This inner-city Melbourne suburb is a fun base from which to explore the lively Victorian capital.
Brunswick is a diverse inner-city suburb of Melbourne, north of the Central Business District. It’s well-known for its bars and restaurants, especially those with a multicultural flavour. While traditional camping opportunities are limited in Brunswick itself, it’s a fun base for exploring Melbourne. Visitors based in Brunswick can explore the natural outskirts of the city on day or overnight trips. Melbourne’s southern beach suburbs offer some camping facilities, and the Dandenong Ranges National Park is a delightful hilly area so close to the city.
The cool forested mountains of the Dandenong Ranges National Park, east of Melbourne city, are dotted with waterfalls, making this an ideal destination for hiking and picnicking, as well as camping. Campers can find everything from basic tent sites to luxurious cabins and caravan/campervan facilities in the Dandenong Ranges, all within easy reach of Brunswick. Further beyond the Dandenong Ranges you’ll also find the Yarra Valley, popular for its wines and fresh food.
Melbourne’s southern suburbs meet the ocean, and Altona Beach is a great destination for campers. There’s a well-equipped holiday park and a scout camp, which offer access to the calm seas of this south-western beachside suburb. Hikers and bikers can also head to the Cheetham Wetlands, on the western edge of Altona, and take in the views of the natural and artificial wetlands from the observation tower.
On Melbourne’s northern edge, Warrandyte State Park, on the banks of the Yarra River, is a popular spot for bushwalking, canoeing, bird watching, and mountain biking. It’s the closest state park to the city. Camping isn’t permitted in the park, but its accessibility from Brunswick and other parts of central Melbourne mean that outdoor-loving travellers can easily visit on a day trip.
Brunswick is a year-round destination, but Melbourne’s weather is notoriously fickle: a popular local saying is that you can experience all four seasons in one day in Melbourne. Because the Brunswick neighbourhood itself is in the middle of the city, it doesn’t really matter what the weather is like, though. Enjoy the restaurants, boutiques, and galleries if the weather isn’t ideal for outdoor adventures, and head to a beach or nature reserve further afield when it is.