No fees, no bookings, just turn up and find a flat spot. Here are four free campgrounds we rate, from a beachside strip in Gippsland to a 4WD river camp in the high country.
Free sites mean basic sites, so pack to look after yourself.
Wash, drink and charge without facilities.
Chairs, tables, lanterns and more for self-sufficient camps.
Refillable bottles for camps with no running water.
Torches, batteries and solar panels for off-grid nights.
Our full ranges for food storage, light and hard ground.
Eskies, cooler bags and portable fridges for self-sufficient trips.
Lanterns, head torches and string lights for unlit camps.
Head nets, mosquito nets and repellent for riverside camps.
Four free spots with no bookings, from the coast to the high country.
A string of free river flats along the Howqua River, including Sheepyard, Fry's and Blackbird, about 45 minutes from Mansfield via Merrijig.
Good to knowEvery flat is reachable in a 2WD, caravans included. Expect pit toilets and fireplaces on most flats, and dogs are welcome on a leash.
View Campground DetailsShady riverside camping on the Big River, with areas for tents, swags and caravans and the river right there for swimming, paddling and trout fishing.
Good to knowFree and first in, first served, with a toilet block and fire pits, and dogs are allowed. Bring drinking water and take all rubbish with you.
View Campground DetailsNumbered beachside sites along Shoreline Drive, reached by sealed road via Seaspray and Golden Beach, with Ninety Mile Beach on the doorstep.
Good to knowNo bookings or fees. Non-flush toilets are at some sites only, and dogs are allowed on a leash at sites 1 to 6 but not beyond.
View Campground DetailsA family favourite on the King River flats, reached via Mansfield, Mirimbah and Circuit Road with deep river crossings on the way in.
Good to knowFree with no booking unless you bring a horse. 4WD only, the road closes to vehicles over the cooler months, and there are no bins or dogs, so bring firewood and take rubbish home.
View Campground DetailsFree sites trade facilities for freedom. Here's how to make that work.
Free campgrounds don't take bookings, so it's first in, first served. Arrive early on long weekends and keep a backup spot in mind.
Don't count on drinking water at free sites, Horseshoe Bend included. Bring enough for drinking, cooking and washing up, with extra in summer.
Find a Water BottleDogs on a leash are fine at Howqua Hills and Horseshoe Bend, and at Shoreline Drive sites 1 to 6 only. They're not allowed anywhere in the Alpine National Park, so King Hut is out.
No fires are allowed on Total Fire Ban days, wherever you camp. A gas stove keeps dinner simple, and in the Alpine National Park it's best to bring your own firewood anyway.
Find a Camp StoveFree sites have no lighting, and river flats get properly dark. A lantern for the table and a head torch for the toilet run cover most nights.
Find a LanternThere are no bins in the Alpine National Park or at Horseshoe Bend. Bring sturdy bags and leave your spot cleaner than you found it.
Everything to stay comfortable with few facilities.
Gear grouped by how you live and move.
Victoria's state forests alone have more than 250 free camping areas, and some Parks Victoria campgrounds are free too. Four good ones are the Howqua Hills river flats near Mansfield, Horseshoe Bend in Big River State Forest, Shoreline Drive by Ninety Mile Beach and King Hut in the Alpine National Park.
Many do, but they're basic. The Howqua Hills flats have pit toilets, Horseshoe Bend has a toilet block, and Shoreline Drive has non-flush toilets at some numbered sites only. Bring your own drinking water to all of them.
Usually, in the fireplaces or fire pits provided. Howqua Hills has fireplaces on most flats, Horseshoe Bend has fire pits, and in the Alpine National Park you should use an existing fireplace and bring your own wood. Fires are never allowed on Total Fire Ban days, so check before you light one.
Not at these four. They're first in, first served with no fees, so arrive early on busy weekends. The exception is horse camping at King Hut and Howqua Hills, which needs to be booked.
At some sites. Dogs on a leash are welcome on the Howqua Hills flats and at Horseshoe Bend, and at Shoreline Drive sites 1 to 6. They're not allowed in the Alpine National Park, so leave King Hut for a trip without the dog.
Our camping gear is designed by people who sleep out often, then tested in real conditions before it reaches you.
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