When it comes to beach camping in NSW, us Sydney-siders are pretty spoiled for choice. Whether you head to the far north coast, the south coast, central coast or anywhere coastal… you’re sure to find an epic spot to pitch a tent. We’ve rounded up our top 10 – let’s go beach camping NSW!

 

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the Countries on which these adventures take place who have occupied and cared for these lands and waters for thousands of years. We pay our respects to them and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.

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The 10 Best Beach Camping Spots in NSW

A true Aussie pastime, camping near or even on the beach is one of life’s greatest pleasures (unless you hate sand in all of your crevices, then I’d concede that beach camping probably isn’t for you…) And while beach camping spots in NSW can get a tad crowded in summer, whatcha gonna do? The itch must be scratched! 

Read more: Remember to leave no trace!

The big question is: where should you go? We’ve rounded up the 10 best beach camping spots in NSW so you don’t have to use your noggin’ and can just pack your car and go – you’re welcome. 

Please note: All NSW National Park campgrounds now require a booking and incur a $6 booking fee. Be sure to book, or risk missing out. State forests are fair game.

1. Picnic Point Campground

Where: Mimosa Rocks National Park
Distance from Sydney: 541km south (6 hours and 15 minutes)
Camping type: Tent, camper trailer site, camping beside vehicle
Facilities: Barbecue facilities, car park, toilets

If your idea of a good time is waking up by the ocean and taking two steps to your next catch, Picnic Point campground in Sydney’s far south coast is where you wanna be. Sitting pretty between two beautiful beaches, there are 18 spots amongst the banksias to choose from.  

Read More: The 10 Best Fishing Spots In Sydney

Set up a spot on the beach, grab a beer, and just sit and enjoy the serenity while you wait for a bite. If beach fishing isn’t quite your thing, no worries. Maybe a coastal walk or swim in the ocean will tickle your fancy? 

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2. Honeymoon Bay Campground

Where: Currarong, Jervis Bay
Distance from Sydney: 210km south (3 hours)
Camping type: Tent, camper trailer site, caravan site
Facilities: Toilets, shower

Ask anyone where’s the best place to camp in NSW and I can guarantee someone will say Honeymoon Bay in Jervis Bay. This small, sheltered bay is a truly magical place to camp, spending your days sunbathing, swimming, snorkelling and paddling in the ocean.

If rustic camping is your thing, you’ll love this spot as it’s BYO drinking water, toilet paper, and cooking gear. However, there are toilets and showers (phew). 

Camping is fully booked during the summer holiday period via a ballot system held each August. During the rest of the year, you can visit this Jervis Bay campground on most weekends and during school holidays on a first come, first served basis. Sadly, no pets either. 

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3. Diamond Head Campground

Where: Crowdy Bay National Park
Distance from Sydney: 356km north (4 hours)
Camping type: Tent, camper trailer site, Caravan site, camping beside vehicle
Facilities: Toilets, showers picnic table, BBQ 

An easy four-hour drive north of Sydney and you’ll reach the tranquil surrounds of Crowdy Bay National Park, a gorgeous site for beach camping in NSW. 

Diamond Head is certainly popular and it’s got something for everyone – including campsites for tents, motorhomes, campervans, and caravans. You’ll also find gas barbecues, picnic shelters and outdoor showers right next to the beach. Could beach camping get more luxurious? 

If you’re a keen hiker, there are several stunning hiking tracks, including the 4.8km Diamond Head loop walk via Indian Head. Take in the unreal panoramic views of the coast, mountains and forest. Or, spend the day reading on the beach – it’s your holiday, after all. 

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4. Pebbly Beach Campground

Where: Murramarang National Park
Distance from Sydney: 272km south (3 hours and 45 mins)
Camping type: Tent, camper trailer site, camping beside car
Facilities: Barbecue facilities, car park, drinking water, showers, toilets

Not to be confused with Pebbly Beach campground in Yuraygir National Park (although this is also an epic camp spot), Pebbly Beach is a must-visit. What’s great about this NSW beach campground is you can camp right next to your car, which is always an added bonus.

Whether you want to spend your day exploring on foot, catching some fish or swimming in the cool ocean waters, you can pretty much do it all here. With some decent BBQ facilities, you can return to your campsite at the end of the day to cook up a mean feast, before drifting off to sleep under the expansive night sky. Pure bliss, we say. 

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5. Depot Beach Campground

Where: Murramarang National Park
Distance from Sydney: 272km south (3 hours and 45 mins)
Camping type: Tent, camper trailer site, caravan site, camping next to car
Facilities: Picnic tables, barbecue facilities, car park, drinking water, showers, toilets, electric power

If Pebbly Beach is booked, another gem in Murramarang National Park is Depot Beach. Very close to Batemans Bay, this beach is typically a lot quieter, so if you love a secluded paradise, then this NSW campsite is for you.

The waters are typically clear and calm, making it the ultimate beach for snorkelling, stand-up paddle boarding and swimming. If you’re lucky, you might spot the odd dolphin or two offshore. 

If you’re looking for a good walking track nearby, check out the Rock Platform walk or the Depot Beach Rainforest walk. 

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Photo thanks to Destination NSW

Photo thanks to Destination NSW

6. Little Beach Campground

Where: Bouddi National Park, Central Coast
Distance from Sydney: 102km north (1 hour and 30 mins)
Camping type: Tent, remote/backpack camping
Facilities: Picnic tables, barbecue facilities, toilets

An all-time personal fave, Little Beach campground in Bouddi National Park offers the best secluded and remote beach camping in NSW. With only six pitches in this small beach campground, you can sleep easy knowing it’s never going to be too crowded.

A short walk through a littoral rainforest and you’ll reach this hidden and secluded cove. There are picnic tables, BBQ facilities and toilets, for extra comfort to go alongside your slice of paradise. 

There’s a pretty stunning 8km hiking track – the Bouddi Coastal Walk – which runs between MacMasters Beach and Putty Beach, both excellent beaches to cool off in. 

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7. Trial Bay Gaol Campground

Where: Arakoon National Park
Distance from Sydney: 465km north (5 hours)
Camping type: Tent, camper trailer site, caravan site, camping next to car
Facilities: Amenities block, picnic tables, barbecue facilities, boat ramp, cafe/kiosk, car park, drinking water, showers, toilets, electric power

Don’t let the name of this campground put you off – Trial Bay Gaol campground is a gorgeous beach campground in NSW, with an enviable position beside Front Beach.

From snorkelling to fishing, walking or surfing, whatever your poison, you can do it at Trial Bay Gaol campground. It’s certainly an epic spot for families and couples (or singles) alike, and a beautiful spot to explore Arakoon National Park.

Pro Tip: If you’re heading to this beach campground in winter, take your binoculars. Arakoon is one of the best spots to see whales making their annual migration north.

Read More: 9 Epic Whale Watching Spots Near Sydney

Or, if you’re there in the springtime, you’ll likely catch a glimpse of the whales making their way south and taking a break with their calves in Trial Bay, which is a stone’s throw away from the campsite. 

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8. Woody Head Campground

Where: Bundjaloong National Park
Distance from Sydney: 670km north (7 hours)
Camping type: Tent, camper trailer site, caravan site, camping next to car
Facilities: Picnic tables, barbecue facilities, boat ramp, car park, drinking water, showers, toilets

If you’re up for a trip to the far north coast, may we suggest Woody Head campground in Bundjaloong National Park? Just north of Yamba and not too far from Byron Bay, this NSW beach campground has it all. 

It’s a beautiful spot for a family holiday, with a protected sandy beach that’s just ripe for swimming and fishing. There’s also a boat ramp, if you’re one of the fortunate among us to have your own boat (hey, my name is Ally, let’s be friends?). 

Spend the day exploring the rainforest and shallow reefs around the campground, or just kick back and relax with a beer and book. With 94 campsites this very popular destination can get a little crowded, but I promise it’s worth it. 

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9. Freemans Campground

Where: Munmorah State Conservation Area
Distance from Sydney: 117 km north (1 hour and 30 minutes)
Camping type: Tent, camper trailer site, caravan site, camping next to car
Facilities: Picnic tables, barbecue facilities, car park, drinking water, showers, toilets

Another stunning beach camping spot on the central coast of NSW, Freemans Campground is ideal for fishing, surfing and relaxing bushwalks. 

Birdie Beach is just a short walk from the campground, and if you love a secluded beach, you’ll no doubt find your happy place here. Walking along the long, sandy stretch of Birdie Beach is the perfect way to start or end your day.

If you can never decide between beach or bush camping, Freemans Campground is for you. It really is the best of both worlds. 

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Read More: The Best Free Campsites In NSW

10. Pretty Beach Campground

Where: Murramarang National Park
Distance from Sydney: 272km south (3 hours and 45 mins)
Camping type: Tent, camper trailer site, camping beside car
Facilities: Barbecue facilities, car park, drinking water, showers, toilets

Another unreal beach camping spot, Pretty Beach Campground is one of the most peaceful spots for beach camping on this list. A great place to base yourself for day trips around Durras Mountain and Snapper Point, Pretty Beach is also the perfect location for long coastal walks, birdwatching, fishing and whale watching in winter and spring.

If you love checking out local fauna, there are plenty of kangaroos, lyrebirds, possums, gliders, Jacky lizards and goannas just chilling nearby. 

There are plenty of tent sites, and a lot of them have power too. If you don’t feel like beach camping, there are even a few cabins! 

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Pretty Beach

Beach Camping NSW FAQs

What beaches can I camp on in NSW?

In short, legally, not many.
Although there are plenty of beach campgrounds in NSW, they don’t necessarily reside on the actual sand of the beach, but rather alongside it. In most instances, campers are not allowed to simply find a stretch of sand and pitch a tent there.

What beaches can you camp on in NSW for free?

All NSW National Park campgrounds now cost at least $6 in booking fees (however this is just for the single booking, which may be multiple nights and for multiple people). To camp on an actual beach for free in NSW can only be done so illegally.

Where can you camp on the beach Sydney?

None of the beaches within Sydney’s city limits are legally allowed to be camped on. The closest beachside camping in Sydney is Bonnie Vale Campground in Royal National Park and The Basin Campground in Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park.

What’s the best beach campsite in NSW?

We’re pretty lucky to have so many beautiful beach campsites in NSW that it’s hard to choose just one! That’s why we have a whopping list of ten best beaches for camping in NSW. The jury is out – you’ll have to start testing them for yourself!

Are these the only places I can go beach camping in NSW?

No! There are plenty of other fantastic NSW beach camping spots that only just missed out on being included in this list. Check this out for a few more stellar beachside camping options.

Are dogs allowed at coastal campgrounds in NSW?

Most coastal campgrounds in NSW don’t allow dogs, but there are some exceptions! Delicate Campground in Crescent Head and Mystery Bay Campground in Narooma are two beach camping spots that have exceptions for your best bud. When it comes to the best dog-friendly camping in NSW, we have a big list of great campsites for you to choose from!

Feature photo thanks to @nicole.banks.writing

Want more NSW campground suggestions?

Looking Further Afield?

We’ve shared these recommendations because we genuinely rate them and want you to enjoy them too. Our writers use a mix of personal experience, recommendations, and research to compile these lists, and they’re also encouraged to be honest when things aren’t up to scratch. For more information on our approach, check out our Editorial Standards.