8 Awesome Camping Spots in the Illawarra
Check out some of the best spots to pitch a tent around our gorgeous Illawarra.
In the Illawarra, we’re spoiled for choice when it comes to camping spots. You can pitch your tent in a national park, right by the beach or in a tourist park. We’ve got it all baby!
We did the legwork and explored a few options, so you don’t have to break a sweat when planning your next camping adventure [save the sweat for when it’s actually time to put up the tent]. Check out eight of our fave spots, each offering a little something for every type of camper.
1// Killalea Campground
Located inside Killalea Regional Park a coastal reserve between Shellharbour and Kiama, this camp spot is surrounded by gorge subtropical rainforest and coastal heath. There are so many ways to while away your days here, including surfing, fishing and swimming. Both The Farm and Mystics Beach are nearby to the campground and are super popular for surfing and catching those waves.
If you love a bit of wildlife spotting, prepare to see some rare and endangered birds around the area during the day and as many as 10 different types of bats at night. If you’re brave enough to book a stay in winter you might even spot some migrating whales out in the ocean.
There are 53 spots available to reserve so there’s a good chance you’ll nab one if you book ahead for your dates. With showers, toilets, BBQs, picnic tables, drinking water and a decent car park you get a pretty good bang for your camping buck here.
This really is the spot for those who want that ‘right in nature’ feeling not too far from town.
The Fold Loves// Taking the paddle board down to Mystics nearby
2// Coledale Camping Reserve
Smack, bang on Coledale Beach, Coledale Camping Reserve is one heck of a coastal camping spot. Right off Grand Pacific Drive, it is hard to miss as you’re heading either down or up the coast.
It’s a great spot for fishing, swimming and in the right conditions even surfing. Imagine waking every morning to the sounds of waves crashing on the shore and the smell of bacon cooking on the electric BBQs in the reserve. Ooooo, we love it!
10 minutes’ walk to local cafes and only a short drive to shops for stocking up, the location is just right for the perfect getaway. There are also hot showers, toilets, a kitchen and laundry to keep everything in order.
Obv’s this is a POP.U.LAR spot for locals and visitors alike and loads of dates are already booked out for the rest of the year, so it’s always best to secure your booking well in advance.
The Fold Loves// Taking a stroll from the campground down to Rosie’s Proper Fish & Chips for some tasty goodness.
3// Seven Mile Beach Holiday Park
Right on the beach in Gerroa is Seven Mile Beach Holiday Park. Between both the stunning white sands of Seven Mile Beach and the charming Crooked River this is a cracker of a spot.
The resort also boasts two swimming pools, a playground and inflatable pillow for the littlies and a cutesy animal friendship farm. There are both powered and unpowered sites available as well as kayaks, tennis and fishing gear for hire.
Oh, and pups are also welcome but please remember Seven Mile Beach itself is not a dog-friendly beach, however, there is an off-leash area at Black Head Reserve only a few minutes away.
This is an ideal spot for young families who are just dipping their toes into the camping lifestyle or larger groups who like a mix of everything.
The Fold Loves// Hiring a fire pit in winter for the ultimate camping experience. [Don’t forget the marshmallows]
4// Berry Showground Camping
This campground is located only a few streets away from the main drag of our locally beloved Berry town centre. A walk into town will only cost you 5 minutes so you’re close to all the darling cafes, restaurants and shops Berry has to offer.
The ground itself has lovely open grassy sites with both power and water available. It’s dog-friendly but make sure to keep Fido on a leash for the sake of the other guests. The showers are hot and there’s plenty of parking so what more could you need?
Prices start from around $15pp and bookings can be made directly through Shoalhaven Council either online or over the phone.
The Fold Loves// Spending a weekend exploring Berry whilst still getting that #camplife feeling.
5// Windang Tourist Park
This is the place to be for the best of both the lake and the beach. With Windang Beach on one side and Lake Illawarra on the other, its water views all the way. Windang Beach is patrolled and great for families and only a short drive away is Warilla Beach and public pool.
The campground offers sheltered BBQ areas, a playground, laundry facilities, bike hire and a boat ramp so you can take the tinnie out for a fish on the lake. This is a popular place to stay so make sure to book well in advance.
The Fold Loves// Having a cold frothy at Club Windang– literally just across the road.
6// North Era Campground
Just on the northern edge of the outskirts of the Illawarra in the Royal National Park, you will find this campground. The spot is located about a 20-minute drive from Helensburgh, heading north into the park.
This one is more for the pros and it’s a popular spot for hikers tackling one of the National Park bush walks but is also worth a visit in its own right.
Access to the campground is walk-in only and the closest parking is at Garie Beach, around an hour and a half’s walk away. You will need to be pretty self-sufficient here. The ground does have toilets but you will need to bring your own drinking water, cooking equipment and other supplies.
It’s also important to note that in times of total fire ban the park and trails are often closed so check ahead before planning your trip.
The Fold Loves// Exploring all the trails and bushwalks around the National Park
EDITOR’S NOTE: North Era Campground is currently closed for 2024 due to ongoing trackwork. We will update as soon as it is open again.
7// BIG4 Easts Beach Holiday Park, Kiama
Another great one for the whole fam-bam, with games room, playground, fully equipped modern camp kitchen, aqua park AND best of all cafe, mmmm coffee! Hey, who says you have to forgo every luxury when you go camping?!
This campground is like the Rolls-Royce of camping and is a great place to set up if you’re looking for a little more outdoors-lite. All sites come with an ensuite and are powered. A fab Kids Club runs for most of the NSW school holidays and some pretty good specials run all year round, it’s worth checking out.
It’s located right on Easts Beach in Kiama which is just a 5-minute drive from the main drag for even more of the luxury goodies.
The Fold Loves// Challenging the family in the games room
8// Wollongong Surf Leisure Resort
This one is as close to Wollongong as you are probably gonna get with a tent. Located just off Towradgi beach it’s about 5km from the centre of town. They have both powered and non-powered sites and some spots even offer waterfront views.
Prices start from around $30 a night for non-powered sites and $43 for powered. The grounds are flat and well-maintained and there’s plenty of grassy space to get grounding. There are also swimming pools, a spa, mini golf, basketball courts, tennis courts and table tennis. If that’s not enough you can hire beach sports sets and volleyball kits to keep the fun going all the way to the water.
The Fold Loves// Hiring a bike from the resort and riding along the 26km track that runs through the resort.
How lucky are we to have so many camping options close to home?! Now, who’s ready to pitch a tent?
