19 March 2019

Introduction

Accommodation will more than likely be your biggest expense if you are travelling around Australia. That is why it is so common for backpackers to buy a car and find somewhere nice to park up and camp or sleep in their car for the night while travelling through the country. In small towns and isolated beaches this is usually an easy part of planning your journey. But bigger cities can be difficult when it comes to finding somewhere safe and pleasant to park overnight in your car. This is a list of some of the better places in major Aussie cities to spend a night camped in your vehicle.

Adelaide

Semaphore South The carpark near Paxton St public toilets is a great place to stay. Beach showers, a nice stretch of beach and toilets. It is a 10 minute walk to the Semaphore shops and Palais bar. You can catch a bus from the shops into town.

Melbourne

Point Leo Gorgeous and quiet beach. Nice place with BBQs & plenty of overnight parking. Quiet outside the height of summer when it is packed. Good surf break here too.

Sydney

North Curl Curl Beach Parking on Huston Prd off Pitt Rd Lots of free parking between 7pm & 7am in a quiet spot. With showers, toilets, BBQ and a beautiful beach right at your doorstep.

Gold Coast

Doug Jennings Park At the end of Seaworld Drv Beautiful spot by the beach. Quiet and plenty of space. BBQs here and a small shop/cafe.

Brisbane

Lower River Tce Kangaroo Point At the eastern end there is a parking time limit of 4 hours but the time limit is not enforced. You can sleep uninterrupted. There are BBQs and toilets here and showers at the nearby Southbank Lagoon.

What are some other great spots around the country for when you need to spend a night in your car?