Fridays Picnic and Camping Area, Brisbane Ranges National Park, Victoria

For: Close to Melbourne, Cheap, great for large groups
Against: Not many short walks, not very “grammable”, maintenance lacking

Fridays Picnic and Camping Area is a short 75-minute drive from Melbourne, easy to book and often empty. Perfect for the Saturday overnighter for those living in Melbourne, the campground has 10 numbered places spread out between a beautiful network of gum trees. There are 2 drive-in spots for caravans and campervans but those with tents will need to leave their car at the edge of the grounds.

The toilets are standard fare drop toilets however they were poorly maintained and lacked toilet paper. Overall the facilities felt state-park level and certainly less refined than other paid campsites.

Close to many walks, can get quite busy here, well it was when we camped on a friday night, was supposed to stay an extra night but left due to other campers noise. I do love the Brisbange Ranges though, great 4wd tracks and hikes.

The entrance is accessible via gravel road but the turn off is easy to miss especially for those arriving at night. The ground is fairly flat and easy to pitch a tent on with plenty of trees for those wishing to hang a hammock. Fire pits are shared between the sites.

The campgrounds are an ideal place to visit with a large group. We booked out all 10 campsites for 32 of us and found ourselves with a lot of extra space. It’s a great paid alternative to Lerderderg State Park with the added bonus of having much more parking on offer. That said, there’s not a lot of privacy with numbered campsites butting up against each other.

If you’re looking to have a campfire around an hour from the city, surrounded by trees and away from the weekend crowds, Friday’s Picnic and Camping Area is an easy option. It’s great for groups and has plenty of parking.

$27.90, 10 sites.