Here is a selection of great remote bush camps, for when you’re just looking for a bit of peace and quiet… Kinkuna Beach Camping Area, Qld Kinkuna Beach Camping Area is a 10 kilometre stretch of pristine white beach within…
Kinkuna Beach Camping Area is a 10 kilometre stretch of pristine white beach within the Burrum Coast National Park, a four-hour drive north of Brisbane. You will need a high-clearance 4WD to get to this area; it’s recommended that you don’t take trailers or caravans. You will want to be well-versed in sand driving – lower your tyre pressures and aim to travel a couple of hours either side of high tide. There are plenty of great 4WD tracks around to have a go at.
Soft sand forms the campsite grounds, which you will find just behind the fragile dunes closest to the shore. There are no facilities, so bring all your food, drinking water, medical supplies, rubbish bags and a portable toilet. Phone reception is patchy in places, so it’s a good idea to have back up communication for emergencies. Campfires are allowed, but bring your firewood. Generators are permitted too.
Whether you’re a stargazer or a bushwalker, or if you’re simply someone who likes to be surrounded by some of the best natural beauty the country has to offer, Warrumbungle National Park is a place you won’t want to miss. Camp Blackman is the perfect spot to base yourself while you explore the wonders of this park; here, you will find barbecues, picnic tables, toilets and hot showers, a public phone and … kangaroos. Lots of them. You’ll also see cockatoos, kookaburras and butcher birds.
There are powered and unpowered sites for your tent, camper-trailer or caravan. You will love sleeping under the wide, star-speckled sky. Spring is the best time to visit, not only for the pleasant temperatures, but because the wildflowers will be blooming. There are plenty of nearby walking and cycling tracks to explore. Camp Blackman gets busy during school holidays and long weekends.
This is a stunning natural paradise in the centre of the Kimberley. The massive stretch of land encompasses magnificent gorges and tropical savanna, as well as the Fitzroy River and King Leopold Ranges. The sanctuary, home to over 200 bird species including the threatened Gouldian finch, is owned by the Australian Wildlife Conservancy, so your camp fees will go towards protecting vulnerable wildlife.
Hire one of the comfy safari tents overlooking Annie Creek, or pitch your own on the shady grounds. Campers can use free gas barbecues, or treat themselves to a gourmet dinner and wine at the bush bar and restaurant. There are self-guided or expert tours and activities available; canoe down Dimond Gorge, take a swim in Sir John Gorge, and watch the sun set over the Kimberley Ranges.
This caravan park doubles as a private bush camp. It’s just 2.5km from the town of Wilmington in the southern Flinders Ranges, but the peaceful bush setting will make you feel far away from it all. You will be surrounded by the sounds and sights of nature, including western grey kangaroos, euros and emus. There are level gravel or grass sites, a mix of powered and unpowered, many of which back up to Stony Creek and are shaded by river gums.
The amenities blocks contain flushing toilets and warm showers. There are also rubbish bins, water, a camp kitchen with excellent facilities, and a playground and sandpit to keep the kids amused. Firewood is available to purchase. With the many hiking and mountain bike trails in the area, there’s plenty of opportunity to get active. The park fills to capacity during school holidays and long weekends, but any other time, you’ll be able to spread out and enjoy the peace.
Serpentine Bush Chalet is one of the lesser-known camping spots in the West MacDonnell Ranges, located 100 kilometres west of Alice Springs.
The area is accessed by a narrow, winding dirt
track that is best left to the 4WDs and off-road camper-trailers. With no facilities and a fairly secluded, rugged environment, it is a genuine bush camping experience, suited only for the fully self-sufficient camper. There is plenty of room to set up, so you will have lots of quiet and privacy and you will find many walking trails, fantastic lookouts and peaceful waterholes.
Nearby is Serpentine Gorge; the waterhole at the mouth of the gorge is the only one in the park that never dries up, and is protected because of its cultural significance to its Aboriginal owners – so this isn’t the place to swim. You will find a picnic area, bathroom and information sign at the gorge.
