Selecting a campsite is the first big decision of any trip. Like real estate, it's about position, position, position. Get it right + the trip starts perfectly. Get it wrong + you're up at 2am tipping water out of your tent or trying to ignore the toilet smells.

Here's the practical guide to picking the right campsite — bush vs commercial, ground assessment, sun + drainage, fire pit considerations, water proximity, and the booking strategy for popular parks.

Photo by Adam Hornyak on Unsplash

• Use previously-camped sites wherever possible — minimises trampling new vegetation. Fire pits + earthworks are illegal or frowned upon in many areas
• Look for level ground — even a slight slope under a tent makes for restless sleep
• Slight slope AWAY from the tent site — drainage in case of rain
• Avoid camping under mature or diseased trees — falling limbs are a leading cause of camping fatalities. Big river gums are particularly notorious
• Check overhead for dead branches ("widow makers" — drop without warning)
• Caravan + camper trailer owners can be slightly less fussy about ground but still need:
  • Door not over a depression (water pools when raining)
  • Unit reasonably level for stove + sink + fridge to work properly

• Morning sun on the campsite is generally a good thing — dries dew/canvas quickly + gets solar panels working early
• Afternoon shade in summer is critical — direct hot afternoon sun on a tent makes it unbearable inside
• Eastern aspect is the sweet spot in most seasons (morning sun + afternoon shade)
• Wind shelter matters — set up behind natural windbreaks (rocks, dunes, vegetation), but never directly under unstable trees
• In winter, prioritise sun exposure for warmth
• In tropics, prioritise shade + breeze

Photo: Hani Ryad / Unsplash

• Use provided fire pits if present — usually mandatory in NPs + state forests
• Communal fire pits are increasingly common in NPs — pleasant social atmosphere but consider the noise factor (people stay around fires late)
• Individual fireplaces are excellent for cooking + private warmth
• NEVER build new fire rings in established areas where fire pits exist
• Total Fire Ban days = NO fires under any circumstances. Heavy penalties
• Have water + a shovel at any fire
• See our campfire guide for full method

Established campgrounds usually have toilet facilities — and being too close to them is a quick way to want to move:

• Foot traffic at all hours
• Door slams + voices through the night
• Smells from older facilities (especially long-drops in summer)
• Insects attracted to the area

The ideal: 30-50m away — close enough for a midnight bathroom run, far enough for peace.

Photo: Andres Siimon / Unsplash

Riverside camps are popular for good reason — the sound, the views, the easy water access. But they have real risks:

• Children + water — fast-flowing water + young kids is a fatal combination. Submerged branches catch even strong swimmers
• Camp BACK from the edge — 20m+ from the bank for safety. Can still be near, just not on top of
• Mosquitoes are far worse near water — particularly tropics
• Saltwater crocodiles in QLD + NT waterways above ~Mackay. NEVER camp on banks or beaches in croc country
• Flash flooding — dry sandy riverbeds look like ideal campsites in summer. They're not. Heavy rain kilometres upstream can flood instantly. Rule: NEVER camp in a riverbed, however dry it appears

• Pre-book popular NP campgrounds — Wilsons Prom, Cradle Mountain, Karijini, Kakadu Mardugal book out months ahead in peak season
• State NP websites are the booking system — book direct, not through third parties
• Walk-up campsites exist at less-popular sites — research before relying
• Best policy without booking — leave early, arrive by lunchtime to claim a site
• Travel just BEFORE peak season for best site selection — cleaner camps, more available firewood, fewer crowds
• Different states have different holiday periods — research peak times for each region

Conventional vehicles + caravans are limited to good roads + weather. The more nimble your setup, the more options you have:

• 4WD with camper trailer — opens off-road camps
• 4WD with swag/tent — opens the most remote camps
• Multiple sites known in advance — flexibility if first choice is full
• Wikicamps app — saves your shortlist; reviews + photos help avoid bad sites

The hidden bush camps you find on a 4WD trip into a less-trafficked area are often the trip's best memories — solitude, ambiance, your own space.

Site selection is the most underrated camping skill. The 10 minutes spent walking the campground + assessing options before unpacking pays back in better sleep, less hassle, more enjoyable trip.

Look for level ground with morning sun + afternoon shade, away from toilets + standing dead trees, near (but not on top of) water. Pre-book popular sites; explore for hidden gems on quieter trips. The site makes the trip.