Looking to immerse yourself in Australia’s incredible wilderness while minimising your footprint? Our Beginner’s Guide to Eco-Friendly Camping in Australia will help you master sustainable outdoor adventures. Discover how to reduce your impact, why motorhomes are the perfect eco camping choice, and where to stay at some of the country’s top eco campsites.
What Is Eco-Friendly Camping?
Eco-friendly camping, or eco camping, we believe means enjoying the great outdoors with respect. It’s about embracing a sustainable camping mindset – leaving no trace, conserving water, and protecting wildlife wherever you go. Essentially, it’s loving nature and enjoying our amazing country without harming it.
Why Hire a Motorhome?
When it comes to blending comfort, convenience, and environmental responsibility, there’s no better choice than a motorhome hire:
- Self-contained facilities: all our vehicles include kitchen/cooking equipment and basic kitchen supplies, so you can use reusable cookware and dishes. Our motorhomes with onboard toilet and shower means you don’t have to rely on disposable products.
- Lower impact camping: With everything built in – like your kitchen, toilet, and shower in a motorhome – hiring one of our vehicles means you don’t need to set up extra gear at your campsite. That helps reduce waste and keeps your environmental footprint smaller.
- While electric motorhomes are developing in Australia and no electric models are available to hire yet, many of our partners are all actively working to minimising their environmental impact. Here at Gallivanting Oz we are proud to partner with the Australian Koala Foundation to ensure koalas and their habitat are protected, doing our part to help keep Australia sustainable Meanwhile, you can still be eco-savvy though with a few of our top tips on economical driving methods, use of solar panels, and tips on minimal energy use especially if you are planning on doing some freedom camping.
Essential Tips for Sustainable Camping
- Bring reusable gear: water bottles and containers to reduce single-use waste.
- Mind water: use eco soaps, take shorter showers, use the kitchen sink thoughtfully – clean off scraps first, wash and rinse using minimal water. Empty your grey water responsibly and know what is required of you at the campground you are at as each campground will have its own recommendations for grey water disposal.
- Manage waste: separate bins for recyclables and compostable waste. Most campgrounds have separate bins for recycling and rubbish.
- Camp smart with fire: use portable stoves or certified fire pits and burn when allowed to and follow total fire bans.
- Respect wildlife: minimise noise, observe from a distance, and don’t feed animals.
Top 3 Eco Campsites in Australia
Looking for authentic eco-friendly camping in a motorhome? These sites combine sustainability, natural beauty, and excellent amenities:
1. 1770 Eco Camp (Queensland)
Tree-shaded sites on 42 acres near Agnes Water.
Eco-conscious features: wastewater recycling, self-sufficient water supply, natural bushland layout
Onsite camp kitchen, pet-friendly spots, and modern amenities. Ideal for sustainable camping families and explorers.
2. Habitat Noosa (Sunshine Coast, QLD)
65-acre eco retreat beside the Great Sandy National Park along Lake Cootharaba.
Offers camping and an eco-brewery. A hub for biodiversity, wildlife immersion, and Leave-No-Trace ethos. Perfect for motorhome adventurers wanting community, sustainability, and wildlife.
3. Karijini Eco Retreat (WA)
Located at the edge of Joffre Gorge in Karijini National Park.
Safari-style grounds with campsites nestled in native bush. Their focus is on minimal impact with natural designs and adventure tours. Great match for adventurous, eco-conscious travellers.
While we are not affiliated with any of these campgrounds, all three stand out to us as genuine eco campsites prioritising water recycling, low-impact facilities, and minimal environmental footprints.
They welcome motorhomes with access to power, water, waste disposal, and sustainable communal amenities. We believe staying at campgrounds such as these support local ecosystems and communities, which is the hallmark of sustainable tourism.
Planning Your Motorhome Eco Adventure
Rent a motorhome with us and your Australian adventure starts the moment you reach out to us to help you find the perfect motorhome for your holiday.
- Save hours of research and use our Motorhome Plus guides to help you plan an efficient holiday and make sure you don’t miss a thing on your route. Also find out more about the costs involved in hiring a motorhome and get our top tips to help save you $$ and making your road trip planning as easy as possible.
- We suggest downloading the Wikicamps app or Camps Australia Wide app for offline maps, site reviews, dump point locations and Tourism Information locations plus so much more!
- By mapping out a route and connecting your chosen eco campsites (Qld coast to WA outback, for example) you can save not only time but money on fuel by making sure you are getting from A to B in the most efficient way yet still see all the amazing sights across Australia!
- Book ahead – especially in peak season to secure a site otherwise you could be driving around to find a campground with vacancies
- Pack with sustainability in mind: reusable items, eco toiletries (kinder to the environment), reusable food containers, compostable bin liners for example.
- Follow park rules: especially fire restrictions, wildlife zones, and ‘Leave No Trace’ guidelines.
Embracing eco-friendly camping in Australia means making thoughtful choices – from your temporary home to how you treat the land. A motorhome rental through us makes sustainable camping both simple and comfortable, and with the right planning, your adventure becomes a positive contribution to the environment, wildlife, and local communities.
Ready to set off on your beginner-friendly, eco-smart motorhome journey? Check availability now and reserve your vehicle for a greener holiday. Let us help you hit the road – sustainably!
