Car camping spots less than 3 hours from melb.

[drakkar]

Have made an agreement with my wife that at least 1 weekend every second month, we go camping as family somewhere. Due to injury she can't sit much more than 3 hours at a time in a car, and it limits us to 2wd drive in camping only. (1 weekend every other month is for me to get away a little more remote)

I would love some suggestions of out of the way or even not often thought of places to avoid the crowds. If anyone knows of spots that are relatively bogan free on long weekends even better.

Feel free to PM spots if you feel it necessary to keep it quite.

Thanks.

[sim1oz]

What a terrific idea. I think I will run that one past my family as well.

I assume you mean car camping? Driving up to three hours takes in a large chunk of Victoria:

Grampians to the NW (just on 3 hrs);
the golden triangle in central Victoria has places to camp - we like the Richards Campground in the Mt Cole State Forest which is the start of the Beeripmo Trail;
Kooyoora State Park NNW - quiet in August when we went but lovely and warm in the sun and some nice 5+km circuit walks which we did with our kids, we don't usually light campfires but that trip we did to cook dinner and keep warm before heading to bed;
along the Murray directly N, eg. Euchuca.
Wilsons Prom would be quieter off-peak, ie. not holidays or long weekends.
Lerderderg is close to Melbourne but seems busy whenever we are there.
I love the alpine areas and some are within 3 hours of Melbourne.

We are still working our way east but others may have suggestions.

[drakkar]

Thanks, will work our way through them.

The idea came about last year.. between being stupidly busy as a family with various commitments and having to cancel a couple of solo trips due to health. Was slowly going crazy. Decided to lock a few dates in now, (taking into account birthdays anniversaries etc) Hopefully it works as planned.

[Eremophila]

Partner & I visited the Otways on Oz Day weekend last year. Beauchamp Falls campground was far less crowded and noisy than other places. It has toilets and I think there are one or two firepits. Only a 10-minute drive into Beech Forest, so easy access to creature comforts: store, water, ice, pub, and a lovely café. We may have been lucky but the vibe at the campground was really good.
Beauchamp Falls is a free campground. Lake Elizabeth just out of Forrest (run by Parks Vic and so subject to fees) also looked nice, largely used by mountain bikers.

[dplanet]

Recently been to Beauchamp Falls on a day visit and if memory serves me correctly, I did see parks booking signpost. Having a quick look at parks camping in the Otways internet page, an interesting finding is that the beauchamp falls area is managed by DEPI VIC, which provides the free campground.

[drakkar]

Any suggestions for spots around any of Victorian snow areas?

Must be 2wd accessible. And it's only for toboggan play with kids.

Ability to have a fire is a must, and a pit toilet is preferred but not essential. Appreciate the reply's so far, or list is only getting bigger!

[Travis22]

Camping + Snow play within 3hrs of melb really limits your options. 2wd, fire and a toilet makes it pretty much impossible.

How far are you happy to drive to the snow from camp, and is your 2wd of the high clerance veriety and do you have snow chains?

You can free camp in plenty of locations near ish - say 30min of most of the known snow play places like Mt Baw Baw, Mt St Gwinear, Mt Donna Buang, Lake Mountain etc.

Note expect your camp sites to be very cold, wet / muddy that time of year too.

Travis.

[paidal_chalne_vala]

If you camp near the Thompson river near the tourist train railway bridge on the way to Walhalla then you are within striking distance of the Baw Baw plateau .There is a car camping site with a pit loo there.In winter in a good snow season it is worth visiting Mt St .Gwinear , Mt Erica and Mt Baw Baw .

[north-north-west]

Donna Buang?

[paidal_chalne_vala]

http://www.findacamp.com.au/camp-site.php?camp=1323

[Hallu]

Is Mt Buffalo road plowed ? Never been there in winter but it's a great spot. Hot showers, flush toilets, nice spots. And a big thumbs up for Kooyoora State Park. The campground can be crowded, but the area is a little gem. Easy walks, great rock formations. It's like a low level small Mt Buffalo there, I loved it. You would never know it's hidden back there from the surrounding plains and farmland.

[edit] just checked for mt buffalo, the main campground is closed in from late april to november.