Camping on the Central Coast

Spend a few nights under the stars and soak up the incredible natural beauty of the NSW Central Coast. Choose from glamping and seaside holiday parks perfect for caravanning and camping or pitch a tent in secluded national parks, putting you on the doorstep of windswept beaches, sparkling waterways and bushwalking tracks.

Camping in national parks

Whether you want to camp surrounded by bush or near the beach listening to crashing waves, there’s a campground to suit in one of the Central Coast’s stunning national parks and conservation areas. Some of the options are:

• Tallow Beach, Putty Beach and Little Beach in Bouddi National Park
• Freemans and Frazer in Munmorah State Conservation Area
• Casuarina, Pines, Olney and Turpentine in Olney State Forest

Bouddi National Park is a favourite of campers, home to coastal tracks, secluded beaches, whale watching spots and an 1898 shipwreck. While keen anglers should consider Munmorah State Conservation Area, north of The Entrance, where the fishing is superb.

Patonga Camping Ground, on the edge of Brisk Bay, is a great base to explore cycling routes in the neighbouring Brisbane Water National Park or the exhilarating Patonga to Pearl Beach walking track.

In the hinterland, northwest of Wyong, Olney State Forest is popular with families for its walking tracks and sheltered picnic areas in the native forest. Follow the tracks looping around Pines Camping Area and Abbott Falls to find streams tumbling into tranquil rock pools surrounded by rainforest.

Holiday parks

You’ll find holiday parks with everything from basic campsites to caravan sites and stylish cabins in the charming seaside villages all along the Central Coast. These parks are perfect for families with facilities like swimming pools, playgrounds, kayaks and bikes to rent, barbecues, and more.

Top holiday parks in the area include:

• Norah Head Holiday Park
• Toowoon Bay Holiday Park
• NRMA Ocean Beach Holiday Resort at Umina
• Canton Beach Holiday Park at Tuggerah Lakes
• Dunleith Tourist Park at The Entrance

Glamping

If you’d prefer a little luxury, glamping is the perfect blend of high-end comforts and a retreat in nature. Go Glamping and Belle Glamping are mobile services that will set up a glampsite (complete with comfy beds, rugs and stylish décor) at different locations around the Central Coast.

Kookaburra Ridge, run by tiny house experts In2thewild, is made up of two bell tents, each surrounded by decking with outdoor bathtubs, barbecues and seating areas. There’s also a firepit; the Kookaburra Tavern, a shared space with a bar; plus a separate shower room and toilet.

Choose one of the pretty bell tents by the river in picturesque Glenworth Valley and gain access to more than 200 acres of secluded countryside and an assortment of outdoor activities such as horse riding, kayaking and abseiling. Or plan a wild night out at Australia Walkabout Wildlife Park with an after hours tour to meet the animals, plus a night spent in a family safari tent.