The Gold Coast's best-kept camping secrets

For camping in the Gold Coast hinterland, Binna Burra Campground is famous for good reason. The heritage-listed site is home to five-star rainforest views that stretch the length of the hinterland to Tweed, along with shower and toilet facilities, BBQs and coin operated hot plates to mingle and cook among like-minded travellers. Binna Burra makes it easy to pack the car and head inland for your next camping adventure.

It’s one of Queensland’s oldest Ecotourism certified, family friendly destinations for those travelling with their pack, and offers a base for all ages to explore all that surrounding Lamington National Park offers. Options for travel include two and four man powered and unpowered sites, along with safari tents and drive-on sites for those who love to call their vehicle home for the night.

Feel both lost and found at Bigriggen Park

If an off-the-grid getaway is a top priority for your outdoor pursuit, a short two-hour drive to Bigriggen Park is the remote adventure you’ve been searching for. Swap a beach retreat for a Gold Coast camping experience exploring over 100 acres of space to set up camp, including 45 acres of private hilltops and 55 acres of river-hugging campgrounds. It’s a secluded paradise without the hefty journey.

Explore the distinctive landscape of the Scenic Rim’s Mt Barney National Park, with a view of the rugged peaks belonging to Mt Maroon, Mt May and Mt Lindesay. This rise above the surrounding World Heritage listed Gondwana Rainforests is home to an incredible array of rare animals and plant species – a joy to meet and admire but leave undisturbed by foot.

While camping in the surrounding area is family and pet-friendly, it’s recommended only intermediate hikers brave the Mt Barney peak – a journey often underestimated by novice adventurers, and best attempted with research and pre-planning.

Get back to basics with a detox by Spring Gully

The small township of Canungra is locally acclaimed for its sense of community, who’s warmth and welcoming nature extends to the Gold Coast camping site at Spring Gully. Under an hour’s drive from the Gold Coast, this hidden gem is home to options for a diverse range of stays, accommodating campervans, trailers, tents and motorhomes, surrounded by country bush and a babbling creek side. There’s even a selection of safari tents complete with stretcher beds available if you fancy a quick weekend away without the set up and pack down.

By day, wade in the swimming hole, which is large enough for recreational canoeing, and by night settle in to swap stories by the fireplace with other adventurers beneath the sky. Even the stars shine a little brighter at Spring Gully, a beautiful place to unplug and reconnect with the friends and family that surround you.

Pitch your tent by the beach at Ocean Beach Tourist Park, Miami

There’s something quintessentially Queensland about a Gold Coast camping break by the beach, and while the coastline has developed over the years, the Ocean Beach Tourist Park tucked into the dunes of Miami remains a local favourite. Take a trip back to simpler times, when sand, surf, and a good feed of fish and chips was all your needed for a satisfying stay.

Choose from caravan sites, or unpowered and powered spots to pitch your tent. At Ocean Beach the basic joys of a beachside camp trip now come with all the comforts of home with BBQs, a laundry block, kiosk and WIFI – all-important amenities for the modern camper or a slightly longer getaway by the water’s edge.

It shares a front yard with one of Queensland most iconic strips of surf, so you can spend all day roaming between the patrolled surfing beach and the tarpaulin you call home.

Action packed activities for everyone at Big4 Gold Coast Holiday Park

A campsite name synonymous with adventure, the Big4 Gold Coast Holiday Park carries the burden of activity planning for you – the perfect base for a family getaway where your little human ‘doings’ are the first priority.

Only 45 minutes from Brisbane and in the heart of a complete adventure hub, Big4 Gold Coast Holiday park is surrounded by theme parks and only minutes from Movie World, Wet ‘n’ Wild, and Dreamworld.

While only a short drive to the nearest beach, you need not jump in the car to be entertained, with a resort pool, waterslide and licenced family restaurant all within the 16 acres of landscaped gardens on the property. 

Pack your sense of style and adventure and head to Nightfall Wilderness Camp

A cosy hideaway amidst Queensland’s much-loved Lamington National Park rainforests, Nightfall Camp offers the simple pleasures of camping in nature trimmed with a little luxury.

Rest awhile and nurture your mind, body, and soul at this tranquil hideaway while you indulge in fire-cooked cuisine and architecturally acclaimed safari tents. This luxury glamping experience takes you back to your travelling roots, with clear starry skies, fresh forest air, and friendly hosts.

Take only what you need and leave only what you came with, this bushland experience has thought of everything to complete your luxury glamping experience just outside of the city. A fully catered Gold Coast camping spot to soak in, with no cooking or cleaning up required. Meals are organic and served beneath the stars. A place to truly just breathe.

Explore waterfall country at the Settlement Springbrook

Settle into the World Heritage listed Springbrook National Park at the only spot available to discover it from, The Settlement. A popular hot spot that books out weeks in advance, there’s a little something for everyone when securing one of the eleven sites on offer in the heart of Gondwana.

A short drive away you’ll find Natural Bridge, where you can become acquainted with the local glow worm population that put on a nightly show for their visitors. The camping area is linked by a short walking track to the top of Purling Brook Falls, accessible for most fitness levels and accessibility needs. Of course, if you’re feeling more adventurous, you can call this campsite home as you uncover parts of the Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk.

There are toilets and Wifi available, but not showers – this modest rainforest site is best known for its location over its amenities. All camp sites are in well-defined areas and suitable for tents, trailers and campervans alike.

Make treasured family memories at Treasure Island Holiday Resort