FREE sites still available to June 30, 2025
IT HAS been announced that from July 1, 2025, the Victorian Government will be ‘investing $10.5 million to keep camping fees at half price’ at Parks Victoria campgrounds across the state for another two years.
The change is a major backdown on its well-intentioned but disastrously implemented free camping initiative.
The government has not issued a media statement in the usual way.
Instead, it has been left up to a cash-strapped Parks Victoria to ‘take out the trash’ as they say.
Here are the details:
“Since half-price camping was introduced in 2019, campers have saved more than $25 million in booking fees. The return to half-price camping ensures more Victorians can get out into the great outdoors.”
The following conditions will apply to half-price camping:
- A maximum of three campsites per campground can be booked per transaction (previously two)
- A cancellation and refunds policy has been introduced to encourage campers to cancel/modify their booking if plans change (see 'Can I change or cancel my booking' on the Parks Victoria website).
Camping bookings at Parks Victoria’s bookable campgrounds are currently open and free to June 30, 2025.
For stays up to December 17, 2025, including July and September school holidays, Grand Final weekend and Melbourne Cup weekend, bookings will open at 10am (AEST) from Monday, June 2 and be staggered throughout the week depending on the location to manage high demand.
- Monday, June 2: Tidal River camping
- Tuesday, June 3: No openings (Tidal River units, cabins and lodges and the Point Nepean Discovery Tents are already open to December 17, 2025)
- Wednesday, June 4: Popular campgrounds
- Thursday, June 5: Multi-day adventures^
- Friday, June 6: All other bookable sites across the state
Popular campgrounds include: Banksia Bluff (Cape Conran), Johanna Beach, Blanket Bay, Aire River West, Cooks Mill (Cathedral Range), and Lake Catani (Mount Buffalo)
Multi-day adventures include: Grampians Peaks Trail, Prom Southern Circuit, Falls to Hotham, Great Ocean Walk, Great South West Walk, Glenelg River Canoe Trail, Burchell Trail and Wilderness Coast Walk.
Bookings for stays from December 18 to March 1, 2026 (summer peak season) will open from June 30, 2025.
Making a booking: Bookings can be made online on the Parks Victoria bookings page HERE