The best camping near The Lakes National Park

Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next The Lakes National Park adventure.

Discover the serene beauty of The Lakes National Park and its abundant wildlife.  

Popular ways to camp

Community favorites near The Lakes National Park

Top-rated campgrounds reviewed by the Hipcamp community.

Top-rated campgrounds near The Lakes National Park

99%
(218)

Wattle Point Farm

7 sites · RVs, Tents126 acres · Forge Creek, VIC
Located close to Paynesville, Bairnsdale & Sale, Wattle Point Farm is a secluded, spacious and tranquil property with Lake frontage, wildlife & lush green natives, many walking tracks surround the property, a great fit for anyone who enjoys the outdoors, peace & quiet, relaxing by the water. Close to Blond Bay Wildlife Reserve (2000 ha) with many tracks for walking, cycling or driving. Give yourself some time away from the crowded popular destinations and discover our gem of a campsite. There are designated fire pits and shady green areas to relax and unwind, just a few steps to the water's edge. No facilities, so please only book if you are self-contained, and you must take all waste with you. Dogs welcome to join in the fun too! Markets- Bairnsdale farmers market 1st Saturday Paynesville Community market 2nd Sunday Paynesville farmers market 4th Saturday Bairnsdale Howitt Park market 4th Sunday
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from 
AU$50
 / night
* Before taxes and fees
100%
(21)

Lakes Bushland Caravan Park

38 sites · RVs, Tents32 acres · Nicholson, VIC
Lakes Bushland Caravan and Lifestyle Park is set on 32 acres located in Nicholson, Victoria. Offering a quiet, bush caravan park with facilities to ensure all guests have the opportunity to relax, unwind and make quality memories. The park is located close to the Gippsland Rail Trail and the Gippsland Lakes and Rivers.
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AU$24
 / night
* Before taxes and fees
98%
(102)

Forge Creek Farm Stay

8 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents15 acres · Bairnsdale, VIC
Come and Enjoy country life for one night or more with beautiful views of Macleod Morass Wetlands. Lots of animals to enjoy, including cows, sheep, chickens and kangaroos. Lots of bird life. 7 Sites available for tents, caravans and camper trailers on a flat grassy area with great views. Campers are required to be self sufficient with their own toilet/shower facilities and must remove all rubbish. FIRES MUST BE IN FIRE PITS ONLY. Fire pits and firewood available on request at extra Cost Please advise prior to arrival if required. Farm Fresh Chicken Eggs (Bum Nuts) available. Must abide by the currant fire restrictions. Can provide a IBC water tank to your site with Tap outlet to connect to your van. Pets welcome, dogs must be kept on lead. . Only 5 minutes from town Centre, 15 min to Paynesville and 30 min to Lakes Entrance. Lakes Entrance is located on the edge of Ninety Mile Beach where the Gippsland Lakes meets the Southern Ocean.
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AU$45
 / night
* Before taxes and fees
92%
(24)

Home among the Gumtrees

3 sites · RVs, Tents5 acres · Nyerimilang, VIC
We are a young family of 4 with space to share, pull up where you would like and stretch your legs with space to move among the trees and surrounded by farmland and let your kids play on the equipment pat the horses and sheep or take a 10min drive to Lakes Entrance or Metung Or take a short stroll to the Nyerimilang heritage park with views of the Gippsland lakes There are no toilet or showers at this stage
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AU$20
 / night
* Before taxes and fees

Sardine flat

5 sites · RVs, Tents100 acres · Lakes Entrance, VIC
Set on over 100 acres of farm land adjacent to the tambo river, enjoy space a privacy with maintained picnic area and toilet block on the banks of the river only meters away. Pick your own site for self contained caravans, rvs or tents. Suited to singles or groups, there’s plenty of space to stake out your plot. Contained and controlled pets okay but please be mindful of stock. Metung village a short 5 minute drive away.
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AU$20
 / night
* Before taxes and fees
Booked 5 times

Beachside Escape

1 site · RV1 acre · Sale, VIC
Come and enjoy this beautiful piece of land right on Shoreline Drive, with multiple paths just across the road leading to the world-famous 90 Mile beach right at your front doorstep and will take you less than a minute to see the ocean. Fall asleep to the sound of the waves and get ready to enjoy the sunrise from your tent or from the beach. Our beautiful block of 600 sqm has plenty of shade from the many tea trees and some nice sunny spots to sun bake in to, and it plays host to some beautiful wildlife during the day. This is the perfect spot to enjoy camping in a private property and being completely off the grid. Only 1 minute drive to the local shops, public toilets, sheltered BBQs, picnic tables, a Community Garden and a Men’s Shed. Please note that there are no facilities on site. Campers will need to be self sufficient and leave no trace. Please respect. It’s a sandy terrain (as a good beach block!) with a hill near the entry. Normally suitable for 4WD, SUVs, Utes, medium sized vans or caravans. However, we ask you to be mindful of the particularities of your vehicle and the weather conditions when accessing the block. For heavy RVs, sedan cars or unexperienced drivers please keep in mind that you might need to park in the front part of the block. No dispose of rubbish, recycling, or compost on site. Guests need to take their waste with them when they go and dispose of it responsibly. We only allow one booking at the time to offer privacy and for a better enjoyment of the space. Pets are allowed, but it’s important that guests understand that they must keep their pets in their control, keep them from causing harm, and ensure they’re reasonably quiet during quiet hours. Please be mindful of neighbours and respect quiet time from 10pm until 8am. From this block guests can also enjoy a short drive to other beach towns like Loch Sport, Seaspray and The Honeysuckles; lovely cities like Sale and lovely towns like Rosedale or Longford. Just get ready to have a great time right on the beautiful 90 mile beach and enjoy this fantastic spot.
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from 
AU$25
 / night
* Before taxes and fees
93%
(28)

Tambo Cottages - Camping Grounds

6 sites · RVs, Tents4 acres · Swan Reach, VIC
Tambo Cottages is offering 4 Acres of farmland (large paddock) within walking distance of the local shops, petrol station, restaurant/take away and pub. Only 6 groups of people at anyone time. There is water available for use, but campers will need to be self-sufficient with their own camping toilet/shower. Campers will need to remove all waste and rubbish with them on departure. We are conveniently located just under 30 minutes from both Bairnsdale and Lakes Entrance. Metung is only 8km away and they have just opened their new Hot Spring complex. There is so much to see and do in the surrounding area, explore the beautiful coastline, explore the Great Lakes, take a walk/ride through one of the coastal or regional parks or simply enjoy relaxing at your campsite. Pets are welcome.
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from 
AU$40
 / night
* Before taxes and fees
63%
(15)

Paradise Beach Camping

1 site · RV, Tent1 acre · Paradise Beach, VIC
Come and set up camp for a few days on this private site at Paradise Beach.Campers will love the short walk to the beach, an established fire pit and access to (a small amount of) water from the provided tank. Please be economical with the water so there is enough left for everyone else.There is also a shelter shed which you are welcome to use to escape with wind, rain or sun. There is a cabin on the property which is not accessible.There are no facilities here, campers will need to be self sufficient and leave no trace. A short drive down the road you'll find a general store, a takeaway shop and great picnic areas.The property is located 3.5 hours east of Melbourne.Entry to the site is from a small driveway on the lower side of the property. Please keep all tents and vans within close proximity to the cabin to ensure you are within my properties boundary and there are no overlaps.The terrain is sandy, however it's very compact and suitable for most sedans, vans and average vehicles.
Potable water
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from 
AU$25
 / night
* Before taxes and fees
100%
(159)

Nowa Nowa Lakeside Farmlet.

3 sites · RVs, Tents10 acres · Nowa Nowa, VIC
Located on the picturesque Nowa Nowa arm of Lake Tyers. Our hobby farm offers 3 beautiful large campsites (1 van per site) only 20 metres from the waters edge. OUR CAMPSITES DO NOT HAVE TOILET OR SHOWER FACILITIES. ALL WASTE AND RUBBISH MUST BE TAKEN WITH YOU ON DEPARTURE. Pets are welcome. We have chickens and alpacas on the property so please ensure your pets are restrained and don't upset the other animals. We have a fire pits for campers to relax around in the evenings. We can provide firewood for first night ($15) and additional firewood can be purchased from the general store (fundraiser for local CFA). Generators are allowed but only for limited time to charge essential equipment. No generators are allowed to run non stop and not between 9pm and 9am. if you are going to use a generator please inform other campers. Only a 5 minute walk to the NOWA NOWA GENERAL STORE/Post Office. You can get local fishing information from the friendly staff, stock up on fuel, groceries, wine/beer, fishing tackle, bait, fire wood and more without having to drive! MINGLING WATERS CARAVAN PARK/Cafe is the place to go for top quality coffee, brekky, and their famous carrot cake and burgers, only a 5 minute walk (currently temporarily closed) Opposite Mingling Waters is another 'must visit' while in Nowa Nowa. THE DEPOT, HOME OF TEXTILES. Local honey and home made jams and biscuits. Espresso coffee and turmeric latte. Handcrafted textiles, jewellery and more (check Facebook for opening hours) We are within easy reach of the EAST GIPPSLAND RAIL TRAIL which is popular for both bike riders and walkers. There are plenty of other great bushwalking tracks nearby as well. The location is ideal for people who enjoy the outdoors, lake fishing, boating, bird watching, walking and cycling. It's just a short drive to the beautiful seaside town of LAKES ENTRANCE where they have shops, cafes, restaurants, great fresh seafood and lovely beaches. BRUTHEN is only a 20 minute drive. BRUTHEN HOTEL, Cafes, Antique shops, Galleries andthe BULL-ANT BREWERY are musts to check out! The BUCHAN CAVES RESERVE is another short drive. Picnic spots, camping ground, walking tracks and a variety of flora and fauna, including koalas, over forty species of birds, kangaroos and currawongs. While in Buchan check out the famous BUCHAN PUB for a meal and a beer. 25 minute drive East and you are in ORBOST, a small East Gippsland town surrounded by national parks, forests and beaches. Recharge at the town's cafes and bakeries, then visit galleries and see the historical Slab Hut, an original 1872 pioneer hut relocated from the upper Snowy River and now home to the tourist information centre. Renowned local brewers SAILORS GRAVE can be found in an old butter factory, where they produce an exciting range of craft beer.
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from 
AU$30
 / night
* Before taxes and fees
91%
(128)

River's Edge Retreat

2 sites · RVs, Tents10 acres · Toorloo Arm, VIC
We're located just 8 mins inland from Lakes Entrance, near Lake Tyers. Our campsites offer secluded lush lawns surrounded by trees on the edge of the river. The immediate vicinity offers bush walking, canoeing/kayaking and fishing. For those keen on adventures further afield there is a boat ramp 8 mins drive away, the nearest beach is a 10 min drive away, and the township of Lakes Entrance is just 8 mins drive too. Plenty of water sports options, hospitality venues including waterfront cafes, and scenic spots to visit in the area. There are no amenities so please ensure you are fully self-sufficient. The campsite has a tap with drinking water (BYO hose), and dogs on leashes are welcome. Being on the river's edge, the property has a gradient toward the river, so ensure you are equipped with levelling ramps for caravans / camper trailers. Lakes Entrance is a coastal town in eastern Victoria. It's known for the Gippsland Lakes, a vast system of inland waterways. There is a pedestrian bridge to Ninety Mile Beach, which stretches along the town's Tasman Sea shoreline. Wildlife around the beach and lakes includes kangaroos, pelicans and dolphins so bring your camera!
Pets
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from 
AU$40
 / night
* Before taxes and fees
100%
(8)

Grassvale Farm Retreat EST. 1900

5 sites · RVs, Tents250 acres · Wuk Wuk, VIC
We border the Mitchell river with the farm so there are about 1 km of secluded banks to sit or swim from if you want to just stay put. For those wanting pure relaxation, meditation, and soul grounding. We can personally show you some tremendous places on the farm to go within. Pure solace is something that many take for granted. Use our pyramid to draw in Quantum/etheric energy, go to the top of our crystal hill and feel the energies. There is so much to be thankful for when you can release in these spaces. Alternatively sit amongst the cows and feel their energy surround you as their curious nature brings them in closer and closer until they relax around you. Alternatively if you want to chill with a beer on the river bank and try for some bass, or watch the eastern water dragons play in the sun and water, then that’s a great way to unwind, or soak up the sun rays as it drops below the horizon on the crystal hill or rolling flood plains. A personal favourite of a campfire and a few drinks with the stars is a great way to unwind when you have so much space and privacy. The sites are located next to our rental lodge where we sometimes do retreats, or holiday let it as well. The privacy is wonderful if that's what you are looking for. A walk each morning from one end of the farm where you will stay to the other and back is a leisurely 2kms so maybe that is your morning start, but walk the lanes and check the fences and cows while you're at it please 🙂, ticks a job for us while your relaxing. Want to learn about the history of the area? Well a session with us will teach you everything didn't know about the Dargo High Plains, the mountain cattlemen of the high country and much more. Take advantage of your time to enjoy the history of the area and the wonderful past times enjoyed. What is available off farm? Number one, the pub with great counter meals is across the river, 5kms away. Lindenow Farmers Hotel is iconic in its design and history, the reputed Lindenow Long Paddock Cafe is also a few hundred metres from the pub, and the Post Office and Store have all your essentials. Need a few more things? Bairnsdale is 24kms away from the farm and offers all you need. Lakes Entrance is about 40 mins for a day out on the beach. Paynesville around 30 mins. If you want to venture up into the mountains then why not go through Dargo just 45 mins and up onto Mt Hotham (Summer only) via the Dargo High Plains. It’s a great track and on occasions I take people up for a guided tour and secret camp spots on my yearly run up there for my own relax time. East Gippsland in general is a wonderful region to stop and relax during all seasons but especially summer with the water activities available, the camping in the high country, and the markets that abound the area. How do I get to be on this great farm? Well I am glad you asked! Just contact us through this website! Looking forward to meeting you and welcoming you onto our family farm of 124 years.
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AU$28
 / night
* Before taxes and fees
98%
(26)

Sarscany Olive Grove

3 sites · RVs, Tents20 acres · Sarsfield, VIC
This campsite is nestled between rows of olive trees. We're located close to Gippsland Lakes, 90 mile Beach, rivers, mountains and many other tourist attractions. This campsite suits self-contained campers who bring their own camping toilet/shower. There is access to a drinking water supply. If you're here during the olive harvest (late April early May) you can help pick and take home some boutique olive oil. Enjoy the evenings relaxing by the campfire. Fifteen minutes to Bairnsdale, 20 minutes to Metung and 25 minutes to Lakes Entrance for all your shopping and supply needs.
Potable water
Campfires
from 
AU$25
 / night
* Before taxes and fees

The best camping near The Lakes National Park guide

Overview

About

Embark on an adventure at The Lakes National Park, a serene haven for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts alike. Here, you can immerse yourself in activities like birdwatching, kayaking, and scenic walks along the shores of Lake Victoria. For those seeking an overnight stay, the park offers peaceful campgrounds nestled amid the bushland, providing a perfect escape into nature.

Notable campgrounds

  • Emu Bight Campground: A family-friendly retreat offering unpowered sites amid native vegetation by Lake Victoria.
  • Rotamah Island Homestead Picnic Area: Accessible only by boat, this secluded spot is ideal for a tranquil picnic and wildlife spotting.

Tips for snagging a campsite

  • Book early, especially during peak seasons, to secure your preferred campsite.
  • Consider staying mid-week for better availability and a quieter experience.
  • Keep an eye on cancellations for last-minute opportunities.
  • Explore nearby camping options if your desired campground is fully booked.

When to go

The best time to visit The Lakes National Park is during the milder seasons of spring and autumn, when the weather is pleasant for outdoor activities. Summer can be quite warm, making it less ideal for strenuous activities. Winter brings cooler temperatures, which may affect some park facilities and activities.

Know before you go

  • Check for any park closures or safety advisories before your visit.
  • Be aware that some tracks and facilities may be closed due to maintenance or safety reasons.
  • Accessible accommodation options are available; inquire ahead for specific needs.
  • Remember to bring your own firewood if you plan to use the BBQ spots or fireplaces.
  • Always follow water safety advice when swimming or boating in the lakes.

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