11 Blue Mountains camping spots for a nature-packed trip

With vast national parks pocketed with idyllic spots to pitch a tent, camping is one of the most immersive ways to experience the Blue Mountains. Here’s your guide to the best campgrounds in the region.

Whether you relish the rustic experience of rolling your swag out under the stars after a long hike or prefer to participate in a more luxe iteration of camping, complete with plush linen and hot showers, there’s a Blue Mountains campground to meet your expectations. No matter how far along the scale of ‘camping’ you wish to venture, a bush-fringed stay in and around the region’s many national parks provides a wonderfully restorative escape from the everyday. From Katoomba to Kedumba, these are the top spots to camp out.

1. Old Ford Reserve

Closest town: Katoomba

Price: Free

Amenities: Old Ford is accessible by 2WD. There are toilets at the reserve and space for campervans and trailers, but the ground does not cater to those with limited accessibility. You’ll need to bring your own water to drink and cook with.

Perks: Considered one of the most popular spots in the Blue Mountains, Old Ford Reserve is an extremely accessible, free campground on the bank of the Megalong Creek. It’s close to Katoomba, which makes it a perfect base for first-timers and camping novices. Just south of the campground is the Six Foot Walking Track. Along the 44-kilometre trail, you’ll find incredible views, historic sites, multiple campgrounds, and a suspension bridge. The full hike stretches from Katoomba to Jenolan Caves, but if you’re based at Old Ford you can easily cut it down to a day’s hike. It’s also pet-friendly, so your pooch can join the fun, just enquire first.

2. Euroka Campground

Closest town: Glenbrook

Price: $

Amenities: This well-equipped campground boasts picnic tables, barbeque facilities and toilets, but you’ll need to bring your own drinking water, cooking water and firewood.

Perks: If you’re after a nature-packed Blue Mountains camping experience, you’ve found it. Just south of Glenbrook, Euroka Campground is not only popular with campers but also kangaroos – expect numerous sightings during your stay.

It’s also close to the banks of the Nepean River, tempting fishing fanatics to throw a line out. Absorb the breathtaking landscapes at the Tunnel View Lookout, hike the Red Hands Cave Track or test your mountain-biking prowess on the Oaks Firetrail. There are also plenty of birdwatching opportunities for avid twitchers.

3. Murphy’s Glen Campground

Closest town: Woodford

Price: Free with a non-refundable booking fee of $6.

Amenities: With just five campsites, this secluded spot is a pocket of bush-fringed serenity. There are pit toilets and barbeque facilities, but no water, so bring enough for drinking, cooking and cleaning. The road to the campsite is unsealed and while the grounds can be accessed by 2WD, if there’s been a bit of rain, you’ll need to call ahead to check the conditions.

Perks: You’ll set up camp under the rustle of tall blue gums and turpentines at Murphy’s Glen and watch native wildlife emerge come dusk. Listen out for possums, sugar gliders and bats as you gather around the campfire. This remote campground is all about native serenity, with plenty of opportunities for bushwalking, wild swimming and birdwatching nearby in the Blue Mountains National Park.

3. Lake Lyell Recreation Area

Closest town: Lithgow

Price: $$

Amenities: At Lake Lyell Recreation Area everything you need for a well-rounded stay is catered for, with a kiosk, hot showers, toilets, disabled toilet, covered barbeque area, kayak hire, picnic areas, boat ramp, playground and designated swimming area.

Choose from powered and unpowered camping sites suitable for vans, tents, camping trailers, caravans and motorhomes. There’s even a ‘ski lodge’ cabin that sleeps up to eight people, should you prefer a few creature comforts for $180 per night – but do note, the ski lodge doesn’t extend to the luxury of running water.

Perks: This park falls surprisingly under the radar for many Blue Mountains travellers, but it’s well worth pitching your tent here. The man-made lake was built in 1982 to supply nearby powerplants and later repurposed into a recreation park, which has proved enduringly popular. Spend your days exploring the surrounding area of Lake Lyell: an expansive waterscape that is perfect for fishing, water-skiing, swimming, jet-skiing, kayaking, and enjoying a picnic on its banks.

4. Turon Gates

Closest town: Lithgow

Price: $$/$$$

Amenities: Turon Gates provides the best of both worlds for those who love a little rustic adventure and those who prefer to camp in style. If your idea of a good time sits on the rustic side, book a campsite, where you’ll have access to hot showers, sinks with hot running water and toilets. The campsites are family- and pet-friendly with fires permitted and firewood available for purchase.

Glampers, on the other hand, enjoy luxe safari tents or log cabins with everything from stylish living areas to cosy fireplaces, campfires, hammocks, self-contained kitchens, outdoor barbeques and eating areas. There are kid- and pet-friendly options, so the whole brood can tag along.

Perks: Set amid 2400 hectares of bushland, 12 kilometres down a dirt road, the campsites and glampsites are positioned beside a tranquil, trout-filled stream, while the cabins are angled for spectacular mountain vistas. Turon Gates is a true retreat for anyone keen to reset amid nature, no matter their required level of comfort.

Here, camping sites are unallocated, so travellers can choose their own and the amenities have been recently renovated, meaning that even if you’re pitching a tent, you won’t feel like you’re roughing it. Glampers can unwind in the luxe confines of their stylish tents, swing in a hammock or soak in a deep bathtub to the sounds of the bush beyond. Whether you camp or glamp, there’s loads to do, from bushwalks, fishing, kayaking and swimming to gold-panning and stargazing.

5. Acacia Flat Campground

Closest town: Blackheath

Price: Free with a non-refundable booking fee of $6.

Amenities: There are 30 unmarked camping spots on offer at this campsite tucked into the Grosse Valley. It’s a barebones stay with allocation only for tents and swag-sleeping. While there are toilets, you’ll need to walk in everything else, including drinking and cooking water, food and necessary supplies.

Perks: Acacia Flat Campground is not for first-timers. It’s one of the most secluded camping spots in the Blue Mountains and can only be reached via a challenging three to four hour hike carrying all your gear. You’ll be rewarded for your efforts with unparalleled serenity, panoramic views, wildlife encounters and plenty of space to pitch a tent.

Perched alongside Govetts Creek, the campsite is accessible via the two-kilometre-walk from Perrys Lookout or the eight-kilometre-walk from Pierces Pass. Both walks descend on the way to the campsite, but they require a challenging uphill ascent when you leave – so make sure you pack accordingly.

6. Yerranderie Private Town

Closest town: Oberon

Price: $

Amenities: You’ll find a bit more than just the basics in this former silver mining town, with amenities block for showers and toilets, barbecue facilities and drinking water. But you will need to bring your own firewood and there’s no power to the sites.

The 10-site campground is only accessible with a 4WD on unsealed roads and, being more than two hours from the nearest town, is relatively remote, so be prepared as there is no phone reception.

Perks: This ghost town has long been abandoned, imbuing its historic sandstone buildings with a bygone charm and maybe just a hint of spookiness come nightfall. For lovers of history, it’s the perfect spot to spend a night or two, as you explore the old settlement by day before bedding down between the empty buildings. Explore remnants of a time long ago and take bushwalks in the Yerranderie Regional Park.

7. Katoomba Falls Tourist Park

Closest town: Katoomba

Price: $$

Amenities: Settle into a campsite or cabin at Katoomba Tourist Park and enjoy a checklist of amenities, such as a renovated shower and toilet block with accessible bathroom, coin-operated laundry, barbecues, camp kitchen, playground and free wi-fi. Unfortunately, four-legged friends will have to stay home.

Perks: You’re set amid the centre of action here with the area’s big attractions easily accessed by foot. Katoomba Falls is just a two-minute walk away, the town centre is an easy 15 minutes, the Scenic Railway is five minutes and Echo Point, where you can take in a shimmering Blue Mountains sunset, is only 20 minutes.

Other must-see sights are just a short drive away, including Wentworth Falls and Leura, and there are plenty of bushwalks close to the park.

8. Kedumba River Crossing Campground

Closest town: Wentworth Falls

Price: Free with a non-refundable booking fee of $6.

Amenities: This remote campground in the Kedumba Valley can only be accessed by foot, making it only suitable for well-seasoned campers and hikers.

There are toilets, barbecue facilities and picnic tables, as well as fire rings, but you’ll need to collect wood from the surrounding bush. You can use the water from the Kedumba River, but it will need to be treated before drinking, otherwise, you’ll need to carry your own fresh water in. There are no bins provided, which means you need to take your rubbish with you.

Perks: The challenging nine-kilometre walk down Kedumba Pass (about two to three hours in and three to four hours out) ensures that you’ll likely find yourself alone here with just the wildlife, which will no doubt lead to a supremely peaceful night’s sleep. Pitch your tent or roll out your swag wherever you like and absorb the stunning views of Mount Solitary, the Katoomba Escarpment and Kings Tableland.

9. Coorongooba Campground

Closest town: Lithgow

Price: Free with a non-refundable booking fee of $6.

Amenities: You’ll find non-flushing toilets, barbecue facilities and picnic tables at Coorongooba Campground, but what it lacks in amenities, it makes up for in breath-taking beauty. You’ll need to bring your own drinking water, cooking water and firewood with you and take your rubbish out when you leave. There’s parking at the campground.

Perks: Set on the Capertee River in Wollemi National Park, this picturesque spot is accessible by 2WD in good weather, but you’ll need a 4WD if it’s been wet. Spend the day hiking along the tinkling river or splashing in shallow pools and keeping an eye out for the endangered honeyeater. Springtime is the best time to visit when the weather is warm and the bush is fragrant with blooms. Nearby you’ll find the glow worm tunnel, mountain bike and horse-riding trails, and the historic village of Hartley.

10. Bubbletent Australia

Closest town: Lithgow

Price: $$$

Amenities: This glamping experience is all about sleeping in style under the constellations. Your see-through, bubble-shaped dome allows you to gaze starwards in a comfortable and cosy bed as the evening closes in.

Your tent includes everything you need to cook, eat, stay warm and light a toasty fire, as well as other creature comforts such as slippers, a wireless speaker, an iPad and a telescope. But you will need to bring in your own food and drink (including water).

Perks: This Capertee Valley property with its panoramic views of the landscape is perfectly positioned for a sense of vast space and communion with the cosmos. While there are three tents, you won’t know it as each is entirely secluded from the others, giving you a wonderful sense of solitude and serenity.

Apart from dabbling in astronomy, during your stay you can wander the property, laze on your daybed, bird-watch and simply read in the hammock. You’re also not far from Mudgee and Rylstone, should you fancy a spot of wine tasting.

11. Blackheath Tourist Park

Closest town: Blackheath

Price: $$

Amenities: With sites for caravans, campers and tents, as well as cabins and a Pure Glamping experience, this full-amenity campground makes for smooth holiday-making.

Expect amenities block with showers, toilets and an accessible bathroom; a children’s bathroom; playground; camp kitchen; and laundry. There’s also wi-fi available, should you need to connect.

Perks: Blackheath Tourist Park is just a short walk from the charming historic town of Blackheath with its many eateries and attractions, but with a location by the melodic waters of Pope’s Glen, you’ll feel thoroughly ensconced in the bush. During your stay, be sure to explore Govetts Leap, the Cliff Top Walking Track and Evans Lookout.