Free trains, delivered Camplify RV, zero fuel: car-free camping in Victoria this April

Right now, something unusual is happening in Victoria. The state government has made all trains, trams, and buses – including V/Line regional services – completely free until the end of April. No tapping on, no fares, no catch. Premier Jacinta Allan put it simply: "This is a temporary measure to help with the cost of living – it will take pressure off the pump and help you save."

Meanwhile, Australia is at Level 2 of the National Fuel Security Plan – "Keep Australia Moving." The fuel excise has been halved. Petrol is well above $2.50 a litre. Service stations are running dry in some areas.

For campers, this creates a genuinely unique window: catch a free train to a campsite, have a local Camplify owner deliver a van, and enjoy a weekend away without anyone paying a cent in fuel to get there. The owner saves because they're delivering locally. You save because the train is literally free. The government gets what it asked for – fewer cars on the road.

Here's where to do it.

French Island: free train + free ferry = free island camping

This one's almost too good. Take the free Frankston line train from Flinders Street to Frankston, then the free V/Line service to Stony Point, then the ferry to French Island's Tankerton Jetty.

Fairhaven Campsite on French Island is free too – covered picnic areas, modern toilets, and electric BBQs, all at no cost. Bring a bike to explore the island on two wheels. It feels far more remote than it actually is, and you've got a solid chance of spotting a wild koala.

The local delivery angle: There's a solid cluster of Camplify owners around Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula. The ferry can carry small vehicles, so an owner could deliver a campervan to the island – or meet you at Stony Point with the van before you catch the ferry across with your camping gear. Either way, the owner's fuel cost is minimal.

Geelong and the Bellarine: free train to coastal camping

Geelong is a straight shot from Southern Cross on the free V/Line train – under an hour. From there, you're within striking distance of the Bellarine Peninsula's camping spots and the start of the Great Ocean Road. The Bellarine has foreshore camping reserves and holiday parks at spots like Indented Head and Queenscliff, while Torquay – gateway to the Surf Coast – is accessible by bus from Geelong.

The local delivery angle: This is where owner density really helps. There are plenty of Camplify owners across Geelong, Torquay, and Ocean Grove. A Torquay-based owner delivering to a Surf Coast campground is driving 10 minutes. A Geelong owner delivering to the Bellarine is a 20-minute run.

You could be at Geelong station with nothing but a backpack, walk to a local pickup point or have the van delivered to a nearby caravan park, and be set up on the coast by lunchtime.

Halls Gap and the Grampians: free V/Line to the mountains

Halls Gap sits at the base of the Grampians (Gariwerd) and is accessible by V/Line coach from Ararat, which you reach by free V/Line train from Southern Cross Station in Melbourne. Various campsites are close to the town, including the caravan park and bush campsites in Grampians National Park. This is proper mountain country – MacKenzie Falls, the Pinnacle lookout, and the Wonderland Range are all accessible from Halls Gap on foot.

The local delivery angle: There are Camplify owners in Ballarat and Castlemaine – about an hour's drive from Halls Gap. For a Ballarat-based owner, delivering to Halls Gap is a manageable regional run rather than the 260km haul from Melbourne. With fuel where it is, that difference matters.

Goldfields Track: free trains to multi-day bush camping

The Goldfields Track is a 210km trail from Creswick to Bendigo, broken into sections that pass through towns with their own train stations – Ballarat, Daylesford, Castlemaine, and Bendigo. All of them are on the V/Line network, and all of them are free right now. You could do a section hike – say, Daylesford to Castlemaine – camping along the trail, and catch a free train at either end.

The local delivery angle: Local owners in Ballarat, Castlemaine, and Bendigo could deliver a van to a caravan park at either end of your chosen section. Hike the trail during the day, come back to the van at night. Or use the van as a base camp and do day walks from town.

Belair National Park, Adelaide: train to the bush

While Victoria's the standout right now with free transport, South Australia has a genuine train-to-campsite gem worth knowing about year-round. Belair National Park Holiday Park sits beside South Australia's oldest national park, just 13km from Adelaide's CBD. Frequent trains from Adelaide station to Belair Railway Station – about 40 minutes. The holiday park has cabins, glamping tents, powered and unpowered campsites, a swimming pool, BBQ areas, and a camp kitchen. Entry to the national park on foot or by bike is free.

The local delivery angle: There are Camplify owners right along the Belair train corridor – in Belair itself, Blackwood, Mitcham, and across Adelaide. A local owner delivering to the holiday park could be walking distance. Even from Adelaide CBD, it's a 15-minute drive. The train drops you at the park entrance and the van's waiting inside.

The numbers that make this work

A family heading from Melbourne to Halls Gap for the weekend:

Driving (current crisis pricing): Fuel for a 520km round trip – $140+. Tow vehicle fuel – $200+. Assuming you can find an open servo.

Train + local Camplify delivery (April 2026): Train fare – $0 (free until 30 April). Camplify delivery from a Ballarat owner – a fraction of the fuel cost. Your fuel bill – literally nothing.

Why this works for everyone

For hirers

• Free transport to the campsite (until 30 April in VIC)

• No fuel costs, no towing, no worrying about dry servos in regional areas

• Van's set up and waiting when you arrive

• Perfect excuse to try a train journey you've never done

For owners

• Short local deliveries = minimal fuel burn in a crisis

• Hirers who'd normally drive are now looking for delivery options near train-accessible parks

• Opens up a market of people who don't own a tow vehicle

For regional communities

• City-based hirers taking the train and booking a locally-owned van means tourism money flowing into regional towns

• Owners in Ballarat, Geelong, Bendigo, and the Bellarine all benefit directly

How to make it happen

1. Pick your destination – French Island, Halls Gap, the Goldfields, or the Bellarine coast

2. Book your campsite at a park near a train station

3. Browse Camplify for owners near that park – look for delivery options

4. Catch the free train from Melbourne with just your bag

5. Walk to the campground where your van is set up and ready

The free transport window closes on 30 April. But even after fares return, the principle holds – trains to regional Victoria are affordable, and having a local owner deliver beats a long fuel-burning drive every time.