Brimming with natural beauty, historic sites, glistening beaches and a world-renowned food and wine scene, Victoria is definitely a destination worth popping on your travel list.

But, did you know that ‘the garden state’ is also home to a plethora of little-known free camping spots guaranteed to recharge your batteries?

From the bush to the beach, a surprising number of hidden gems lie buried in Victoria. Here, we unearth just a few.

1. Werribee River Camping Ground, Spargo

A stone’s throw (20 minutes) from Daylesford, lies Spargo Creek, a peaceful native animal haven, home to Werribee River Camping Ground.

With plenty of unpowered space for caravans and tents, this tranquil, leafy campground is simple, offering only picnic tables and fire pits, but the payoff is free camping!

Popular with 4WDs and motorbikes owing to some awesome tracks, the river is home to dozens of bird species and perfect for fishing, kayaking, canoeing, and rewarding bushwalks.

Good to Know: Though nestled in the goldfields, fossicking is prohibited on the Werribee River. The campground allows dogs on leash, and, thanks to upgrades to Carrolls Track, is 2WD-accessible.

2. Ambler Lane Campground

If you’re yearning to escape to somewhere you can spend your days exploring ancient land and your nights stargazing by a crackling fire without venturing too far from the city, you’ve found it.

Nestled in Lerderderg State Park a mere hour from Melbourne, Ambler Lane Campground at Amblers Crossing offers basic bush camping (think no toilets and BYO drinking water).

Here, easy but interesting walks make for great family camping. Hike a portion of The Great Dividing Trail for panoramic views of the gorge, picnic at Mackenzie’s Flat, or frolic in cool waterholes.

Good to Know: This site is first-in, first-served and 4WD or walk-in access only in dry weather. Canine companions welcome – so long as they’re on a lead!

3. Burnt Bridge Campground

Just two and a half hours from Melbourne lies the heritage-classified Big River State Forest, a verdant and historic area important to indigenous culture.

Burnt Bridge Campground (in the valley) is an ideal free camping base from which to explore the many forest tracks. Famed in the 19th-century for its gold mining, this remote, rugged area is now a great spot for bushwalking, kayaking and mountain biking.

Good to know: Burnt Bridge has 15 unpowered campsites and accommodates small trailers and campervans. Drop toilets only and no reservations, so book early.

4. Victoria Falls Campground

If you’re travelling the Great Alpine way or looking to lose yourself in the history of the high country, set up camp on the banks of the Victoria River.

From the quiet base of Victoria Falls Campground, visitors can enjoy getting back to nature surrounded by snow gums, hike the many local trails and take in the rolling hills and wide-open skies from the Kosciusko Lookout.

Camping here during the winter months can get a little cold. Read our guide to staying warm while camping.

Good to know: As another great free campsite, amenities are sparse, however, this sheltered spot has plenty of room for both caravans and tents.

5. Camp Firth Park

Believe it or not, under an hour and a half north-west of Melbourne lies 70,000 hectares of virgin bushland bustling with native Aussie animals, fittingly named The Wombat State Forest.

As the name suggests, visitors are liable to spot wombats, as well as echidnas, kangaroos and some 150 bird species!

Popular with mountain bikers, the forest is the ultimate getaway for outdoors types, offering fishing, horseback riding swimming, and walking trails.

After you’ve had your fill of fresh air, Camp Firth Park, a 100-site spot welcomes caravans and tents. Amenities are what you’d expect for free, with drop toilets and barbecue plates but little else, though with no phone reception and a million stars, this lakeside escape is purely peaceful.

Good to Know: Fires are allowed, but wood can be sparse around the ground, so you may like to BYO wood or a chainsaw. Dogs welcome but must be kept on a lead.

Whether you’re chasing an endless summer or seeking the clear and star-spangled skies of the cooler months, nothing compares to getting off the beaten track.

So, stock up on the essentials (and the basics for that matter) and head out to the lesser-known camping spots Victoria is (not) famous for!

Remember that pesky bugs can always be a problem wherever you’re camping, so check out our guide to keeping the bugs away when camping.

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