Camping safety

Plan and book your camping trip

• As of 1 June 2020, you need to book in advance if you plan to stay at a NSW national parks campground or campsite.
• Find and book a campground from our list of popular sites.
• Designated camping areas within NSW national parks vary from park to park, and bush camping is permitted in some national parks.
• Check if there’s any park alerts or closures before you go.
• Download the Emergency Plus app to your mobile or satellite phone.
• Drinking water isn’t available at most campgrounds. Check before you arrive.
• Check the weather forecast before setting out.
• Plan ahead to reduce your risk of insect bites, including mosquitoes, which can carry viruses. Advice on mosquito bite prevention can be found on the NSW Health website.
• Check that your camping equipment is in working order.

Wild or back country camping

• You do not have to make a formal booking for remote camping (walk-in campgrounds that are not listed on this website), but you must complete a trip intention form prior to arrival.
• If you're going camping in Kosciuszko National Park's Main Range, read our need-to-know information for a safe and enjoyable back country adventure.

Tell somebody

Give your trip details to family and friends who are not travelling with you. Tell them when you expect to return and let them know when you have returned. For longer trips or remote areas, consider filling in a trip intention form and taking a personal locator beacon (PLB).

Where to set up camp

• When you arrive, check signage on the ground to see where camping is permitted.
• If you have booked a specific campsite, go to your reserved camping spot.
• When pitching your tent, remember to look up to ensure there aren't any loose, dead or overhanging tree limbs.
• To protect the land, avoid camping on low or poorly drained areas where soil or vegetation may be easily damaged. Look for harder ground or sandier soils.

Campfires

• Follow all fire safety information during park fire bans and total fire bans and download the Fires Near Me mobile app, especially in summer.
• Only light fires in designated fireplaces.
• Do not leave fires unattended. Completely extinguish all fires before you leave an area or go to sleep.
• Campfires should not be used to incinerate rubbish. Fire doesn't destroy aluminium foil, and plastics release toxic gases when burned.
• Dead wood provides valuable habitat for native animals. Please don’t break branches or collect fallen timber for fires.
• If you're camping off the beaten track, use a fuel stove. If you do need to light a fire, please remove the top layer of soil before making the fire. Keep the fire small and ensure you put the fire out thoroughly, scatter the ashes, and replace the top layer of soil.
• The use of chainsaws is not permitted.

Cooking and heating

• Never use gas stoves or fuel burners to heat your tent.
• Never cook inside a tent or enclosed camping spaces.
• Carbon monoxide poisoning can occur from combustion of fuels such as petrol, oil, gas and wood in areas with little or no ventilation, including tents and caravans. Read more about carbon monoxide safety.

Generator use

Limited use of generators is permitted in some NPWS campgrounds. To reduce the risk of wildfire:

• Never use generators during fire bans.
• Locate the generator in an area clear of fuels, dry grass or other combustible material.
• Ensure extension leads do not cross access tracks and are rated for external use.
• Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for safe operation of your generator.
• Only operate generators in well ventilated areas outside of tents and sleeping spaces.
• Be around whenever the generator is operating.

Be a considerate camper

The safety of other park visitors, native wildlife and the environment is important too. Domestic animals pose a danger to native animals and are not permitted in most NSW national parks. Please leave your pet with a friend or family member. Read these tips on how to be a considerate camper.