by Gabriella Vukman
Winding vineyards bespeckled with brilliant bursts of evergreen and the constant squeal of cicadas ringing throughout the wooded hills are each indicators of summer time in the Yarra Ranges.
Where the assimilation of these summer months with peak tourism season may prompt locals to escape the hullabaloo and venture elsewhere, Parks Victoria has unveiled an opportunity for both tourists and locals to really get to know the Yarra Ranges.
As of Monday the 14th of October, Parks Victoria has announced free camping across 131 camping grounds from the first of December to June 2025.
Chief Ranger at Parks Victoria Conrad Annal said, “We’re delighted to welcome even more campers to parks in the Yarra Ranges this summer to enjoy the health and wellbeing benefits of being in nature.”
“Thanks to this initiative, camping at the Upper Yarra Reservoir will be free, but bookings are still essential. It’s a beautiful area with lots of native wildlife and easy access to the river,” he said.
“There are many other free camping opportunities in the region that don’t have to be booked, including in the Bunyip State Park – there’s something for everyone to experience in this special part of Victoria.”
Home to many of the available 131 free camping grounds, the Yarra Ranges provides both an ecologically and culturally diverse place for both tourists and locals alike to explore.
Without further ado, here is a list of five of the best free camping grounds the Yarra Ranges has to offer.
Bunyip State Park.
Located in Gembrook, this state park offers an array of diverse ecosystems. From heathland to waterfalls, to towering mountain ash forests to swamps, this state park welcomes horses, trail bikes and four wheel drives but can also be traversed through its many trails on foot.
Upper Yarra Reservoir Park
Located in Warburton, this camping area offers meandering walks beneath the shade of tall eucalyptus and through green fern gullies. Whether it is enjoying some reprieve in the crisp melt waters of the Yarra River or keeping an eye out for platypus, Swamp Wallabies and wombats, this secluded space proves a great way to experience the unique nature the Yarra Ranges has to offer.
The Gums Campground
Oriented in King Lake National Park among the slopes of the Great Dividing Range, this campground is ideal for families and small groups. Equipped with picnic tables, non-flush toilets and barbeques, The Gums Campground is a great place to meander through tall eucalypts and leafy bracken or pull up a chair and listen to the chattering of the Island Creek.
Longridge Campground
Situated 24 km north east of Melbourne in Warrandyte, Longridge Campground runs alongside the Yarra River. This campground can accommodate large groups of up to 40 people and there is a canoe ramp located 100 metres from the campground’s entrance. Equipped with toilets and showers among other amenities, this campsite offers both tourists and locals a whimsical immersion into Warrandyte’s superb nature.
Kurth Kiln Regional Park
With options to camp at the Scout Loop or Magazine campsites, the Kurth Kiln Regional Park straddles Yellingbo, Gembrook and borders Launching Place. The Park gets its namesake from a charcoal Kiln that was built during the second world war. The purpose of the kiln was to provide an alternate fuel source to petrol. Campers can view rare plants such as Long Pink Bells among a rich variety of other flora and fauna at the park.
Parks Victoria’s free campground initiative stems from a 9 million dollar grant from the Victorian Government.
According to the Parks Victoria website, the free campground initiative will not interfere with Parks Victoria’s maintenance funding.
Despite these 131 camping grounds now being free for all, bookings via the Parks Victoria website are still essential.
Whilst booking fees will still be charged on Park’s Victoria’s website, the fees for campsites that fall under the 131 free camping grounds, these booking fees will be refunded at a later date.
For more information visit the Parks Victoria Website at: https://www.outdoorsvictoria.org.au/free-camping-at-parks-victoria-dec-2024-jun-2025/#:~:text=Key%20messages-,Camping%20in%20131%20of%20Parks%20Victoria’s%20paid%20campgrounds%20will%20be,will%20be%20honoured%20and%20refunded.
