The best and worst of Sydney camping

The best and worst of Sydney camping

 Big 4 Sydney Lakeside Caravan Park, Narrabeen

Having just finished a pretty poor camping experience in Sydney, I fear that large, treeless caravan parks, with wall to wall canvas and motorhomes squeezed between too many cars, are many people's idea of camping. No wonder so many people say "oh, camping isn't for me". I guess they've had too many bad experiences - perhaps as kids forced on family holidays where they were jammed beside smelly neighbours with a penchant for revving their car/boat/motorbike engine at all hours.
Don't give up! There are still some great camping experiences to be had in Sydney.

Big4 Sydney Lakeside Caravan Park, Narrabeen

There were a few surprising things about Sydney Lakeside Caravan Park Big 4 this weekend. One was its sheer size. It has 260 camping sites, plus cabins, meaning around 1000 people. And even though we were out of school holidays, it was almost full. The small bit of grass in front of the photo above was quickly filled, and everywhere there were cars, tents and motorhomes, with little to no shade (so it must bake in summer). The amenities blocks, though quite large and relatively clean, are a long way apart, and in our case the closest was closed, meaning a five-minute walk to the dunnies.
Best thing: Narrabeen Lake, great for paddling, adjoins the park, and the surf beach and beautiful Narrabeen ocean pools are about 10 minutes walk away.
Worst thing: Lack of shade. Wall to wall tents. Public transport into town is difficult. No fires. Overall, "bleh".

Lane Cove River Tourist Park

Exploring Lane Cove National Park

Maybe I'm biased, because this is one of my local patches of bush, but I love this little hidden gem. It's not actually on the river however - that's a 10 minute walk away down the hill. Still, it's a quiet spot (some would say deathly quiet, as there is a cemetery next door), with a train station a 10-minute walk away and it takes less than 30 mins to get to the city centre. Great cycling, walking, picnicking and birdwatching through the park.
Best thing: amazing to stay this close to Sydney CBD in a quiet national park.
Worst thing: the river isn't recommended for swimming or fishing unfortunately, but you can hire boats, bikes, pedal boats and kayaks at the Lane Cove Boatshed. 

The Basin Campground, Ku-ring-gai National Park

The Basin, Ku-ring-gai National Park

A purler of a spot, this can only be accessed by ferry or taxi from Palm Beach Wharf, or by walking in the 3km from West Head Road (carrying all your stuff. It's downhill, but remember that means uphill on the way back.) There is room for about 400 campers, with a few communal firepits. The site offers delightful swimming, snorkelling, bushwalks and exploring the bush, and you'll probably encounter a range of wild animals, including goannas, wallabies, carpet pythons and lyrebirds.
Best thing: the location. It really is a beautiful spot.
Worst thing: not great if you are hoping to sight-see in Sydney, as you are a long way from anywhere. Large school groups sometimes use the area.

Cockatoo Island, Sydney Harbour

For first-time campers in Sydney, I don't think you can beat this experience. In the middle of Sydney Harbour, so only accessed by ferry or water taxi, this campsite has one of the greatest views of Sydney you can wake up to. There is space for your own tents, but if you are going just for a night, I'd recommend paying a bit extra and using the tents that are already set up, with chairs, torches, beds and everything provided. There are gas barbecues to cook on, and you can wander the historic island at will.
Best thing: early morning or late at night, being right on Sydney Harbour
Worst thing: nowhere to swim or hire kayaks. Also the most expensive option.

What are your best and worst camping options in and around Sydney? Let me know!

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