7 Best Kangaroo Valley Camping Sites

Here is the ultimate guide to eight great places to camp set in natural bushland in NSW’s Kangaroo Valley including Bendeela Kangaroo Valley campground.

Kangaroo Valley camping is all about enjoying the great Australian outdoors. It’s about travelling for the luxury of being close to Mother Nature. Whether you’re roughing it or treading lightly on the earth with a stay at an unpowered site, here are some of the best places to camp in Kangaroo Valley that range from secluded spots in the middle of the wilderness to others amid major attractions and landmarks.

1. Bendeela Recreation Area

This you-beaut Kangaroo Valley camping spot has somewhat of a cult following. Set on a crook of the Kangaroo River, it’s popular with everyone from fishos to families who enjoy outdoor activities such as swimming and canoeing. The Bendeela Recreation Area is also home to a large population of bare-nosed wombats, which are often spotted in the nearby bushland. Bendeela Kangaroo Valley is also a top spot for stargazing. It’s not free camping, but it is affordable camping.

Best for: Hardcore campers who don’t mind a rustic campsite.
Address: Bendeela Road, Kangaroo Valley

2. Lake Yarrunga campgrounds

Intrepid campers will love the thrill of arriving at this remote Kangaroo River campsite via canoe or kayak through towering sandstone cliffs and dense forest. To reach Lake Yarrunga campgrounds you must set off from the Tallowa Dam to the Kangaroo River stretch of Lake Yarrunga.

the Lake Yarrunga campgrounds in Kangaroo Valley — Lake Yarrunga campgrounds is completely noise-free and secluded. (Image: Audrey Kutzner)

You will need to bring your own drinking water, cooking water, fuel stove, ice, toilet paper, food and torch, insect repellent and sunscreen to the remote campsite. Start cultivating those dreadlocks now so you look the part. It’s free camping, but with a small booking fee.

the Lake Yarrunga Kangaroo River campsite — Go off-grid camping next to Lake Yarrunga. (Image: Audrey Kutzner)

Best for: Outdoor enthusiasts who like to camp and kayak.
Address: 1301 Nowra Rd, Fitzroy Falls.

3. Acacia Flat

You will find Acacia Flat camping ground deep in the midst of Morton National Park. Check the National Parks website to make sure the park is open as it’s sometimes closed due to inclement weather or fire danger. There is no vehicle access to Acacia Flat: it’s one of the nine campgrounds dotted around the Kangaroo River section of Tallowa Dam. The Lake Yurrunga campground is about 23 kilometres from Kangaroo Valley and you can only reach the campsite via canoe or kayak. Do your best Bear Grylls and revel in the remoteness.

Best for: Families who want to get off the grid and totally unwind.
Address: Morton National Park.

4. Carrington Falls campground

Take the time to appreciate your surrounds on your hiking and camping adventure at Carrington Falls campground . This rugged place, where the trees soar skyward, offers fairytale surrounds for forest bathing.

hikers traversing the foggy forest in Carrington Falls campground — Traverse the foggy path within the Carrington Falls campground. (Image: Destination NSW)

Find your happy place somewhere between adventure and wellbeing after completing the challenge of hiking to Missingham or Warris Chair lookouts Spring is the best season to sleep under canvas here as it’s when you’ll find pops of yellow and red native flowers sewn into the carpet of green that blankets the forest floor under the bloodwoods.

the Carrington Falls in Kangaroo Valley — Carrington Falls is perched on a plateau above the rainforest. (Image: Kramer Photography)

Best for: Campers who appreciate access to picnic tables and toilets. BYO guitar.
Address: Budderoo National Park

5. Young McDonald’s Farm

Young Macdonald’s Farm has been a dairy-based farm for decades. But the next-gen of Macdonalds have carved a new path for themselves in regenerative agriculture and are inviting happy campers to see what makes their 40-hectare property so special. Living off the land is the real luxury at Young Macdonald’s Farm, just 20 minutes away from Kangaroo Valley in the Shoalhaven region. It’s here that sixth-generation farmer, Young Mac, is working to regenerate the land after years of harsh droughts and flood. The property registered on Hipcamp is at the base of Brown Mountain, on Wodi Wodi Land, and has secluded spaces for camping with spectacular mountain views.

a young boy feeding farm animals at Young McDonald’s Farm — Kids can feed farm animals up close.

Best for: Families to share the simple joy of feeding the farm animals.
Address: 121 Flannery Lane, Tapitallee.

6. Holiday Haven Kangaroo Valley

Holiday parks and caravan parks are hugely popular around Australia with families for good reason. Holiday Haven Kangaroo Valley is aimed at campers who like their creature comforts. Sure you can fish. But you can also forage at the local supermarket during your stay at this popular holiday park.

the cabin exterior at Kangaroo Valley Holiday Haven — Kangaroo Valley Holiday Haven is the perfect escape for a cosy camping trip.

One of the best ways to beat the #cossylivs crisis is to look at ways to live well for less. This holiday park in the Kangaroo Valley is made for creating more wallet-friendly happy memories from the moment you arrive to the moment you leave. Bring on the simple pleasures of kayaking up the river, barbecues and bushwalks. It’s one of the best places to stay in Kangaroo Valley.

an old couple by the river at Kangaroo Valley Holiday Haven — With its proximity to the river, you can go on bushwalks or hop on a kayak.

Best for: A game of family charades around the fire pit.
Address: 5 Moss Vale Rd, Kangaroo Valley

7. Glenmack

Don’t want to rough it? We hear you. This great family getaway is just a short walk from the village of Kangaroo Valley where you can stock up on everything from fresh bread to sunscreen. There are villas and cabins, powered sites for caravans and powered and unpowered spots for camping.

kids jumping into the swimming pool at Glenmack Park, Kangaroo Valley — Spend a memorable family getaway at Glenmack Park.

One of the most reasons Glenmack is considered one of best places to stay in Kangaroo Valley for families is that the property has friendly animals, such as ponies and alpacas, to pet. There are also canoes if you’d like to paddle up the picturesque Kangaroo River and restaurants and cafes nearby if you’ve had enough of baked beans. Check out Kangaroo Valley’s calendar of events so you can time your visit accordingly.

guests feeding farm animals at Glenmack Park — Get a chance to feed farm animals on-site.

Best for: Those who want the convenience of being just a short walk from the village.
Address: 215 Moss Vale Road, Kangaroo Valley

Not sure what to do in the area? Follow our guide on the best things to do in Kangaroo Valley.

Whales breaching, fires crackling and slow-cooked feasts that make the cold so cosy, one might wish it lasted longer. Winter is no time to stay at home in NSW.

When the mercury drops, winter in NSW comes into its own. Beaches are quieter, the air is crisper and hearty food tastes even better when there’s ice on the windows.

Winter here isn’t for hiding away. It’s for long walks, deep baths, deeper reds and the kind of fireside lounging that feels simultaneously indulgent and entirely deserved after a day of exploring. From whale-watching up north to moodily lit bushwalks and pastry pilgrimages, we’ve mapped out your new favourite season.

a beach winter in nsw — From coastal walks to tasty delights, winter in NSW is a time to get out and about.

The Tweed

In winter, the NSW north coast has a front-row seat to one of nature’s greatest migrations. From May to November, humpbacks cruise past the Tweed coast between Antarctica and the Great Barrier Reef. Spot them from the Cabarita Beach headland or get up closer with a boat cruise.

Inland, find the Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre , which is home to a rotating cast of big-name exhibitions (including Monet).

Later, grab a table at Bistro Livi , where the modern Spanish menu features whipped salt cod on toast and spanner crab with curry butter and spelt flatbread. Stick around to poke through the artist studios and indie boutiques of M|Arts Precinct .

visitors at Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre — Browse the art. (Image: Destination NSW)

The next day, jump aboard the Indigenous Lunch Cruise with Tweed Escapes. You’ll cruise upriver listening to yarns from local Indigenous guides, stop at the Minjungbal Aboriginal Cultural Museum and tuck into lemon myrtle-crusted snapper.

Next, drive out to Farm & Co to pull apart some juicy smoked lamb shoulder with green olive tapenade while gazing out over the macadamia fields and avocado groves of this working farm.

End the day at Mantra on Salt Beach where you’ll enjoy beach access, a heated rock spa and a lagoon pool.

dining room at Bistro Livi — Taste modern Spanish at Bistro Livi.

Blue Mountains

The cold season is hands down the best time to visit the Blue Mountains. Temperatures are perfect – sunny enough for hikes, and crisp enough at night for snuggling up.

For a trip that equally soothes and stirs, start with a meditative meander through the national park’s eucalypts and Australian wildflowers. Brave the steepest passenger railway in the world, Scenic Railway , then hop the Skyway aerial cable car for unrivalled Three Sisters views.

Thaw out at the Japanese Bath House in South Bowenfels. Soak in steamy outdoor onsens filled with natural mineral water and mountain views, wander the rose and zen gardens, or sip hot drinks in the tea house.

group leader at Blue Mountains Stargazing — Rug up for Blue Mountains Stargazing. (Image: Destination NSW)

Afterwards, head to Ates in Blackheath, where everything revolves around a 150-year-old ironbark-fuelled oven – like the wood-roasted duck with nectarines and Szechuan spice. Or visit Tempus Katoomba , which leans experimental and sustainable, serving up dishes like braised fennel with cumin, spiced yogurt and Aleppo pepper.

Rug up and head into the night with Blue Mountains Stargazing . Sessions are guided by astrophysicists, helping you understand what you’re looking at as you look into deep space.

Wrap it all up at Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains – MGallery Collection . There’s a whiskey bar in the basement (and crackling fires that make a dram taste even better), indoor and outdoor pools and a day spa. Kids will love the mirror maze and ice rink, too.

dishes laid out on table at Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains — End the day with delicious meals at Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains. (Image: Destination NSW)

Southern Highlands

Good food and wine by the fire, experienced between sifting through second-hand treasures, is a winter vibe in Bowral.

Start with a lap around Dirty Janes , an antique and vintage market. Recover from your shopping frenzy at Bendooley Book Barn , where floor-to-ceiling shelves and a roaring fire set the tone for an afternoon of red wine or hot coffee.

When it’s time to eat, head to Hickory’s Restaurant & Bar , Peppers Craigieburn Bowral’s onsite restaurant. Try the crispy pork belly with Granny Smith crisps and apple gel, or ocean trout with wakame, lemon gel and pickled radish.

couple looking through Dirty Janes in bowral — Wander the antiques at Dirty Janes. (Image: Destination NSW)

Another option, Onesta Cucina , does Italian with flair. For something more casual (with cocktails), Flour Bar swings between brunch and dinner, with an onsite bakery, over 400 wines and a hidden deli in the old bank vault.

Later, clamber Mt Gibraltar , where trails wind through eucalypt forest to views over Bowral and Mittagong.

Stay at Peppers Craigieburn Bowral , a century-old estate with open fires, elegant lounges and a nine-hole golf course.

woman and her dog winter in nsw at Peppers Craigieburn Bowral — Stay cosy at Peppers Craigieburn Bowral.

Penrith

Shake off winter inertia with an adrenaline boost out in Penrith. Kick things off with a kayak paddle on the Nepean River with Horizon Line, or head to Cables Wake Park , where cold-weather wetsuits take the edge off a wipeout.

For something a bit more cruisy, opt for the Nepean Belle Paddlewheeler for slow-floating views and a hot cuppa.

kayakers on the nepean river in penrith — Head out on the Nepean River. (Image: Destination NSW)

Refuel at Marcel Bar & Bistro , where reimagined European comfort food – like seafood risotto in bisque with little neck clams and Moreton Bay bugs – is king. Then check in at the Pullman Sydney Penrith , the area’s first international five-star hotel, to enjoy your well-earned rest.

Start planning your NSW winter getaway at all.com.

7 of the best campgrounds in and around Kangaroo Valley