Free camping confirmed for millions of Aussies in major cost-of-living move

From December, Aussies from any state that are keen on a camping trip in Victoria will have all booking fees waived.

A woman walking on the road (left) and a campsite in Victoria (right).
Millions of Australians will soon be able to book a free camping trip in one Australian state. Source: Getty

Millions of Australians around the country will be eligible to book a free camping trip in the coming months as governments seek to reduce the cost of living burden coming into summer

From December, Aussies from any jurisdiction that are keen on a camping trip in Victoria will have all booking fees waived, in a measure announced by Premier Jacinta Allan on Sunday, aimed at making travelling domestically more affordable.

Camping will be free at all 131 of Parks Victoria’s paid campgrounds from December 1, 2024, until June 30, 2025 — saving families an estimated $7.3 million in booking fees, according to the state government.

Camping and recreation contributes more than $2.1 billion a year to the Victorian economy and supports 20,000 jobs. Source: Parks Victoria
Camping and recreation contributes more than $2.1 billion a year to the Victorian economy and supports 20,000 jobs. Source: Parks Victoria

Allan said in the midst of some of the most trying times for families in recent memory, everyone deserves a break.

"Busy families deserve a great holiday in our great outdoors – and this summer, they can stay for free," she said. "I grew up camping with my family and those special memories have stayed with me forever."

Some 50 million people visit Victoria’s iconic state forests and national parks every year for activities including camping, hiking, fishing and hunting and four-wheel driving. Those who have already booked a camping trip before the promotion's commencement date will still have the offer honoured, with full refunds available online.

According to the state government, camping and recreation contributes more than $2.1 billion a year to the Victorian economy and supports 20,000 jobs — most of which are located in regional communities.

Family camping by the sea with dramatic sky at sunset.

All bookings and refunds under the scheme can be made at parks.vic.gov.au

In Victoria, camping at state and national parks ranges from $3 per night at Mt Arapiles to $40.70 a night at Tidal River. Data shows that Australians took 15.3 million caravan and camping trips and related spending was at $14.3 billion last year — an all-time high.

But as those travelling the country's most stunning locations look to do so on a budget, and availability struggles to keep up with demand, illegal camping has become a growing problem.

Across the country, local authorities are tackling issues as a result of the rise in popularity of camping. Exmouth, a small resort town in WA's North West Cape, has dealt with soaring levels of illegal camping which has left residents and local authorities at odds over how best to manage the problem.

The council has voted to increase the amount of funding allocated to address the issue of illegal camping to $200,000 and has opened a new campground to help combat the problem.

Other councils in WA have rolled out new booking systems and increased enforcement to "clamp down" on campers doing the wrong thing.

Meanwhile in the beachside town of Noosa in Queensland's Sunshine Coast, the local council has been grappling with illegal camping in its most popular car parks by issuing fines from $77 to $116.

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