Camping in the High Country

Victoria's High Country is mountains, rivers and old gold towns, and it is big enough that it helps to pick a valley first. Mount Bogong at 1,986 metres and Mount Feathertop at 1,922 metres, the state's two highest peaks, both rise near Bright, while Lake Eildon and Mansfield sit on the gentler western side.

Where is the best place to camp in the High Country?

Around Bright and the Ovens Valley, about 317 km from Melbourne, there are plenty of parks close to the river and the rail trail, such as Bright Riverside Holiday Park. Around Lake Eildon and Mansfield there are holiday parks near the water, and Lake Eildon National Park has bush camps such as Devil Cove. In the north-east, Beechworth has Lake Sambell Caravan Park, and out along the Upper Murray there is a long string of small river camps near Walwa and Towong.

What is there to do in the High Country with kids?

The Murray to the Mountains Rail Trail runs 95 km through Bright, Myrtleford and Beechworth to Wangaratta, and the Ovens River is used for swimming in the warmer months. The Bright Museum is close to the parks, and platypus, wombats and lyrebirds live nearby. Beechworth still has its gold-rush buildings, including the courthouse linked to Ned Kelly's hearings, and the Old Beechworth Gaol and the Burke Museum are near town. Lake Eildon, formed by a dam first finished in 1929, is restocked with Murray cod and golden perch, so bring a rod. In Wangaratta, the Splashpark is in town.

• The Old School Museum – Museums and history, Myrtleford. Closest campground: Myrtleford Holiday Park, under 1 km
• Burke Museum – Museums and history, Beechworth. Closest campground: Lake Sambell Caravan Park, 1 km
• Benalla Aviation Museum – Museums and history, Benalla. Closest campground: Benalla Leisure Park, 2 km
• Chiltern Athenaeum Museum – Museums and history, Chiltern. Closest campground: Camping Ground - Tuan Camping Area - Chiltern Mt Pilot National Park, 3 km
• Dow’s Pharmacy – Museums and history, Chiltern. Closest campground: Camping Ground - Tuan Camping Area - Chiltern Mt Pilot National Park, 3 km
• Lake View House – Museums and history, Chiltern. Closest campground: Camping Ground - Tuan Camping Area - Chiltern Mt Pilot National Park, 3 km
• Bright Art Gallery – Museums and history, Bright. Closest campground: Big 4 Bright Holiday Park, under 1 km
• Harrietville Museum – Museums and history, Harrietville. Closest campground: Harrietville Cabins & Caravan Park, under 1 km
• Bright Museum – Museums and history, Bright. Closest campground: Bright Riverside Holiday Park, under 1 km
• Old Beechworth Gaol – Museums and history, Beechworth. Closest campground: Lake Sambell Caravan Park, under 1 km
• Wangaratta Historical Museum – Museums and history, Wangaratta. Closest campground: Painter Island Caravan Park, under 1 km
• Beechworth Carriage Museum – Museums and history, Beechworth. Closest campground: Lake Sambell Caravan Park, 1 km
• Granya Museum – Museums and history, Granya. Closest campground: Cotton Tree Creek camping and picnic area, 2 km
• Benalla Costume and Kelly Museum – Museums and history, Benalla. Closest campground: Benalla Leisure Park, 3 km
• Federation Museum – Museums and history, Corowa. Closest campground: Granthams Bend Campground, 3 km
• Wacky Bird Gallery – Museums and history, Corowa. Closest campground: Granthams Bend Campground, 4 km
• Splashpark – Swimming, Wangaratta. Closest campground: Painter Island Caravan Park, 3 km
• Mansfield Mini Golf, Coffee & Donuts – Play, Mansfield. Closest campground: High Country Holiday Park, under 1 km
• Buller Air Zone – Play, Mount Buller. Closest campground: Mirimbah Campsite, 6 km
• WAVES – Swimming, Wodonga. Closest campground: Area No. 1, 23 km
• Rutherglen War Memorial Swimming Pool – Swimming, Rutherglen. Closest campground: Rutherglen Caravan and Tourist Park, under 1 km
• Mansfield Outdoor Swimming Pool – Swimming, Mansfield. Closest campground: High Country Holiday Park, under 1 km
• Eskdale Swimming Pool – Swimming, Eskdale. Closest campground: Eskdale Caravan Park, under 1 km

What are the best walks and waterfalls in the High Country?

Around Bright, the walking tracks along Morses Creek and the Ovens River suit short or long walks. In Beechworth, the trails pass Spring Creek Gorge and its waterfalls, Woolshed Creek and the historic mining Tail Race. Near Marysville, in the south of the region, there is Steavenson Falls.

• Steavenson Falls – Waterfall. Closest campground: Marysville Caravan and Holiday Park, 4 km
• Ovens River – Swimming spot, Bright. Closest campground: Bright Riverside Holiday Park, under 1 km
• Granya Falls – Waterfall. Closest campground: Cotton Tree Creek camping and picnic area, under 1 km
• Wild Dog Creek Falls – Waterfall. Closest campground: Wild Dog Creek Falls Camping Area, under 1 km
• Bluff Falls – Waterfall. Closest campground: Blue Gum Camp camping and picnic area, 1 km
• Dhadhadhong Falls – Waterfall. Closest campground: Neds Gully Camping Area, 1 km
• Phantom Falls – Waterfall. Closest campground: Marysville Caravan and Holiday Park, 7 km
• Keppel Falls – Waterfall. Closest campground: Marysville Caravan and Holiday Park, 8 km
• Baranduda Range Waterfall – Waterfall. Closest campground: Area No. 1, 9 km
• Wells Cave – Cave. Closest campground: Day Visitor Area, Sugarloaf, CRSP, under 1 km
• Rutherglen Lake – Lookout. Closest campground: Rutherglen Caravan and Tourist Park, under 1 km
• Cobungra Gap – Lookout. Closest campground: Tent platform - 3 at Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing Dibbins Hut camping area with 3.7m x 3m steel structure with FRP grating deck, under 1 km
• Estate Spur – Lookout. Closest campground: Lakeside Camping Ground, under 1 km
• Dead Timber Hill – Lookout. Closest campground: JB Plain Hut Camping Area, under 1 km
• Merlo Lookout – Lookout. Closest campground: Devil Cove Camping Ground, LENP, under 1 km
• Huggins Lookout – Lookout. Closest campground: Bright Cabin & Caravan Park, 1 km

Do you need to book campsites in the High Country?

Many of the bush camps here are simple sites with few facilities, so check each campground and the Parks Victoria updates before you go.

Are there powered sites in the High Country?

Yes. 3 campgrounds here have powered sites confirmed: Walwa Riverside Caravan Park, Bright Pine Valley Tourist Park and Discovery Parks - Mount Buffalo. For the rest we are still confirming, so check with the park or holiday park before you book a powered site.

How far is Bright from Melbourne?

Bright is about 317 km north-east of Melbourne and 78 km south-east of Wangaratta. Beechworth is about 284 km, Rutherglen about 276 km and Eildon about 141 km from Melbourne.

Facts from Wikipedia, "Bright, Victoria" (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikipedia, "Eildon, Victoria" (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikipedia, "Beechworth" (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikipedia, "Rutherglen, Victoria" (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Map of campgrounds in the High Country

187 campgrounds

• Walwa Riverside Caravan Park — Walwa, VIC. camp kitchen, laundry, powered sites, tent sites, wifi
• Bright Pine Valley Tourist Park — Bright, VIC. powered sites, tent sites, wifi
• Carters Mill Campground — Sawmill Settlement, VIC. caravan sites, tent sites, toilets
• Clearwater By The Upper Murray Caravan Park — Tintaldra, VIC. camp kitchen, caravan sites, tent sites
• Discovery Parks - Mount Buffalo — Porepunkah, VIC. dump point, powered sites, wifi
• The Forest Camp — Killawarra, VIC. caravan sites, tent sites, toilets
• Area No. 1 — Stanley, VIC. caravan sites, tent sites
• Area No. 2 — Stanley, VIC. caravan sites, tent sites
• Area No. 3 — Stanley, VIC. caravan sites, tent sites
• Area No. 4 — Stanley, VIC. caravan sites, tent sites
• Area No. 6 — Stanley, VIC. caravan sites, tent sites
• Black Springs — Mount Bruno, VIC. caravan sites, tent sites
• Burrowye Bend - Murray River Reserve — Burrowye, VIC. caravan sites, tent sites
• Cooks Mill Campground - Cathedral Range State Park — Taggerty, VIC. tent sites, wheelchair accessible
• Kendalls Camp Area — Rubicon, VIC. caravan sites, tent sites
• New Chum Flat — Buckland, VIC. caravan sites, tent sites
• Pebble Beach - Murray River Reserve — Jingellic, NSW. caravan sites, tent sites
• Shippens Flat — Buckland, VIC. caravan sites, tent sites
• The Boys Camping Area — Rubicon, VIC. caravan sites, tent sites
• Big 4 Bright Holiday Park — Bright, VIC. tent sites
• Bright Riverside Holiday Park — Bright, VIC. tent sites
• Keppel Creek Camping Area — Rubicon, VIC. tent sites
• Lakelands Caravan Park — Tallangatta, VIC. tent sites
• Mansfield Holiday Park — Mansfield, VIC. tent sites
• Mt Beauty Holiday Centre — Tawonga South, VIC. tent sites
• Neds Gully Camping Area — Taggerty, VIC. tent sites
• Yea Riverside Caravan Park — Yea, VIC. tent sites
• Arderns Caravan Park — Myrtleford, VIC
• Area No. 5 — Stanley, VIC
• Beechworth Holiday Park — Beechworth, VIC
• Benalla Leisure Park — Benalla, VIC
• Bennies Campground No 2 — Wabonga, VIC
• Big River — Marysville, VIC
• BIG4 Taggerty Holiday Park — Taggerty, VIC
• Bindaree Flat Camping Area and DVA — Mount Buller, VIC
• Bivouac Hut camping area — Tawonga, VIC
• Black Mountain trailhead — Guys Forest, VIC
• Blackbird Flat Campground — Howqua Hills, VIC
• Blue Gum Camp camping and picnic area — Cudgewa, VIC
• Bluff Falls Camping Area — Cudgewa, VIC
• Bogong Creek Huts Camping Area — Mount Beauty, VIC
• Bogong Jack Saddle Camping Area — Falls Creek, VIC
• Bonnie Doon Caravan Park — Bonnie Doon, VIC
• Bright Cabin & Caravan Park — Bright, VIC
• Bullock Flat camping and picnic area — Burrowye, VIC
• Bundalong Caravan Park — Brimin, VIC
• Bunroy Creek camping and picnic area — Biggara, VIC
• Bunroy Station trailhead — Biggara, VIC
• Campbell's Yard Huts Camping — Falls Creek, VIC
• Camphora Campsite — Bridge Creek, VIC
• Camping 7 Mile Flat — Mount Buller, VIC
• Camping 8 Mile Flat — Mount Buller, VIC
• Camping Bays — Caveat, VIC
• Camping Ground - Tuan Camping Area - Chiltern Mt Pilot National Park — Cornishtown, VIC
• Candlebark Campground, Fraser Block, LNEP — Devils River, VIC
• Chaffe Creek Campsite — Enochs Point, VIC
• Christie O'Rourkes Camping Area — Dargo, VIC
• Clarke Lagoon camping and picnic area. — Tintaldra, VIC
• Colac Colac Caravan Park — Colac Colac, VIC
• Conic Range picnic area — Bungil, VIC
• Coopers Point Camping (Boat Based) — Lake Eildon, VIC
• Cotton Tree Creek camping and picnic area — Granya, VIC
• Crescent Camp — Winton North, VIC
• Davies Plain Hut Campground — Tom Groggin, VIC
• Davons Flat Campground and DVA — Howqua Hills, VIC
• Day Visitor Area, Sugarloaf, CRSP — Taggerty, VIC
• Devil Cove Camping Ground, LENP — Devils River, VIC
• Diamantina Horse Yards Camp — Falls Creek, VIC
• Discovery Parks - Bright — Freeburgh, VIC
• Dogmans Hut Campground — Tom Groggin, VIC
• Don McKenzie Reserve — Lurg, VIC
• Eildon Pondage Holiday Park — Eildon, VIC
• Eildon Riverside Holiday Park — Eildon, VIC
• Eildon Waters Caravan Park — Thornton, VIC
• Embery Lookout picnic area — Corryong, VIC
• Eskdale Caravan Park — Eskdale, VIC
• Everton Gardens Caravan Park — Everton, VIC
• Farmyard Camping Ground, CRSP — Taggerty, VIC
• Fishermans Bend camping area — Biggara, VIC
• Frenchmans Creek — Eildon, VIC
• Frys Flat Campground and DVA — Howqua Hills, VIC
• Gadds Bend camping and picnic area — Walwa, VIC
• Gentle Annie Caravan and Camping Reserve — Whitfield, VIC
• Glen Dart camping and picnic area — Dartmouth, VIC
• Goughs Bay Caravan Park — Goughs Bay, VIC
• Granthams Bend Campground — Wahgunyah, VIC
• Greenhills Bend camping and picnic area — Pine Mountain, VIC
• Hairpin Bend camping and picnic area — Biggara, VIC
• Halls Paddock camping and picnic area — Biggara, VIC
• Harrietville Cabins & Caravan Park — Harrietville, VIC
• Hermit Creek camping area (rafters and walkers only) — Tom Groggin, VIC
• High Country Holiday Park — Mansfield, VIC
• Hinces Clearing trailhead — Cudgewa, VIC
• Hinces Creek Camping Area — Cudgewa, VIC
• Hinces Saddle camping area — Guys Forest, VIC
• Horse Shoe Bend — Kevington, VIC
• Indi Bridge camping and picnic area — Towong Upper, VIC
• JB Plain Hut Camping Area — Dargo, VIC
• Jim Bullock — Eildon, VIC
• Jingellic Bend camping and picnic area — Walwa, VIC
• Kergunyah Caravan Park — Kergunyah, VIC
• Kiewa River K23 campsites — Gundowring, VIC
• Knockwood Reserve — Knockwood, VIC
• Koetong Creek campsite No. 2 — Koetong, VIC
• Lake Sambell Caravan Park — Beechworth, VIC
• Lakeside Camping Ground — Devils River, VIC
• Lawson Frontage Picnic Area — Burrowye, VIC
• Lighthouse Crossing camping and picnic area — Towong, VIC
• Mafeking Rover Park — Caveat, VIC
• Marysville Caravan and Holiday Park — Marysville, VIC
• McIntoshs Bend camping and picnic area — Towong Upper, VIC
• Melbourne Outboard Club (Private) — Bonnie Doon, VIC
• Milawa Caravan & Tourist Park — Milawa, VIC
• Minimum Impact Camping — Caveat, VIC
• Mirimbah Campsite — Mirimbah, VIC
• Mitchell Flat Campground and DVA — Mount Buller, VIC
• Mitta Mitta Caravan Park — Mitta Mitta, VIC
• Molesworth Recreation Reserve — Molesworth, VIC
• Mongans Bridge Caravan Park and Holiday Park — Mongans Bridge, VIC
• Mount Buffalo Caravan Park — Porepunkah, VIC
• Mountain Creek Campground — Tawonga, VIC
• Mountineer CK Camping (Boat Based), LENP — Devils River, VIC
• Mt Lawson Summit picnic area — Bungil, VIC
• Mt McLeod Remote Campground — Mount Buffalo, VIC
• Mt Mittamatite Caravan Park — Corryong, VIC
• Mt Mittamatite Summit picnic area — Cudgewa, VIC
• Myrtleford Holiday Park — Myrtleford, VIC
• Neils Bend camping and picnic area — Pine Mountain, VIC
• Neils Cutting picnic area — Pine Mountain, VIC
• Nesting Camp Ground — Winton North, VIC
• Noonans Flat Campground and DVA — Howqua Hills, VIC
• North Cedars Caravan Park — North Wangaratta, VIC
• NRMA Bright Holiday Park — Bright, VIC
• Nug Nug Reserve — Nug Nug, VIC
• O'Toole Flat Camping Ground — Eildon, VIC
• Painter Island Caravan Park — Wangaratta, VIC
• Peppin Point Holiday Park — Bonnie Doon, VIC
• Pickerings Flat Campground and DVA — Howqua Hills, VIC
• Pigs Point camping and picnic area — Tallangatta South, VIC
• Pikes Dam picnic area — Shelley, VIC
• Pine Mountain trailhead — Pine Mountain, VIC
• Pineapple Flat Campground — Mount Buller, VIC
• Porepunkah Mill Holiday Park — Porepunkah, VIC
• Porepunkah Pines Holiday Park — Porepunkah, VIC
• Pretty Valley Camping Area — Falls Creek, VIC
• Pump Reserve camping and picnic area — Mount Alfred, VIC
• Riverview Caravan Park — Porepunkah, VIC
• Rocky Creek Campground — Mount Buffalo, VIC
• Ross Lookout trailhead — Guys Forest, VIC
• Rutherglen Caravan and Tourist Park — Rutherglen, VIC
• Samaria Well Camping Area — Bridge Creek, VIC
• Sandy Flat Campground — Wabonga, VIC
• Scotts Reserve — Woods Point, VIC
• Scubby Bend Reserve camping and picnic area — Towong Upper, VIC
• Six Mile Flat - walk in camping — Mount Buller, VIC
• Skipworth Reserve — Kevington, VIC
• Snobs Creek Holiday Park — Eildon, VIC
• Spring Creek Sawmill Camping Area — Bridge Creek, VIC
• Stockmans Reward Campground — Eildon, VIC
• Stony Creek camping and picnic area — Tom Groggin, VIC
• Surveyors Creek camping and picnic area — Tom Groggin, VIC
• Tallangatta Creek K11 picnic area — Tallangatta Valley, VIC
• Tanglefoot — Toolangi, VIC
• Tent platform - 3 at Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing Dibbins Hut camping area with 3.7m x 3m steel structure with FRP grating deck — Hotham Heights, VIC
• The Kurrajongs camping and picnic area — Thologolong, VIC
• The Pines Camping Area — Kevington, VIC
• The Plateau picnic and camping area. — Jarvis Creek, VIC
• The Playgrounds Campground — Dargo, VIC
• The Ridge trailhead — Guys Forest, VIC
• The Windfall Camping and Picnic Area — Dartmouth, VIC
• Thornton Caravan Park — Thornton, VIC
• Tin Hut Camping Area — Rubicon, VIC
• Top Crossing Campground — Wabonga, VIC
• Towong Bend camping and picnic area — Towong, VIC
• Towong Frontage picnic area — Towong, VIC
• Tunnel Bend Reserve — Kevington, VIC
• Upper Howqua Campground — Mount Buller, VIC
• Valleyview Caravan Park — Whitfield, VIC
• Vennels: Lower — Eildon, VIC
• Walwa Bend camping and picnic area — Walwa, VIC
• Wangaratta Caravan & Tourist Park — Wangaratta, VIC
• Wild Dog Creek Falls Camping Area — Bridge Creek, VIC
• Winton Motor Raceway Camping Ground — Winton, VIC
• Yackandandah Creek Camp Site 10 — Yackandandah, VIC
• Yackandandah Creek Camp Site 7 — Stanley, VIC
• Yackandandah Creek Camp Site 8 — Stanley, VIC
• Yackandandah Creek Camp Site 9 — Yackandandah, VIC

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