Free camping options between Newcastle and QLD border(Coast)

Mate,
When I am travelling the last place I want to wake up is a carpark somewhere unless I really have to....
There are plenty of national parks up the coast with some of the best spots to camp for only $7 a night, but you may need to get a national parks vehicle pass.
Bundjalung, Yuragir, Crowdy bay, Hat head, Myall lakes NP's andmost of them are either on the beach or a short walk to the beach.
Have a look on the nsw np website
Peter

Hi dieselsmells,

I think you will find that most carparks have signs stating 'no staying overnight'. You can probably get away with it in more remote spots but local police and council rangers love moving people along.

There are no free camps anywhere along the coast that I know of and I've checked out just about everywhere between the border and North of Foster. There are plenty of good surf spots with uncrowded waves though!

Most camping is either National Parks or council camp grounds. There is a plethora of caravan parks of course.

If you are interested I can email you with what I think are some great spots with good waves and give you directions etc. You must keep them secret of course ;-))

regards

Brian

Thanks for the tips,
My emphasise was venturing on the road less travelled rather than dodging fee's,just think it would be great to travel light which a larger station wagon allows.It has my mind thinking now on the logistics of what to take, as I am definitely not a minimalist when it comes to touring.
cheers Peter

There is quite a good spot for a free camp at Wenonah Head which is just south of Urunga. As others have said, the coast is heavily commercialised. One option for free camps is to use state forests, some of which are quite close to the coast.

Enjoy your trip. Vehicle based camping is very do-able, providing you have a bit of a system about where things go in the vehicle. It may take a few trips to get it worked out so that you can set up camp quickly and easily, but once you have the beasics sorted you will have a great time.

cheers,

Val.

Hi Desielsmells,
Strange name. Anyway,
Many years ago we traveled from Byron to Canberra and traveled from Cresent Head to Port Macquarie on a trip down the coast. It was a dirt road back then, (15 years ago).Cost bugger all at a spot called Delicate Nobby, it's along Point Pioneer Rd. There were a few camp sites along this road and quiet a few point breaks. As extfilm, has mentioned (Bundjalung, Yuragir, Crowdy bay, Hat head, Myall lakes NP's) these have some top spots to stay. There's also Sandon, just south of Brooms Head. Minnie Waters, Wooli.
The road between Wooli and Brooms Head is closed at certain times, Check with the shop or pub at Wooli.
Unfortunately it is frowned upon to stay in carparks. Twenty years ago that we did, not any more.
As others have said check out NP State Forrest.

Have Fun.

May I suggest one of the best investments we made was Camps 4 Australia. This will give you almost all the wayside free camps all over Australia.

Cheers
racey