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Special Offer

Become a campground host

Campground hosts help NSW National Parks rangers by meeting and greeting campers, helping them enjoy their park experience in our campgrounds.

Read more about Become a campground host

This program is a great opportunity to experience camping in our national parks while providing a valuable service to the public. If you have a passion for the outdoors and volunteering, becoming a campground host might be for you.

What will you need to apply?

Before you apply to become a campground host in NSW national parks you'll need to fulfill some criteria and also arrange a few things.

To become a campground host you need to:

  • Be over 18 years old
  • Answer some questions detailing the skills you bring to the program.
  • Obtain a Working With Children Check, free of charge once accepted as a volunteer.
  • Be self-motivated, enjoy working with people and have excellent communication skills.
  • Have a reasonable level of fitness and health, as some campsites are in remote settings.

Before you apply, think about which national parks you might like to volunteer in.

To apply, please register here. We'll contact you to progress your registration, and this will include information about the next training weekends.

What are the benefits of becoming a campground host?

With a range of benefits, if you have a passion for the outdoors and volunteering, becoming a campground host in NSW national parks might be for you.

  • Hosts generally assist the public in the mornings and evenings at meal times, so there's plenty of time to enjoy the park.
  • You can volunteer for the summer or Easter holidays, or both.
  • You'll enjoy free campsite access at a participating national park when you volunteer
  • You'll have opportunities to get together with other campground hosts at training workshops or reunion events held during the year.

What does a campground host do?

Campground hosts help NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) rangers by meeting and greeting campers, helping them to enjoy their park experience. Responsibilities and expectations include:

  • Helping site bookings check in and check out
  • Directing campers to fee payment areas and campsites
  • Promoting walks and activities
  • Providing information on other local attractions
  • Providing information on campfire safety and Total Fire Ban day regulations
  • Notifying rangers of an offence or issue

What volunteer commitments do campground hosts have?

The campground host program operates throughout the year, including during the summer, the Easter period and long weekends. Campgrounds hosts are encouraged to stay 1 week (7 days). However shorter and longer stays may also possible. 

Upcoming opportunities

You can nominate the dates of your stay during peak holiday periods, including the NSW school holidays. Hosts are allocated to campgrounds depending on availability.

What training is available for campground hosts?

Successful applicants must attend one of the training workshops to be eligible to participate in the program.

Training dates and locations

Training dates and locations will be discussed with individual volunteers.

New hosts are required to attend a training weekend. Details of the training weekend will be provided to you once you've been accepted into the program. There are also opportunities to join other hosts on reunion weekends. Details of reunion weekends will be shared with hosts directly.

Participating campgrounds

Campground hosts are allocated on an as-needs basis, and work all over the state. A list of previous campgrounds is provided below. Volunteers can indicate their preferences.

If you'd like to volunteer in a park not listed, please apply and let us know where you'd like to volunteer. New campgrounds are being added throughout the year.

Campground hosts have welcomed campers and visitors to the following campgrounds:

Blue Mountains campgrounds

Hunter and Central Coast campgrounds

North Coast campgrounds

Outback and country campgrounds

South Coast campgrounds

Southern Tablelands campgrounds

Sydney campgrounds