This is where we talk about travel on a Tuesday to get you planning for the weekend, and this week is all about camping spots you can travel to.

It’s a good break from the daily, and what better time to go camping than over the weekend while it’s not busy. It’s out of school holidays so campsites are less crowded – you might be able to nab prime camp real estate, or a whole campsite area all to yourself, AND it might be at a cheaper price to peak times.

Just because you’re in the wilderness doesn’t mean rules don’t apply. Be courteous to your neighbouring campers, keep the noise to a minimum – especially after 10pm. Give each other space, and lend them hand if you see them having a hard time with something. You’re all there to appreciate the outdoors. Also adhere to the campfire rules. If there’s a fire band stick to a raised fire pit instead.  

Ridge Top Campground – Berowra Heights

Just off the M1 in Berowra Heights on the way to the Central Coast, the Ridge Top Campground is on the infamous Great North Walk. 

The beauty of this campground is that it’s 800ms off Turner Rd, which means you can park on Turner Rd, walk into what feels like wilderness and you’re at the campsite. There’s no facilities, so come prepared. No need to book and no fees! 

There’s awesome techy mountainbike trails there, so you’ll see a biker there every now and then during the day.

Hawkesbury River Rural Campground – Laughtondale

Due to the access road conditions the Hawkesbury River Rural Campground is for 4WD/AWD campers only. It’s a campsite on 350 acres of native bushland, riverside mangroves and cleared pastures surrounded by the Marramarra National Park. If 4WD isn’t your style, you can rock up by boat or water taxi – the campground has a private jetty access.

There’s plenty of activities to do in this campground- biking, boating, fishing, hiking, paddling, wind sports and swimming. Booking is a must and there’s a fee.

Coledale Camping Reserve – Coledale

Waking up to a beach view would be great wouldn’t it? Listening to the waves from your tent – that already sounds soothing. Just about an 1 hours drive south from Sydney, just north of Wollongong, the Coledale Camping Reserve Beachside campground is serviced by the surf club so you know your entry fee is going to a good place. This campsite has facilities with unpowered and powered sites.  

Coledale beach is a good surf spot so you can camp and surf all day.

Here are a few more camping spots to enjoy and soak up the outdoors over the weekend! 

• Cave Beach – Jervis Bay
• Newnes Campground – Newnes
• Cattai Campground – Cattai
• Bonnie Vale Campground – Royal NP

Check out hipcamp.com. It’s like “airbnb” for camping on a mix of private and public land. You can filter your searches to a particular area, what facilities you want, dog-friendly etc. If your a land owner you can section a part off and open it to campers.