Although there aren’t really any good campgrounds within the city of Brisbane, that doesn’t mean locals have to miss out when it comes to camping.
There are plenty of fantastic bush, beach and lake campgrounds within a 2-hour drive of Brisbane and in this guide, we will review 10 of them.
Covering an area that extends from the very northern tip of the Sunshine Coast into the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, these campgrounds offer everything from wonderful holiday parks that feature top-of-the-range glamping style accommodation, to rustic bush sites for self-sufficient campers that have next to no facilities.
All of the campgrounds that feature on this list offer unique destinations in which to immerse nature.
So if you love camping, and are looking for some inspiration on where you can visit on your next getaway, please keep on reading until the end to discover all the options.
Recommended Bush, Beach and Lake Campgrounds near Brisbane
Outlined below is a selection of bush, beach and lake campgrounds you may wish to consider for your next getaway.
For your convenience they have been split into these categories, and where appropriate addresses have also been provided.
Best Bush Campgrounds within 2 hours of Brisbane
The bush campgrounds outlined below are all within a 2-hour drive either north or south of Brisbane. Some of the sites included below are more akin to countryside or rainforest camping, but they have been included in this section anyway.
Bigriggen Park
Location: 196 Bigriggen Rd
Situated at the foot of the imposing Mt Barney, about 110 km south of the Brisbane CBD, Bigriggen Park is a lovely destination for those who love bush camping.
Located on lush, 100-acre bushland which features meandering rivers, this stunning campground is a great base for swimming, bike riding and fishing. It is also home to a diverse range of native wildlife including kangaroos, possums, kookaburras and parrots.
Bigriggen Park is a dog-friendly site that offers 30 powered sites and 60 non-powered sites. Its main facilities include toilets, hot showers which are coin-operated and a small kiosk where you can buy basic groceries and firewood for campfires.
If you are looking to get away to somewhere isolated and remote, this is an excellent option. For despite only being a 90-minute drive from Brisbane, its location will make you feel like you are on the other side of the world from it.
Yarramalong Park
Location: 688 Lake Moogerah Rd, Charlwood
Looking for a creek-side camping site not far from Brisbane? Well, Yarramalong Park should fit the bill nicely.
Close to Lake Moogerah, the campground sits on a 160-acre property, within the Scenic Rim. Running alongside it is Reynolds Creek, a fantastic year-round waterway that is excellent for swimming, fishing or kayaking.
When not in the water you can enjoy many trails for bushwalking, as well as spot native wildlife like koalas, platypus, wallabies, bilbies and possums.
Yarramalong Park offers one cabin, as well as several unpowered sites, so is more suited for self-sufficient campers.
Its onsite amenities include toilets, hot showers, campfires, BBQs and a small kiosk, and at just 95 km from the Brisbane CBD, this campground can be reached within a 90-minute drive.
Thunderbird Park Camping
Location: Corner Tamborine Mountain Rd &, Cedar Creek Falls Rd, Tamborine Mountain
The Thunderbird Park Camping is really more of a rainforest than a bush setting, however, we’ve included it in this section nonetheless.
At just 67 km from the Brisbane CBD, this is one of the closest campgrounds on the list to the city, usually taking less than an hour to get there.
Set within 112 hectares of subtropical rainforest, this campground borders the Tamborine National Park. It is a wonderful destination for families, as it features a huge range of activities including horse riding, mini golf, ziplining, laser skirmish and thunderegg fossicking.
Running throughout the grounds is the picturesque Cedar Creek, which features a stunning lookout and a collection of larger rock pools. While the attractions of Mt Tamborine are also within easy reach of the campground.
The camping options at Thunderbird Park include several unpowered and powered sites, in addition to bush lodges as well.
Visitors can enjoy the use of toilets, laundry, a camp kitchen, BBQs and fire pits. There is even a restaurant and bar onsite as well as a kiosk, tennis courts and volleyball court.
Thunderbird Park is another pet-friendly site, which means your pooch doesn’t have to miss out if you choose to come here.
Kenilworth Camping
Location: 18 Paulger Rd, Kenilworth
Up on the Sunshine Coast, Kenilworth Camping is set within a scenic dairy farm that is located by the Mary River.
Popular with families, this site is about 150 km and a two-hour drive north of Brisbane. Offering breathtaking scenery and plenty of things to see and do, it is a popular weekend and school holiday destination.
Spread across 580 acres and with the Mary River winding for 5 km through it, Kenilworth offers real camping in nature. Cows freely roam through the property, whilst you always have a very good chance to see a platypus in the river.
The river itself is a great spot for fishing, kayaking, SUP and swimming, while the surrounding area is perfect for hiking.
The dog-friendly site presents plenty of non-powered camping spots, which are more suited to self-sufficient campers. Onsite amenities include toilets, but unfortunately no showers, while campfires are permitted.
Situated just 2 km from all the shops and cafes in town, a stay at Kenilworth Camping gives you all the natural scenic beauty of bush camping, with the benefits of being near a town.
Best Beach Campgrounds within 2 hours of Brisbane
Within a 2 hour drive of Brisbane, there are a plethora of sensational beaches, quite a few of which offer camping options.
Outlined below are some of the most popular of them.
Moreton Island
Location: Moreton Island
Getting to Moreton Island will take you about 2 hours all up, which includes the drive to the Port of Brisbane and the ferry transit across. However, once you are there you will be presented with a fantastic landscape of sensational beaches, huge sand dunes, stunning waterways and a very good beach campground.
One of the highlights of the area is the Tangalooma Wrecks, which is a fantastic spot for kayaking, SUP and snorkelling. While other drawcards include the Blue Lagoon, the spectacular natural Champagne Pools and the stunning Honeymoon Bay.
There are several campsites on the island, most of which can only be reached by 4WD on the beach, as there are no roads whatsoever.
Those who don’t have a 4WD tend to carry all their gear off the barge and head to The Wrecks campsite, very close to where it docks.
However, those with a 4WD can choose between several sites including the Blue Lagoon, North Point, Comboyuro Point, Ben-Ewa and The Wrecks. Facilities at all of them are fairly limited, though most do have toilets and showers as a minimum.
Outside of these camping sites there are also designated camping zones where you can set yourself up as well. Although they have no facilities at all. So you will need to bring everything you require with you.
For those who don’t fancy carrying all their equipment over on the barge to the island, there is even a glamping option at Castaways which you can simply rock up and enjoy (assuming you have made a booking!).
Cotton Tree Holiday Park
Location: Cotton Tree Parade, Cotton Tree
Arguably the most popular beachside campground on the Sunshine Coast is the Cotton Tree Holiday Park.
Situated on the gentle waters of the Maroochydore River, this huge holiday park offers 93 powered and 29 non-powered tent sites. In addition, it also has 280 powered van sites, as well as several cabins available.
Be aware that these sites are small, so other campers are right next to you. However, as the campground is right next to the sand it does offer plenty of opportunities for swimming, kayaking, SUP and boogie board. The adjacent Maroochydore Beach also offers plenty of opportunities for surfing.
Practically next door to the campground is also a massive public swimming pool, as well as a very well-equipped children’s playground. In addition, there is a parade of cafes and shops directly opposite the holiday park. While the Sunshine Plaza, which offers over 300 outlets is just a 5-minute drive away.
Located just 105 km and a 90-minute drive north of Brisbane, this holiday park also has toilets, warm showers and a camp kitchen, as well as a kiosk that sells all the basics you might need.
NRMA Treasure Island Holiday Resort
Location: 117 Brisbane Rd, Biggera Waters
Down on the Gold Coast, towards its northern end at Biggera Waters, you’ll find the NRMA Treasure Island Holiday Resort.
An excellent beach camping option near Brisbane, the site is just 70 km from the Brisbane CBD and can be reached within an hour’s drive.
It’s a brilliant place for families, with everything from a waterpark, 4 swimming pools and 3 playgrounds, to a jumping pillow, go-karts and mini golf to keep you occupied. While the beaches of Surfer’s Paradise, Broadbeach, Miami and Burleigh Heads are all within easy reach, as are the shops at Harbour Town.
Accommodation options here incorporate 99 powered sites, as well as 106 fully self-contained cabins. Some of which are pet friendly. Amongst its most notable facilities are toilets, hot showers, a bistro, licensed bar, camp kitchen, BBQ areas, kiosk and laundry.
For its sheer location, a diverse range of amenities and facilities and its relative proximity to Brisbane, the NRMA Treasure Island Holiday Resort is very hard to beat as a beach camping location.
Lake Campgrounds within a 2-hour drive of Brisbane
There are a number of gorgeous lakes within a 2-hour drive of Brisbane that provides camping options. Outlined below are some of the most notable of them.
Lake Moogerah Caravan Park
Location: 1 Muller Park Rd, Moogerah
Nestled on the shore of the picturesque Lake Moogerah is the perfect camping spot for those who love water sports.
Characterised by its tranquillity, the Lake Moogerah Caravan Park is around 100 km from the Brisbane CBD. So after driving 90 minutes to get here you will well and truly feel like you are within the bosom of nature.
The lake provides wonderful opportunities for fishing, as well as water skiing, kayaking, swimming and SUP. Within an easy drive, there are also numerous wineries, as well as a lavender farm you can visit. While plenty of bushwalking trails will allow you to explore the area on foot.
Offering both powered and non-powered sites, this campground also has a cabin and one large house for guests to stay at. Its amenities include toilets and hot showers, as well as laundry, a camp kitchen and fire pits.
In addition, there are boat ramps, a small playground and the opportunity to hire boats and kayaks too.
NRMA Lake Somerset Holiday Park
Location: 78 Kirkleagh Rd, Hazeldean
If you fancy heading to Lake Somerset then there are a few camping options available to you. But one of the best of them is the NRMA Lake Somerset Holiday Park.
Set on 45 hectares, this picturesque campground is nestled upon Lake Somerset’s northern shores, not far from the towns of Woodfood, Esk and Kilcoy.
Situated about 113 km from the Brisbane CBD, it will take you about 90 minutes to get there, so it is a great option for a weekend camping getaway. Particularly if you love water sports like swimming, tubing, jet skiing, kayaking, SUP and fishing, of which the opportunities are plentiful.
The holiday park presents several powered and non-powered campsites, as well as cabins and safari tents, to suit all camping preferences.
It also has mini golf, a small playground and a basketball court on-site, as well as kids’ activities during the school holidays. While its facilities include a camp kitchen, laundry, BBQ areas, a fish cleaning station, a boat ramp and a small kiosk.
Captain Logan and Lumley Hill Campgrounds at Lake Wivenhoe
Location: Logan Inlet Road, Logan Complex, Lake Wivenhoe
Not one, but two campsites, both the Captain Logan and Lumley Hill Campgrounds enjoy a splendid position on the edge of Lake Wivenhoe.
Framed by spectacular bushland, these shaded campsites lie in the shadow of stately trees and put you well and truly in the heart of nature. Wildlife like kangaroos, koalas, ducks, possums, pelicans and birdlife abounds.
Situated about 80 km from Brisbane, they can be reached within an hour’s drive. Both feature powered and non-powered sites, which are supported by amenities like toilets, showers, BBQs and campfires.
The perfect place to come for a relaxing escape from city life, guests at these campgrounds can enjoy a range of recreational water sports activities like fishing, swimming, SUP and kayaking. While there is even a picturesque beach which you can sunbathe on and lots of wide open grassy areas to play ball sports.
For kids, several playgrounds are dotted around the general area, while those who enjoy hiking and photography can find plenty of trails for them to explore.
Conclusion
So there you have it! Our overview of 10 fantastic bush, beach and lake campgrounds within a 2-hour drive of Brisbane.
We hope this guide has given you plenty of ideas of where you can go on your next camping trip.
The whole area between the northern tip of the Sunshine Coast and the Northern Rivers part of New South Wales provides plenty of outstanding options for campers.
Whichever of these campgrounds you choose to go to, we are sure you will have a fantastic time.
