As seasoned nomads, we all have our favourite camping spots. We may love them because of the view, the tranquillity, the family-friendly facilities or the fact that they are right by the beach or in the middle of nowhere.
But how good is it to discover new places to park the van?
I’m all ears when I hear someone talk about “the best” place they have ever stayed … whether that’s camping or glamping or in huts or cabins.
And even though we wouldn’t give up those campfire chats where all is revealed among caravanners, now we don’t have to wait for the get-togethers to hear about these gems.
Lonely Planet has come up with 200 amazing places to set up camp in a new book called Under the Stars Camping Australia & New Zealand.
Authors Sarah Reid, Andrew Bain and Tasmin Waby have done the exploring for us, finding and testing scenic campgrounds, huts, glamping tents and back-to-basics bush campsites.
The book is organised into regional chapters for Australia and the New Zealand North and South islands, with fantastic full colour photography to show them off.
Each listing talks about what is special about that site, where it’s located, the best times to visit, how to get there and how much it costs to stay.
There are expert tips on safety and where to buy supplies and symbols detailing whether the sites are family and eco-friendly and where they sit on the price scale.
Want a quiet nook in a New South Wales national park? Try Warrumbungle Dark Sky Park and add stargazing to the long list of relaxing things to do.
Love glamping and exploring the Northern Territory? Try the picturesque glamping sites at Longitude 131° and wake up to a view of Uluru from your bed.
Queensland offers island stays and beach campsites like Cape Hillsborough where you can watch the sunrise with the wallabies.
Wine tasting features in South Australia … and so do wine stays at places like Bellwether Camping and Glamping in the state’s southeast.
And in case you’re thinking of going to New Zealand, there are 50 suggestions on how to best see the wildlife and walking trails by day and then where to rest your weary heads by night.
No matter what your idea of wild is, there are 200 ideas in this trusty guide on how to get out there and enjoy it … and where to stay.
Lonely Planet’s Under the Stars Camping Australia & New Zealand has a recommended retail price of $44.99, and is available where all good books are sold or head to the Lonely Planet website.
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Book review: Under the Stars Camping Australia & New Zealand