Australia is one of the best places in the world for backpacker camping and hiking trips. You can sleep beside the ocean, walk through rainforest, camp in the desert, hike alpine trails and snorkel off tropical islands, all in the same country. That range is what makes travelling here so rewarding. It is not just about seeing famous places. It is about choosing the kind of trip that suits your budget, your time and how adventurous you want to be.
Some trips are easy to add to a classic east coast route. Others need a car, more gear or more planning. Either way, getting out of the cities and into Australia’s landscapes is where some of the best travel memories happen.
These six camping and hiking trips give backpackers a solid mix of coastal road trips, national park walks, remote outback scenery and proper wilderness experiences.
What makes a good backpacker camping trip in Australia?
Not every camping trip works the same way for every traveller. For backpackers, the best trips usually come down to a few practical things: how easy it is to reach without spending a fortune, whether you can camp legally and safely, how much gear you need, and whether the experience feels worth the time.
A good backpacker trip usually has a balance of scenery and practicality. That might mean a place with affordable campgrounds, good hiking options nearby and enough facilities to keep things simple. It might also mean a more remote area that takes extra planning, but gives you something far more memorable in return.
Before choosing where to go, think about how you are travelling. A van or car opens up far more flexibility. Public transport can still work for some regions, especially if you combine it with tours or short transfers. Also think about the season. Australia’s climate changes a lot between states, and a trip that feels perfect in one month can be uncomfortable or even unsafe in another.
Backpacker camping and hiking essentials
A better trip usually starts with packing properly. You do not need loads of gear, but you do need the right basics. Australia can be harsh on underprepared travellers, especially in remote areas, hot weather or alpine conditions.
A sturdy backpack is a must. For longer camping trips, a 60 to 70 litre pack is usually enough. For shorter hikes or overnight walks, 40 to 50 litres often works better.
Your shelter setup should be light, reliable and suited to the season. That means a waterproof tent, a sleeping bag with the right temperature rating and a sleeping mat. Do not overlook the mat. A bad night’s sleep makes everything harder the next day.
For food and water, keep it simple. Take high-energy snacks, easy meals, a portable stove, fuel, a lighter and something to eat from. A durable bottle or hydration system matters, and for longer hikes, bring a water filter or purification tablets too.
Clothing should be built around layers. Moisture-wicking shirts, warm layers for evenings, a waterproof jacket, decent hiking boots or shoes and several pairs of socks will cover most trips. In Australia, sunscreen and insect repellent are not optional extras. They are basic kit.
You should also carry navigation and safety items, especially outside popular day-walk areas. A map, compass or GPS, a first aid kit, a headlamp, emergency whistle, multi-tool and personal medication are worth the space in your pack.
The aim is simple: pack light, but do not cut corners on the gear that keeps you safe and comfortable.
1. Great Ocean Road, Victoria
The Great Ocean Road is one of the easiest backpacker camping trips to recommend because it gives you a lot without needing extreme effort. You get huge coastal views, famous landmarks, beach camping and access to rainforest walks, all in one trip. It works especially well for backpackers doing a road trip from Melbourne.
This is the kind of route where the journey matters as much as the stops. You can spend your mornings driving cliffside roads, your afternoons walking coastal tracks or swimming at quieter beaches, and your evenings cooking at camp near the ocean.
Why backpackers rate it
The Great Ocean Road is accessible, scenic and flexible. You can do it in a couple of days if you are short on time, or stretch it out over longer with extra stops. It suits travellers who want a mix of camping, sightseeing and easy hiking without heading too far off-grid.
It is also a strong option for first-time backpacker campers in Australia because you are never too far from towns, supplies or facilities.
What to expect
The coastline is the main draw here. The Southern Ocean, limestone cliffs and stacks like the Twelve Apostles make this stretch one of the country’s best-known road trips. But the real strength of the route is the variety. Once you move inland into the Otways, the scenery changes completely. You get tall forests, waterfalls, fern-filled walks and a better chance of spotting wildlife.
Camping around Johanna Beach or Cumberland River is a good way to slow the trip down and make it feel more outdoors-focused rather than just a day of driving.
Best for
Backpackers who want an easy road trip, coastal camping, short walks and a route that fits well into a Victoria itinerary.
How to get there
The Great Ocean Road starts at Torquay, around 103 km southwest of Melbourne. It takes about 1.5 hours to drive there from the city.
2. The Red Centre, Northern Territory
If you want a trip that feels unmistakably Australian, the Red Centre is hard to beat. The scale is bigger, the colours are harsher, and everything feels more stripped back. This is the kind of place that makes you realise how large and empty much of the country really is.
Camping near Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park gives you a front-row seat to one of Australia’s most famous landscapes. Sunrise and sunset are the standout times, when the light shifts across the desert and the rock formations change colour.
Why backpackers rate it
The Red Centre gives you something different from the usual coastal backpacker route. It feels remote, iconic and memorable in a way that is difficult to match. It is a good choice for travellers who want more than beaches and city stops, and who are willing to cover big distances to get there.
It is also a trip that stays with people. The landscapes are dramatic, but it is the atmosphere that often makes the biggest impression: the silence, the open sky and the feeling of being in a place with deep cultural importance.
What to expect
Uluru is the obvious highlight, but the wider region is what makes the trip richer. Kata Tjuta adds more hiking and equally impressive desert scenery, while Kings Canyon brings steeper rock formations and rewarding views.
This is also one of the strongest trips on the list for stargazing. If you are camping out here, the night sky becomes part of the experience.
Best for
Backpackers looking for an iconic Outback trip, desert hiking, stargazing and a stronger sense of Australia beyond the coast.
How to get there
Uluru is about 450 km southwest of Alice Springs, and the drive takes roughly 4.5 hours.
3. Tasmania’s wild hiking country
Tasmania is where a lot of backpackers go when they want proper hiking rather than just a few scenic stops. The landscapes feel older, cooler and rougher in the best way. There is less of the wide-open dryness you get on the mainland and more alpine lakes, mossy forest, mountain weather and long walking trails.
Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park is the best-known base for this kind of trip. Even short walks here feel rewarding, but the region also suits travellers looking for bigger hiking goals.
Why backpackers rate it
Tasmania is ideal for backpackers who want the trip itself to revolve around the outdoors. It rewards people who are happy to walk more, camp more and spend less time chasing major towns or tourist hotspots.
It is also one of the best places in Australia for travellers who like cooler conditions and more serious trekking options.
What to expect
Cradle Mountain gives you the classic mix of alpine scenery, lakes and well-known tracks. If you have more time, the Overland Track is the obvious multi-day challenge. South-west National Park is even more remote and suits travellers looking for a harder wilderness experience.
Wildlife adds to the appeal too. Wombats are common in some parts, and Tasmania’s more isolated feel gives the whole trip a stronger sense of escape.
Best for
Backpackers who enjoy hiking-focused trips, cooler weather, multi-day walk options and wilderness camping.
How to get there
Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park is about 300 km northwest of Hobart, with a driving time of around 4 hours.
4. The Kimberley, Western Australia
The Kimberley is not the easiest trip on this list, but it might be the most adventurous. This is a huge, rugged part of Western Australia known for dramatic gorges, rough roads, ancient rock formations and long distances between places.
For backpackers who want something that feels genuinely remote, this is where the trip changes from scenic to full-on. It takes more commitment, but that is what makes it stand out.
Why backpackers rate it
The Kimberley suits travellers who want to get further beyond the standard backpacker loop. It feels less polished, less crowded and much more remote than the better-known east coast routes. If you like the idea of rougher campsites, long drives and landscapes that feel untouched, it is a strong choice.
What to expect
Purnululu National Park and the Bungle Bungle Range are the standout drawcards. The striped, beehive-shaped domes are unlike anything else on this list. Beyond that, the wider Kimberley offers gorges, waterfalls and classic remote-road adventure.
The Gibb River Road is a big part of the region’s appeal. It is not just about getting from one point to another. The route itself is part of the experience, with side stops that lead to swimming holes, hikes and camps well away from towns.
Mitchell Falls is another major highlight for those willing to put in the effort.
Best for
Backpackers chasing a remote Australian road trip, rougher camping, dramatic landscapes and an experience that feels more off-grid.
How to get there
The Bungle Bungle Range in Purnululu National Park is about 700 km from Broome, which is roughly a 9-hour drive.
5. Great Barrier Reef island camping, Queensland
A lot of backpackers see the Great Barrier Reef as a boat trip, but camping nearby makes it feel far more immersive. Staying on or near reef islands lets you spend more time outdoors and less time rushing through a day tour.
Trips to islands such as Fitzroy Island or Lady Elliot Island bring together camping, walking, swimming and reef access in the same place. It is one of the best options on this list if you want your trip to feel active but still relaxed.
Why backpackers rate it
This trip gives you a break from long inland drives and dusty campsites. You still get the camping experience, but with tropical beaches, snorkelling and coastal tracks instead of desert or mountain terrain. It is a great choice for backpackers who want nature without committing to a full-scale hiking expedition.
What to expect
Days here are usually slower and simpler. You can swim, snorkel, walk island tracks, spend time on the beach and enjoy the reef environment without needing a packed itinerary. That slower pace is part of what makes it good.
It is also one of the more visually varied trips, mixing reef, rainforest and beach in a fairly compact area.
Best for
Backpackers who want tropical island camping, reef access, swimming, snorkelling and a slower outdoor trip.
How to get there
Many reef islands are reached from Cairns. Fitzroy Island, for example, is about 45 minutes away by ferry.
6. Snowy Mountains, New South Wales
For cooler temperatures and alpine scenery, the Snowy Mountains offer something completely different again. This is where you go for high-country camping, mountain trails and access to Mount Kosciuszko, the highest peak in Australia.
The region works in more than one season, which gives backpackers some flexibility. In winter, it is the base for snow trips. In the warmer months, it becomes a hiking and camping destination with a very different feel from the rest of New South Wales.
Why backpackers rate it
The Snowies suit backpackers who want mountains without heading into full isolation. The walking is rewarding, the scenery is different from the coast or the Outback, and the region works well for both active summer trips and winter visits.
What to expect
Kosciuszko National Park is the centre of the trip. You can follow trails through alpine meadows, build a trip around the summit area and camp in the high country. In the warmer months, the streams, open landscapes and cooler air make it a great break from hotter parts of Australia.
In winter, places like Thredbo and Perisher shift the focus toward snow sports, which gives the region a completely different energy.
Best for
Backpackers interested in alpine hiking, cooler camping conditions, seasonal travel and mountain scenery.
How to get there
The Snowy Mountains are about 180 km southwest of Canberra, which is around a 2.5-hour drive.
How to choose the right trip
The best trip depends on what kind of backpacker you are.
If you want a simple, scenic first camping trip, the Great Ocean Road is the easiest place to start. If you want an iconic Outback experience, go to the Red Centre. Tasmania is the strongest pick for serious walkers. The Kimberley is for travellers who want remoteness and do not mind the effort it takes to get there.
If your priority is warm weather and time in the water, the Great Barrier Reef islands make more sense. If you want mountain scenery and cooler air, the Snowy Mountains are the better fit.
A good way to decide is to think about what you want most from the trip. Is it driving, hiking, beach time, remoteness, wildlife, or just a few nights outdoors without too much logistics? Once that is clear, the right destination becomes much easier to choose.
Final thoughts
One of the best things about backpacking in Australia is how many different kinds of camping and hiking trips are possible. You are not stuck with one style of travel. You can build a trip around beaches, deserts, mountains, forests or reef islands depending on the season and how much time you have.
These six trips are a strong starting point because they show the range of what Australia offers. Some are easy to plan. Some ask for more preparation. All of them give you a better look at the country than sticking to hostels and city stops alone.
For backpackers who want the kind of trip they will still be talking about years later, these are some of the best places to start.
