Your Guide to Car Camping

📍 Misty Mountains Campground, Murwillumbah

Hipcamp

I started the trip with a dear friend, Helena, up in the hills at Misty Mountain Campground, a sprawling 3,500-acre property between Kunghur, Nimbin, and Murwillumbah. It sits high above the valley with sweeping views of Wollumbin (Mount Warning) and the Border Ranges.

The mornings live up to the name; mist drifts across the paddocks and clears slowly to reveal endless blue sky. Sites are spacious, creeks run nearby, and there’s a private 5km bushwalking track with panoramic views. You can also swim at Rocky Creek or along the Tweed River, both freshwater perfection. Uki General Store and Pub are epic stops on your way out, and if you pass through Murwillumbah, Keith’s Cafe has one of the best cookies you’ll ever taste.

📍 Black Rock Campground

National Parks NSW

Tucked within Bundjalung National Park, sits on sacred land that carries an unmistakable sense of calm. The campsites are nestled behind coastal bushland and tall dunes, leading to an untouched stretch of beach scattered with the dark granite rocks it’s named after. At night, the stars are impossibly clear. There’s a freshwater creek that winds behind the dunes, perfect for a cool rinse after a swim, and a network of short coastal walks worth exploring throughout the day.



📍 Illaroo Campground

National Parks NSW

Further South, Illaroo Campground in Yuraygir National Park offers a slightly different rhythm - ocean views from your tent, open grassy spots, and the sound of waves rolling in through the night. It’s a spot that feels effortlessly simple: surf, rest, eat, repeat. I’d recommend a couple of nights at each if you can. Hot tip: if you’re solo camping, aim for one of the smaller tucked-away sites at Illaroo – they feel private but still close enough to others for peace of mind.

🌿 Know the land: Learn about the Traditional Custodians of the Country you’re camping on. Their names, their stories, the local flora and fauna. This knowledge is sacred. They are the keepers of this land’s wisdom.


✅ Leave no trace: Always pack out what you bring in. Leave each place as you found it, or better. 

⛺ Prepare, but don’t overpack: Bring what keeps you warm and comfortable. But it’ll also teach you how much overconsuming we tend to do. A confronting and interesting realization. 

🌼 Disconnect to reconnect: Turn the phone off. “Do Not Disturb” on. Don’t open social media. It’s so rewarding. You’ll feel lighter, clearer, more attuned. If you’re travelling solo, just make sure someone knows where you’re heading.


🍳 Easy go-to meals: If you’re only planning a couple of nights in one spot, pre-plan your meals for easy cooking. Make your favourite pasta, or a nice jar of homemade pesto to bring along. Curry and salad are my go-tos, just throw it all in a pot over the cooker and dinner’s done.


🍴 Organise your kitchen gear: A big plastic box (mine cost a couple of dollars from the op shop) to keep all your utensils and cooking bits together is a game-changer. It keeps everything tidy and easy to grab. Kitchen on the go.


❄ DIY ice-pack hack: Here’s a little camping trick, fill an old juice container with water, freeze it overnight, and toss it in the esky before you go. It keeps your food cool for a few days, and if you’re bringing meat, use something a bit more heavy-duty alongside it.


🚙 Your car is your anchor: Learn how to change your tyre. Story for another time. 


🍫 S’mores, but make them healthy: I’ve linked my homemade marshmallow recipe here, soft, sweet, and a fire-side comfort. 
Thank me later. 

• Tent – Zorali’s 2P Highlands tent is the winner.
• Sleeping mat / inflatable mattress. 
• Duvet and Pillows (truthfully I bring my bedding because it fits in the car and there’s nothin’ like a bit of home comfort) or a sleeping bag.
• Torch/headlamp + spare batteries.
• Portable Stove (I use a small butane one because it’s lightweight and easy. Don’t forget your gas cans!)
• Lightweight cookware.
• Your favourite mug for morning coffees.
• Water jug + Reusable water bottle.
• An esky to keep food in. 
• Food & snacks. 
• Trash bags (always pack out what you pack in).
• An extra bucket to wash up dishes (this comes in handy). 
• Tea towel and washing liquid. 
• Firewood + Fire starters. 
• Clothes (Base Layers + an Insulated Jackets also comes in handy).
• Shoes (the Zorali Trailblazer sandals are tops).
• Basic first-aid kit.
• Insect repellent.
• Sunscreen. 
• Portable charger / power bank for phone.
• Film camera. 
• Notebook or diary. 
• Your current read! 
• Here’s some that I’ve enjoyed recently.

Big thanks to the Zorali team for gearing me up on this journey. Every piece of kit made life on the road that much smoother. Here’s to more slow mornings, spontaneous adventures, sub-tropical hikes, endless waves, and sleeping under open skies.

See you out there.