Australia has no single booking app for campsites. Each state's park agency runs its own system, holiday parks book through their own sites and chains, and private land uses separate marketplaces. Knowing which one to open for each state saves a lot of searching. We make AussieCamps, a directory app for finding campgrounds, so we have said where it fits and where you book on the agency's own site. The agency pages below were read in October and November 2026.
Quick comparison
Camping is booked state by state. The table shows where to book in each state and the one thing most likely to surprise you.
| State | Where to book | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | NSW National Parks website and app | Some campgrounds have no camping fee but online booking carries a booking fee; most state forest camping is free and first come, first served |
| Victoria | Parks Victoria website | Half-price fees at bookable campgrounds until July 2027; state forest campgrounds are free and cannot be booked |
| Queensland | Queensland Parks and Forests camping bookings | A permit is needed for every camp in a park, forest or recreation area; $7.75 a person or $31 a family a night from 1 July 2026 |
| Western Australia | Explore Parks WA (DBCA) | $10, $15 or $20 an adult a night by facilities, with park entry charged separately |
| South Australia | Parks SA booking system | Campsites and vehicle entry are booked online before arrival |
| Tasmania | Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania | A parks pass is needed even where camping is free; the Overland Track has its own booking |
| Northern Territory | NT Parks bookings | Book and pay online before you arrive; Larapinta and Jatbula Trail campsites use the same system |
1. NSW National Parks: website and app
New South Wales national park campgrounds are booked on the NSW National Parks website, and the free NSW National Parks app covers more than 225 parks and lets you locate campgrounds and book from the app. Camping fees are set campground by campground. A few have no camping fee at all, but an online booking carries a booking fee, so even a free night costs a few dollars to secure.
Most state forests are managed by the Forestry Corporation, where camping is free in most forests, first come, first served and limited to four weeks. They are not booked. The camping rules guide for NSW covers which is which.
- Book national park camps on the NPWS site or app
- Booking fee applies even to free camps
- State forests are first come, first served
2. Parks Victoria: bookable and free sites
Parks Victoria runs the booking system for its bookable campgrounds, and fees are half price at bookable campgrounds until July 2027. Some sites are free and still bookable. Victoria's state forest campgrounds are separate: they are free and not bookable, and dispersed camping is allowed away from waterways in many forests. Parks Victoria has no app, so you book on its website.
Popular coastal and Grampians campgrounds fill around Christmas and Easter, so book those first and leave the forest nights flexible.
- Half-price fees until July 2027
- State forest camps are free and not bookable
- No Parks Victoria app
3. Queensland Parks and Forests
Queensland is the strictest: a permit is needed for every camp in a national park, forest or recreation area, and it must be booked before you arrive. From 1 July 2026 camping costs $7.75 a person or $31 a family a night. Driving on K'gari and other sand islands needs a separate vehicle access permit, covered in our K'gari permits guide.
Rest areas are a different matter: Queensland's transport department says they are not camping sites or an accommodation option, with a 20-hour limit unless signed otherwise.
- Permit before arrival, every camp
- $7.75 a person or $31 a family a night
- Sand island vehicle permit is separate
4. Explore Parks WA
The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions books Western Australian national park camping on its Explore Parks site. Camping fees are $10, $15 or $20 an adult a night depending on the facilities, and park entry is charged separately, so add both when you cost a night.
Check the page for each park before you go, because the booking rules and fees are listed per campground.
- Camping fee plus park entry
- Fees set by facilities
- Rules listed per campground
5. South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory
South Australia books campsites and vehicle entry online before arrival through the Parks SA system. Tasmania's Parks and Wildlife Service requires a parks pass, even at free camps such as Cockle Creek and the Bay of Fires. Bookings for the Overland Track's 2026-27 season opened on 7 July 2026 through a virtual waiting room, and the peak December to March period was fully booked by 2pm that day.
In the Northern Territory you book and pay online before you arrive, and the same system covers Larapinta Trail and Jatbula Trail campsites. Fires are not allowed on the Larapinta Trail, which has a fuel stove only policy.
- SA: book online before you arrive
- Tasmania: parks pass even for free camps
- NT: book and pay online first
6. Holiday parks and private land
Holiday and caravan parks book direct or through their chain, and prices change with the season. G'day Parks books its own network of more than 350 parks, and its G'day Rewards membership costs $50 for two years with 10% off bookings, up to $50 each. Our holiday park price guide has published rates for powered, unpowered and cabin sites.
Farm, station and vineyard stays are sold through separate private-land marketplaces, which you pay per booking and which do not replace a national park permit.
- Check chain membership terms
- Peak seasons need minimum stays
- Private land is booked separately
7. AussieCamps: find the camp, then book it
AussieCamps is a directory, not a booking system for national park camps. It lists 1,838 campgrounds and 745 national parks, with each place's facilities, fees and rules as the state agency publishes them, and you can filter by cost, water, toilets, power and dogs, and save places to a trip. You then book on the agency's own system above.
Bookable holiday parks, motels and B&Bs from BookEasy can be booked in the app. It runs on iPhone and is free to download, with in-app purchases.
- Find and compare camps
- Book national parks on the agency site
- Holiday parks bookable in the app
How to book without losing a night
Look up the booking rules for the state before you plan the route, because the same trip can mix permits, passes and first-come camps. Book the peak dates first, such as school holidays, Christmas and Easter, and leave nights between them flexible for weather and road closures.
Check the cancellation terms on each system, and keep a screenshot of your confirmation in case you lose signal. If a campground is full, a nearby holiday park or a free state forest camp is usually the fallback, and our free camping apps guide covers where to find them.
- Book peak nights first
- Screenshot confirmations
- Keep a fallback camp
Places along the way
Check before you go
Rules and conditions change. Recheck the official source and the page for your exact park or campground before departure.
- NSW National Parks: campground accommodation booking FAQs
- Forestry Corporation NSW: camping in NSW state forests
- Parks Victoria: free camping in Victoria
- Victorian Government: camping
- Queensland Parks: camping bookings
- Explore Parks WA: camping fees
- Parks SA: booking FAQs
- Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania: camping
- Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania: Overland Track booking information
- Northern Territory Government: park bookings
- G'day Parks: G'day Rewards
Common questions
Is there one app that books every campsite in Australia?+
No. National park and state forest camping is booked on each state agency's own system, holiday parks book direct or through their chain, and private-land stays use separate marketplaces. A directory app helps you find places, but you usually book on the agency's site.
Do I have to book a national park campsite in advance?+
In Queensland, South Australia and the Northern Territory you book and pay online before you arrive, and Tasmania needs a parks pass. New South Wales and Victoria have both bookable and first-come or free campgrounds, so check the page for the one you want.
Why does a free campsite still cost something to book?+
Some New South Wales campgrounds have no camping fee, but booking online adds a booking fee. Tasmania's free camps still need a valid parks pass for park entry.
When should I book for summer and school holidays?+
As soon as you know your dates. Popular coastal and national park sites fill well ahead of Christmas, Easter and school holidays, and Tasmania's Overland Track sells its peak season within hours of opening in July.
Take it on the road
Save the stops. Plan the whole trip.
Build an ordered route from saved places, calculate the distance and keep dates, notes and to-dos attached.
