17 Great National Parks for Camping near Brisbane [2025]

These amazing camping spots are on Indigenous Country. I acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of all these areas and their connection to land, sea and community. I pay my respects to their Elders past and present.

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It’s no secret that I love camping spots that are at least further than an hour away from home on the Sunshine Coast, and ideally are in a national park.

We’d never choose a caravan park as a destination unless it happens to be in/near a national park (e.g. at Cania Gorge) or if we need a convenient overnight stop (or simply a shower) on a road trip.

Christmas and Easter are among the most popular times for camping in (southeast) Queensland so planning ahead and pre-booking a site is key.

Campgrounds book out weeks and months in advance so it pays to plan ahead.

You may be able to snatch up a site at the last minute though. People do cancel so keep checking for available spots. You never know what might open up.

If you live in southeast Queensland, a great option is to go into northern NSW. Just remember that similar to Queensland, you need to pre-book your site in NSW.

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BEACH CAMPING OR MOUNTAINS?

We’ve done both: the relaxing camping weekend by the beach where we pretty much did nothing beyond look at the beach, maybe go for a surf, read a book, eat, sleep and repeat.

And we’ve spent long weekends at a national park that involved plenty of hiking and walking, and much less reading and doing nothing.

So if you’re after either type of camping destination in a national park, here are a few ideas for:

• Camping on/near the beach
• Camping and hiking

[Note: All distances / travel times given are from Brisbane.]

BEACH CAMPING

It goes without saying that camping on or near the beach is a pretty perfect combination in Queensland, or really anywhere in Australia.

For all the spots mentioned here, you’ll need a 4WD vehicle to access the camping areas or at least a very robust AWD that can cope with sandy conditions.

In addition to camping fees, you’ll also need to organise a 4WD vehicle access permit for some of these national park areas.

1. BRIBIE ISLAND NATIONAL PARK | ~80KM / 1.5HRS

Only a bit over an hour north of Brisbane, Bribie Island is understandably a popular camping destination.

You’ve got the ocean, sand 4WD-ing, lagoons, WW2 remnants, and generally a fairly relaxed vibe on the island. It’s not the kind of place I’d come back to again and again but if you haven’t been and want to relax, it’s not a bad spot to camp.

There’s camping along the beach (bring your own toilet) or within a clearly marked camping area that also offers toilets and cold showers.

2. GHEEBULUM KUNUNGAI (MORETON ISLAND) NATIONAL PARK | ~40KM (OFFSHORE)

Unlike Bribie Island, getting to Mulgumpin (Moreton Island) requires a ferry ride.

But once on the island, you’ve got ten different camping areas to choose from, all with beach frontage.

Campsite bookings need to be made through Mulgumpin Camping (managed by the Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation) now, including your 4WD permit for driving on the island.

3. RAINBOW BEACH, GREAT SANDY NATIONAL PARK | ~240KM / 2.75HRS

Rainbow Beach, just north of the Sunshine Coast, is one of the most popular holiday spots over the summer. At Easter or any long weekend, it also gets very busy with campers and day trippers.

If you just want to fish, read or do nothing much, it’s an ideal spot but it’s not isolated so don’t expect total peace and quiet over a long weekend. If you want to be a little bit active, you could explore the Carlo Sandblow (from the Rainbow Beach township end), take a walk up to the lighthouse at Double Island Point (4WD required), or run around the beach all day.

You can’t actually camp on or just behind Rainbow Beach but you can plonk your tent or caravan down at Inskip Point Recreation Area, Teewah Beach or Freshwater camping area. That’s about as close to camping at Rainbow Beach you’re going to get!

4. K’GARI (FRASER ISLAND), GREAT SANDY NATIONAL PARK | ~250KM / 3HRS (PLUS DRIVING ON THE ISLAND)

You won’t escape the crowds and noise if you’re camping on K’gari (Fraser Island) over a long weekend or the busy holiday periods.

But the white sands of K’gari, spots like Lake Mackenzie, translucent Wanggoolba Creek or the rather cool Maheno Shipwreck are hard to beat.

What you also have on Fraser is a myriad of options of camping areas, including some with toilets/showers, some without (e.g. behind the dunes), some inland, some close to the beach, some with ‘dingo fences’, some without.

Plus, there are a couple of commercial campgrounds that offer small convenience stores and full amenities.

5. BURRUM COAST NATIONAL PARK | ~350KM / 4HRS

This national park covers four different sections along the Burrum Coast but you can only camp at two of them: Kinkuna and at Burrum Point near the township of Woodgate.

If you’re completely self-sufficient, including a toilet, Kinkuna is a great option.

The camping area spreads out and you can find some nice spots within the dunes and scrubs. Just like at all the other beach camping areas, you will need a high-clearance 4WD to access it.

Burrum Point has toilet and cold shower facilities and you don’t actually need a 4WD unless you want to go driving on the beach near Woodgate. We’ve only come up here once and the campground was completely empty until two very quiet cyclists turned up on the second day.

There’s a few short walks at Burrum Point but none of them left a lasting impression. They’re more exercise than experience.

6. DEEPWATER NATIONAL PARK | ~470KM / 5.5HRS

A couple of hours north of Bundaberg, Deepwater National Park is a bit of a drive from Brisbane but it’s also one of our favourite beach camping getaways.

Wreck Rock camping area is just a short walk from the beach, there are cold showers here, and it’s somehow a really relaxing spot. The two camping areas tend to book out early, especially over long weekends and the busy Christmas period so plan ahead.

You’re not far from Agnes Water and 1770 so if you’re hankering after a ‘city outing’, it’s easily accomplished.

CAMPING AND HIKING

Apart from sand and beach, southeast Queensland and northern NSW also offer some fantastic hiking trails and camping within two hours from Brisbane.

On the downside though, because you’re so close to Brisbane, you won’t be alone so be prepared to share the campgrounds and tracks with plenty of people who had the same fabulous idea.

7. SPRINGBROOK NATIONAL PARK | ~110KM / 1.5HRS

Springbrook is one of the three amazing rainforest national parks in the Gold Coast hinterland. It’s also the only one where you can still camp in the national park for national park prices.

It’s a popular spot but as long as you come with the expectation that it’ll be busy, you’ll enjoy it.

Purlingbrook Falls are spectacular, especially after some rain, as are other walks (e.g. to Twin Falls). You’ve got lookouts, waterfalls, rock pools, rainforest, a glow worm cave at Natural Bridge…

Plenty to explore for a few days.

The campground is relatively small (10 sites only) so plan ahead, especially for busy times like long weekends or holiday periods.

8. LAMINGTON NATIONAL PARK | ~110KM / 1.5HRS (BINNA BURRA) | ~115KM / 2HRS (GREEN MOUNTAIN)

Right next to Springbrook (but a fair drive up and down the plateaus) is Lamington National Park.

Lamington has two separate sections: Binna Burra and Green Mountains, both offering camping and both are managed by commercial operators.

The camping area at Binna Burra is, unfortunately, nothing to shout about. It’s tucked away next to the road and has gotten nowhere near as much love as all the other accommodation options at Binna Burra.

Green Mountain (operated by O’Reilly’s) offers a much nicer camping area with potential views but little privacy for tent camping. There are far more sites (compared to Binna Burra) but be aware that there’s no camping for caravans (campervans, camper trailers and tent camping only).

We’ve actually found the safari tents to be the better option for camping at either section.

The walks, waterfalls and views around Lamington make up for the less than spectacular camping though.

Book early if you want come during busy periods.

9. MAIN RANGE NATIONAL PARK | ~120KM / 1.5HRS

Further south along the Scenic Rim is Main Range National Park. Main Range has four sections and plenty of walks that will keep you busy for at least two weekends away.

There’s a campground at Spicer’s Gap (apparently 2WD accessible but I wouldn’t trust that given the very rough condition of the unsealed road) that’s the best option if you want to hike at Cunningham’s Gap.

Even further south are two camping areas at the Goomburra section, where you’ll also find a few walks (though none of these are quite as spectacular as the ones at Cunningham’s Gap). You can easily access these campgrounds in a 2WD.

There’s no national park camping at the fourth section, Queen Mary Falls, but you can book a spot in the commercial caravan park.

10. BORDER RANGES NATIONAL PARK (NSW) | ~145KM / 2HRS

The Border Ranges are exactly that: They border the Scenic Rim between Queensland and New South Wales.

There are lookouts, a number of walking tracks through rainforest and ferns, and a scenic drive to do.

Since NSW Parks has introduced online bookings for their camping areas, make sure you book your spot before you come to the Border Ranges.

After a bit of a make-over, the larger campground, Sheepstation Creek, now offers 25 campsites while the smaller camping area Forest Tops only has three sites.

Also be aware that there’s a motor vehicle entry fee ($8 per day); it usually works out much better if you buy the annual pass.

11. GIRRAWEEN NATIONAL PARK | ~250KM / 3HRS

If boulders, rocky creeks and granite country are more your thing, Girraween National Park is paradise. Located southwest of Brisbane near Stanthorpe, Girraween is easily reached by 2WD.

If you only have a couple of days, you may end up speed hiking most of the trails. There are quite a few tracks to explore here. So far, Girraween remains one of our favourite camping and hiking destinations in southeast Queensland.

There are four sections with various walking tracks, two of which can be accessed from the camping areas.

The camping areas had a big make-over during the pandemic, resulting in two new camping areas and one of the old ones being closed.

And because of prolonged drought some years back, the showers are now DIY. Flush toilets and potable water remain available.

12. BALD ROCK NATIONAL PARK (NSW) | ~250KM / 3.25HRS

Instead of exploring Girraween, you could also head to Bald Rock National Park on the NSW side. It’s the same area, just across the border with slightly different scenery.

There are fewer walks at Bald Rock but the climb up Bald Rock is both exhilarating and achievable, and offers fabulous views all around. Sunset from up there is rather nice.

The campground is much smaller than its Girraween counterparts but just like Girraween, you need to pre-book. Keep in mind that the camping fees are higher at Bald Rock and there’s an additional motor vehicle entry fee to be paid.

13. SUNDOWN NATIONAL PARK (QLD) | ~300KM / 3.75HRS

About an hour west Girraween, is Sundown National Park.

With a few hiking trails to explore here, Sundown also offers peaceful camping along the Severn River. You’ve got the choice of several camping areas along waterholes with or without facilities.

If you only have a 2WD vehicle, you can easily reach The Broadwater camping area. But 4WDs are required for any of the other camps.

14. GIBRALTAR RANGE NATIONAL PARK (NSW) | ~410KM / 5HRS

Located in northern New South Wales, some 100km west of Grafton, are two national parks that are adjacent to each other: Gibraltar Range and Washpool.

Although a bit of a drive from southeast Queensland, these two national parks are definitely worth spending a few days here.

There are plenty of nice walks and a couple of waterfalls and cascades here.

You could camp at either national park but we loved staying at Mulligans Campground in Gibraltar Range because it’s so close to beautiful Little Dandarah creek.

All campgrounds need to be pre-booked but you do get toilets, and at Mulligans, there’s even flush toilets and showers.

You also need to pay a motor vehicle entry fee here.

15. CROWS NEST NATIONAL PARK | ~160KM / 2HRS

Crows Nest is a tiny, tiny national park north of Toowoomba.

The campground only has 13 sites, reflecting the general size of the national park.

The camping area isn’t on my list of favourite campgrounds ever. It’s set up in a circle with central views of the toilet block – but it’s full of kookaburras and who can say no to those beautiful birds!

There are a couple of short walks to rock pools (check water levels first, if stagnant, don’t swim) and not much else to do. That’s kind of the charm though as it means plenty of time for relaxing.

16. BUNYA MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK | ~240KM / 3HRS

The Bunya Mountains are a plateau that offers fabulous views (and sunsets) out west.

We spent Easter here some years ago and have returned at other times. While the campgrounds are often busy, the tracks never feel too crowded, especially those on the western side.

Aside from the sprawling views into the flatlands and a couple of (very small) waterfalls, one of the highlights here is no doubt the abundance of wallabies that roam the campgrounds and adjacent areas. If you don’t want to camp, there are also plenty of cottages and B&B’s.

17. D’AGUILAR NATIONAL PARK | ~35-75KM / 0.5-1.5HRS

D’Aguilar National Park is possibly one of the closest national parks to Brisbane.

There are two main sections with the park, North D’Aguilar and South D’Aguilar, but the camping areas are all in the northern part.

Not surprisingly, it can get busy here so if you can, come during the week. There is plenty to explore, from historic remnants, walking trails and lookouts to 4WD scenic drives.

Happy camping,

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LOCATION MAP OF THE NATIONAL PARKS

MORE INFORMATION

• Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service (QPWS) Booking Service: To check availability of sites in all Queensland national parks and to make a booking
• NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service – Camping: To check prices and pre-book your camping spot
• List of all NSW national parks with motor vehicle entry fees

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