Where last-minute October long weekend campsites are available in South Australia’s national parks

The sun is shining, the birds are singing and the trails are waiting – it’s almost time for the October long weekend (Saturday 2 October to Monday 4 October).

Haven’t made plans yet? Look no further than a national park.

Campsites in South Australia’s national parks can be booked up to 12 months in advance and the most popular sites sell out quickly around holiday times.

This means that almost all sites are now booked out at parks such as Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park, Murray River National Park, Mount Remarkable National Park and Deep Creek Recreation Park.

But don’t despair, there are still plenty of options to camp in a national park, particularly if you’re willing to try a lesser-known park and campground or travel a little further afield.

We’ve rounded up a list of places where you can still book in:

Limestone Coast

Canunda National Park

• Geltwood Campground (booking fast!)
• Number Two Rocks Campground

Coorong National Park

• Boating Based Camping (Coorong Lagoon)
• Loop Road, Malleefowl Campground (booking fast!)
• Ocean Beach (4WD)
• Parnka Point, Avocet Campground (booking fast!)
• Tea Tree Crossing Campground
• Tea Tree Crossing, Oystercatcher Campground (booking fast!)

  Bool Lagoon Game Reserve and Hacks Lagoon Conservation Park

• Bool Lagoon Campground

Murray River

Karte Conservation Park

• Karte Campground (booking fast!)

Ngarkat Conservation Park

• Box Flat Campground
• Bucks Camp Campground (booking fast!)
• Comet Bore Campground
• Coxs Windmill Campground
• Doggers Hut Campground (booking fast!)
• The Pines Campground (4WD) (booking fast!)

Eyre Peninsula

Chadinga Conservation Park

• Chadinga Campground

Coffin Bay National Park

• Black Springs Campground (4WD) (booking fast!)
• Black Springs Overflow (4WD)
• Morgan's Landing Campground (4WD) (booking fast!)
• Sensation Campground (4WD) (booking fast!)
• The Pool Campground (4WD) (booking fast!)
• Yangie, Big Campground (4WD)

Fowlers Bay Conservation Park

• Mexican Hat Flat Campground
• Mexican Hat Headland Campground
• Scotts Beach Campground

Gawler Ranges National Park

• Chillunie Campground
• Kolay Hut Campground
• Mattera Campground
• Scrubby Peak Campground
• Waganny Campground
• Yandinga Campground

Laura Bay Conservation Park

• Laura Bay Campground

Lincoln National Park

• Engine Point Campground (4WD)
• Fisherman Point Campground
• Horse Rock Campground
• Lincoln Track Campground (4WD)
• Richardsons Shack Campground
• Surfleet Cove Campground (booking fast!)
• Woodcutters Beach Campground (4WD) (booking fast!)

Nullarbor National Park

• Koonalda

Point Bell Conservation Park

• Point Bell Campground

Wahgunyah Conservation Park

• Cheetima Campground
• Dogfence Beach Campground

Wittelbee Conservation Park

• Wittelbee Campground

Yellabinna Regional Reserve

• Mt Finke Campground

Yumbarra Conservation Park

• Googs Lake Campground

Flinders Ranges and Outback

Acraman Creek Conservation Park

• Acraman Creek

Innamincka Regional Reserve

• Burke’s Grave Campground
• Cullyamurra Waterhole Campground
• Kings Site Campground
• Kudriemitchie Campground
• Minkie Waterhole Campground
• Policemans Campground
• Queerbidie Campground
• Ski Beach Campground

Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park

• Brachina East Campground (booking fast!)
• Koolamon Campground (booking fast!)
• Wilcolo Hikers only

Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre National Park

• Halligan Bay Point Campground

Malkumba-Coongie Lakes National Park

• Malkumba-Coongie Lakes Campground

Tallaringa Conservation Park

• Tallaringa Conservation Park Camping

Vulkathunha-Gammon Ranges National Park

• Arcoona Campground (4WD or high clearance 2WD)
• Grindells Hut Campground (4WD Only)
• Italowie Gap Campground
• Mainwater Well Campground (4WD Only)
• Weetootla Gorge Campground, Wiriti Urdla

Witjira National Park

• 3 O'clock Creek Campground
• Dalhousie Springs Campground

Kangaroo Island

Cape Gantheaume Conservation Park and Wilderness Protection Area

• D'Estrees Bay Campground
• Murray Lagoon Campground (booking fast!)

Flinders Chase National Park

• Harvey's Return Campground
• West Bay Campground (4WD)

Note: ferry bookings to Kangaroo Island can sell out around holiday times, so Kangaroo Island parks might only be an option if you’re a local, if you’ve already booked your ferry, or if you’re happy to fly to the island.

Availability at these campgrounds for the October long weekend is correct as of Monday 27 September, 2021.

Top tip: Campsites can be booked 12 months in advance, so if you’ve missed out this year you can always book ahead for next year.

New to camping? You might be interested in reading these blogs: tips for beginners, camping dos and don’ts, essentials to pack and easy campfire recipes.

This story was originally posted in September 2020 and has been updated with details for 2021.