Bright sits below Mount Buffalo, with the Buckland River running through the valley just south. These are the four campgrounds we'd head for, mountain and river, and the kit to bring.
Gear for alpine nights and lazy river days.
A warmer bag, a light fleece and a hot drink.
Sleeping bags and liners for cool mountain evenings.
Fleeces for adults and kids for alpine mornings.
Water bottles and insulated flasks for frosty valley mornings.
Our full ranges for mattresses, camp meals and alpine tracks.
Air beds, self-inflating mats and pumps for comfier nights.
Cooksets, cutlery, mugs and pans for riverside meals.
Boots, shoes, sandals and socks for alpine tracks.
Two on Mount Buffalo, two free spots on the Buckland River.
47 sites in snow gum woodland on the shore of Lake Catani, 28km up the mountain from Porepunkah, with swimming and canoeing on the lake.
Good to knowFlush toilets and hot showers, but bring your own drinking water. It opens seasonally and summer stays need booking, so check the campground page before you plan.
View Campground DetailsA five-site hike-in camp on the plateau, about 6.5km on foot from the Reservoir Picnic Area along management vehicle tracks.
Good to knowA pit toilet and creek water you'll need to treat. Fuel stoves only, two people per site, and you must book ahead.
View Campground DetailsOpen space for groups and shadier, quieter corners along the Buckland River, about 30km south of Porepunkah.
Good to knowFree with no booking, and dogs are welcome. There's an amenity block and fire pits, but boil river water before drinking, and expect cattle wandering through.
View Campground DetailsA remote bush camp among broad-leaved peppermints on the Buckland River, with swimming holes and several areas to choose from.
Good to knowFree, no booking, and dogs are allowed. There are no toilets on site (the nearest are about 1km away), and the road gets rough and slippery when wet.
View Campground DetailsMountain and river camping each ask for something different.
Mount Buffalo sits well above Bright and is often snowed in over winter. Pack a warm sleeping bag and layers, even when town feels mild.
Find a Sleeping BagCreek water at Rocky Creek and river water at Shippens Flat needs treating or boiling before you drink it. Carry tablets or a filter, or bring enough of your own.
Find a Water BottleFires are banned at the Mount Buffalo hike-in camps, and on Total Fire Ban days even gas cookers can't be used there. Check the fire danger rating the morning you head out.
Find a Camp StovePets aren't allowed at Lake Catani, but dogs are welcome at the Buckland Valley campgrounds. If the dog is coming, base yourself on the river.
The Buckland Valley has uncovered mine shafts and old workings scattered through the bush. Stick to tracks when exploring and keep kids close.
Lake Catani and Shippens Flat are fine in a 2WD. Yurluk's road can turn rough and slippery after rain, so it suits a 4WD and a smaller setup.
From cold plateau nights to warm river afternoons.
Gear grouped by how you live and move.
For mountain camping, Lake Catani on Mount Buffalo is the classic drive-in, and Rocky Creek is a small hike-in camp on the plateau. South of Porepunkah, the Buckland Valley has free riverside campgrounds such as Shippens Flat and the more remote Yurluk.
Yes. The campgrounds along the Buckland River in Buckland Valley State Forest are free with no booking. Facilities vary, so Shippens Flat has an amenity block and fire pits while Yurluk has fire pits but no toilets on site.
In the Buckland Valley, yes, in the fire pits provided, and never on a Total Fire Ban day. Fires aren't allowed at the Mount Buffalo hike-in camps, so pack a fuel stove. At Lake Catani, gas cookers are fine for cooking and campfires are off on Total Fire Ban days.
Lake Catani runs a summer season and a winter season, and closes in the shoulder months between them. Summer stays must be booked ahead, so check the campground page for this year's dates before you plan.
Yes, in the Buckland Valley, where dogs are welcome at the state forest campgrounds. Pets aren't allowed at Lake Catani on Mount Buffalo, so save that one for a trip without the dog.
Our team designs camping gear around real trips, and we test it outside before it ever reaches the shelf.
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