Campsites & holiday parks near Australian ski resorts

Imagine coming back to your campsite or holiday park after a day of shredding the nearby ski resort. You light a campfire, crack open a beer and warm your hands by the flames. All you can hear is the sound of the river beside you and all you can see is bushland and snow-capped mountains in the distance. Sounds too good to be true, right?

Wrong! There is an abundance of fantastic campsites scattered around our alpine regions. To help you find the best one for your winter trip, our team of travel experts have compiled this list of the best campgrounds and holiday parks near ski resorts in Australia.

What to expect:

On the list, you will find campsites and holiday parks near NSW and Victoria’s most popular ski resorts, including Thredbo, Perisher, Jindabyne, Mount Buller, Charlotte Pass and Mount Hotham.

For each camping spot, we discuss the price, features and distance from ski fields. Plus, we throw in a few extra tips at the end to help you make the most of your winter adventure!

Best campgrounds & holiday parks near ski resorts in Australia

Best camping near Thredbo

Thredbo Diggings Campground

Hidden between the pristine Thredbo River and gnarled snow gums of The Snowy Mountains is the best camping spot near Thredbo - the Thredbo Diggings Campground.

This peaceful little campground offers scenic views over the mountains and serves as the perfect base camp for bush walks, skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking and fishing. Hiking and biking trails follow the river back to Thredbo village, which is perfect if you want a day trip to town. Otherwise, you can spend your afternoons by the campfire, keeping an eye out for platypus and trout swimming by.

Distance from ski fields: ****

At Thredbo Diggings Campground, you are a 13-minute drive from Thredbo (13km), a 41-minute drive from Perisher (49km) and only a 6-minute drive from Bullock Flat Ski Tube (3.5km).

Price:

Camping at Thredbo Diggings Campground is free apart from the $6 booking fee and $29 per day per vehicle park entry fee to Kosciuszko National Park.

Features:

• Picnic tables

• Basic barbecue facilities (iron plates over a fire pit)

• Drop toilets

• Bring your own water for drinking and cooking as there is no tap water source

Best camping near Jindabyne

NRMA Jindabyne Holiday Park

On the shoreline of Lake Jindabyne sits the best camping spot near Jindabyne - the NRMA Jindabyne Holiday Park.

What makes this park so great is its wide array of amenities and short walking distance from the town centre. If you’re travelling with family or simply want easy access to shops and restaurants, this is the best choice for you. Plus, the facilities that they provide (such as a drying room and ski tuning table) are perfect for winter sports enthusiasts like skiers, snowboarders, mountain bikers and fishermen.

Distance from ski fields: ****

At the NRMA Jindabyne Holiday Park, you are only a 2-minute drive or a 10-minute walk from Jindabyne town centre. Plus, you are only a 30-minute drive from Thredbo (35km) or a 27-minute drive from Perisher (32km).

Price: ****

During the winter ski season, powered sites at the NRMA Jindabyne Holiday Park start at about $115 per night and unpowered sites start at about $59 per night. However, you can get a discount if you are an NRMA member.

Features:

• Free WiFi

• Ski tuning table

• Drying room

• Recreational TV room

• Camp kitchen

• Bathroom blocks

• Laundry

• Pizza oven

• Playground

• Dump point

• Communal fire pit

• Library

• Plus it's pet friendly!

Best camping near Perisher

Kosciuszko Tourist Park

If you’re looking for the best camping near Perisher, you’re going to want to stay at the Kosciuszko Tourist Park. The park itself offers 15 large drive through camping sites - each one providing safe drinking water, a sullage sink and a personal campfire/barbecue.

The best part is that each campsite is spread apart and divided by snow gums, making for better privacy. It’s your own little slice of heaven where you can sit back and enjoy the clear mountain air whilst watching the local wildlife hop by.

Distance from ski fields: ****

At the Kosciuszko Tourist Park, you are only a 15-minute drive from Perisher (18km), a 25-minute drive from Bullocks Flat Ski Tube (30km) and a 35-minute drive from Thredbo (44km).

Price: ****

During the winter ski season, powered sites at the Kosciuszko Tourist Park range from about $59 - $79 per night (depending on the type of motorhome or caravan you have), whilst unpowered sites (tent only) start at $45 per night.

Features:

• Large guest kitchen

• Lounge area with a wood fire

• Free gas BBQ

• Kiosk

• 2x clean bathroom blocks

• Abundant hot water

• Laundry

• Undercover wash-up area

• Playground

• Campfires

• Picnic area

Best camping near Mt. Buller

High Country Holiday Park

Set amongst the foothills of the Victorian Alps is the best camping ground near Mt Buller - the High Country Holiday Park. This award-winning park offers a range of powered or unpowered sites with your choice of grass or concrete.

It’s conveniently located in Mansfield, only a 4-minute walk from the town centre, where you will find a range of different shops and restaurants. Plus, Australia's second-longest rail trail, The Great Victorian Rail Trail, is only 150m away. A great option for skiers, snowboarders and mountain bikers alike.

Distance from ski fields: ****

The High Country Holiday Park is a 48-minute drive from Mount Buller ski resort (48km).

Price: ****

Powered sites at the High Country Holiday Park start from $40 per night, whilst unpowered sites start from $35 per night.

Features:

• Games/TV room

• Camp kitchen

• Bathroom blocks

• BBQs

• Ice

• Security boom gate

• Laundry and clothesline

• Dump point

• WiFi

• Coffee machine

• Playground

• Swimming pool

Best camping near Charlotte Pass

Island Bend Campground

Tucked away in the expansive bushland of Kosciuszko National Park is one of the best free camping sites near Charlotte Pass - Island Bend Campground.

Set up your campervan or tent by the side of the Snowy River and whittle away your hours in secluded bliss. If you're an adventurous type, you are spoilt for choice in terms of bushwalking, biking, fishing and kayaking options. Plus, you are only ever a quick drive from the local ski resorts.

Distance from ski fields: ****

Once at the campground, you are only a 14-minute drive from Perisher ski resort (15km) and a 26-minute drive from Jindabyne town centre (28km). Alternatively, the drive to Thredbo ski resort (56km) takes about 46-minutes.

Price: ****

It is free to camp at the Island Bend Campground except for the $6 booking fee and $29 per day per vehicle park entry fee to Kosciuszko National Park.

Features:

• Drop toilets

• Picnic tables

• Barbecue facilities.

• You will need to bring water for cooking and drinking

Best camping near Mount Hotham

JB Plain Hut and Camping Area

If you’re looking for a real bush camping experience near Mount Hotham, you can’t beat the JB Plain Hut and Camping Area. Set amongst the scenic scrub of the Victorian alpine region, this camping site is best suited for self-sufficient campers who aren’t afraid of a little snow.

It is located on the side of the stunning Alpine Road, which is the highest all-year road in Australia (1600m above sea level). During your stay, you will likely get to experience one of the famous sunsets or sunrises of the snow-capped mountains of the Alpine National Park.

Distance from ski fields: ****

At the JB Plain Hut and Camping Area, you are only a 4-minute drive from the township of Dinner Plain (2.4km) and an 11-minute drive from Mount Hotham ski resort (11km).

Price: ****

It is free to camp at JB Plain Hut and Camping Area. No booking is required, so get there early if you want your pick of the spots.

Features:

• Drop toilets

• Picnic tables

• Fireplaces

• You must bring your own water for drinking and cooking

• The historic J.B. Plain hut sits in the middle of the camping area and sometimes stocks firewood

Now it's time to find your perfect van!

Now that you’ve picked your ski resort holiday park or campground, you’re almost ready for your trip. Now it’s time to choose a campervan or motorhome rental that has been specifically designed to withstand winter conditions.

Camplify has hundreds of vans available for hire in Melbourne and Canberra. They are all privately owned and many have fantastic insulation and heating systems, making them the most comfortable choice for chilly winter nights.

Find a van near Canberra

Find a van near Melbourne

Before you head off, make sure that you’ve got the right winter camping gear for the job! Also, check out our article about winter van camping tips and tricks. It’s full of helpful advice that will help you save money and make your experience much more enjoyable!