9 Of The Best Campgrounds For Kids In Australia

Australia’s landscape of family-friendly and kid-friendly campgrounds is one of a kind. From winding waterslides, beach cricket, pancake breakfasts and daily animal feedings for the little ones to extra-large campsites and open paddocks for any four-legged family members that may be tagging along, these campgrounds tick all the boxes.

New South Wales

NRMA Ocean Beach Resort & Holiday Park

The beauty of NRMA Ocean Beach Resort & Holiday Park is that if you’re driving up the coast from Sydney, you’re only in for about 90-minutes of road time (particularly important for anyone travelling with those under five). Tucked into Umina Beach, this child-friendly campground is like a year-long festival for families. You’ll find face-painting stalls, adventure playgrounds, a brand new water park with water fountains and wading pools, Kids Club activity programs, a communal TV room, half a tennis court for the little ones and the odd family game of beach cricket on the sand.

Lake Burrendong Caravan Park

If you’re taking the five-hour road trip from Sydney with a car packed to the brim with skateboards, skipping ropes, boogie boards and perhaps a furry four-legged companion too—Lake Burrendong Caravan Park is definitely for you. There’s a number of brilliant pit stops including The Blue Mountains, Bathurst and Orange before you enter Lake Burrendong Holiday Park and pitch a tent right on the water (and bring those binoculars because the stargazing here is phenomenal).

Sites here are extra-large, completely dog-friendly and there’s a myriad of kid-friendly activities right at your doorstep including kayaking on the lake and the age-old favourite park waterslide.

Victoria

Beacon Resort 

Beacon Resort is a multi-award-winning recognising it as one of the best campsites in Australia for kids. Located across the road from Queenscliff Beach on the Bellarine Peninsula. The best part is that this child-friendly camping ground is completely surrounded by a national marine park and close to the local skate park (so the kids can wheel off any extra energy before dinner). If it’s up your alley, the resort also sports a free children’s activity program which includes an indoor adventure playground for the young ones, a giant jumping pillow, interactive games and a heated indoor pool. For you, that means more time at the on-site day spa, a session at the 24/7 resort Fitness Centre or one of the free daily yoga and pilates classes.

Queensland

Big4 Adventure Whitsundays Resort

For a camping trip your kids will remember forever and a park that will tick off every single box for their ideal holiday, Big4 Adventure Whitsundays Resort is the place to go. A pool, a waterpark, a minigolf course, animal park, outdoor cinema and more, this place is every kid’s dream! It also has a kids club and whilst the kids are playing you can enjoy a massage by the incredible team at Intuitive Massage at the poolside massage area. They have grass and slab powered campsites perfect for you to set up your tent or caravan. If you think it can’t get any better, they have a year-round coordinator of family activities to take your trip to the next level! 

Ingenia Holiday Rivershore

Known for its extra-large campsites, Ingenia Holiday Rivershore is a bustling tent-city and caravan park for families of all sizes. A fully-licensed restaurant known as Driftwood which packs a menu with pizzas, steaks and a daily Happy Hour from 4 pm to 5 pm (with BYO at $5 per person). As well as being entirely pet-friendly, Rivershore boasts a whirlwind of activities to keep the young ones occupied including a waterslide, Kangaroo jumper, playground and even mini-golf. There’s also a whole lot of kayaks and stand-up paddleboards to hire out plus a pontoon and boat ramp for budding anglers.

Big 4 Ingenia Holidays Cairns Coconut

Surrounded by a world heritage listed ancient rainforest and one of the seven natural wonders of the world, and you still might not want to leave your campsite when staying at the Big4 Ingenia Holidays Cairns Coconut. Kids club, waterpark, a few swimming pools, tennis court, dog agility park and yes, there’s more! For the parents, they have aqua aerobics, an on-site gym and an onsite massage trailer that will really help you relax. You also have plenty of different camp and caravan sites to choose from. From ensuites to powered, to grassed or slab sites just choose which suits you and get ready for a holiday you’ll never forget!

South Australia

West Beach Park

If you’re camping with kids (a lot of them), West Beach Park is a certified South Australian favourite for families. This mega camping park is for the most adventurous families out there.

With a dedicated SPLASHZONE—a zero-depth play area, two golf courses, mini-golf, heated swimming pool, go-karts, sensory room, skate and BMX park and games room, the kids will be hard-pressed to ever run out of things to do.

Western Australia

Taunton Farm Holiday Park

For a camping trip that no one will forget, Taunton Farm Holiday Park brings together the absolute best parts of ditching the big smoke and pitching the nylon to appreciate life’s simple pleasures. If you’re driving here from Perth, you’ll have a three-hour trip ahead of you but it’s all very much worth it to spend some time on a working cattle and sheep farm. You’ll also be in an excellent position to explore the Margaret River wine region too (local wine tours can pick you up and drop you off).

There’s a broad range of camping sites here which overlook paddocks and a large dam. For the kids, it sounds too good to be true but there’s a whole lot of daily animal feeding happening at Taunton Farm Holiday Park as well as jumping pillows, go-kart hire, outdoor movies in summer, a wooden adventure playground and walking and biking trails too. They’ll get dusty, but they’ll have a whole lot of fun while they’re at it.

Northern Territory

MacDonnell Range Holiday Park

As a popular place to bring school groups for excursions and camps, it’s no surprise MacDonnell Range Holiday Park is one of the best camping sites in Australia, and one of the best when you’re camping with kids at that. The main attraction here includes that of the 31-metre long water slide. At seven metres high children (and adults) of all ages can hit this one but there’s a whole lot more that’ll keep the kids talking long after the school holidays are gone.

The games room here houses pool tables, the playgrounds here sit on sandy pits which means you can leave that first aid box in the car, the fire pits are a great way to help the kids unwind at night (with obligatory s’mores snacking before bed) and every Sunday morning calls for the camping ground’s massive and free pancake breakfast. While you throw down billy tea or a coffee, the kids can try and pack down as many pancakes as humanely possibly (all served by the legendary Brendan who chucks a few sneaky toppings on there too).