Towns with free and budget camps reaping the rewards

Published: June 9, 2026

With uncertainty persisting over the situation in the Middle East and its potential longer-term impact on fuel prices and availability, grey nomads are making important decisions about how – and if – they travel.

Veteran adventurer, Robert Rosicka, has just crossed the Nullarbor from east to west and says that, while he saw a few vans on the road, ‘there are definitely less than normal’.

And with budgets tight, he says that it is the communities which offer grey nomads something ‘extra’ that will reap the rewards.

“Towns like Kimba, for example, are a magnet to stay a few days and all for a donation,” said Robert. “We just spent over $200 in town and that free camp is surely one of the best in Australia!”

He described it as ‘basically a caravan park without power, that’s free’.

“The camp kitchen is simply massive with four free gas barbecues and enough stainless steel bench space for an army,” he said. “There are coin-operated showers that cost $1, a dump point, and maybe six or more potable water taps.”

Kimba’s free camp boasts a huge camp kitchen.

Robert also stopped at the free camp in Norseman, and while he said there were zero facilities, the ‘price was right’.

He says there are lessons to be learned from the way grey nomad-friendly towns are still getting visitors despite tougher economic times.

“Small inland towns sometimes go out of their way to attract nomads, like York in WA offering free RV contained spots with power and water for 24 hours,” he said. “This makes you pull up, unhitch, maybe explore, and think ‘heck, I might go and book into the caravan park and stay a few days to see everything’.”

He says that this then has a flow-on effect that can benefit everybody.

“We’ll be spending a few dollars in the town, especially if free camped,” he said. “If we don’t have to fork out exorbitant caravan park fees, we can grab a meal at the pub and splurge a bit in the shops.”

  • With fuel prices higher, are you making more of an effort to seek out towns that have free camps? Comment below.

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12 Comments
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Pat from the Top End
26 days ago

Great suggestions…!!
Mostly unlikely in most towns with a Caravan park. Mainly because the pen pushers and swivel chair jockys on the Council have a direct or indirect interest in the local Van park. They can’t see the forest for the trees..!!

Allan Fang
25 days ago

Well Said.
Love going to Rv Camps were you can enjoy
free accommodation.Always go into town and
buy all my shopping and have a meal at local
pub.Been through so many Country towns where shops are empty and boarded up.
Pretty sure this method is only helping local
communities.Have really embraced Camper Van life.Give it a try and get out the rat race.

Agent 99
25 days ago

All the spontaneity has been taken away from caravaning because you have to book everything weeks and months ahead. Caravan park prices are absolutely ridiculous! EG. I looked at a caravan park in Denham (Shark Bay) $118. per night in July…Really!
Good on all these country towns taking them on with free camping with facilities.
Country caravan parks are usually excellent and have splendid facilities and much cheaper too!
Safe travels.

Paul N
25 days ago

It’s all about how much you have to spare, like if petrol is cheaper I buy something in the shop, especially if a independent servo, if the accommodation is cheap I’ll spend more in the area and also promote the site if it’s good

Trish
25 days ago

With the prices now charged by a number of councils , caravan parks etc .
We are unable to go and spend time in these places . As then there is little money left to go out for dinner. Visit the shops or visit tourist shops etc.
this is very sad . And very un Australian. People wait a long time to both have their children leave home to make a life for themselves. retire and be able to travel Australia with one hopes enough funds to be able to see our beautiful countryside.

Grant
24 days ago

Jarradale just west of Perth, great spot free has dump point and potable water.

Rob
24 days ago

Love it good on ya

Jan&MaxBluemarlin
24 days ago

We recently left $800+ in Charleville when the CP owner redeced the rates! This consideration caused us to increase our stay fron 3 yo 6 days!

Stuart
24 days ago

I now only shop in town i can get a free camp if I am paying caravan park then I can’t afford to shop aswell although I do like the 72 hour free as opposed to the 24 I find them to exhausting..

Peter
24 days ago

Kimba is surely one of the best examples of free camps in Australia. We generally stay here, for a night or two, every year when crossing the country. Western Australia and several other states could learn a lot from Kimba.

Campervan
23 days ago

Kimba is one of the best camps in Australia. I really appreciate that they allow campervans and rooftop tent campers who are not fully self contained.

Kimba’s hot showers and campers kitchen are excellent.
This should be an example for other towns welcomming visitors.

Maurice furlonger
23 days ago

I find dozens of free camps in Victoria ..up in the high country all over …good fishing and fossicking as well state Forrest’s reserves and Nat parks

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