The short version
- Each state and territory publishes its own camping rules. Queensland says you must book and pay for a permit for all camping in its parks and forests, while Forestry Corporation of NSW says its state forests are free to camp in, except Cumberland.12
- Councils make their own rules for towns, parks and roadsides. Cairns Regional Council says camping is not permitted on council-controlled land, and Kimba District Council lists free camping areas.34
- Rest areas are for resting. Queensland allows up to 20 hours unless signed otherwise and says they are not camping sites. Western Australia allows up to 24 consecutive hours at marked overnight stops.56
- Every state and territory has its own fire ban page. Queensland has local fire bans, not Total Fire Bans.7
What free camping means in Australia
There is no single legal category called free camping in Australia. People use the words for a campsite or a stop that charges no camping fee, but the rules around that stop come from whoever manages the land. A place with no fee can still need a park pass, a permit or a booking. In Tasmania, for example, the Parks and Wildlife Service says a valid parks pass is required to enter its national parks, and a site with no camping charge still needs the pass.89
We do not say that any single place is free to camp. Where we write that a land manager charges nothing, that is the manager’s own statement, and we say whose and when we read it. Fees and rules are set by the land manager, and they change. Where our own data records no fee for a place, the place page says so and shows where that came from. Where a source does not say, we say that it does not.
Who manages the land
Work out who looks after the land first. The same night out can be legal in one place and an offence a few kilometres away.
- National parks and reserves are run by state and territory park agencies. They mostly keep camping to designated campgrounds, with fees and bookings. In WA, DBCA says camping in parks is only allowed at designated campgrounds. In SA, the National Parks and Wildlife Service says to book your campsite before you go.1011
- State forests vary the most. Forestry Corporation of NSW says all State forests are free to camp in, except Cumberland. The Victorian Government says you can camp in a state forest if you set up at least 20 metres from waterways and stay no more than 28 consecutive nights. In Queensland you need a camping permit, and in South Australia ForestrySA camping is by online booking.212113
- Crown land in NSW is managed with local managers such as councils and committees, so the rules depend on the reserve.14
- Council land follows local laws. Brisbane City Council, for example, says camping overnight in a vehicle on a road is illegal, with exceptions for fatigue, personal safety and emergencies.15
- Rest areas and roadside stops belong to road authorities, and they differ. Queensland says general vehicles can stop for up to 20 hours unless signed otherwise. WA allows up to 24 consecutive hours at marked overnight stops, and Main Roads says its 24-hour rest areas are not intended for camping. The NSW page on rest areas does not mention overnight stays either way.561617
Free camping rules by state and territory
This table gives the main point from each state’s official pages, and a link to our full guide. Each guide lists every rule, with the page it came from.
| State or territory | What the official pages say | Our guide |
|---|---|---|
| Western Australia | WA law generally limits caravans to licensed caravan parks. Marked overnight rest stops allow up to 24 consecutive hours, and park camping is at designated campgrounds.610 | Free camping in WA |
| New South Wales | State forests are free to camp in, except Cumberland, with no bookings and a general four-week limit. National parks usually limit camping to campgrounds.218 | Free camping in NSW |
| Victoria | You can camp in a state forest if you set up at least 20 metres from waterways and stay no more than 28 consecutive nights. Parks Victoria runs over 1,000 camping places, free and bookable.1219 | Free camping in Victoria |
| Queensland | A camping permit is needed for all camping in parks and forests. Rest areas allow up to 20 hours unless signed otherwise. Councils set their own rules.153 | Free camping in Queensland |
| South Australia | National park and ForestrySA campsites are booked online. Councils decide on free sites for self-contained vehicles and on rest area camping.1113420 | Free camping in SA |
| Tasmania | National parks need a parks pass to enter. Sustainable Timber Tasmania says you are welcome to camp on the land it manages, except where prohibited and signposted.821 | Free camping in Tasmania |
| Northern Territory | You must book and pay online for designated campsites, and you need a permit to camp outside marked camping grounds.22 | Free camping in the Northern Territory |
| Australian Capital Territory | Vehicle-based camping is only allowed at established campgrounds. Bushwalkers can camp in remote parts of Namadgi National Park.23 | Free camping in the ACT |
The rest of each state’s rules, including the permit fees, stay limits and council examples, are in the guides. For the South West of WA, see free camping in the South West of WA.
Free camping near me: how to find places near you
A search for free camping near me cannot tell you whether a stop is allowed tonight. A map can tell you what is nearby, and the official page and the sign decide the rest. This is how to use both with Trek Eleven. Comparing apps? See our camping apps compared.
- Open the map. The Trek Eleven app is free in the App Store for iPhone and runs in your browser with no account; the Android app is on its way. Tap the locate button to centre the map on where you are. Open the app in your browser.
- Read what each place says about itself. Campsites and caravan parks from OpenStreetMap appear as unverified suggestions in their own layer. Rest areas and roadhouses beside the roads of Western Australia, New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia appear as supplied by those road agencies, and State Forest recreation sites appear for Victoria. Places we have not checked say so plainly.
- Look at the source and the date. Every fact shows where it came from and when. Where a list records no fee, the place says “recorded as free”, which is what the list says, not a promise that camping is allowed.
- Check the land manager. Use the table above to find your state’s guide, then read the manager’s page and the sign at the site.
- Set your rig once. Choose 2WD, AWD, 4WD, caravan, big rig or rooftop tent, and access notes are flagged for your vehicle.
You can also start from a town page. These list the campsites, caravan parks and rest areas on record near each town, from open data: Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Hobart, Cairns and Alice Springs. Saved and recently viewed places open with no signal, and offline maps are coming soon. If something is wrong, closed or washed out, you can report it from the place page. See how it works and how we check, or pick a place from all regions.
Fire bans in every state and territory
The names differ, and so do the rules, so use the official page for the state you are in. The ACT Emergency Services Agency says Australia’s Fire Danger Rating System was improved and simplified on 1 September 2022, and that fire and emergency services across the country now use consistent colours, signs and terms.24
- Western Australia. On a Total Fire Ban day it is illegal to light, maintain or use an open-air fire, including in forests and national parks. See the DFES page.25
- New South Wales. During a Total Fire Ban you cannot light, maintain or use a fire in the open. See the Rural Fire Service page.26
- Victoria. Campfires are banned on Total Fire Ban days. See the CFA page.2728
- Queensland. The state declares local fire bans for all or part of a council area, and does not use the term Total Fire Ban. Before you light any fire, including a camp fire, check for a ban. See the Queensland Fire Department page.7
- South Australia. A Total Fire Ban is declared on days with an Extreme or Catastrophic Fire Danger Rating, starts at midnight and lasts 24 hours. See the Country Fire Service page.29
- Tasmania. A Total Fire Ban can cover a council area, a region or the whole state, usually for 24 hours, and you cannot light any fires outside during one. See the Tasmania Fire Service page.30
- Northern Territory. Fire bans are declared for fire weather forecast areas, usually from midnight for up to 24 hours. You must not start a fire in the open air, though you may still use a gas or coal barbecue. See the NT Government page.31
- Australian Capital Territory. Campfires are only permitted in a few protected areas, and you must not light a fire on a Total Fire Ban day. See the Emergency Services Agency page and the Parks ACT campfires page.32
For the rules in every state and territory, see Total Fire Bans and fire danger ratings across Australia.
Leave no trace
Every land manager asks for the same thing: leave the place as you found it. Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania sets out the seven Leave No Trace principles on its page: plan ahead and prepare, walk and camp on durable surfaces, dispose of waste properly, leave what you find, minimise campfire impacts, respect wildlife, and be considerate of your hosts and other visitors.33 In practice:
- Pack out your rubbish. South Australian parks and Victorian state forests have no bins, and in Queensland parks and forests rubbish must be taken away wherever there is no bin. Take it all home.111234
- Keep away from water. Tasmania asks you to camp at least 50 metres from lakes and streams, and to wash up and wash yourself at least 50 metres from water.33
- Toilets. Use a toilet if there is one. If there is not, the burial depth and distance differ by state, so read the land manager’s page. NSW says at least 15 centimetres deep and 100 metres from streams, Victoria at least 30 centimetres and 100 metres from waterways, and Queensland at least 50 centimetres and 50 metres from lakes, watercourses, tracks and campsites.351234
- Use a fuel stove where you can. Many parts of Tasmania are fuel stove only areas, where fires are not permitted. Bring clean firewood where fires are allowed, as collecting firewood in parks is prohibited in Queensland and South Australia.333411
How to check a place before you stay
- Work out who manages the land: a national park, a forest, Crown land, a council or a road authority.
- Read that manager’s page and the sign at the entrance. A “no camping” sign settles it.
- Check the fire ban for the day, and any park alerts, road closures or permits.
- If you still cannot tell, ask the council or park office, or choose a place you are sure about.
Find places near you
Our region and Camping near pages list the campsites, caravan parks and rest areas on record in every state and territory, from open data. Each place says whether Trek Eleven has checked it, and unchecked places are only suggestions. They do not say that camping is allowed, free or open, so read the sources above first.
Sources
Every rule, fee and date above comes from one of these official pages, written up in our own words. We read each page on 29 October 2026; each source shows its own date. Rules change, so open the page itself before you rely on it.
- Frequently asked questions about campingQueensland Parks and Wildlife Service (Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation). Checked . The page shows a last updated date of 21 September 2026.
- Camping and picnics in State forestsForestry Corporation of NSW. Checked . We did not record a date shown on the page.
- Camping & caravan parksCairns Regional Council. Checked . The page shows a last updated date of 30 June 2025.
- Free Camping AreasKimba District Council. Checked . The page shows no date.
- Rest areasQueensland Government (qld.gov.au). Checked . The page shows a last updated date of 13 May 2021.
- Temporary accommodation and camping outside of caravan parksWA Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety. Checked . The page says it was last updated 18 June 2026.
- Fire bans and restrictionsQueensland Fire Department. Checked . The page shows a last updated date of 28 October 2026.
- Park passes and entry feesParks and Wildlife Service Tasmania. Checked . The page was last modified 1 July 2026.
- Friendly Beaches camping (Isaacs Point)Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania. Checked . The page was last modified 14 April 2022; its fire alert was reviewed 27 October 2026.
- Where and when to campParks and Wildlife Service (DBCA), Explore Parks WA. Checked . The page says it was last updated 21 September 2026.
- Camping in national parksNational Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia. Checked . The page shows no date.
- Camping (state forests)Victorian Government (vic.gov.au). Checked . The page says it was last updated 15 August 2025.
- Accommodation & CampingForestrySA. Checked . The page shows no date.
- Recreational use of Crown landNSW Department of Crown Lands. Checked . The page says it was updated 18 May 2026.
- Camping on roadsBrisbane City Council. Checked . The page shows no date.
- Regional and long distance driving (rest areas)Main Roads Western Australia. Checked .
- Rest areas and Driver ReviverNSW Government. Checked . The page shows no date of its own.
- Camping safety and rulesNSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. Checked . The page shows no date of its own.
- CampingParks Victoria. Checked .
- CampingThe Barossa Council. Checked . The page shows no date.
- How to prepare for a forest visitSustainable Timber Tasmania. Checked . The page shows no date of its own.
- Camping in parks and reservesNorthern Territory Government (nt.gov.au). Checked . The page's code records a last updated date of 2 September 2025.
- Where to stayParks and Conservation Service, ACT Government. Checked . The page shows no date.
- Fire Danger RatingsACT Emergency Services Agency. Checked . The page shows no date.
- Total fire banDepartment of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES). Checked .
- Total Fire Ban rulesNSW Rural Fire Service. Checked . The page shows no date of its own.
- Campfires, stoves and BBQs (state forests)Victorian Government (vic.gov.au). Checked . The page says it was last updated 15 August 2025.
- Total Fire Bans and Fire Danger RatingsCountry Fire Authority (CFA). Checked . The page says it was last updated 15 October 2026.
- Total Fire Bans & RatingsCountry Fire Service (South Australia). Checked . The page shows no date.
- Rules during Fire Permit Periods and Total Fire BansTasmania Fire Service. Checked . The page shows no date of its own.
- Fire bans and fire danger periodsNorthern Territory Government (nt.gov.au). Checked . The page shows no date.
- CampfiresParks and Conservation Service, ACT Government. Checked . The page shows no date.
- Leave No TraceParks and Wildlife Service Tasmania. Checked . The page shows no date.
- Legal requirements (camping in parks, state forests and recreation areas)Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation). Checked . The page shows a last reviewed date of 10 June 2026 and a last updated date of 18 October 2024.
- Considerate campingNSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. Checked . The page shows no date of its own.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Trek Eleven has not visited the places it mentions and does not say that any of them is open, safe or allowed.
Check before you go
Rules, fees, closures and fire bans change, and agencies can update their pages at any time. This guide is general information, not legal advice. Before you stay anywhere, read the sign on site and the land manager’s own page, and check fire bans and closures for where you are going.
- Western Australia: DFES Total Fire BanBans and what they mean
- New South Wales: Rural Fire ServiceRatings and Total Fire Bans
- Victoria: CFA Total Fire BansBans and ratings by district
- Queensland: fire bans and restrictionsLocal fire bans by council area
- South Australia: CFS Total Fire BansBans and ratings by district
- Tasmania: Tasmania Fire ServiceFire permit periods and bans
- Northern Territory: fire bans and fire danger periodsBans by fire weather area
- ACT: fire danger ratingsRatings and bans
- Bureau of Meteorology warningsStorms, floods and fire weather
