Catch the train, pick up a Camplify campervan: five regional road trips that start at the station

Australia is at Level 2 of the National Fuel Security Plan – fuel excise halved, petrol above $2.50 a litre, and the government asking all of us to think twice before driving. For campers, that creates a real question: how do you get out on the road without spending half your budget getting there?

Here's an idea that's been working well for Camplify travellers: catch a train to a regional town, pick up a campervan or motorhome from a local owner near the station, and explore the surrounding region within a couple of hours' drive. You skip the long highway haul from the city entirely. The owner gets a booking. The regional town gets your tourism dollars. And you save a tank of fuel before you've even started your trip.

A practical note on fuel: NSW currently has the most station outages in the country, with diesel hit hardest and some regional stations running dry. The Illawarra (Kiama/Wollongong corridor) and parts of the Hunter have been affected. Queensland and Victoria are in better shape, but availability changes daily. Before heading out, check the NSW FuelCheck app or FuelRadar to see which stations along your route are open and stocked – this is the single most useful thing you can do before any trip right now.

Here are five train-to-campervan routes that work right now.

Sydney to Newcastle: gateway to Port Stephens and the Hunter

The train from Sydney Central to Newcastle Interchange takes about two and a half hours and runs frequently throughout the day. Step off at Newcastle and you're in the middle of a city with a strong community of Camplify owners – hundreds of campervans and motorhomes available for pickup across the region.

From Newcastle, you're within striking distance of some of NSW's best destinations. Head north to Port Stephens for dolphin cruises, the massive Stockton sand dunes, and the white sand of One Mile Beach at Anna Bay. Swing west into the Hunter Valley for cellar doors and country pubs. Or push further north along the coast to Forster-Tuncurry, where the lakes meet the ocean and the crowds thin out.

For the adventurous, Barrington Tops National Park is about two hours inland – World Heritage wilderness with Antarctic beech forests, wild rivers, and some of the best bush camping in the state.

Fuel note: Newcastle itself has good fuel availability, but check before heading further north or inland. The Hunter region has had some diesel outages. If you're driving a petrol campervan (most are), you'll be fine sticking to the main towns.

Where to stay: Shoal Bay Holiday Park in Port Stephens is right on the beach – a Camplify community favourite. Ingenia Holidays One Mile Beach at Anna Bay backs onto the Stockton sand dunes. For the Hunter Valley, Wine Country Tourist Park in Nulkaba puts you within walking distance of cellar doors.

Sydney to Kiama: south coast base camp

The South Coast line from Sydney Central to Kiama is about two hours and one of the most scenic rail journeys in NSW – you pass through the Royal National Park and along rolling coastal hills before pulling into Kiama station. From there, pick up a campervan from one of the local owners and head south.

The further south you go, the quieter it gets. Jervis Bay has some of the whitest sand in Australia. Berry is a gorgeous foodie town perfect for a lunch stop. Kangaroo Valley offers river kayaking and bush walks through towering sandstone. And the Shoalhaven coast has enough camping spots to fill a week.

Camplify owners in the area recommend the inland route through Camden, Berrima, and Bowral before dropping down to the coast – "they're all magical places in their own respect," as one local owner puts it. It's a slower drive but you'll burn less fuel on back roads than the motorway.

Fuel note: The Illawarra has been one of the harder-hit regions for fuel supply. Diesel is above $3/L at some Kiama and Shellharbour stations, and a few have run dry. Check the NSW FuelCheck app before you leave, and fill up in Wollongong or Kiama before heading further south into the Shoalhaven where stations are more spread out.

Where to stay: Jervis Bay Holiday Park in Huskisson is a short walk from the whitest sand you'll ever see. Berry Showground Campground is basic but brilliant – right in the middle of town. And Glenmack Park in Kangaroo Valley sits on the river with mountain views.

Melbourne to Geelong: Surf Coast and Great Ocean Road launchpad

Geelong is under an hour from Southern Cross Station on the V/Line – and right now, that train is completely free until the end of April. Pick up a campervan from one of the local owners and you've got the Surf Coast, the Bellarine Peninsula, and the start of the Great Ocean Road all within easy reach.

The Great Ocean Road from Torquay to Apollo Bay is one of the world's great coastal drives – and in autumn the crowds ease off, the surf stays good, and the light turns golden. The Bellarine has quieter beaches, wineries, and the Queenscliff-Sorrento ferry if you want to loop across to the Mornington Peninsula. Or head inland to the Brisbane Ranges for wildlife walks through open bushland.

Fuel note: Victoria has fewer outages than NSW, and the Geelong–Surf Coast corridor is well-serviced. Fuel availability along the Great Ocean Road is generally solid as far as Apollo Bay. Top up before heading further west.

Where to stay: The Great Ocean Road parks are well-run foreshore sites right on the coast. Torquay Foreshore Caravan Park is the closest to Geelong and overlooks the surf. Lorne Foreshore is iconic – campfires allowed in autumn. Apollo Bay Recreation Reserve is the turnaround point for a manageable two-day loop.

Brisbane to the Gold Coast: hinterland and northern NSW

The train south from Brisbane Central to Robina or Varsity Lakes takes about an hour – affordable, frequent, and a great way to skip the M1. Pick up a campervan on the Gold Coast and you've got two very different landscapes to explore.

Head inland and up: Springbrook National Park has World Heritage rainforest, waterfalls, and the Natural Bridge glow worm cave. Lamington National Park offers the famous Tree Top Walk and over 160km of walking tracks through ancient subtropical rainforest. Tamborine Mountain is closer still – galleries, distilleries, and lookouts over the hinterland.

Local Camplify owners consistently point hirers toward the hinterland over the beaches: "The Gold Coast hinterland is beautiful – Mt Tamborine and Springbrook National Park." Less crowded, less fuel, and genuinely different from what most people expect of the Gold Coast.

Or head south across the border into northern NSW: Byron Bay and Cabarita Beach are both within an easy drive, with less traffic than the approach from Sydney.

Fuel note: The Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast have better fuel availability than NSW, with prices averaging around $2.20–$2.30/L for unleaded. The hinterland destinations are all within 45 minutes of well-stocked coastal stations.

Where to stay: Thunderbird Park on Tamborine Mountain has powered sites, a swimming pool, and treetop walks on site. For something wilder, The Settlement campground in Springbrook National Park is bush camping with rainforest on all sides. Tallebudgera Creek Tourist Park is tucked up the valley, away from the crowds.

Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast: Noosa and the hinterland

The train from Brisbane to Nambour or Landsborough takes about an hour and a half. From there, you're in the Sunshine Coast hinterland with a strong pool of local Camplify owners to pick up from.

Head to Noosa National Park for the famous coastal walking track, dolphins at the headland, and some of the best surfing in Queensland. The hinterland villages of Maleny and Montville are half an hour inland – cooler air, rainforest walks, and views back to the coast. The Glass House Mountains are right beside the train line – dramatic volcanic peaks rising from flat farmland, with walking tracks ranging from easy strolls to proper scrambles. And the Eumundi Markets run every Wednesday and Saturday, one of the best artisan markets in the country.

Where to stay: Noosa North Shore Retreat is the gateway to the Cooloola section of Great Sandy National Park – beach driving and coloured sands. Glass House Mountains Caravan Park is right beside the train line with volcanic peaks as your backdrop. And Kenilworth Homestead in the Mary Valley is a peaceful riverside spot with campfires.

Six ways to travel smarter this autumn

1. Use public transport for part of your journey. Train fares are a fraction of fuel costs – and in Victoria, they're free until 30 April. You arrive relaxed instead of road-weary.

2. Pick up a campervan, not a caravan. A self-propelled campervan means no tow vehicle, no fuel for two engines, and you can pick it up at your destination without needing to drive anything there.

3. Stay within two hours of your pickup point. Less fuel burned means more budget for the campsite, the pub meal, and the experience. You'd be surprised what's within two hours of Newcastle, Geelong, or the Gold Coast.

4. Travel midweek if you can. Better availability from owners, quieter parks, and often cheaper campsite rates. Autumn midweek is the sweet spot.

5. Support local owners and regional communities. When you pick up from a regional Camplify owner, your money goes directly to someone in that town. The campsite fees, the cafe lunch, the fuel you do buy – it all stays local.

6. Check fuel availability before you go. With stations running dry in some areas, use FuelRadar or CheckPetrol to check which stations along your route are open. This is updated throughout the day.

How to make it happen

1. Pick a regional town on a train line – Newcastle, Kiama, Geelong, Gold Coast, or the Sunshine Coast

2. Browse Camplify for campervans and motorhomes near that town

3. Book the van and arrange pickup for your train arrival time

4. Catch the train with just your bag – everything else is in the van

5. Explore within two hours, return the van, catch the train home

The train does the long haul. A local owner provides the van. You explore the region without bleeding fuel on the highway. It's smarter camping for tighter times – and it puts money directly into the regional communities that need it most right now.

Already tried the delivery option? Check out our guides to car-free camping in NSW and free trains in Victoria.

Planning a trip to one of these regions? Check out our detailed guides to the best caravan parks near Newcastle, NSW South Coast, Geelong, Gold Coast, and Sunshine Coast.