Parks Victoria has announced that campgrounds will soon be able to be booked again after a month of the brand new online booking system undergoing immediate upgrades.

 

On the 4th of July 2023, Parks Victoria’s new booking system was launched to replace the ballot system that’d been slowly phased out, allowing bookers to know instantly whether their campsite was secured.

On the first day of the system, campers received error messages when attempting to book stating that the system had been shut down. There were also concerns about a wider data breach when some campers were emailed with the information of other bookers.

The system was shut down by Parks Victoria and has been offline since, with little direction given by Parks on how to claim a spot in a campground, let alone on multi-day hikes such as the 13-day Grampians Peaks Trail.

However, Parks Victoria has recently announced the relaunch of the booking system and the staggered approach to booking openings over the next 14 months. Here’s when you need to book your favourite campgrounds.

When to Book Your Victoria Camping Trip

Camping dates: 2nd August – 31st August 2023

Bookings open: Now
Locations: All camping and accommodation bookable sites

Book Now

 

Camping dates: 1st September 2023 – 19th December 2023

Bookings open: 11am, 8th August
Locations: All camping and accommodation bookable sites

 

Camping dates: 20th December 2023 – 28th January 2024

Bookings open: 11am, 15th August
Location: Tidal River Campground – Wilsons Prom

Bookings open: 11am, 16th of August
Location: Roofed Accommodation – Wilsons Prom

Bookings open: 11am, 17th of August
Locations:

  • Banksia Bluff – Cape Conran Coastal Park
  • Lake Catani – Mount Buffalo National Park
  • Johanna Beach Campground – Great Otway National Park
  • Blanket Bay Campground – Great Otway National Park


Bookings open: 11am, 22nd of August
Locations: Overnight hikes and journey-based campgrounds, including:

  • Grampians Peaks Trail
  • Great Ocean Walk
  • Great South-West Walk
  • Glenelg River Trail
  • Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing
  • Wilsons Prom Southern Circuit (including Lightstation)
  • Wilderness Coast Walk


Bookings open: 11am, 23rd August
Location: All other bookable sites across the state

 

Camping dates: 29th January 2024 – 6th October 2024

Bookings open: 11am 29th August
Location: Tidal River Campground – Wilsons Prom

Bookings open: 11am, 30th August
Location: Roofed accommodation – Wilsons Prom

Bookings open: 11am, 31st August
Locations:

  • Banksia Bluff – Cape Conran Coastal Park
  • Lake Catani – Mount Buffalo National Park
  • Johanna Beach Campground – Great Otway National Park
  • Blanket Bay Campground – Great Otway National Park


Bookings open: 11am, 5th September
Locations: Overnight hikes and journey-based campgrounds including:

  • Grampians Peaks Trail
  • Great Ocean Walk
  • Great South-West Walk
  • Glenelg River Trail
  • Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing
  • Wilsons Prom Southern Circuit (including Lightstation)
  • Wilderness Coast Walk

 

Parks Victoria has also supplied a detailed ‘How To Book Camping Online‘ explainer to help Explorers ensure they can claim their desired campsite, with the suggestion to join the ‘pre-queue’ from 10:45am on the day your campground booking opens.

Fingers crossed everything runs smoothly this time around!

 

Feature photo by @henry_brydon