Camping
Benalla Rural City has plenty to do for visitors to the area. Camping is an ideal way to get up close and personal with the natural beauty of Benalla Rural City, with its picturesque country landscapes, scenic lakes, rolling hills, winding rivers and the mountainous backdrop of Victoria’s High Country. Here are some places you can camp in Benalla Rural City.
Jaycee Island
Jaycee Island, with its magnificent towering Moreton Bay Figs and exotic Bunya Bunya Pines, is the perfect place to camp overnight. Jaycee Island sits on the walking track around Benalla Lake, which passes over Jaycee Island and through the Benalla Botanical Gardens.
It is a small space and campers must be self-sufficient and have their own bathroom facilities. This parking space is short term only and campers can stay up to two nights.
Benalla Showgrounds Caravan Park
Conveniently located within walking distance to the main CBD, the Botanical Gardens, the Benalla Art Gallery and the Visitor Information Centre, staying at the showgrounds is great for proximity to Benalla's main shopping strip.
Visitors must be fully self-contained with their own showers and toilets. There are 15 spaces available with a maximum 48 hour stay. Sites cost $15 per van per night.
Casey Weir
Casey Weir Rest Stop is a free camping spot just nine kilometres from town. You can set up any self-contained camping rig on the banks of Stockyard Creek. There is extensive flat space and plenty of shade.
The grounds are set about 100–200 metres from the road. Bins are provided as well as a table and chairs. This is a pet friendly site and suitable to those who want to utilise the highway park as a jumping off place to explore the area.
Camping rigs must be fully self-sufficient as there are no bathroom facilities.
James’ Camping Reserve
Get off the beaten track and pitch a tent or tow the van at James Camping Reserve. This great spot is located on the banks of the Moonee Moonee Creek and only 31 kilometres from Benalla.
This campsite is on the way to Crystal Mine and Tallangalook Track (south of the campsite) which are popular tourist destinations in the area. Lima East offers various recreational opportunities in the surrounding forest including trout fishing, walking, and 4WD touring. There are many tracks that can be used, and the river is only 50 metres from the camping area.
Access to this great camping spot is via a gravel road, but so worth the journey. Read more about James' Camping Reserve.
Mount Samaria National Park
Mount Samaria National Park is less than 30 kilometres south of Benalla. Set against the backdrop of the Victorian Alps, the Park has stunning waterfalls, historic remains, towering eucalypts, walking and mountain biking tracks and scenic driving routes.
There are multiple spaces set aside for camping. Explore camping opportunities on the Parks Victoria website.
Warby-Ovens National Park
The Victorian Government created the Warby-Ovens National Park, along with other new and expanded parks and over 200 conservation reserves, in June 2010 to protect and enhance the remaining River Red Gum forests in Victoria.
The park is 14,655ha and is characterised by three distinct vegetation communities – the granitic hills and woodlands of the Warby Range, the Box – Ironbark of the Killawara forest and River Red Gum Forest and wetlands of the unregulated Ovens Heritage River.
The park offers many ways in which to enjoy including lookouts, picnicking, walking, bike riding, fishing, camping and prospecting. The park has sweeping views from the Warby-Ovens National Park southwards out over the Winton Wetlands and north-east towards Mt Buffalo. The park is perfect for finding a picturesque picnic spot, bird watching and bushwalking. Explore Ryan’s Lookout, Mount Glenrowan and Salisbury Falls.
The Warby-Ovens National Park is a must see for anyone visiting the region.