Last minute camping escapes
Every caravan park is full? Here’s where to go instead.
It’s December, school holidays are in full swing, and Australia’s most popular coastal caravan parks are booked out. But if you’re travelling with a hybrid caravan or offroad caravan, you’re not limited to powered sites or packed parks.
Australia is full of off-grid holiday destinations, quiet camping destinations, and legal free camp sites that are perfect for last-minute getaways. Here’s where to point your Maverick Camper when everyone else is fighting for a booking.
Head for Altitude: The High Country
When the coast is overflowing, heading for the mountains can be a game changer. The Victorian High Country offers cooler temperatures and an abundance of bush camps around places like Mount Buffalo National Park, King Valley, and the Dargo High Plains.
In New South Wales, the NSW Tablelands provide excellent last-minute camping options, particularly around Barrington Tops National Park and New England National Park. Further south, the Snowy Mountains region has popular off-grid locations such as Geehi Flats and Thredbo Diggings, both well suited to self-sufficient travellers.
These areas are ideal for offroad caravans, with gravel access roads, wide-open spaces, and fewer crowds than coastal hotspots.
Follow the River: Inland Escapes
If the beaches are packed, inland rivers are some of the best alternative holiday destinations in Australia. The Murray River is lined with free camp sites near Morgan (SA), Barmah Forest (VIC), and the river reserves around Mildura.
The Darling River also offers quiet camping opportunities near Bourke and Wilcannia, where you’ll often find large open reserves with plenty of space. In NSW, the Murrumbidgee River has popular free camping areas near Gundagai and Wagga Wagga Beach.
River camping is perfect for travellers with a hybrid caravan, offering peaceful settings, fishing opportunities, and room to spread out without bookings.
Farm Stays and Private Paddocks
Farm stays are one of the easiest ways to secure last-minute camping without the crowds. Using apps like Hipcamp or WikiCamps, you’ll find private paddocks and bush blocks throughout Australia.
Popular regions include the Scenic Rim in Queensland, with farm stays near Boonah and Kalbar, the Southern Highlands in NSW around Bowral and Berrima, and South Australia’s Barossa Valley, particularly near Angaston.
These quieter camping destinations are ideal for offroad caravan owners who enjoy privacy, open space, and off-grid camping with minimal restrictions.
Free Camp Sites Worth Knowing
Australia has thousands of legal free camp sites if you know where to look. State forests in NSW, such as Coolah Tops and the Wombeyan Caves area, offer bush camping suitable for self-contained vans.
In Queensland, areas like Imbil State Forest and nearby reserves provide excellent last-minute camping options. South Australia also has council-managed free camping spots, including reserves near Little Blue Lake in the Limestone Coast.
These free camp sites are ideal for travellers with solar, water storage, and off-grid capability — exactly what a Maverick hybrid or offroad caravan is built for.
The No-Go Zones (and Where to Go Instead)
Some destinations are best avoided during peak season. The Gold Coast and the Great Ocean Road can be extremely congested and difficult to enjoy without bookings.
Instead of the Gold Coast, consider the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, including Kenilworth and nearby bush camps. Skip the Great Ocean Road crowds and head inland to the Grampians National Park or the quieter parts of the Otways Hinterland.
These alternatives offer far more relaxed holiday destinations with easier access to free camp sites and off-grid camping.
Ready to Go Off-Grid?
Last-minute holidays don’t have to mean crowded parks or cancelled plans. With a hybrid caravan or offroad caravan, you can unlock Australia’s best camping destinations without relying on bookings.
Before you head off, make sure your solar, batteries, and systems are ready. Book a pre-trip power check or service with the Maverick Campers team and enjoy the freedom to travel wherever the road — or track — takes you.