Smiths Mill Campground

The most straightforward approach is via the C228, or Wartook Road. Old Mill Road provides another approach but is unsealed, so allow extra time and take care after rain. Arrive in daylight if you are unfamiliar with the layout, especially when towing or carrying a large tent setup.

For the best atmosphere and photography, go early or late in the day when light filters between the stringybarks and wildlife is more active. Spring and autumn are comfortable seasons for camping; summer shade helps, but water is still your responsibility, and winter mornings can be cold. If you want the quietest experience, aim outside busy weekends and holiday periods.

There are 28 tent sites with adjacent vehicle parking and five drive-in sites for camper trailers, caravans, and campervans. Each site accommodates up to six people, and every site is unpowered. Shared picnic tables and designated fire rings make camp cooking easy, but bring your own firewood and use only the fireplaces provided.

Facilities are basic: non-flush toilets, a bush shower, and no supplied drinking water. Limited non-potable water may be available from a seasonal rainwater tank or river-fed taps, so bring enough treated water for drinking and cooking. There is no rubbish collection, and a self-sufficient setup with food, lighting, warm layers, and a rubbish bag will make the stay much easier.