If Australia has a playground, surely, it’s the Sunshine Coast.
White sand, blue seas, lush hinterland… This 60-kilometre stretch of the east is famous for sunny days and sultry nights.
It’s also diverse in flora and fauna, creeks, lakes and adventures – perfect for camping at one of the many idyllic spots.
Here are six of the best!
1. Teewah Beach Campground, Cooloola Recreation Area
If your idea of the perfect camping trip involves spending your day exploring remote dunes, then unwinding by the waves, this site inside Great Sandy National Park is the place for you.
The fishing here is great, with abundant flathead and bream, but it’s also ideal for simply unwinding in the sun.
If you’re camping with kids, they’ll love sliding down the dunes before cooling off in the sea. Visit in winter and you may even spot migrating humpbacks!
Located 2-and-a-half hours from Brisbane, Teewah Beach is a little off the beaten track – you’ll need high 4WD clearance and a short trip on the Noosa River Ferry to reach it.
While campsites are open, you’ll need to book ahead, and make sure you’re well-equipped – facilities are scarce.
2. Cobb & Co Nine Mile Camping Grounds, Six Mile Creek
A family-owned private campsite perched just south of Gympie, this huge recreation area is ideal for families who want to escape and reconnect.
Spanning 50 acres, there is room – and activities – for everyone.
The little ones will love the playgrounds, bike track and waterslide, while mum and dad will appreciate the space and serenity of the freshwater billabong.
The sites are all unpowered, and, aside from BYO accommodation, there’s a variety of cabins, glamping tents and even gypsy wagons for something unique.
Rates are pretty reasonable too; $15-17 per adult, and dogs on-leash are welcome.
3. Bluff Creek Campground, Kenliworth
While famous for surf, there’s a whole world to explore inland of the Sunshine Coast, too, like Kenliworth, home to the Bluff Creek Campground.
Here you’ll find 100 acres of creek-front lodgings from which you can access the Mary River.
Canoe, swim, mountain bike, horse ride – it’s a prime spot for fun activities, but the beautiful views and abundant nature make it a great place to do nothing, too.
It’s also ideal for those who want to escape but don’t want to rough it, thanks to creature comforts like hot showers and flushing toilets.
Plus, even though it’s an idyllic getaway, it’s not too far from some fantastic eating spots, so if you tire of beans and marshmallows, you can skip them.
4. Noosa North Shore Beachfront Campground
No list would be complete without this haven, one of the most popular with campers.
Boasting by-the-beach camping with loads to do, this site on the picturesque Cooloola Coast feels like you’ve left civilisation far behind.
While you’ll need to hop the Tewantin Ferry to access the beach, the campsite itself is the only 2WD-friendly one in the area (which means you must book early!)
Choose from one of 40 powered and 45 unpowered sites, and be sure to stock up at nearby Noosa, as there’s little more than toilets and showers here.
A beautiful base for surfing, fishing and bushwalking, it’s also home to gorgeous native animals, including goannas and ‘roos (which does mean your dog will have to stay home).
5. Booloumba Creek Camping, Conondale
You’ll need a 4WD to reach the three campsites here, but they’re well worth it for those seeking a tranquil hinterland hideaway.
If you’re happy in a tent and long for the emerald surrounds of the rainforest, head for areas one and three, where 24 secluded sites set amid lush greenery will soothe the soul.
Those travelling with high clearance caravans, campervans and trailers must make tracks for site four, an open forest site where up to 120 campers can rest in undefined sites.
However you get here, you’ll be met with crystal clear water and an abundance of birdlife and other fauna.
Facilities are limited, but the price can’t be beaten – just $6.85 per person, and $27.40 per family per night!
6. Habitat Noosa, Elanda Point
A mere 25 minutes from laid-back Noosa, this campsite is an eco-friendly paradise that respects its breath-taking location.
Nestled in 65 acres of tranquil bushland, this camp offers unpowered waterfront and bushland sites from $35 per night, plus solar-powered sites, and even glamping tents (around $250 per night).
Far from ‘roughing it’ this site boasts a café and restaurant, plus loads of fun things to do including watercraft hire and a golf course.
Several tours can also be booked from here, so you can explore the surrounds in style, such as kayaking through the glorious Noosa everglades.
The Sunshine Coast is a great gateway to the unique experiences Queensland offers.
From family-friendly parks to off-the-grid getaways, the state’s best camping awaits, so get packing!
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