the 1880 cottage
Mia Mia or Wurley, temporary shelter for the local Nyoongars people.
What a lovely place to bring back memories. Yes, even we remember some things 🙂
Wondowan Historical Village had a similar feel to it and you could camp right in the village. Wagin is much larger and established looking village.
2. Coffee at – Visual Effects Framing Gallery
The best cafe in Wagin is hidden away on a side street, next to the old Cinema. We accidently stumbled upon it while driving by.
It has Bright bags and materials hanging around a beautiful tree in a courtyard.
Picture frames hang in the branches and they have nooks and cranies to sit in with your coffee. The more you sit the more you see.
This was once a framing studio but they now also sell coffee from there little red coffee cart. The beautiful bags and throw’s hanging around add a modern bohemian look.
The owner is welcoming and friendly, making you feel right at home. I’m not sure why this little place isn’t on the Wagin map of things to do in the area. It was almost my No.1 😀
3. Puntapin Rock
The rock is four Kilometers out of Wagin and spans 60 acres. We climbed the rock to see the almost 360 degree view. The gentle sloped rock to the top is not a bad walk
Puntapin Rock
It’s not a good idea to climb without being totally covered in Bushmans or wearing a bee keeping suit. The flies were so bad it sounded like I had a swarm of bees flying around me.
Both Larry’s and my arms were aching by the time we got back down. Swatting flies consistently for so long, stopping for a photo was a chore. Without the flies, a lovely view 🙂
4. Wagin – Giant Ram
About a minute drive out of the showgrounds is “Baart” the ram. After visiting the Giant Sheep at Goulburn the Giant Ram was not so big. But it’s big and a photo had to be taken 😉 Built in 1985 by the Wagin residents.
It’s in a lovely little area called Ram park. The Park has a BBQ picnic area and playground.
5. Wagin – Old Well
A minute in the other direction is the old well. Wagin had this for its main water source before later getting it from the base of the Puntapin Rock.
You can park off the road and walk over a little bridge. The well is a nice little piece of history.
Over the road from the well is some art sculptures worth a look also 😉
Added Bonus
The Trotts
How lucky that we just happened to be here for the Wagin trotts. No, I’m not talking about using the dump point more 😉
Having watched a couple of races I decided I would have a bet. Asking the lady behind the counter how I do it.
I picked my number and gave her my $2. Our horse/jockey came first 😀 so I claimed my $12 before we walked the 1 min back to the van.
Blubird K7
We had a 20 minute drive from Wagin to Dumbleyung to see the bluebird K7 replica.
Donald Campbell broke the world water speed in the original on Dumbleyung Lake. It’s a nice little town with another 72hr camp at their showgrounds.
Wagin and the showgrounds is a place I highly recommend. Whether your here for a night or more.
If you like staying at showground, sports and recreation grounds you might like our post on the ones we have stayed at. Updated each time we stay at one. With over 17 in 5 states at this time.You can read them all in one place here
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