For those seeking a truly immersive bush camping experience, Friday’s Campground offers a secluded and peaceful retreat deep within the Brisbane Ranges National Park. This Parks Victoria campground is the perfect destination for hikers, wildlife enthusiasts, and anyone looking to disconnect and recharge in a beautiful, natural setting. Nestled amongst a tall ironbark and stringybark forest, the campground provides a genuine back-to-basics experience where the sounds of the bush take centre stage. The individually designated sites are well-spaced, offering excellent privacy and allowing campers to feel truly surrounded by nature. It’s a place where kangaroos and wallabies are common visitors at dawn and dusk, and the air is filled with the calls of native birds.
Friday’s Campground is the primary starting point for some of the park’s best walks, including the challenging Burchell Trail, a multi-day hike through the rugged ranges. Several shorter loops also begin here, taking you through diverse landscapes of rocky gorges and serene woodlands, which come alive with a spectacular display of wildflowers in the spring. The campground’s facilities are basic but clean and well-maintained, catering to self-sufficient campers. Its remote feel is a key part of its appeal, yet it remains conveniently close to the fascinating Steiglitz Historic Park, a near-ghost town that offers a tangible connection to the area’s gold rush past. While you’ll need to bring all your own supplies, including water and firewood, the reward is an authentic and memorable stay in one of Victoria’s most ecologically significant national parks.
Friday’s Campground – VIC Location Map
Friday’s Campground
Site Details
- Location: Secluded bush camp in the Brisbane Ranges National Park.
- Site Suitable For: Tents, Camper Trailers, and small Campervans. Not suitable for caravans or large motorhomes.
- Road Access: Unsealed gravel road. Generally 2WD accessible but can be rough and corrugated.
- Site Surface: Dirt and gravel.
- Camping Permitted: Yes, bookings and fees are required via the Parks Victoria website.
- Maximum Overnight Stays: Check Parks Victoria guidelines.
- Facilities: Non-flush toilets, shared picnic tables, wood BBQs/fire pits. No showers or power.
- Potable Water: No. You must bring all your own drinking water.
- Mobile Phone Coverage: Very poor to non-existent.
- TV Reception: Unlikely.
- Onsite Public Toilets: Yes, non-flush (pit) toilets.
- Rubbish Bins: No. This is a strict carry-in, carry-out site.
- Open Fires: Permitted in designated fire pits only, subject to seasonal fire restrictions. BYO firewood.
- Generator Use: Not permitted.
- Number of Sites Available: 10 designated, bookable sites.
- Essentials to Bring: Drinking water, firewood, toilet paper, rubbish bags, hiking boots.
- Pet Friendly: No. Pets are not permitted in the Brisbane Ranges National Park.
Activities
- Fishing: Not applicable.
- Short Walks: This is a primary bushwalking campground with numerous trails starting from the site.
- Wildlife Watching: Excellent opportunities to see kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, echidnas, and diverse birdlife.
Local Amenities
- Local Pubs:
- Anakie Hotel (Anakie) – Approx. 25 km
- Meredith Hotel (Meredith) – Approx. 25 km
- Lal Lal Falls Hotel (Lal Lal) – Approx. 35 km
- Places to Eat:
- Anakie General Store (Takeaway) – Approx. 25 km
- Meredith Hotel (Bistro) – Approx. 25 km
- Local Attractions:
- Steiglitz Historic Park – Approx. 4 km
- Fairy Park (Anakie) – Approx. 28 km
- Bunjil’s Lookout – Approx. 12 km
- Nearest Caravan Parks:
- Anakie Gemstone Park (Anakie) – Approx. 25 km
- Meredith Caravan Park – Approx. 25 km
- Next Free Camps:
- Old Mill Picnic Area (Steiglitz) – Approx. 4 km
- Bunjil’s Lookout – Approx. 12 km
- Nearest Dump Points:
- Bannockburn Public Dump Point – Approx. 35 km
- Nearest Petrol Station:
- Anakie – Approx. 25 km
- Meredith – Approx. 25 km
- Drinking Water Resupply:
- Available in nearby towns like Meredith or Anakie.
- Public Toilets:
- Available onsite (non-flush).
Seasonal Weather Forecast
- Summer (Dec-Feb): Warm to hot and very dry, averaging 14-29°C. High fire danger season.
- Autumn (Mar-May): Mild, clear days and cool nights, ideal for hiking, averaging 9-23°C.
- Winter (Jun-Aug): Cold and can be damp, with frequent frosts, averaging 4-13°C.
- Spring (Sep-Nov): Cool to mild, the best time for wildflowers, but weather can be changeable. Averaging 7-20°C.
