The cold weather is coming and that means winter camping – yippee!!
Toasted marshmallows, swimming holes, gorgeous campgrounds, and the sound of nature – camping is the perfect way for your family to enjoy a getaway this winter. With plenty of places to pitch your tent, we’ve narrowed down our favourite places from beach camping near Brisbane to bush camping and free camping near Brisbane.
Most of these winter camping ideas are within 2 hours of Brisbane and not more than 3 hours from Brisbane. So they make the perfect school holiday activity in Queensland! Winter in Australia is quite mild in the norther regions, so pack up the tent and the kids and head on out!
Tamborine Mountain Caravan and Camping Park
Just over an hour’s drive south of Brisbane, Tamborine Mountain is the perfect place for the family to go camping. The campground is set amongst the trees in the northern valley of Tamborine Mountain and a spring fed creek with many swimming holes is within walking distance of the Tamborine Mountain Caravan and Camping Park. Open fires are permitted in the designated areas at each site, perfect to warm up those chilly winter nights.
The campsite is set on the property of Thunderbird Park which also offers horse riding, Adventure Parc, Laser Skirmish and Thunderegg mining. Just a short drive away you can find more Tamborine Mountain attractions like Gallery Walk, a Glow worm cave and Skywalk as well as art galleries, cafes, restaurants and wineries.
Tamborine Mountain Caravan and Camping Park not only offer regular campsites, but also have Deluxe Safari Tents available which are perfect for those chilly winter nights. The Family Tents sleep 4-5 and includes a double and bunk beds. It has a kitchen inside complete with a microwave and bar fridge, cooking and eating utensils, a gas barbeque and a table and chairs.
Bribie Island Caravan Park
Bribie Island Caravan Park is a beach camping destination for a family holiday, located just an hour from Brisbane and thirty minutes from the Sunshine Coast. The Park is just 200m from Woorim Beach, allowing the whole family to enjoy surfing, boating, fishing and beach driving along the coastline.
The camping spot is well facilitated with a
- camp kitchen containing 7 Gas barbeques,
- a communal fridge,
- microwave,
- kettle,
- toaster and
- oven.
There’s a laundromat and clothes lines, three amenities blocks and Wi-Fi is available.
Recreational facilities include:
- a swimming pool with UV shade,
- a playground and
- mini golf as well as
- a half size tennis court,
- basketball and cricket pitch.
There is also a games room and a TV for the kids to keep occupied. For those not wanting to camp, there’s suites, villas and cabins on site which include bedding, cooking facilities and parking.
Big4 Tweed Billabong Holiday Park
Located in Tweed Heads on the north coast of New South Wales just metres from the Queensland border is Big4 Tweed Billabong Holiday Park. It is one of Australia’s premier holiday park water playground packing in loads of fun for the whole family. There’s water slides, swimming pools, a billabong and a toddler play area for the little ones. They have cabin accommodation that sleeps anywhere between 2-6 people or you can choose a caravan or camping site. The Holiday Park is close to Gold Coast theme parks, beaches and shops and there are plenty of kids activities and things to do on site. Read our review here.
Lake Somerset Holiday Park
Approximately one and a half hours north west of Brisbane, Lake Somerset Holiday Park is located on the shores of the Somerset Dam. The camp’s waterfront location makes it ideal for water sports, fishing, walking or just taking in the gorgeous scenery. The Holiday Park has free Wi-Fi hotspots, a playground and mini golf, as well as a volleyball net and basketball court. They have a range of accommodation options to suit all budgets, starting from powered and unpowered tent sites, safari tents, log cabins and a lakeview villa.
Binna Burra Lodge
Located at Lamington National Park amongst the panoramic views of the Numinbah Valley and coastal plains, Binna Burra Lodge is approximately an hour and a half south of Brisbane. You can choose to pitch your own tent, bring a campervan or hire a Safari Tent. Each tent and drive-on site has its own designated fire-pit which will come in handy during those chilly winter evenings. Safari Tents are a comfortable way of camping without the stress of pitching your own tent and super secure for winter camping. Each Safari Tent houses pine beds and mattresses, vinyl floors, a fire pit, table and chairs and a private veranda with rainforest views.
A number of activities for kids are held at the campsite including bushwalks and archery and there’s even a flying fox to enjoy. In the evenings Binna Burra lodge host campfire nights complete with marshmallows and spotlight walks to discover the nocturnal animals that live within the campsite. They also have a ropes course that the whole family can participate in and abseiling for the ultimate thrill-seeking experience. Read more here
Fancy a night in the Binna Burra Lodge? Check out their availability and pricing here.
Flanagan’s Reserve Camping Ground
Flanagan’s Reserve Camping Ground is a dog friendly, family friendly 12 hectare camping ground. Flanagan’s Reserve is located approximately 11 km past Rathdowney (44 km from Beaudesert) and is easily accessed by gravel road (4WD not required) off the main road. Read more about this winter camping spot here.
Camping at Stradbroke Island
Stradbroke has a number of great family camping options to choose from and Inskip Point Camping is definitely up there with the best of them! Find out more about them here.
Our favourite 3 winter camping Northern Rivers NSW spots:
- Greenhills Caravan Park
- Mt Burrell Caravan Park
- Mt Warning Holiday Park
If you are looking for ideas for camping Northern Rivers NSW , we’ve got you covered with this great overview of our favourite 3 camping locations Greenhills Caravan Park, Mt Burrell Caravan Park, Mt Warning Holiday Park! Read about all three right here.
What to consider when choosing winter sleeping bags
Rather than purchasing cheap sleeping bags, use normal bedroom linen; a single sheet with doona or blanket works wonderfully. Look at purchasing sleeping bags at a later date; they make wonderful birthday and Christmas gifts.
- Sleeping bags can be bulky; if you need to conserve space, opt for more expensive sleeping bags that ‘crush’ down small. These bags are usually suitable for winter camping.
- Seasons. If you plan to do a mix of seasonal camping, save yourself money and space by purchasing a sleeping bag that is suitable for summer and winter camping. It’s much easier to unzip a sleeping bag, than trying to warm up in a sleeping bag that isn’t keeping the heat in. Look for something with 0 to -5 degrees rating. The few extra dollars are worth it as winter camping nights can get chilly! We love these ones pictured above – definitely cope with the cold!
Pack up your bags and pitch your tent ready to take the family to one of the top 5 winter camping spots near Brisbane. Whether you choose to go beach camping near Brisbane, bush camping or free camping near Brisbane – the whole family are bound to enjoy the adventure!
Need a sturdy backpack? Check out the best travel backpacks for women to take on your next camping adventure!
Want one more cheeky extra camping spot? Try Cobb and Co on the Sunshine Coast!
