7: Go coastal camping

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Coastal camping is really about finding a little patch of your own, as far away from other people as possible. It’s about fresh, salty air; falling asleep to the roar of the ocean; and waking up with morning swims instead of showers. It’s where you can go just a little bit feral – but in the nicest possible way (it’s impossible to feel dirty with a sparkling ocean on your front doorstep).

It’s Robinson Crusoe living at its finest – pick the right spot and you’ll have abundant fresh seafood at your beck and call; a gorgeous beach all to yourselves; and the recipe for some fantastic family bonding time. Kids can get hands-on with everything from pitching the tent to collecting wood for the fire, before being let off the hook to catch a few fish on their own. Even washing up doesn’t seem so bad, when it’s done in a bucket by the campfire under a brilliant blanket of bright stars after downing a few perfectly-burned marshmallows and mugs of tea.

Try these

It’s a good idea to research your chosen campsite before setting out so you’re familiar with the facilities and whether bookings and permits are required.

NSW

Gillards or Middle Beach Campgrounds, Mimosa Rocks National Park : Located on the South Coast, Gillards is the go for campervans and Middle Beach is great if you don’t mind a short walk to your tent from your car.

Red Cliff and Lake Arragan, Yuraygir National Park : About 150 kilometres south of Byron Bay, near the famous surf beach of Angourie, you’ll enjoy panoramic coastal views, abundant bird life and isolated beaches.

Vic

Johanna Beach, Great Otway National Park: A perfect stop-off along the Great Ocean Road.

Thurra River, Croajingolong National Park: Located in coastal woodland on the shallow Thurra River, there’s a nice long beach, sand dunes and forest to explore.

SA

Pondalowie Bay, Innes National Park : The largest of seven campgrounds in Innes National Park on the Yorke Peninsula offers good waves, a bunch of great fishing spots and even a shipwreck.

Rocky River, Flinders Chase National Park : Kangaroo Island is a nature-lover’s paradise. Flinders Chase includes the Remarkable Rocks and Western Kangaroo Island Marine Park.

Qld

Cape Tribulation Camping, Cape Tribulation: Surrounded by rainforest, you can start snorkelling metres from your tent.

Dundubara, Fraser Island: Amenities include dingo fences, a communal fire ring and hot showers.

Tas

Cosy Corner, Bay of Fires National Park: Peaceful Cosy Corner has two areas: one for larger vehicles, and another with more protected sites.

Camping at Bruny Island, Cloudy Bay : This pet-friendly, 50-acre timber reserve with flushing toilets offers a range of campsites for different-sized groups, close to the beach. Bookings essential.

WA

Cape Range National Park, Coral Coast: Roll out of your tent and onto the reef for a spot of snorkelling.

Lucky Bay, Cape Le Grand National Park: For sheer, white-sand-hitting-turquoise-sea beauty, you can’t beat this place.

 

6 << Discover the underwater world of rock pools           Learn to surf >> 8

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8 incredible hikes just outside of Melbourne

    Australian TravellerBy Australian Traveller
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    Just over an hour from Melbourne, spectacular walking and hiking trails encompass ancient landscapes, forested ridgelines and volcanic peaks.

    Just a short drive from the city, the urban sprawl gives way to rolling hills, mineral springs, and lush forests that will have you feeling like you’re in the bucolic countryside of France. Encompassing Daylesford , the Macedon Ranges, Castlemaine and the Central Goldfields, this pocket of Victoria is a region where nature, art, and wellness intertwine. Heritage towns hum with creativity, good food and wine, and welcoming locals. While Daylesford hikes, and those nearby, offer the chance to take a pause and reconnect with nature.

    1. Hanging Rock Summit Walk

    Hanging Rock Summit Walk
    Take in views across the Macedon Ranges.

    Etched into folklore, few places in Australia carry as much mystique as Hanging Rock. Rising dramatically from the plains near Woodend, this volcanic mamelon offers a beautiful nature walk. The walk begins at a gentle pace, weaving through shaded woodland before it gets a little steeper as the path starts to climb and twist to the summit. From here, you’ll have views that stretch across the Macedon Ranges. The walk is roughly 1.8 kilometres return, but the real reward lies in standing among the weathered boulders, feeling the age and energy of the earth beneath your feet.

    2. Macedon Ranges Walking Trail

    Macedon Ranges Walking Trail camel's hump lookout
    Walk to Camel’s Hump. (Image: Clair Derwort)

    The Macedon Ranges Walking Trail traverses around 19 kilometres of forest and mountain landscapes. The full trail is a six-hour circuit, with most of the walk being a grade three; however, you don’t have to tackle it all at once. There are shorter walks that will take you through the tall mountain ash forests, to tranquil picnic areas, and sweeping views from Camels Hump and the Memorial Cross. The best times of year to head out are autumn, when the mountain turns into a tapestry of crimson and gold, and spring, when wildflowers brighten the trail.

    3. Mount Alexander Traverse

    Mount Alexander Traverse
    Take in the serenity.

    Towering above the goldfields near Castlemaine, Mount Alexander is a granite giant that offers some great bushwalking trails. The Mount Alexander Traverse winds along the mountain’s rocky spine through dry eucalypt forest that opens up in sections to reveal beautiful panoramas across Loddon Valley and all the way to the distant Grampians. Once a site of ancient volcanic activity (and later a gathering place for the Dja Dja Wurrung people), the mountain’s granite tors are now quiet and create a beautiful, serene atmosphere for a moment of reflection while walking.

    4. Murmuring Walk

    Murmuring Walk daylesford hikes
    Circle the picturesque Sanatorium Lake.

    Located an easy drive from Daylesford, Murmuring Walk offers something a little different. Circling Sanatorium Lake, this free audio-guided walk aims to immerse you in the rhythms of Dja Dja Wurrung, Taungurung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country by blending the sounds of nature with a multi-layered soundtrack. There are two routes to explore while you listen: a shorter loop around the lake itself and a longer circuit that extends deeper into the woodland.

    5. La Gerche Forest Walk

    La Gerche Forest Walk
    Walk into history on the La Gerche Forest trail.

    Located in Creswick, the La Gerche Forest Walk honours the legacy of John La Gerche, a 19th-century forester who championed the regeneration of the then gold-rush-ravaged land. Today, over 100 years later, his replanting efforts have grown into a living cathedral of towering pines, oaks, and native gums. As you meander along the 2.2-kilometre circuit, you’ll find interpretive panels along the way that help tell the story of La Gerche’s vision, so you can learn as you wander.

    6. Sailors Falls Loop

    Sailors Falls Loop
    See these spectacular falls. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Just outside Daylesford, Sailors Falls tumbles through a fern-lined gorge, fed by mineral springs. Thought to be named after the sailors who jumped ship to seek gold in the area during the 1850s gold rush, the loop walk begins at the car park and descends through a cool, shaded gully to the base of the falls. From here, you’ll make the climb back via the mineral springs. It’s a short but enchanting walk – about 1.5 kilometres in total, so make a day of it by packing a picnic to sit by the springs; you’ll feel worlds away from the city.

    7. Paddys Ranges Loop Walk

    Further north, the Paddys Ranges State Park loop reveals a different side of Victoria’s Heartland – dry forest, golden light and hints of a gold-rush past. This protected reserve is a stronghold of box-ironbark woodland, providing vital refuge for endangered species. In spring, the forest floor is awash with the colour of over 230 species of wildflowers, so a springtime walk is a must-do. As you walk the 4.5-kilometre loop trail, keep an eye out for remnants of old mine shafts and rusted relics from the prospectors who once sought their fortunes here.

    8. Mount Franklin Summit Walk

    Mount Franklin Summit Walk
    Take in forests and waterfalls along the way to the top of Mount Franklin.

    An extinct volcano turned picnic ground, Mount Franklin (known as Lalgambook to the Dja Dja Wurrung people) is one of the region’s quiet marvels. The summit walk follows a narrow, winding path through native forest to the crater’s rim, where you’ll get glimpses of farmland and forest below. It’s a moderate climb – just over an hour return, so it can easily be done if you’re camping in the surrounding reserve for a weekend nature retreat.

    The trails of Victoria’s Heartland offer a chance to reconnect with the landscape, local history and yourself. Start planning your next adventure at daylesfordmacedonlife.com.au.

    7: Go coastal camping - Australian Traveller