Camping out

Nature is one of life's greatest gifts. Whether it's to escape the hustle and bustle of the city or simply to recharge, spending time outdoors, especially camping, is always relaxing and peaceful.

Here are a few beautiful camping spots in Victoria that my friend and I have visited.

Echuca: July 2022

Echuca, a historic town in northern Victoria, sits on the Murray River, just across from Moama in New South Wales. My Aussie friend recommended that I visit there, saying it was warmer and sunnier than most places around Melbourne. It sounded like the perfect spot for our five-day escape from the Melbourne winter.

It took us around three hours to drive to the town of Echuca from Melbourne. We got there in a ute with a trailer carrying all our camping gear, including tents, camp tables and chairs, cooking utensils, an airbed, gas, firewood, a heater, batteries and solar panels. I was so excited to see the kangaroos welcoming us on the path leading to the Wills Sandbar camping ground.

We camped facing the river and saw New South Wales on the other side. We caught sight of the majestic Emmylou – one of Australia's most recognisable and iconic paddlesteamers cruising the Murray River, which really made this place unique.

We mainly chilled the entire time, and cooked food on the coal fire. We wrapped sweet potatoes in aluminium foil, baked them on the fire, and then topped them up with cheese, onion, sour cream and a bit of pepper. They were so tasty!

Every morning when I woke up, I saw tiny birds on nearby branches and listened to the cockatoos squawk. We walked around the area to explore the nature. Staying in a tent in the bush was a unique experience for me!

On the last day, we visited the National Holden Motor Museum to see a wide collection of antique cars. We were surprised to see an olden-day refrigerator among the vehicles. The museum has now moved to Coffs Harbour, New South Wales.

Kinglake National Park: July 2023

Camping at Kinglake National Park, Victoria, in winter was a lot of fun! My friend and I decided to go there as it is only about 78 kilometres from Melbourne. Kinglake National Park is in the traditional Country of the Taungurung and Wurundjeri Peoples. You are required to reserve a camping spot online.

When we Googled campsites near Melbourne, the name Kinglake instantly caught our attention, and we immediately picked that place for our relaxing weekend trip. I imagined camping right by a beautiful lake; however, when I arrived there, I discovered that there were no lakes at all, but we did see some waterfalls.

Upon arriving at the campsite at 3:00 pm, we quickly set up the tent, inflated the airbed, unfolded the tables and chairs and put up the gazebo in case it rained later. We then chopped up some wood and lit a fire as it got dark and cold. It was so relaxing just to sit in the camp chairs, chilling and sipping hot drinks next to the crackling fire.

I had my first memorable experience of cooking lamb shank in a camp oven. We also made jaffles. You would probably agree that a jaffle is one of the easiest meals to make when camping. It is a hot toasted sandwich filled with whatever you like, cooked in a jaffle iron. You need to be very careful before you bite into it; otherwise, it can burn your lips and tongue. We made damper as well. It was so good that we could not resist having it with marmalade for brekky. That delicious breakfast was followed by a hike in the bush.

During the hike, we took beautiful shots of the surroundings, capturing the blue sky visible through the towering trees.

Andersons Garden Campground: September 2023

Andersons Garden Campground is situated along the Aberfeldy River within the Toombon Gold Mines Historic Reserve, just about 85 kilometres from Melbourne. We drove there in the ute, carrying firewood, a small fridge, batteries, a charger, and camping gear, including tents, folded tables, chairs, and a campfire cooking set. It took us only about an hour to get there, which was perfect for our weekend break

The campground was surrounded by bushes, tall trees, a small creek on one side, and hiking trails, and it was also connected to a short track for mountain biking. It had different camping sites with fire pits and amenities suitable for small groups who bring trailers or tents.

We spent two nights there without any gadgets or the Internet, just immersing ourselves in nature and tapping into its positive energy. In the morning, we were woken up by birdsong and the sun and then went hiking. In the evening, we sat in camp chairs by the sputtering fire under a starry sky. 

My friend showed me a traditional way of cooking that dates back to the olden days: making jaffles on the campfire. We made jaffles with cheese and ham, bacon and eggs, and even fruity jaffles for dessert, which were so tasty! We also had a lot of fun making damper in a camp oven. My friend told me that the damper was characteristically Australian and symbolised the early European settlement and rural life. If you're wondering what the damper is, it is a kind of bread made with a basic mixture of flour, salt and water. Drovers and stockmen made this bread on their long road trips and cooked it on the campfire.

I have always loved camping. It requires life skills and a bit of investment in camping gear and a suitable vehicle. Although the ute and trailer suited our purpose for these trips, we realised that the ute could not handle all terrains. For more adventurous trips in the future, we've decided to save up for a 4-wheel drive and rooftop tent.

About the Writer

Linh Hayes is a TESOL teacher and a Foundation Studies coordinator. She also has experience in international business relations, business management, quality assurance and compliance.

Linh values integrity, compassion, honesty and sincerity. She likes reading, travelling, experiencing new cultures and exploring the beauty of nature.

Linh has made a few camping trips to Echuca, Kinglake, Andersons Park, Lerderberg State Park and Lake Burrumbeet in Victoria. She looks forward to a few more in the upcoming winter.