Camping on a budget in South Australia's National Parks

Getting away to spend time with your family or friends in nature doesn’t have to cost a fortune. So grab your thermals, a warm sleeping bag and tent and head into one of our national parks for a weekend camping… for under $100!

Here are our top spots to spend a weekend under $100.

Deep Creek National Park

Just a short distance from Adelaide, Deep Creek National Park is perfect for a day trip or weekend getaway.

A haven for native wildlife and natural beauty, campers can encounter kangaroos, echidnas, and plenty of bird species. From June to October, you may also catch a glimpse of migrating whales along the coast.

With 5 campgrounds scattered throughout, 4 accessible by 2WD vehicles, Deep Creek National Park offers the perfect city escape for those seeking adventure and relaxation.

Total cost

2 nights camping: $50 ($25 camping per night). Distance from Adelaide: 100km

Top tip: Fill your weekend with adventure by trying one of these 10 things to see and do at Deep Creek National Park

Dhil­ba Guu­ran­da-Innes Nation­al Park

Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park offers the perfect location for a weekend camping, fishing or surfing and boasts some of the best coastal views in South Australia. With the hot weather behind us, bushwalkers can enjoy exploring the park on foot, with trails to suit different experience levels, from 30-minute family strolls to four-hour treks.

Visitors can enjoy learning about the tumultuous maritime history of the area by visiting one of the lighthouses, the shipwreck of the Ethel and historic Inneston, an abandoned township surrounded by bush.

Total cost

2 nights camping: $50 ($25 camping per night). Distance from Adelaide: 284km

Top tip: While exploring this stunning park, we recommend tak­ing a pic­nic to the West Cape pic­nic area, where the spec­tac­u­lar coast­line views will take your breath away. You might also like to try qui­et­ly look­ing for rare tam­mar wal­la­bies, which were re-intro­duced to the park after becom­ing extinct in South Australia.

Parra Wirra Conservation Park

Would you like to spend the weekend immersed in nature? Parra Wirra Conservation Park is the one for you. This Barossa gem is ideal for walking, picnicking, and observing native animal life. The park is also home to the Barossa Goldfields, where you can discover the ruins and the history of a once thriving mining operation.

Don’t forget to pack your binoculars as there are over 100 species of birds living in the park, including some cheeky emus you’ll see patrolling the picnic grounds. You can see kangaroos grazing at dawn and dusk, and on a warm day bearded dragons and sleepy lizards bask in the sun­shine. If you’re in luck you might also spot a short-beaked echidna, a shy creature whose diggings can be found throughout the park.

Total cost

2 nights camping: $50 ($25 camping per night). Distance from Adelaide: 38.9km

Top tip: Check out this article with ideas for the perfect weekend itinerary for this close-to-Adelaide gem.

Coorong National Park

Want to try a new adventure? Not sure where or how to begin? Coorong National Park is an immensely popular park as it offers everything you could possibly want for a camping weekend. Visitors come for bird watching, boating, kayaking, fishing, camping, walking, four-wheel driving and European and Ngarrindjeri cultural history.

The serenity, the sheer diversity, and the proximity to Adelaide make it the perfect spot to try camping. The Coorong is also a wet­land of international importance, supporting many significant and endangered flora and fauna.

Total cost

2 nights camping: $36 ($18 camping per night). Distance from Adelaide: 173.46km

Top tip: The iconic Australian novel, ‘Storm Boy’, was originally made into a movie in 1976 and in 2019 a contemporary reimagining of the original movie was released. The story features the vast beaches, lagoons and sand dunes of Coorong National Park, where you can follow in the footsteps of characters Storm Boy, Mr Percival and Fingerbone Bill.

Onkaparinga River National Park

Onkaparinga River National Park is the perfect spot for anyone who loves walking. Diverse hiking trails take you to cliff tops with magnificent views, or down to permanent rock pools teeming with life. You’ll see rugged ridge tops and the narrow river valley of the spectacular Onkaparinga Gorge.

Lace up your boots and keep your eyes peeled for the remarkable wildlife such as birds, koalas, kangaroos and possums — you may even spot an echidna. Just next door, to the west of the nation-al park, Onkaparinga River Recreation Park boasts wetlands, boardwalks to explore and kayaking opportunities.

Total cost

2 nights camping: $72 ($36 camping per night). Distance from Adelaide: 35km

Top tip: Relax with friends and family at one of the gorgeous picnic areas in the park – some offer BBQs, toilets and shelter, and all are close to great trails.

Murray river national park

Camping beside the Murray River is treat not to be missed and the Murray River National Park provides a variety of recreational activities such as walking, bike riding, canoeing, bird watching and bush camping to enjoy over a weekend. This park is helping to conserve more than 14,879 hectares and includes a vast network of Murray River wetlands and floodplains to explore.

Why not pack the car and head to one of the designated camping areas and enjoy this stunning part of South Australia?

Total cost

2 nights camping: $28 ($14 per night). Distance from Adelaide: 239.81km

Top tip: Check out the best way to spend a day in Murray River national park with this handy guide here.