The best camping near Hill End Historic Site

Combining history and nature, Hill End Historic Site preserves heritage buildings and mine-related ephemera at what was once an important gold prospecting site. While you're unlikely to find much gold at Hill End these days, what you will find is an array of heritage buildings—some of which are now used as accommodations—along with two campgrounds, picnic areas, walking tracks, and even an old mine shaft, Bald Hill, which visitors can explore on a guided tour. There's also a visitor centre with educational displays, housed in an old fire shed.

• Best for groups: Glendora campground has a designated area specifically for big groups.
• Best for families: Village campground offers easy access to Hill End’s heritage attractions and great amenities, including laundry facilities.

• You can book a campsite on the Hills End Historic Site website, up to six months in advance of your first night of occupancy.
• While many of the sites are open to caravans, some are tent-only. If you need an electric site or a site that accepts caravans, it’s wise to book well in advance.
• If you can’t secure a site at Hills End, consider a nearby Hipcamp or book a site at Turon National Park, a 90-minute drive away, which offers a mix of assigned and unassigned campsites.

Hill End Historic Site and its campgrounds are open throughout the year, and camping is particularly popular in the summer and autumn months. April and May are the driest months of the year. Winters can be cool, with temperatures dropping below freezing at times, and snow is not uncommon. Spring is another great time to visit, when the cherry trees in the cottage gardens are in full bloom.

1. Firewood is not available at either campground, so it’s wise to bring your own.
2. Dogs on leashes are welcome at the park, but are not permitted in buildings or within 10 metres of barbecues, picnic tables, or playgrounds.
3. You can get fuel or pick up groceries, coffee drinks, prepared meals, and souvenirs at the General Store, located right inside the park.
4. Each campground has its own amenities block with free hot showers, flush toilets, drinking water, sinks for washing up, and barbecue facilities. Both are locked and only accessible by a code, which will be emailed to you ahead of your stay.