9 epic swimming spots to camp by this Australian summer

Love to camp? Love to swim? Then you’ll love these nine Hipcamp properties – the perfect places to park up, strip down and make a splash. Consider this permission to pack your campervan, caravan or motorhome and make tracks to the nearest waterhole.

Camping and swimming in New South Wales

1. Fern Valley Ranch

If you’re searching for a bushland hideaway within an hour of Sydney or Newcastle, you’ll struggle to find somewhere more beautiful, or welcoming, than Fern Valley Ranch. The 100-acre property has 16 campsites, with amenities, as well as bushwalks, waterfalls and even some friendly farm animals you can feed. The Central Coast’s famous beaches – Terrigal, Avovca and Copacabana, to name a few – are a half-hour drive away, so whether you’re keen to kick back by the campfire or catch a wave, there are more than enough reasons to visit the ranch.

Stay at Fern Valley Ranch, in Somersby NSW, from $65 per night.

2. Rhapsody

This remote slice of paradise can be found near Gingkin, New South Wales, on the edge of the Kanangra-Boyd National Park. A waterfront campsite awaits, thanks to the pristine Hollanders River, and you can rest assured that you won’t run into any other humans (though it is dog friendly). There’s no phone reception either, making this one epic destination for total disconnection.

Stay at Rhapsody, in Gingkin NSW, from $107 per night.

3. Rivers Run Colo River

No reception? Check. Kayak hire? Check. Hiking and mountain-biking trails? Check and check. Safe to say there are worse ways to spend a weekend than camping out at Rivers Run, with the 26-acre property providing a bunch of campsites right on the river as well as toilets, hot showers and private fire pits. Spend your evenings roasting marshmallows, your days swimming, exploring or reading, and enjoy the serenity while being serenaded by birdsong – only an hour-and-a-half from central Sydney.

Stay at Rivers Run, in Colo NSW, from $48 per night.

4. Toombooloomoobah

It’s as fun to stay at Toombooloomoobah as it is to say its name. This 160-acre property, on the South Coast of New South Wales, is close to Meroo National Park and Bawley Point and allows one group – up to 20 of your mates – on site at a time. This means you’ll have the open shelter, undercover fireplace, river and swimming hole all to yourself. You’ll likely run into some furry friends too – wombats, possums, goannas, kangaroos and wallabies have already discovered the magic of Toombooloomoobah.

Stay at Toombooloomoobah, in Tumble Bar NSW, from $154 per night.

Camping and swimming in Victoria

1. River’s Edge Retreat

Lakes Entrance may be slammed every summer, but by retreating to River’s Edge, you can bypass the crowds and enjoy a secluded sanctuary just 10 minutes from the beach. Bush walking, canoeing, fishing and swimming, of course, are all on offer in the immediate vicinity, but there are no amenities (aside from drinking water) so campers must be self-sufficient. Park up for a quiet retreat or use the site as a base to explore Lakes Entrance – either way, you won’t be disappointed.

Stay at River’s Edge Retreat, in Toorloo Arm VIC, from $36 per night.

6. Hazelnut Valley Farm Stay

Planning on taking a self-contained campervan or motorhome on the road? Best to pencil in a stay at Hazelnut Valley, a working hazelnut farm right on the Tyres River. All the joys of Victoria’s alpine region are within easy driving distance, but we’re willing to bet that you’ll be reluctant to leave Hazelnut Valley. The sparkling river provides welcome relief on hot summer days and the serenity is hard to beat.

Stay at Hazelnut Valley, in Caringal VIC, from $13 per night.

7. Kielock Homestead

There’s a reason locals refer to the Kiewa Valley as God’s Country. And sure, a lot of people say that about their own slice of paradise, but we reckon the Kiewa folk are onto something and Kielock Homestead certainly strengthens their argument. With campsites on the bank of the Kiewa River, Kielock has you covered for fishing, swimming, bush-walking and bike riding. It’s a working farm and you’re welcome to join in on feeding the animals, collecting eggs and planting or harvesting fruit and veggies – there’s even a small market garden where you can pick and purchase seasonal fresh produce.

Stay at Kielock Homestead, in Upper Gundowring VIC, from $24 per night.

Camping and swimming in Queensland

1. Natural Bridge Retreat

You may recall an iconic Sunsilk shampoo ad featuring Oscar-winning actor Laura Dern swimming at the base of a waterfall; go on, have a Google. It turns out that waterfall is not only real, but can also be visited – and swum in, more importantly – when you escape to Natural Bridge Retreat. The retreat sits on 136 acres and borders Lamington National Park, with plenty of hiking trails, swimming holes and a bonafide rainforest ripe for exploration. Oh, and flushing toilets too, because who doesn’t love a little bit of luxury?

Stay at Natural Bridge Retreat, in Natural Bridge QLD, from $46 per night.

2. Platypus Camp

Think you can handle sharing your campsite with four platypuses? If so, Platypus Camp, which is also home to fresh-water clams, turtles and wild ducks, may just be a dream come true. The property also hosts mating buff-breasted kingfishers in the summer – all the way from Papua New Guinea – so anyone even remotely interested in the natural world would do well to spend a few nights camping here. You’ll have six acres to yourself, surrounded by fruit trees, and the lake is right by the grassy campsite – what are you waiting for?

Stay at Playtpus Camp, in Julatten QLD, from $40 per night

Haven’t found what you’re looking for? Check out our mates at Hipcamp and discover your own summer patch. Once you know where you’re going, be sure to book your campervan, caravan or motorhome through Camplify .