The 5 best local camping spots | Going on holiday in NSW

Many NSW national park campgrounds, accommodation and visitor centres started to reopen from 1 June. Of course, things look a little different these days, with important changes are in place to keep visitors safe. All camping now requires a booking, and it’s worth checking park alerts and updates for more information before setting out on your adventure.

As always, before heading off on any long drive, it’s important to get your rig checked out and tyres up to scratch. We can help with that.

Okay, now for the fun stuff! Without further ado, here are the five best camping spots in NSW, and the drive to get you there.

Washpool National Park, Grafton

Getting there: Straight up the A1 until you hit Grafton and Gwydir Highway via Big River Way. Hot tip: if you hit Queensland, you’ve gone too far.

Washpool National Park is a place of steep gorges, clear waters and magnificent tracts of ancient rainforest. You’ll find some of the most varied and least-disturbed forest in NSW, including the world’s largest stand of coachwood trees and extraordinary specimens of giant red cedar.

Bittangabee campground, Ben Boyd National Park

Getting there: Almost at the Victorian border, head south towards Canberra where a night at the swish-but-not-too-exy Ovolo Nishi will help you prep for the bush retreat to come.

Just south of Eden is the stunning Ben Boyd National Park. Enjoy bush camping by the beach at Bittangabee campground on the far south coast. Go fishing, swimming, snorkelling or look out for superb lyrebirds nearby.

Burbie Camp, Warrumbungle National Park

Getting there: North of Dubbo, and a true getaway at just over 6 hours on the road. It skirts the Hunter Valley too, should you require an excellent excuse to break up the journey.

Enjoy stargazing in Warrumbungle National Park, near Coonabarabran and spend the night at Burbie Camp. This secret campsite is accessed on foot along the Burbie Canyon track and Burbie trail.

Sandon River Campground, Yuragir National Park, Clarence Valley

Getting there: Head due north, up the Pacific Highway and F1 past Newcastle, Forster, Port Macquarie - it’s worth it, keep going) - and Coffs. Hang a left at Grafton, and revel in this area’s stunning natural beauty.

Can’t decide between beach or river? Then head for Yuragir National Park in the Clarence Valley. At Sandon River Campground you’ll have the river on one side and the ocean on the other. Nearby Station Creek Campground sits on a calm estuary that’s the perfect swimming spot for families.

Nashdale Lane Glamping, Orange

Getting there: Fang down the M2, then M7 before hitting the frankly stunning Bells Line of Road that winds through apple country.

Nestled in 60 acres of fertile grape-growing land in the highlands of Orange is the family-owned Nashdale Lane Winery with cellar door and glamping. The wooden, steel and canvas tent structures have a distinctly Aussie flavour and are rustic, yet luxurious. With sweeping vistas of the leafy green canopy of the vines, crisp mountain air and a range of Nashdale wines to sample, this is a beautiful place to enjoy a relaxed Australian country experience.