Welcome to part four of our free and budget camping spots series by state — this time we’re covering beautiful South Australia. Keep reading to discover some awesome destinations that you can earmark for your next road trip.
If you missed the first part in this series covering the best free and budget camping spots in the Northern Territory, just hit this link to catch up. And if you missed the second instalment covering Queensland, go here to catch up. Likewise, click here for the third instalment covering Western Australia. Otherwise, welcome to part four where we’ll cover the best free and low-cost campsites of our country’s driest state, South Australia. If you’re after beautiful beaches, rustic outback experiences and everything in between, then look no further than SA for your next camping adventure in the great outdoors.
South Australia regions
South Australia is celebrated for its beautiful scenery, stunning natural landscapes, Mediterranean climate, renowned wine regions, gorgeous beaches and the remarkable Flinders Ranges. The state is divided into 12 official tourism regions: Flinders Ranges and Outback, Adelaide, Adelaide Hills, Barossa, Clare Valley, Eyre Peninsula, Fleurieu Peninsula, Limestone Coast, Riverland, Yorke Peninsula, Kangaroo Island and Murray River, Lakes and Coorong.
Below, we explore some of South Australia’s best camping options that are either free or budget friendly.
Camping grounds
Acraman Campground, Flinders Ranges and outback
Located in Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park, Acraman Campground offers a tranquil retreat about six hours’ drive north of Adelaide. Nestled between mountain ranges and southern cypress pine (Callitris gracilis) forests, it’s perfect for bushwalking, offroad driving and exploring landmarks such as Bunyeroo Gorge.
This small campground has only five sites (maximum occupancy is five people per site), so advance booking is essential via the National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia website . Facilities include a basic toilet and a water tank, though water quality and supply aren’t guaranteed, so visitors must be self-reliant. While a 4WD isn’t mandatory, it’s strongly advised due to road conditions. Camping fees are $14.50 per car per night.
Contact: parks.sa.gov.au/find-a-park or 08 8648 0048
Black Springs Campground, Eyre Peninsula
Situated in Coffin Bay National Park, Black Springs Campground is an idyllic spot about eight and a half hours’ drive from Adelaide. The remote beach location offers activities such as fishing, birdwatching and kayaking amidst stunning coastal scenery. There are eight unpowered campsites (maximum occupancy is five people per site), requiring bookings via the National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia website . Facilities are minimal, with just a long-drop toilet and picnic table. A 4WD is necessary to access the area, and the campground is suitable for swags, tents and offroad camper trailers only. Camping fees are $21.60 per car per night.
Some other camping options on the Eyre Peninsula include Talia Caves and Tumby Bay, bookable here .
Contact: parks.sa.gov.au/find-a-park or 08 8648 0048
*FREEBIE* Purnong Reserve, Murray River, Lakes and Coorong
This peaceful riverside camping spot is under two hours’ drive east of Adelaide and offers beautiful views of the Murray River. While there’s a 24-hour ferry nearby, the reserve remains largely serene. Basic amenities include only a toilet and rubbish bins, so campers must be self-sufficient. All vehicle types can access this free camping area.
Contact : Mannum Visitor Information Centre on 08 8569 1303 or email mannumvic@psmarion.com
Caravan parks
Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary, Flinders Ranges and outback
Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary (Credit: Robert Crack)
Arkaroola is a must-visit camping destination about eight hours’ drive northeast of Adelaide, near Vulkathunha-Gammon Ranges National Park. The sanctuary features 50 powered sites and an expansive bush campground across 300 hectares.
Facilities include a full camp kitchen (equipped with fridge/freezer, toaster, kettle and microwave oven), toilet and shower block, gas barbecues, picnic tables, coin-operated laundry and access to the swimming pool. While bookings aren’t required for unpowered camping, they are needed for powered sites. A 4WD is highly recommended for exploring the area and campers should bring their own potable water supply and firewood. Please note that there are no dump points.
Beverages and food can be purchased at the Pick and Shovel Bar and Native Pine licensed restaurant. Light snack food, ice creams and drinks can be purchased from the shop.
If you’re heading to Arkaroola from Adelaide and want to stretch your legs en route, the walking trails in Mount Remarkable National Park are highly recommended. Vehicle entry fees apply and can be paid online here.
Contact: arkaroola.com.au or 08 8648 4848
Brighton Caravan Park, Adelaide
Located just 30 minutes from Adelaide’s CBD, Brighton Caravan Park sits along family-friendly Brighton Beach. The park provides various accommodation options, from villas and cabins to powered and unpowered camping sites.
Amenities include a well-equipped camp kitchen (hotplates, microwaves and fridges), toilet and shower blocks, free wi-fi, laundry and dump point. All vehicle types can access the park. Fees apply.
Contact: brightonholidaypark.com.au/ or 08 8377 0833
Port Broughton Tourist Park, Yorke Peninsula
This well-equipped holiday park is a two-hour drive northwest of Adelaide and offers a range of facilities, including waterslide, playground, pump track and jumping pillow for kids, swimming pool and nine-hole mini golf. Accommodation includes cabins and campsites for tents and RVs.
Facilities include a camp kitchen (including gas barbecues and pizza ovens), barbecue areas, free wi-fi and camp laundry. All vehicles can access the park, and fees apply. Great boat ramp facilities are only a short drive away.
Contact: portbroughtontouristpark.com.au , gdayparks.com.au or 08 8635 2188
Waterside camping in Port Broughton South Australia Image Credit Big 4 Holiday Parks
Bush camps
Barkers Rocks, Yorke Peninsula
Barkers Rocks is a beachside bush camp located approximately 13km from Minlaton, roughly west of Adelaide as the crow flies. As you’ll need to drive around the Gulf St Vincent, it’ll take you about two and a half hours to drive there from Adelaide.
This bush camp features two camping areas — one near the beach and another behind dunes for more privacy.
The campground accommodates tents, camper trailers and RVs but facilities are limited to drop toilets, so you’ll need to be fully self-sufficient. Fees are $20 per car per night and bookings are required (sites are unallocated). Your Bush Camping Permit grants you access to the bin bank at the Minlaton Town Oval, and there is a dump point here too. With a bakery, pharmacy, butcher, supermarket, service station and the Minlaton Hotel (with bottle shop), Minlaton is the ideal place to stock up on supplies.
Contact: visityorkepeninsula.com.au/camping or 08 8832 0000
Casuarina Campground, Yorke Peninsula
Situated near Pondalowie Bay, this campground in Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park is perfect for surfers and beach lovers. It’s three and a half hours’ drive from Adelaide and offers 10 unpowered sites (maximum occupancy is five people per site) suitable for tents or camper trailers (caravans and big rigs are not permitted).
Facilities include a long-drop toilet, and campers must bring all their supplies. Fees are $25.80 per site per night, and bookings are required in advance via the National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia website.
Contact: parks.sa.gov.au/parks/dhilba-guuranda-innes-national-park
West Cape Beach Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park (Credit: Robert Crack)
*FREEBIE* Voakes Hill Corner, Flinders Ranges and outback
Located 17 hours northwest of Adelaide on the Anne Beadell Highway, Voakes Hill Corner offers open camping spaces for tents and swags. This is a very remote track junction in the Mamungari Conservation Park and campers must be fully self-sufficient, as there are no facilities. A 4WD is necessary.
*FREEBIE* Red Banks Conservation Park, Clare Valley
For 100 per cent self-sufficient campers only since there no potable water and wood fires and solid fuel fires are prohibited, this conservation park has 10 unpowered sites suitable for swags, tents, camper trailers, caravans and motorhomes. There are pit toilets. Gas fires and liquid fuel fires are permitted except on days of total fire ban.
Fees don’t apply and this campground cannot be booked in advance. As this is a gazetted conservation park which is home to protected fauna, dogs are not permitted.
Contact: National Parks and Wildlife Service (Yorke and Mid North Office) on 08 8841 3400 or email YorkeandMidNorth.NPW@sa.gov.au
Overnight rest areas
We include this section with the caveat that Rest Areas exist to help manage driver fatigue, not drive when tired and in doing so, hopefully not add your number to the road toll. Here at A247, we acknowledge that Rest Areas are not camping areas.
While the Government of South Australia’s Department for Infrastructure and Transport acknowledges that overnight stays in rest areas are acceptable for fatigue management, it discourages stays longer than 24 hours.
Be sure not to stop in any heavy vehicle rest areas (white on blue ‘P’ with a truck icon); these are exclusively for commercial heavy vehicles (and no, your motorhome does not count) and it is illegal for general and recreational vehicles to use them.
If you are looking for somewhere to set up for multiple nights, don’t do so in a Rest Area. It is neither designed to be, nor is it capable of being, a camping area or a caravan park.
*FREEBIE* Frank Potts Reserve, Fleurieu Peninsula
This free camping area owned by Alexandrina Council is an hour southeast of Adelaide and offers shady riverside spots near the Bremer River. Amenities include accessible toilets and picnic tables. Stays are limited to 72 hours. Suitable for camping, caravans and motorhomes, sites are not designation and cannot be booked in advance. A fee of $5 per night applies however it is not payable online; it is payable into an honesty box.
Campfires are not permitted, and generators cannot be used between 7.00pm and 8.00am.
Frank Potts Reserve is only a stone’s throw from Kimbolton Wines and The Winehouse, and around a kilometre from the Langhorne Creek General Store and The Bridge Hotel Langhorne Creek. The Bridge Hotel is open for lunch and dinner from Wednesday to Sunday, and dinner on Tuesday. It is closed on Mondays.
Contact: alexandrina.sa.gov.au/ or 08 8555 7000
*FREEBIE* Millicent South Rest Area
This is the perfect place to stay if you’re travelling to or from the Coorong National Park. Located only a handful of kilometres from Millicent on the Princes Highway towards Mount Gambier is a designated stay area for fully self-contained motorhomes and recreational vehicles only. The maximum stay is one night. Camping is not permitted, and the Wattle Range Council stipulates that self-contained motorhomes and RVs must have their own power supply, onboard shower, onboard toilet and blackwater storage. Non-self-contained campervans, caravans, camper trailer and tents are prohibited; campers with these are encouraged to book a stay at any of the holiday parks in Millicent, Southend, Beachport or Penola.
Parks and ovals
Greenock Centenary Park, Barossa
Just an hour north of Adelaide, this peaceful park is a great spot adjacent to a cricket ground and is flecked with beautiful eucalypts. It is only a hop, skip and a jump away from Nuriootpa, Tanunda, Angaston and the Barossa Valley’s renowned wineries and cellar doors.
Featuring barbecue facilities, kids’ playground, accessible toilets, potable water and a dump point for blackwater and greywater, this location doesn’t require pre-bookings (first-come, first-served basis). Fees of $5 per vehicle per night apply (payable via the honesty box), with a maximum stay of seven nights. Camping must be in RVs only, with no tents or swags permitted unless prior approval has been sought from — and granted by — the Park Management Committee. Sleeping in cars is prohibited.
Well-behaved dogs are permitted but must be kept on the leash at all times. Fires are not permitted, with the exception of the wood fired stone barbecue. Generators cannot be used between 8.00pm and 8.00am. Camping around the perimeter of the cricket oval is not permitted between 01 October and 31 March since this is cricket season.
Contact: light.sa.gov.au or 08 8525 3200
*FREEBIE* Tarlee Oval, Clare Valley
Located an hour north of Adelaide, Tarlee Oval provides free unpowered sites (donations are nonetheless appreciated!) and powered sites for $10 per night. Facilities include accessible toilets, potable water and picnic tables.
*FREEBIE* Blyth Town Oval, Clare Valley
This free, unpowered campground is accessible to campers and caravans of all shapes and sizes, with a maximum stay of 96 hours. There are toilet facilities, rubbish bins and potable water available.
A short stroll away in the Padnaindi Reserve on South Terrace there are barbecue facilities and sheltered seating in the picnic shed. Here too are 16 laser-cut panels depicting the agricultural history of the Blyth Plains.
*FREEBIE* Duncan Park, Farrell Flat, Clare Valley
This free RV camping ground (donations are very much appreciated!) has toilets, a dump point, barbecue facilities, an off-leash dog park, fitness equipment and kids’ playground. The maximum stay is 72 hours.
Be sure to check out the Farrell Flat Silo Art during your stay. It’s just over the road from the Farrell Flat Hotel, licensed since the early 1870s. If that’s not a perfect excuse to buy an icy cold frothy from the public bar or some pub food in the lounge bar after you’ve taken in the silo art, we’d like to know what is.
*FREEBIE* Hamley Bridge Sports and Recreation Grounds, Clare Valley
You can park up here for free, with a maximum stay of 48 hours. This campground only permits RV camping; swags, tents and sleeping in cars are not permitted. Facilities include toilets, a dump point and potable water. The Hamley Bridge General Store and Post Office, a pharmacy and the beautifully restored 1870s pub, the Hamley Bridge Hotel, are only a short walk (a few hundred metres) away.
Contact: For further information on these camping locations in the Clare Valley, visit clarevalley.com.au/ or phone 08 88422131
