The Most Instagrammable Campervan Destinations in Australia
The journey is worth it for the gram
Many people have seen those beautiful photos that make them dream. A picture of a dusty campervan sitting on a quiet beach. A coffee cup balancing on the dash as the sun rises. Or a winding road along tall cliffs with bright blue water below. Everything looks almost too perfect to be real.
But here is what travellers discover. These places do exist. The dream can become real for anyone who goes looking.
People who have driven these roads and seen these beautiful Instagram worthy spots all say the same thing. The real thing often feels even better than the photos. The experience stays with them long after the trip ends.
Let me share the spots that will have your friends liking your photos right away. These are the places that make all your travel planning completely worth it.
Victoria: The Great Ocean Road
We should start with the famous one. Everyone has seen pictures of the Twelve Apostles along The Great Ocean Road. The truth is they look even better when you see them yourself. The key is choosing the right time. Avoid the busy middle hours of the day. Try going at sunset. Better yet, wake up early in your van to see the first morning light. That golden sun hitting the ancient rocks is pure magic. There is a good reason everyone takes this photo.
Queensland: The ultimate beach escape
Travellers often remark that Queensland feels like a place that loves to show off. Most who visit agree it has every right too. The Sunshine State seems packed with incredible locations that makes it genuinely difficult for visitors to choose where to go first. You’ve got islands with sand as white as snow and beaches where kangaroos lazily hang out. Many describe it as though Australia decided to concentrate its best features right here.
- A perfect example is Whitehaven Beach, a jewel of the Whitsundays easily accessible for travellers setting out from Airlie Beach. Visitors often ask if anyone has ever felt sand so fine. Its 98% silica is unbelievably white. It stays cool under your feet and feels like walking through fine sugar. But the most amazing view is from Hill Inlet Lookout. It is so beautiful it hardly looks real.
- Then there's K’gari, the world's largest sand island. Located off the coast of Hervey Bay, a few hours north of Brisbane that lets you drive your campervan right on the beach for 75 miles. And your reward is finding Lake Mackenzie, a hidden gem in the middle of the island, with the brightest blue water that creates those stunning pictures you see online.
- For something truly special, you have to see Cape Hillsborough at sunrise. I’m not kidding, watching cheeky kangaroos and wallabies hop along the sand as the sun comes up is something you won’t forget. You will see them hopping with beautiful islands in the distance. Remember to keep your distance because they are the real stars here.
- If you want to switch from total peace to something livelier, the Gold Coast is perfect. Start your day watching surfers catch morning waves. Then turn around to see that amazing skyline. It is the perfect place to photograph your van with the city behind it. You get both beach relaxation and city excitement in one spot.
Northern Territory: The spirit of Uluru
Pictures cannot prepare you for Uluru. They cannot capture the scale or the special feeling you get when you are there. The colors keep changing as you watch. At sunset, you will see it turn from light brown to bright red to deep purple. It feels peaceful yet powerful. This is a place that stays with you long after you leave.
Western Australia: Wild and beautiful family road trip
Western Australia feels different from other places. It seems ancient and huge in a way that is hard to explain. Looking at a map does not help. You need to be there, surrounded by deep red earth that stretches forever. The coastline seems endless and the sky is so huge it reminds you of your place in the world.
- The Pinnacles in Nambung National Park look interesting in photos, but they cannot capture the quiet feeling of this place. What stays with you is the silence as you stand among thousands of ancient limestone pillars rising from the desert sand. My best advice is to go at sunrise or sunset. That is when the light turns golden and long shadows make the desert seem alive. You will take many pictures, but the silence is what stays within you.
- After a day of wild landscapes, Cottesloe Beach feels like a gentle sigh. This is the classic Perth sunset you have imagined. There is a simple peace in finding your spot on the grassy slope under tall pine trees. Watching the sun melt into the Indian Ocean is calming. It is not about doing anything. It is about finally just being yourself. This is the perfect end to a wild day.
New South Wales: The classic East Coast road trip
This is the New South Wales you see in movies, and I am happy to report it is not a lie. It is every bit as good as it looks.
- Driving the Grand Pacific Drive creates road trip memories you will not forget. The best part is cruising across the Sea Cliff Bridge. Drive with your windows down and the vast blue Pacific Ocean beside you. Do not rush through. Stop at the lookouts, feel the sea breeze, and take it all in.
- Then there is Byron Bay. This place has a magnetic, easy going feeling that is hard to describe. You might come for the famous lighthouse picture, but you will stay for the atmosphere. You can find yourself lying on the grass for hours just watching the surfers. You might wonder where the day went. This is the kind of place that makes you check your calendar and think about staying longer.
Tasmania: Wineglass Bay in Freycinet National Park
Let’s be honest about the walk to the Wineglass Bay lookout in Freycinet National Park. It is a steep climb. But the view makes it absolutely worth the effort. You will forget about the hard walk the moment you see the magnificent view. The bright turquoise water of the bay curves around perfect white sand. It creates a beautifully rare sight that truly lives up to its reputation. This is a view you will remember long after you leave the area.
“ The photos are there and so are the memories ready to be made. ”
The real secret to great photos
After reading about great places to visit, some of you may still be wondering how to capture those great photos. So, what’s the real secret?
Let me share a little something with you.
The best photos don’t come from a fancy camera. They come from the memories you make while on a trip. It’s the moment you share while watching the sunset, or when you are enjoying a quiet spot with your friends or family that you only found.
Most of the time, the best spots to take photos are the ones that are not in a busy tourist area. It's waiting for you down a side road you've never explored, or on a beach you have all to yourself. That's the real beauty of renting a campervan, the best photos are outside the door, waiting to be taken with a warm cup of coffee at the perfect time.
So, what is stopping you? The photos are there and so are the memories ready to be made. A campervan is the best to take you there. And, the photos, well, they will just happen naturally along the way.
Just be safe on the road, check out all the places, and don’t forget to take a break from the camera. The best moments are the ones you actually experience, not just the ones you photograph.
