Camping near Adelaide: top spots for a holiday
Camping is such a great family experience. You don’t have to be a Leyland Brother loaded up with expensive equipment to do it either. You don’t need a 4WD, you don’t need a lot of money, you don’t need a lot of time you just need to make the decision to do it!
Next step is to make sure you’ve got your camping “essentials”. I wrote a post last year about camping with kids, and the things we recommend you take. You can read it here.
And then, you need to work out where to go. Of course South Australia is FULL of amazing places to go camping. From the beautiful coastline of the Yorke Peninsula to the rugged outback of the Flinders Ranges, but if you don’t have enough time to venture out that far we’ve put together a list of spots for camping near Adelaide, within 2 hours drive, that you can try these school holidays. Just make sure you check for availability before you go.
National Parks & Wildlife SA has a great website where you can find lots of information about South Australia’s national parks – click here to find it!
Also check out www.findacamp.com.au – a great online resource where you can find a campsite in just about any area of Australia.
Marion Holiday Park – 20 minutes from Adelaide CBD
This is the best ‘staycation’ in Adelaide in our opinion!
Marion Holiday Park really does have it all – great camping sites if you want to go in the caravan or tent plus TONS of different cabin and villa options. You won’t need to leave the park, as it has everything you and the kids will ever need including a pool, waterpark, playground, jumping pillow, cafe, outdoor cinema, games room and even bowling lanes!
Onkaparinga River National Park (Pink Gum Campground) – 45 minutes from Adelaide
Onkaparinga River National Park, a magnificent national park located on the way to McLaren Vale, offers everything you will need for that quick camping getaway. Location, wildlife, incredible scenery (from rock pools to cliff tops) and hiking trails. Just writing about it makes us want to go back. Pink Gum Campground offers 11 campsites of varying size depending on your group, all with their own fire pit and sitting logs. With your fee you also get access to the modern communal toilet facilities.
For more info visit Parks SA.
image credit @belairlife
Levi Adelaide Holiday Park – 4kms from Adelaide
It doesn’t get much closer than this! Levi Adelaide Holiday Park is perfect if you have an event on in the city but you don’t want to stay in the CBD, or if you want to play tourist in your own town.
Swim in the pool, take a walk along Linear Park, let the kids play on the playground…. they have cabins and campsites for all group types and are pet friendly!
Victor Harbor Holiday Park – 60 minutes from Adelaide
This has gotta be one of our favourite holiday parks in SA! There is so much to do, you won’t even need to leave the Park!
Kids will love the swimming pools, waterslides, jumping pillow, mini golf, pump track, playground, go-karts, games room and the park is also only a 5 minute walk to the beach.
Stringybark Camp Ground (Deep Creek Conservation Park) – 90 minutes from Adelaide
Set amongst a beautiful Stringybark Forest this camp ground is around 90 minutes drive from Adelaide on the Fleurieu Peninsula. There are toilets and hot showers available on site and seasonal campfires (in pits) are allowed. There are 16 unpowered sites available that are large enough for caravans. Great walking trails and lots of native flora and fauna for the kids to spot.
image credit @acquiredaesthetics
Mannum – 90 mins from Adelaide on the Murray River
Pitch the tent at Bolto Reserve for $10.00 per vehicle per night situated right on the banks of the river.
image credit @glenysgelzinis
Belair National Park Caravan Park – 15 minutes from Adelaide
How lucky are we to have such an incredible spot, right on our cities door step! What a way to spend a weekend. Explore the national park’s beautiful walking trails, let the kids run around on the epic playgrounds or just sit back and relax. With a heap of accommodation options, you even have the option to sneak into a cabin if you want to leave the kids outside in the tent!
There is a pool, orienteering, disc golf and more all onsite!
Port BroughtonTourist Park (2 hours from Adelaide)
A must-visit destination for caravanners and campers on the Yorke Peninsula. Port Broughton Tourist Park has drive-thru sites, ensuite sites and powered and unpowered sites available.
The kids will LOVE this park with it’s waterslides and splash park, mini golf, pump track, ninja playground and more.
Kuitpo Forest (Chookarloo) – 45 minutes from Adelaide
The beautiful Kuitpo Forest, located a stones throw from Meadows and McLaren Vale, a fave spot for locals and tourists alike. Whether it be for the camping or hiking trails, there will be something here for everyone. Located 1.5 km north of the Kuitpo Forest Information Centre with access from Brookman Road via Fire Gate CK1 you will find the main camping area here at Kuitpo, Chookarloo Campground and Picnic Area.
Visit their website by clicking here for all the info about camping.
While you are there, make sure you book a time to have a climb at TreeClimb Kuitpo Forest!
Clayton Bay Riverside Holiday Park – 75 minutes from Adelaide
Talk about location, location, location. When we asked around for hidden gems, this was a common answer. Located smack bang on the banks of the Murray, if watersports are your thing this is THE place to visit. The beautiful sheltered bays provide fantastic conditions for kayaking, canoeing, sailing, water skiing and any other water based activity you can think of. With a heap of different accommodation options, the camping is very well priced with unpowered sites coming in at $27 and powered $35 (both twin share).
Check their website here for all the info on this ripper we can’t wait to visit.
Burra Creek Gorge “World’s End Gorge” Camping area – normally a smidge over 2 hours from Adelaide.
Plenty of room and FREE! We’re talking starry starry nights, beautiful sunsets and sunrises, plenty of places to explore, fresh running water. A true camping experience!
More info here
image credit @32_3_window_coupe
Rapid Bay (90 mins from Adelaide)
One of our favourite drives with the kids is to cruise the fabulous coastline along our world famous Fleurieu Peninsula, exploring the little towns and hidden beaches along the way. A really pretty inlet with an unpowered campground located right near the beach with toilets and COLD showers (be warned) A great spot for fishing, swimming and diving.
image credit: @rosievh19
Woodhouse Adventure Park
Camping is open to the public at Woodhouse Adventure Park. Less than 30 minutes up the freeway, Woodhouse provides a safe and convenient space for the experienced camper, or those just starting out.
There are numerous un-powered camping areas, complete with shared campfire circles (seasonal use) and adjacent Basecamps which have been fitted with deluxe creature comforts including toilets, hot showers, hand dryers, vanity mirrors and power points for your hairdryer.
Plus, your camping fee also includes access to the awesome onsite activities including an obstacle course, giant maze, tube slides, bouldering challenge and disc golf!
Caravans, campervans and camper trailers all welcome!
Brownhill Creek Caravan Park – only 7kms from Adelaide CBD (you could basically walk there)
This one is only 7kms/20mins from CBD. Set on 25 acres in Mitcham. There are powered sites and grassed camping/unpowered sites. And you can even stay in a cabin if you chicken out of tenting. Powered and unpowered sites available.
There is a playground, pool and cafe on site!
Visit their website here
Newland Head Conservation Park (Waitpinga Campground) – 70 minutes from Adelaide
Located on the southern coast of the Fleurieu Peninsula, a popular spot for surfing, fishing, hiking and camping. A short walk to the beach from the campground, there are 15 unpowered sites available. Toilets and a large communal gas barbecue area are provided.
Unpowered site fees are nice & affordable and you can book online here!
Image credit @adamburkephoto
Hindmarsh Island Caravan Park – 90 minutes from Adelaide
Powered and unpowered sites available from $18 a night. The park is spread across 22 acres of land, so there is plenty of camping ground to explore. They also have a swimming pool and 2 jumping pillows and it’s also pet friendly.
Brighton Beachfront Holiday Park
Beachfront camping at it’s finest. The Brighton Beachfront Holiday Park is just 30 minutes from the CBD tucked away in one of the finest sections of coastline Adelaide has to offer (we think so anyway) Sites are spacious and there are plenty of family friendly amentities included in your site fee.
9 hole Mini golf, a great playground, games room, BBQ facilites and a camp kitchen will keep your family busy and happy during your stay!
Para Wirra Conservation Park (Wirra Campground) – 45 minutes from Adelaide
A great spot to immerse yourself in nature, or better yet, explore the Barossa Goldfields which was once home to a thriving mining operation. No guarantee you will find a little gold nugget, but if you happen to have a small find during your stay it will easily cover the site fees. With 19 unpowered sites available for bookings (Max group of 8), with each site having a variety of facilities, there is sure to be one that takes your fancy. This area is rich in native fauna and flora and with a beautiful lake to explore, plus fantastic picnic facilities including toilets (At the Gawler View Picnic Area), so well worth the short drive out north.
Check out Parks SA for all the info and for all your map needs, download here
image credit @fen1201
Shiloh Hills – 25 minutes from Adelaide in the fab Adelaide Hills
A really unique fantastic property only a short drive into the Adelaide Hills, yet it will feel like you are in the middle of nowhere. Bliss. Offering a mix of powered and unpowered sites, plus cabins and share accommodation, there will be something for everyone up here. You’ll have access to hot showers, toilets and plenty of other camping facilities.
This is one of those spots you would never know is there but it really is a great spot.
Click here for more info.
Milang Lakeside Caravan Park – 65 minutes from Adelaide
Located on the shores of Lake Alexandrina, Australia’s largest freshwater lake system, the park has a range of accommodation options but for camping you will find heaps of powered and unpowered sites for your trip. With unpowered sites starting from $22 per night (2 people), this is amazing value and the views are just spectacular.
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