The Best Pub Campsites in Australia

There's nothing better than hitting the road in a caravan and exploring Australia's finest landscapes. With a set of wheels, you can see new places each day, wake up in new places, and meet new people.

While campsites in national parks are fun, something more fitted to your style may be pub camping. This might just be your perfect combination of the outdoors and comfort if you love socializing and enjoying a few bevvies before bedtime.

Take a night off cooking your meals (and cleaning up) and pop into a warm, lively pub for dinner. Drink the local water, meet other like-minded people and imbibe in a couple of cold ones without worrying about driving your van to a campsite. With pub camping, you can park in the lot of the establishment, ensuring the safety of all parties involved. Chat about the open road, make lifelong friendships, and support the local town you're visiting.

Pub campsites are a tad harder to find, but we've found seven of the best pub campsites in Australia, and we are sharing them with you for your van adventure. Let's begin.

The General Gordon Hotel , Queensland

Park under palm trees in a big, wide-open grassy field next door to The General Gordon Hotel. 20km from downtown Mackay, the pub has an open seating area available to use 24/7 with a pool table, showers, toilets, and fire pits, and it only costs a whopping $5 per person.

In the area: You're a short drive away from Bluewater Lagoon Water Park, Eungella National Park, and access to the Great Barrier Reef.

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Walkabout Creek Hotel , Queensland

Are you a fan of Crocodile Dundee? Stop by and sleep at the home of the famous film's bar scene, while enjoying a pint or two in McKinlay. Check out walls full of memorabilia, including old trucks out front. The pub offers non-powered ($12 per site) and powered ($28 per site) campsites with toilets, showers, and laundry facilities. Pets are allowed, the Wi-Fi works, and friendly locals will enjoy a blast from the past with you. The hotel recommends catching a sunset out back for the whole outback experience.

In the area: Explore historic outback towns where populations are small, and land is vast.

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Red Earth Estate Winery , New South Wales

For something more unique and a favourite amongst winos, sleep amongst the grapevines at this NSW winery. Located in Dubbo (five hours northwest of Sydney), this vineyard campsite has an onsite cellar door with wine tastings and nibbles. Pay around $15 to camp, and call ahead if you're looking for powered sites.

In the area: The winery is next door to an observatory; ask the owners for more details. Just down the road is the well-known Taronga Western Plains Zoo, great for kids both little and big.

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The Loaded Dog Hotel , New South Wales

Located just an hour northeast of Canberra, this pub campsite boasts friendly vibes and good times. The camp is simply a large field behind the pub, and is only for self-contained vehicles. There are no amenities to use onsite except the restaurant (there is a public toilet down the road). It's free to stay, donation recommended, and just across the street from Lake Bathurst.

In the area: Check the lakes in the area, including Lake George and the Weereewa Lookout. Budawang National Park is under two hours away, where you'll find hiking trails and mountain views.

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Pinjarra RV Rest Area , Western Australia

Park for free at Pinjarra for the night (self-contained only) in an open grassy area next to the Heritage Railway Station, across from the Premier Hotel and bottle shop. The pub has a range of meals, including vegetarian options, and is open for lunch and dinner. Toilets and a playground are on-site, and it's a short walk to Murray River and into the town of Pinjarra.

In the area: It's an hour south of Perth and only twenty minutes from the coast. Spend some time on Avocet Island or head inland to Dwellingup State Forest.

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Barkly Homestead , Northern Territory

Combine a holiday park and a pub, and that's what you have at Barkly Homestead. This spacious campground has powered sites ($40 for two people), a pool, and a pub and cafe onsite. You can even fill your gas bottle and your petrol tank. They call themselves an outback oasis, and it's precisely that; an oasis surrounded by red dirt in Tennant Creek, a great stop on your NT caravan journey.

In the area: In all honesty, not too much as they refer to themselves as the first and last pub in the NT! Located between Tennant Creek, NT, and Camooweal, QLD, so the pub is a must-stop for anyone taking Tablelands Highway.

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Corroboree Park Tavern , Northern Territory

The perfect place to park your van heading to Kakadu National Park from Darwin. This bushland campground sits onsite of a classic Aussie pub with a kitchen opening at 5 am for those hungry on the road. Relax in the saltwater pool, enjoy the use of the woodfire BBQs and access to a toilet, shower, and laundry block for just $20 a night (non-powered) and $32 for a powered site.

In the area: You're camping in the Mary River wetlands region amongst a thriving ecosystem and plenty of options for cruises to explore the backwaters.

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Overland Corner Hotel , South Australia

Nicknamed the O.C., this pub camping location is a favourite by locals and friends from afar. Initially built in 1856, it's one of South Australia's oldest standing buildings. The pub boasts an extensive drink list, including independent craft beer. It is open for lunch Wednesday to Sunday, with dinner and entertainment offered on Friday and Saturday (closed Mon-Tues). It costs nothing to sleep here; just make sure to pop in and buy a pint to say thanks.

In the area: It's two and a half hours east of Adelaide, located next to Murray River and a short drive from Banrock Station Wine and Wetland Centre.

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Hire a van for your next Aussie adventure

Have we convinced you to try pub camping? Let us know your favourite pub campsite on your caravan journey. Check out the vans for hire here and hit the road.