The best camping near Winton

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Australia’s most famous song, Waltzing Matilda, was written at a cattle station just outside the outback Queensland town of Winton. Head to the Waltzing Matilda Centre to learn more, before hitting the Dinosaur Trail for a look back to the time when these giants roamed the land. With a population of just about 1,000, Winton has a lot to offer, including some wonderful old Outback pubs. Stop in for a cool drink at the Art Deco style North Gregory Hotel and hear some bush tunes in the beer garden.

96% (237)

Top-rated campgrounds

Ayrshire Downs, near Winton

1. Ayrshire Downs, near Winton

91%
(319)
54km from Winton · 50 sites · Tents, RVs · Winton, QLD
Ayrshire Downs Caravan & Camping is a property steeped in Australian history; with the Cobb & Co coach pub ruins, original shearing shed ruins from the famous shearing strikes, the location for where Banjo Patterson first penned Waltzing Matilda to music, and more. We offer sites next to one of Australia’s iconic shearing shed ruins. Located along the beautiful Wokingham Creek, you’ll get a taste of the outback with stock and other native animals surrounding your stay. Winton is the nearest town, 58 km away, and has so much to see and do. It's the Dinosaur Capital of Australia, home of Waltzing Matilda and Queensland's Boulder Opal; abundant in nature, culture and heritage. It's also the best place to stock up on supplies.We have a dedicated, fenced off area for campers with trees growing. We have water available, cold showers and flushing toilets, picnic shed with seats but  otherwise campers must be self-contained. The nearest dump point is in Winton. We have a communal fire pit where you can gather and meet other travellers, or you're welcome to light your own firepit (BYO) at your campsite.Dogs welcome, please keep them under control and not hassling other campers. We also offer options for tours and shearing demonstrations, with mini wool bales for sale, plus landowners history and stories of day to day life on the land, and genuine property museum tours on request.  
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
from 
AU$19
 / night

Australia’s most famous song, Waltzing Matilda, was written at a cattle station just outside the outback Queensland town of Winton. Head to the Waltzing Matilda Centre to learn more, before hitting the Dinosaur Trail for a look back to the time when these giants roamed the land. With a population of just about 1,000, Winton has a lot to offer, including some wonderful old Outback pubs. Stop in for a cool drink at the Art Deco style North Gregory Hotel and hear some bush tunes in the beer garden.

96% (237)

Top-rated campgrounds

Ayrshire Downs, near Winton

1. Ayrshire Downs, near Winton

91%
(319)
54km from Winton · 50 sites · Tents, RVs · Winton, QLD
Ayrshire Downs Caravan & Camping is a property steeped in Australian history; with the Cobb & Co coach pub ruins, original shearing shed ruins from the famous shearing strikes, the location for where Banjo Patterson first penned Waltzing Matilda to music, and more. We offer sites next to one of Australia’s iconic shearing shed ruins. Located along the beautiful Wokingham Creek, you’ll get a taste of the outback with stock and other native animals surrounding your stay. Winton is the nearest town, 58 km away, and has so much to see and do. It's the Dinosaur Capital of Australia, home of Waltzing Matilda and Queensland's Boulder Opal; abundant in nature, culture and heritage. It's also the best place to stock up on supplies.We have a dedicated, fenced off area for campers with trees growing. We have water available, cold showers and flushing toilets, picnic shed with seats but  otherwise campers must be self-contained. The nearest dump point is in Winton. We have a communal fire pit where you can gather and meet other travellers, or you're welcome to light your own firepit (BYO) at your campsite.Dogs welcome, please keep them under control and not hassling other campers. We also offer options for tours and shearing demonstrations, with mini wool bales for sale, plus landowners history and stories of day to day life on the land, and genuine property museum tours on request.  
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
from 
AU$19
 / night

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Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field
Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

The best camping near Winton guide

Where to go

Lark Quarry Conservation Park

While camping is not allowed in Lark Quarry Conservation Park, it is worth the trip to see the preserved tracks of an 83-million-year-old dinosaur stampede. Combine this with a trip to the Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History, just 25 kilometres outside Winton. Here you can see palaeontologists working on dinosaur bones found in this region, wander through Dinosaur Canyon, and learn about the night skies.

Bladensburg National Park

Known for its scenic drives, Bladensburg National Park is also terrific for spotting kangaroos, emus, and other wildlife. It’s also the closest park to Winton, just 17 km out of town. Camp on the banks of Surprise Creek and watch the abundant birdlife at the shady Bough Shed Waterhole. Wonderful views can be seen from Scrammy Gorge lookout too, while a 45-minute walk takes you to the restored Bladensburg homestead complex.

When to go

Daytime temperatures and humidity can be high at any time of the year and nights can be cool, but the cooler months of the year, from April to September, are the best times to visit Winton, as summer daytime temperatures can hit 45°C and higher. In June and July, Winton hosts the Vision Splendid Outback Film Festival at one of Australia’s oldest open-air theatres.

Know before you go

  • Where fires are permitted in national park camping grounds, campers still need to bring their own milled firewood (a fuel stove is a better idea for cooking). 
  • Winton has excellent facilities for stocking up on supplies before you go camping, plus services including a post office, pharmacy, visitor information centre, bank, and car hire companies.
  • Even small amounts of rain can cause road closures and flooding in this region, so check access before you go and be self-sufficient in case of stranding. 
  • Advance camping permits are required for all Queensland parks, forests, and reserves and must be booked online. Make camping bookings as early as possible.