Best Campsites in Australia: The 2026 Hipcamp Award Winners

The winners are chosen from a year of real trips, not a panel’s opinion. Hipcamp looked at bookings, ratings and reviews from the 12 months to August 2026, across more than 500,000 campsites in Australia, the US, Canada and the UK.

Here’s what a campsite had to clear to be in the running:

• Enough real stays. At least 10 bookings, 10 different campers and 10 ratings in the year.
• Happy campers. 90% of guests recommending it, and 90% saying the trip met or beat their expectations.
• Fair comparisons. Small properties were compared with other small properties, so a five-site farm isn’t judged against a big campground.
• What people wrote. More than half the final score came from the reviews themselves, including how often guests said they’d come back.

Hipcamp’s own team then chose the winners from the shortlist. Around 4,600 campgrounds worldwide made it through the first round of checks, so every name below has earned its spot.

The awards are split into Best in State plus six categories: tent camping, caravan (RV), glamping, farmstay, Legacy (long-standing favourites) and Newcomer (rising stars). For a campervan trip, the state lists and the caravan category are where you’ll want to start.

The NSW winners run from the Hunter up through the Northern Rivers, with a couple on the South Coast. River camps are the common thread here.

Willowbank, Stroud Road

Big grassy sites on the Karuah River, spaced well apart, with cattle and horses in the next paddock. Swim the rapids by day and keep an eye out for platypus at dusk. It also made the caravan shortlist, so it’s a strong pick for a campervan. From AU$38/night. View on Hipcamp

Our Kindred Acres, Bombah Point

Shady, private sites near the Myall Lakes, some looking over a dam covered in lilies, with a walking track down to the Myall River. There’s an open-air shower and a quirky shared kitchen, plus resident chooks and a dog called Ruby. Another caravan category winner. From AU$50/night. View on Hipcamp

The Blue Lagoon, Upper Orara

A spring-fed lagoon runs clear blue past this private paddock camp inland from Coffs Harbour. Kayaks, SUPs and a rope swing are on hand, and there’s a stone hot tub looking over the water. It sits at the top end on price, so save it for a special night. From AU$160/night. View on Hipcamp

More NSW winners: Misty Mountain (Kunghur), Fern Valley Ranch (Somersby), Byron Myocum Farm (Myocum), Mogo Creek Homestead (Mogo), “Mindoo” (Tenterfield), Yarrawin Camping (Argents Hill), Wombat Hollow (Budgong), Bundilla River Camp (Ballengarra) and Trickling Waters Retreat (Commissioners Creek).

Queensland’s winners cluster around the Sunshine Coast hinterland and the Mary River, which makes them easy to string together on a Brisbane to Noosa loop. All three featured spots start under AU$35 a night.

Hopevale Adventure Camping, Widgee

A property ringed by mountains near Gympie, with creekside sites, a swimming dam (diving board included) and wallabies grazing alongside the cattle and horses. There are caves to hike to and a waterhole for fishing. From AU$18/night. View on Hipcamp

Hidden Pocket on the Mary, Moy Pocket

Sites spread along the banks of the Mary River, each with a fire pit and mown grass running down to clear water you can swim in. Kayaks and tubes are free to borrow. It also took a Legacy award, which tells you how many people keep coming back. From AU$25/night. View on Hipcamp

Kenilworth Rural Camping, Kenilworth

Just five large, private sites under mature trees, a short stroll from the Kenilworth pub and bakery. Bigger vehicles fit easily, and the Mary River is close by for a swim. It won in the caravan category too, so it’s ideal for a motorhome. From AU$32/night. View on Hipcamp

More Queensland winners: Hold It Flats (Yalboroo), Riverdell Country (Bald Knob), Sarabah Creek Camping (Sarabah), Yabba Creek Farm (Imbil), Christmas Creek Bush Retreat (Lamington), Buddai Camp (Christmas Creek), Wynola Country Cousins (Killarney), Blue Gums River Retreat (Antigua) and Ilbilbie Station Farm Stay (Ilbilbie).

Victoria’s winners are spread wide, from the Grampians to Gippsland to the upper Murray. Pick one as a base and you’ve got a region to explore in every direction.

Wannon River Farm, Hamilton

A working sheep farm in the southern Grampians foothills, with seven mown sites spread across open paddocks and views to Mt Abrupt. Expect kookaburras and lambs as your alarm clock. It’s a caravan category winner as well, and a handy base for the Grampians. From AU$24/night. View on Hipcamp

Bruthen Creek Pastoral Farmstay, Woodside North

In Gippsland, paddocks slope down to a creek and lake, and kangaroos, emus and cows wander close to your private site. There’s a waterhole for cooling off and a farm track the kids can ride bikes along until dark. From AU$35/night. View on Hipcamp

Bimbimbi River Camp, Tintaldra

Private sites along the upper Murray, fenced off from the grazing cattle, with swimming holes at every bend. Bring a rod for Murray cod at sunset, or a kayak for the river. Facilities are simple (a composting toilet and firewood), so a self-contained campervan is the way to go here. From AU$17/night. View on Hipcamp

More Victoria winners: Penzance Bushland Retreat (Durham Lead), Riverside King Valley (King Valley), Galea Ranch (Taggerty), Rodborough Vale (Majorca), Glenmaye Farm (Balmattum), Hazelnut Valley Farm Stay (Caringal), Willowood (Markwood), Strath Creek Station (Strath Creek) and Nillawarre Farm Stay (Samaria).

Tassie is made for a campervan, and its winners prove it. Rivers, farm animals and very reasonable prices, with all three featured spots starting at AU$20 a night or less. Pack layers: the weather here can turn quickly, even in summer.

Inglis River Caravan and Camping, Wynyard

A family-run property on the Inglis River near Wynyard, where each group gets its own grassy site, fire pit and stretch of river. There’s a rope swing into the water, fishing from the bank, and goats and ducks to feed. From AU$10/night. View on Hipcamp

Dragon River Campground & Sauna, Branxholm

Secluded sites on the Ringarooma River in the northeast, with free firewood and a good chance of seeing platypus, echidnas and wallabies early in the morning. Book a session in the sauna and cold plunge, then walk into town for a pie. From AU$20/night. View on Hipcamp

Arion Park, Yolla

A northwest farm where Clydesdales and goats roam, with paddock sites climbing towards views over the valley. The hosts are happy to walk you out among the horses, and you might leave with a carton of farm eggs. From AU$20/night. View on Hipcamp

More Tasmania winners: Ladybug Camping (Oldina), Derby Frasers Flats (Scottsdale), Woodleigh (Adventure Bay), Limestone Valley (Mole Creek), Hill Top Farm Meander (Deloraine), Base Camp Tasmania (Glenfern), Prossers Ridge (Richmond), Mountain River Retreat (Huonville) and Bohemian Beach Retreat (Falmouth).

South Australia’s winners are working farms in wine and walking country, many of them close to the Heysen Trail. They’re easy on the budget too, with one starting at AU$10 a night.

Alma’s Hem Amphitheatre Retreat, Inman Valley

Roomy sites across Fleurieu Peninsula farmland, with dams, big night skies and kangaroos moving through at dusk. Clean toilets and an outdoor kitchen sit close by, and the Heysen Trail starts just past the boundary. A good one for families. From AU$30/night. View on Hipcamp

Edgehill Farm Stays, Riverton

A sheep farm in rolling hills between the Barossa and Clare Valley, with a restored shepherd’s hut on the property. Walk a section of the Heysen Trail, then join the hosts for a sunset drink overlooking the valley. From AU$20/night. View on Hipcamp

Perkender, Rockleigh

A quiet paddock east of Adelaide with sheep and lambs next door, a fire pit and a table set up and waiting. Simple, peaceful and a great stop on the way to or from Adelaide. From AU$10/night. View on Hipcamp

More South Australia winners: Hay Valley Farm (Hay Valley), Heggies Hill Bush Camp (Tarcowie), Cartapo Creek (Hallett), Humble Farm (Mount Pleasant), Woodland Scrub (Bowhill), Breakaway Farmstay (Waitpinga), Stone’s Summertown Cherry Farm (Summertown), Six Strings McLaren Vale Vineyard (Aldinga) and Noorla Farm (Mcharg Creek).

WA’s winners lean south, through the farms and karri forests between Perth and Pemberton. If you’re picking up a campervan in Perth, every featured spot below fits easily into a South West loop.

Bolinda Vale Farm, Keysbrook

About an hour south of Perth, this farm has sites in named gullies beside a running creek, with sheep, cows and the occasional curious goat wandering past. Collect fresh eggs and fall asleep to the sound of water. A good first or last night near the city. From AU$22/night. View on Hipcamp

Highway Hideaway, Manjimup

Spacious sites shaded by jarrah and karri above a dam, with a nature trail looping the property. Kids can borrow bikes and use the swing, and the host family often shares veggies from their garden. From AU$30/night. View on Hipcamp

Callcup Farm, Pemberton

A working farm on the Warren River, reached by a dirt track through old-growth karri. Camp by the river, fish, and watch kangaroos and emus graze at dawn. Check your hire terms for unsealed roads before you go (more on that below). From AU$44/night. View on Hipcamp

More WA winners: Jarvis Estate Winery & Camping (Bramley, Margaret River), Evergreen Bush Stayz (Bindoon), Peaceful Valley Farm (Jelcobine), Fish, Fibre & Forage Farm (Tammin), Moorcraft House (Robinson), Qualin Farm (Karranadgin), Rosa Glen Farm (Margaret River), Jinjarra Homestead (Gidgegannup) and Lakeside at Running Gully (Upper Warren).

Almost every NT winner sits within easy reach of Darwin, which makes them perfect for the first or last nights of a Top End trip. Plan your visit for the dry season (roughly May to October), when the nights are cool enough for a campfire.

Anniversary Ridge Wilderness Park, Robin Falls

A bush camp near Robin Falls, south of Darwin, with a creek running through and shaded, well-spaced sites. Swim in the clear water, collect wood for your fire, and head up to the ridge lookout for sunset. It also won in the tent camping category. From AU$40/night. View on Hipcamp

Middle Camp & Stay, Berry Springs

Only four private, grassy sites in bushland outside Darwin, each with its own outdoor shower, fire pit, power and water. The Berry Springs swimming area is about five minutes up the road. Powered sites make this an easy one for a campervan. From AU$34/night. View on Hipcamp

Hokey’s Camp Site, Wagait Beach

A fenced bush block near Wagait Beach with power, water, fire pits, firewood and a clean bathroom. Walk to the jetty to fish or down to the beach for sunset, while the kids ride bikes safely around camp. From AU$60/night. View on Hipcamp

More NT winners: The Urban Retreat (Darwin), Top Camp (Humpty Doo), Ellengowan Retreat (Dundee Downs), Parson Springs (Berry Springs), Mambo Lodge (Howard Springs), Hillier Hideaway (Howard Springs), Middle Camp & Stay Dundee (Dundee Beach), Gilluley Acres (Noonamah) and Swag Inn (Ross, near Alice Springs).

If you’re travelling in a campervan or motorhome, start with Hipcamp’s caravan (RV) category. To win it, guests had to specifically praise the hookups and facilities for vehicles, so these are the spots where a van fits in without any fuss.

Other caravan category winners include Willowbank and Our Kindred Acres in NSW and Wannon River Farm in Victoria, all covered above.

A few more category winners worth the detour

• Comely Banks Ocean View, Warrnambool, VIC (from AU$24). A Newcomer winner with sites right on the beach, rock pools and sunsets over the water. An easy add-on to a Great Ocean Road trip.
• Nillawarre Farm Stay, Samaria, VIC (from AU$17). A Legacy winner near Benalla where families come back year after year. Kids can feed lambs and catch yabbies.
• Riverdell Country, Bald Knob, QLD (from AU$65). A farmstay winner on the Sunshine Coast hinterland, with valley views and steaks from the host’s own beef.
• Nine Mountains Glamping, Rocksberg, QLD (from AU$265). If you fancy a night out of the van, this glamping winner has bell tents with outdoor baths facing the Glass House Mountains.

Hipcamp sites are on private land, so every one runs a little differently. A few quick checks before you book will make sure your van and the site are a good match.

• Check the site suits your vehicle. Each listing says whether it takes tents, campervans, caravans or RVs. If you’ve got a larger motorhome, look for mentions of big rigs or level sites.
• Read the access notes. Some farms sit at the end of a dirt road. Many hire companies have rules about unsealed roads, so check your rental terms first. If you’re booking with us, we can tell you exactly what your van is allowed to do.
• Powered or unpowered? Plenty of these spots are off-grid. A campervan with its own toilet, shower and water tank gives you far more choice of sites.
• Book early for school holidays. Many winners have only four or five sites, so they fill quickly in peak periods.
• Plan for no signal. Some of the best riverside spots have little or no phone reception. Download maps and check-in instructions before you lose coverage.
• Check fire rules on the day. Fire pits are part of the fun, but total fire bans override everything. The host will know the local rules.
• Leave gates as you find them. You’re a guest on a working farm, so give the animals and machinery plenty of room.

For the rest of your setup, our campervan packing list covers everything from camp chairs to the bits people usually forget.

You’ve got the campsites. Now you need the van to get you there. Our team has driven these roads, and we can match you with a campervan or motorhome that suits your route, from a riverside week in Queensland to a lap of Tassie. Find it cheaper elsewhere and we’ll beat it, and with 3,000+ five-star reviews on Google and Facebook, you’re in good hands.

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