For a magnificent and truly authentic Australian bush camping experience, Goldworthys Campground is a premier free destination nestled deep within the beautiful Strathbogie State Forest. This large and highly popular reserve is a paradise for self-sufficient travellers, families, and outdoor enthusiasts, offering a serene escape into a stunning landscape of towering eucalypts and lush fern gullies. The campground is set in a spacious, open clearing on the banks of a picturesque mountain creek, providing an abundance of fantastic, relatively level sites. It’s perfectly suited to all types of camping setups, from tents and swags to off-road caravans and camper trailers. The atmosphere is one of peaceful seclusion, where campers can relax to the sounds of the running creek and the incredible chorus of native birdlife, including lyrebirds, kookaburras, and rosellas.
The main appeal of Goldworthys is its incredible natural setting and its role as a gateway to exploring the rugged beauty of the Strathbogie Ranges. The surrounding forest is crisscrossed with a network of tracks, making it a hotspot for four-wheel driving, trail bike riding, and bushwalking. The clear waters of the creek provide a wonderful place for kids to splash and play on a warm day. While it is a free, back-to-basics camp, the site is well-equipped with essential non-flush toilets and shared wood fire pits, enhancing the rustic experience. Its location, while feeling wonderfully remote, is still accessible from the nearby towns of Strathbogie and Euroa. For a memorable, budget-friendly adventure that truly captures the magic of the Victorian high country, Goldworthys Campground is an unmissable destination for those who love to get off the beaten track.
Goldworthys Campground – VIC Location Map
Goldworthys Campground
- Address: Goldsworthys Track, Strathbogie VIC 3666
- GPS: -36.91234725063799, 145.84540976856184
Site Details
- Location: Forest camp in the Strathbogie State Forest.
- Site Suitable For: Tents, Camper Trailers, Off-road Caravans, and Motorhomes.
- Road Access: Unsealed gravel/dirt road. Generally 2WD accessible with care, but can be steep, corrugated, and slippery. 4WD is recommended.
- Site Surface: Mostly grass and dirt.
- Camping Permitted: Yes, free camping.
- Maximum Overnight Stays: Please observe FFM Vic guidelines for State Forests.
- Facilities: Non-flush toilets, shared fire pits. No power or showers.
- Potable Water: No. You must bring your own drinking water or have a reliable purification system.
- Mobile Phone Coverage: Very patchy 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: Permitted, but please be considerate of the natural setting.
- Number of Sites Available: Large, unmarked area with many sites.
- Essentials to Bring: Drinking water, firewood, rubbish bags, toilet paper, insect repellent.
- Pet Friendly: Yes, pets are welcome on a lead in State Forest areas.
Activities
- Fishing: Limited to no fishing opportunities in the small creek.
- Short Walks: Excellent area for bushwalking, with numerous tracks leading from the campground.
- 4WD & Trail Bike Riding: The Strathbogie Ranges are a premier destination for off-road enthusiasts.
Local Amenities
- Local Pubs:
- Strathbogie Hotel – Approx. 15 km
- The Euroa Hotel (Euroa) – Approx. 35 km
- The Seven Creeks Hotel (Euroa) – Approx. 35 km
- Places to Eat:
- Strathbogie General Store & Cafe – Approx. 15 km
- Numerous cafes, bakeries, and pubs in Euroa – Approx. 35 km
- Local Attractions:
- Polly McQuinns Weir – Approx. 10 km
- Gooram Falls – Approx. 20 km
- Strathbogie Ranges scenery and 4WD tracks – You are in them!
- Lake Nillahcootie – Approx. 40 km
- Nearest Caravan Parks:
- Euroa Caravan Park – Approx. 35 km
- Mansfield Holiday Park – Approx. 60 km
- Next Free Camps:
- James’ Camping Reserve (Lima East) – Approx. 25 km
- Moonee Moonee Creek Campground – Approx. 30 km
- Nearest Dump Points:
- Euroa Public Dump Point – Approx. 35 km
- Nearest Petrol Station:
- Euroa has multiple 24-hour options – Approx. 35 km
- Drinking Water Resupply:
- Available in Strathbogie or Euroa townships.
- Public Toilets:
- Available onsite (non-flush).
Seasonal Weather Forecast
- Summer (Dec-Feb): Warm to hot days with cool mountain nights. Averaging 14-30°C.
- Autumn (Mar-May): Mild, sunny days and cool nights, the peak season for autumn colours. Averaging 8-23°C.
- Winter (Jun-Aug): Cold, with frequent frosts and chilly, often damp days. Averaging 2-13°C.
- Spring (Sep-Nov): Cool to mild, with the forest green and lush, but weather can be changeable. Averaging 6-20°C.
