You don't need a long drive to wake up in the bush. Forest, coast and a proper hike-in camp all sit within about 90 minutes of the city, and here's the kit and four campgrounds we'd start with.
What we'd throw in the car for a weekend down south.
A light bag, a compact mat and a head torch.
Sleeping bags with warmth ratings for chilly hills camping.
Mattresses with light, packable options for the walk-in.
Torches, head torches and batteries for night tracks.
Our full ranges for steep tracks, sea weather and camp meals.
Single poles and pairs for steep climbs and descents.
Rain jackets, ponchos and overtrousers for showers off the sea.
Cooksets, cutlery, mugs and pans for simple camp meals.
Forest, bush and coast, plus one camp you can only reach on foot.
Bush sites in Kuitpo Forest with walking trails heading straight out of camp. It's one of the few campgrounds close to Adelaide where the dog can come too.
Good to knowCamping is seasonal and closes over summer, and wood fires are only allowed in the cooler months. The rainwater isn't for drinking, and dogs must stay on a lead.
View Campground DetailsSixteen sites under tall stringybarks, with plenty of shade and shelter from the wind. It's the comfortable base for exploring Deep Creek.
Good to knowFlushing toilets and hot showers. Each site has a fire pad, with seasonal fire restrictions.
View Campground DetailsMallee and coastal scrub a short walk from Waitpinga Beach. It's a surf and fishing beach, not a swimming one.
Good to knowFlushing toilets and a communal gas barbecue. Campfires aren't allowed at any time and the rainwater tank isn't drinkable, so bring your own water.
View Campground DetailsA hiker-only camp on the Heysen Trail, set among gum trees and yaccas, with raised timber platforms or earth sites.
Good to knowAbout 16 km on foot from Cape Jervis, with no vehicle access. Campfires are banned at all times, and the sinks hold untreated rainwater for washing up.
View Campground DetailsShort drives, but the forest and coast have their own rules.
Chookarloo and the Deep Creek and Newland Head campgrounds are all booked online. Lock in your site before you leave town, especially for long weekends.
Campfires aren't allowed at Waitpinga or Eagle Waterhole, and Chookarloo only allows wood fires in the cooler months. A gas stove means a hot dinner whatever the fire rules.
Find a Camp StoveThe rainwater at Chookarloo and Waitpinga isn't for drinking, and the Eagle Waterhole sinks hold untreated rainwater. Bring enough for drinking and cooking, plus extra for walks.
Find a Water BottleDeep Creek and Waitpinga sit close to the Southern Ocean. Solid pegs and well-tensioned guy ropes keep the tent where you pitched it.
Get Pegs and a MalletEagle Waterhole is about 16 km from Cape Jervis on the Heysen Trail, and you carry everything. A lighter tent and a well-fitted pack make the second half of the day far easier.
Find a Hiking PackDogs are welcome at Chookarloo on a lead, but pets aren't allowed in Deep Creek National Park. Pick your campground first, then pack the lead.
Built for coastal wind and cool forest nights.
Gear grouped by how you live and move.
Chookarloo in Kuitpo Forest is a handy bush camp that also welcomes dogs on a lead. Stringybark in Deep Creek National Park has hot showers and is about 90 minutes from the city, and Waitpinga sits a short walk from a surf beach. For a proper adventure, Eagle Waterhole is a hiker-only camp on the Heysen Trail.
Don't count on it. Chookarloo's rainwater isn't suitable for drinking, Waitpinga's tank is non-potable, and the Eagle Waterhole sinks hold untreated rainwater for washing up. Bring your own drinking water wherever you camp, and check the campground page before you go.
Sometimes. Chookarloo allows wood fires only in the cooler months, Stringybark has fire pads with seasonal restrictions, and campfires are never allowed at Waitpinga or Eagle Waterhole. Total fire bans override everything, so check alerts before you leave and pack a gas stove.
No. Camping at Chookarloo is seasonal, open through the cooler months and closed over summer. Deep Creek and Newland Head campgrounds are booked online, and any park can close during high fire danger, so check alerts before you leave.
Yes, at Chookarloo in Kuitpo Forest, where dogs are welcome but must be on a lead in the campground. Pets aren't allowed in Deep Creek National Park, so the dog stays home for Stringybark or Eagle Waterhole.
Our tents, packs and stoves are designed by people who camp, then tested outdoors before they reach the shelf.
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