Camping in Brisbane

Around Brisbane you can camp on a sand island, beside a lake in the hills or under rainforest in the Scenic Rim, all within a couple of hours of the city. Moreton Bay is sheltered by Moreton, Stradbroke and Bribie islands, and it is the only place in Australia where dugongs gather in herds.

Where is the best place to camp in Brisbane?

For the bay, North Stradbroke Island, the world's second-largest sand island, is a ferry ride from Cleveland, with campgrounds at Point Lookout such as Cylinder Beach and beach camping at Flinders Beach. West and north of the city, D'Aguilar National Park covers the ranges around Mount Nebo and Mount Glorious, and its Archer Campground near Woodford is an open, grassy spot the park service describes as family-friendly. The big lakes, Wivenhoe, Somerset and Atkinson, have holiday parks on their shores, and to the south, the Scenic Rim takes in Lamington, Mount Barney and Tamborine.

What is there to do in Brisbane with kids?

On Stradbroke, Cylinder and Home beaches are the swimming beaches, Frenchmans Beach has rock pools, and at Amity, dolphins are often in the water. At Lake Wivenhoe there is swimming in designated areas and a playground at Cormorant Bay, and at Fernvale, about 60 km west of Brisbane, the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail is good for bikes, with river access at Savages Crossing for a swim. Tamborine Mountain is a plateau left by a lava flow from the Mount Warning volcano about 22 million years ago, with 12 separate sections of rainforest park to explore.

• Seaside Museum – Museums and history, Bongaree. Closest campground: Bongaree Caravan Park, under 1 km
• Griffith University Arboretum – Gardens and outdoors, Meadowbrook. Closest campground: Galaxy Caravan Park, 1 km
• Tamborine Mountain Botanical Garden – Gardens and outdoors, Tamborine Mountain. Closest campground: Thunderbird Park Campgrounds, 2 km
• Toogoolawah Museum – Museums and history, Toogoolawah. Closest campground: Toogoolawah Free Camping Area, under 1 km
• North Stradbroke Island Historical Museum – Museums and history, Dunwich. Closest campground: Bradbury's Beach Camping Ground, under 1 km
• Cobb & Co Coach – Museums and history, Rosewood. Closest campground: Rosewood Showgrounds, under 1 km
• Beaudesert Historical Museum – Museums and history, Beaudesert. Closest campground: Beaudesert Caravan and Tourist Park, under 1 km
• Redcliffe Museum – Museums and history, Redcliffe. Closest campground: Bells Caravan Park, 3 km
• Bayside Wake Park – Swimming, Carbrook. Closest campground: Aquatic Gardens Caravan Park, under 1 km
• Chipmunks Playland Loganholme – Play, Shailer Park. Closest campground: Galaxy Caravan Park, under 1 km
• Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary – Animals, Fig Tree Pocket. Closest campground: Pamphlett-Tennyson Sea Scout Group, 3 km
• Botanical Gardens – Gardens and outdoors, Capalaba. Closest campground: Greenacres Caravan and Tourist Park, 2 km
• Scout Heritage Centre (Wheelhouse) – Museums and history, Samford Village. Closest campground: Skip Clarke Glade, under 1 km
• Samford Museum – Museums and history, Samford Village. Closest campground: Kulgun Glade, under 1 km
• Pine Rivers Heritage Museum – Museums and history, Whiteside. Closest campground: YMCA Camp, under 1 km
• Anthropology Museum – Museums and history, St Lucia. Closest campground: Pamphlett-Tennyson Sea Scout Group, 4 km
• Physics Museum – Museums and history, St Lucia. Closest campground: Pamphlett-Tennyson Sea Scout Group, 4 km
• RD Milns Antiquities Museum – Museums and history, St Lucia. Closest campground: Pamphlett-Tennyson Sea Scout Group, 4 km
• Aqua Warrior – Swimming, Clontarf. Closest campground: Bramble Bay Caravan Park, under 1 km
• Area 51 - Brisbane Indoor Play Centre – Play, Underwood. Closest campground: Brisbane Gateway Resort, 2 km
• Lollipop's Playland Springwood – Play, Underwood. Closest campground: Brisbane Gateway Resort, 3 km
• Bribie Island Aquatic Leisure Centre – Swimming, Bongaree. Closest campground: Bongaree Caravan Park, under 1 km
• Beaudesert Swimming Club – Swimming, Beaudesert. Closest campground: Beaudesert Caravan and Tourist Park, under 1 km
• Rosewood Swimming Pool – Swimming, Rosewood. Closest campground: Rosewood Showgrounds, 1 km

What are the best walks and waterfalls in Brisbane?

Lamington National Park has more than 500 waterfalls, and Binna Burra, about 105 km south of Brisbane, sits almost entirely inside it. In Tamborine National Park there are short walks to Curtis Falls and Cedar Creek Falls. In D'Aguilar, the Greenes Falls circuit is about 4.5 km through rainforest to a waterfall, and Jollys Lookout has a drive-up view to the Glass House Mountains. On Stradbroke, the North Gorge walk at Point Lookout is the place to watch humpback whales go past in season, and closer to the city, the Tingalpa Creek Circuit at Mount Cotton is 2.5 km.

• walk to Curtis Falls – Walk, Tamborine National Park. Closest campground: Thunderbird Park Campgrounds, 3 km
• Greenes Falls circuit – Walk, D'Aguilar National Park. Closest campground: Scrub Road Bush Camp, 14 km
• Cylinder Beach – Swimming spot, North Stradbroke Island. Closest campground: Cylinder Beach Camping Ground, under 1 km
• Savages Crossing – Swimming spot. Closest campground: Geoff Fisher Bridge Rest Area, 3 km
• Somerset Dam Lookout – Lookout. Closest campground: Somerset Park Campground, under 1 km
• Chiminya Falls – Waterfall. Closest campground: Binna Burra Mountain Lodge Campsite, 1 km
• Cameron Falls – Waterfall. Closest campground: Mount Tamborine Conference Centre, 1 km
• walk to Cedar Creek Falls – Walk, Tamborine National Park. Closest campground: Thunderbird Park Campgrounds, 1 km
• North Gorge headland walk – Walk, Point Lookout. Closest campground: Cylinder Beach Camping Ground, 2 km
• Tingalpa Creek Circuit – Walk, Venman Bushland National Park. Closest campground: Karingal Scout Campsite, 4 km
• Home Beach – Swimming spot, North Stradbroke Island. Closest campground: Home Beach Campground, under 1 km
• T & T Lookout – Lookout. Closest campground: Mount Tamborine Conference Centre, under 1 km
• Illinbah Seat – Lookout. Closest campground: Binna Burra Mountain Lodge Campsite, under 1 km
• Dam wall lookout – Lookout. Closest campground: Camp Moogerah, under 1 km
• The Cut – Lookout. Closest campground: Spring Gully Stays, 1 km
• Koolanbilba Lookout – Lookout. Closest campground: Binna Burra Mountain Lodge Campsite, 1 km

When is the best time to go camping in Brisbane?

Brisbane has hot, wet summers from November to March and mild winters, so autumn and winter are the comfortable months to camp.

Do you need to book campsites in Brisbane?

Yes for the national parks. Campgrounds such as Archer are booked through Queensland National Parks, and holiday parks take their own bookings. Stradbroke's campgrounds need the ferry from Cleveland to Dunwich, which carries vehicles and foot passengers.

Are there powered sites in Brisbane?

Yes. 12 campgrounds here have powered sites confirmed, including Bigriggen Camping & Caravan Park, Coominya Caravan & Camping Park and Scarborough Holiday Village. For the rest we are still confirming, so check with the park or holiday park before you book a powered site.

Facts from Queensland Parks, D'Aguilar National Park, Wikipedia, "Moreton Bay" (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikipedia, "North Stradbroke Island" (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikipedia, "Lamington National Park" (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikipedia, "Lake Wivenhoe" (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikipedia, "Tamborine Mountain" (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikipedia, "Brisbane" (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Map of campgrounds in Brisbane

110 campgrounds

• Bigriggen Camping & Caravan Park — Rathdowney, QLD. camp kitchen, campfires allowed, caravan sites, drinking water, dump point, laundry, pets allowed, powered sites, showers, tent sites, toilets
• Coominya Caravan & Camping Park — Coominya, QLD. camp kitchen, campfires allowed, caravan sites, drinking water, pets allowed, powered sites, showers, tent sites
• Scarborough Holiday Village — Scarborough, QLD. caravan sites, drinking water, dump point, pets allowed, powered sites, showers, toilets
• Amity Point Campground — Amity, QLD. caravan sites, dump point, showers, tent sites, toilets, wifi
• Flanagan Reserve Bush Camping — Barney View, QLD. campfires allowed, caravan sites, dump point, pets allowed, showers, tent sites
• Sharp Park Camping Ground — Witheren, QLD. bbq, campfires allowed, drinking water, picnic tables, tent sites, toilets
• Esk Caravan Park & Brisbane Valley Rail Trail Motel — Esk, QLD. drinking water, dump point, powered sites, tent sites, toilets
• River Bend Camping Ground — Witheren, QLD. campfires allowed, drinking water, tent sites, toilets
• Rosewood Showgrounds — Rosewood, QLD. dump point, powered sites, tent sites, wheelchair accessible
• Accessibility Camping — Woodford, QLD. caravan sites, drinking water, tent sites
• Brisbane Gateway Resort — Rochedale, QLD. dump point, powered sites, wifi
• Clancy's Campground and Dayuse Area — Colinton, QLD. campfires allowed, caravan sites, tent sites
• Cylinder Beach Camping Ground — Point Lookout, QLD. powered sites, showers, toilets
• Archer Campground — Mount Delaney, QLD. caravan sites, tent sites
• Captain Logan Camp Ground — Lake Wivenhoe, QLD. caravan sites, tent sites
• Greenacres Caravan and Tourist Park — Capalaba, QLD. powered sites, tent sites
• Jimna Base Camp — Jimna, QLD. caravan sites, tent sites
• Kingsland Camping — Maroon, QLD. caravan sites, tent sites
• Lake Somerset Holiday Park — Hazeldean, QLD. powered sites, tent sites
• Racoola Sherlock Glade — Samford Village, QLD. caravan sites, tent sites
• Bribie Island Caravan Park — Woorim, QLD. wifi
• Cub Scout Glade — Samford Village, QLD. tent sites
• Flinders Beach Campground — North Stradbroke Island, QLD. tent sites
• Galaxy Caravan Park — Tanah Merah, QLD. toilets
• Geoff Fisher Bridge Rest Area — Fernvale, QLD. caravan sites
• Ipswich Caravan Village — Tivoli, QLD. powered sites
• Kulgun Glade — Samford Valley, QLD. tent sites
• Lumley Hill Camp Ground — Lake Wivenhoe, QLD. powered sites
• Scrub Road Bush Camp — Lake Manchester, QLD. tent sites
• Spring Gully Stays — Sarabah, QLD. powered sites
• Toogoolawah Free Camping Area — Toogoolawah, QLD. wheelchair accessible
• Adams Beach Campground — North Stradbroke Island, QLD
• Adder Rock Campground — Point Lookout, QLD
• Allawah Scout Campsite — Chuwar, QLD
• Amberley Caravan Park — Willowbank, QLD
• Aquatic Gardens Caravan Park — Carbrook, QLD
• Atkinson Dam Holiday Park — Atkinsons Dam, QLD
• Atkinson Dam Scout Group — Mount Tarampa, QLD
• Atkinson Dam Waterfront Caravan Park — Atkinsons Dam, QLD
• Baden Powell Park Scout Campsight — Samford Valley, QLD
• Beachmere Caravan Park — Beachmere, QLD
• Beaudesert Caravan and Tourist Park — Beaudesert, QLD
• Bellara Caravan Park — Bellara, QLD
• Bells Caravan Park — Clontarf, QLD
• Big4 Sandstone Point Holiday Resort — Sandstone Point, QLD
• Binna Burra Mountain Lodge Campsite — Binna Burra, QLD
• Bongaree Caravan Park — Bongaree, QLD
• Bradbury's Beach Camping Ground — Dunwich, QLD
• Bramble Bay Caravan Park — Clontarf, QLD
• Brighton Caravan Park — Brighton, QLD
• Camp Duckadang — Avoca Vale, QLD
• Camp Moogerah — Moogerah, QLD
• Camp Site 1 — Tamrookum Creek, QLD
• Camp Site 10 — Knapp Creek, QLD
• Camp Site 13 — Tamrookum Creek, QLD
• Camp Site 14 — Tamrookum Creek, QLD
• Camp Site 2 — Tamrookum Creek, QLD
• Camp Site 4 — Tamrookum Creek, QLD
• Camp Site 6 — Tamrookum Creek, QLD
• Camp site 7 — Tamrookum Creek, QLD
• Camp Site 8 — Tamrookum Creek, QLD
• Camp Somerset — Crossdale, QLD
• Chernobyl Glade — Samford Valley, QLD
• Cloundland Happy Campers Office — Woodford, QLD
• Cooinda — Mount Cotton, QLD
• Darlington Park Camping Ground — Darlington, QLD
• Donnybrook Caravan Park — Donnybrook, QLD
• Emu Creek Campground and Dayuse area — Anduramba, QLD
• Grand Canyon Happy Campers Office — Bellthorpe, QLD
• Happy Campers Office — Stanmore, QLD
• Home Beach Campground — Point Lookout, QLD
• Jumbuck Nixon Glade — Camp Mountain, QLD
• Karingal Scout Campsite — Mount Cotton, QLD
• Lake Moorgerah Caravan Park — Moogerah, QLD
• Mount Tamborine Conference Centre — Tamborine Mountain, QLD
• Mounty Barney Wilderness Camping campground — Burnett Creek, QLD
• Murrenbong Scouts Campsite — Kurwongbah, QLD
• Neurum Creek Bush Retreat — Neurum, QLD
• Ngumbi Camp Site — Wyaralong, QLD
• O'Brien Glade — Samford Village, QLD
• One Less Car Parking (bus travellers and cyclists) — Woodford, QLD
• OP (Organisers and Performers) Happy Campers Office — Stanmore, QLD
• OP Camping (Organisers and Performers) — Stanmore, QLD
• Overnight Camping — Stanmore, QLD
• Oxley Pines Caravan Park — Inala, QLD
• Pamphlett-Tennyson Sea Scout Group — Tennyson, QLD
• Peach Trees Forest Park — Jimna, QLD
• Pitch Luxury Glamping Village — Stanmore, QLD
• Pointro Camp Ground — Maroon, QLD
• Sanctuary by Sirromet — Mount Cotton, QLD
• Season Camping — Stanmore, QLD
• Season Camping Happy Campers Office — Woodford, QLD
• Skip Clarke Glade — Samford Village, QLD
• Somerset Park Campground — Somerset Dam, QLD
• Stallholders Camping — Stanmore, QLD
• Stallholders' Camping (Grand Canyon) — Bellthorpe, QLD
• Stinson Memorial Park — Lamington, QLD
• The Drum Glade — Samford Village, QLD
• The Lakes District — Stanmore, QLD
• The Prairies (Volunteers) Happy Campers Office — Stanmore, QLD
• Thorneside Mobile Home Park — Thorneside, QLD
• Thunderbird Park Campgrounds — Tamborine Mountain, QLD
• Toorbul Caravan Park — Toorbul, QLD
• Tyamolum Scout Campground — Mount Crosby, QLD
• Volunteer Camping (The Prairies) — Stanmore, QLD
• Volunteer Camping Cloudland — Woodford, QLD
• Warra Cora Glade — Samford Village, QLD
• Willowbank Caravan Park — Willowbank, QLD
• Woodford Showgrounds — Woodford, QLD
• YMCA Camp — Joyner, QLD

Region boundary: ABS ASGS Edition 3 Tourism Regions 2021 (Tourism Research Australia), CC BY 4.0.