Camping on South Bruny Island – Campgrounds, Fees, Bookings & Facilities

South Bruny Island is one of Tasmania’s great coastal camping destinations, combining beautiful beaches, wildlife, bushwalking and spectacular Southern Ocean scenery. If you are happy with basic facilities rather than a fully serviced caravan park, the Parks and Wildlife Service campgrounds around South Bruny provide some wonderful places to pitch a tent or set up a campervan or caravan. The main camping choices are Jetty Beach, The Neck Campground, The Pines at Cloudy Bay and Cloudy Corner. Each offers a slightly different experience, from sheltered family-friendly beach camping to remote 4WD-access camping beside Cloudy Bay.

See also:

• Bushwalks Bruny Island

Quick Camping Guide

The $18 fee covers one campsite for up to six people. The maximum stay is 28 days.

Jetty Beach Campground

For families and travellers looking for a relatively accessible South Bruny camping spot, Jetty Beach is probably the standout option. The campground sits among trees beside a gently curving sandy beach. The relatively sheltered water makes Jetty Beach particularly attractive for swimming, snorkelling and kayaking, while fishing and beachcombing are other easy ways to spend the day. Facilities are deliberately basic. There are pit toilets and non-treated tank water, but don’t expect showers, powered sites or the facilities of a commercial caravan park. Campfires are generally permitted in the designated campground unless seasonal fire restrictions or a Total Fire Ban are in force.

Cost from 3 November 2026: $18 per site per night, maximum six people.

The Neck Campground

The Neck is another convenient option and is located behind the sand dunes on the narrow isthmus connecting North and South Bruny. The location provides easy access to the beach and makes a good base for exploring both ends of the island. It is also close to one of Bruny Island’s best-known attractions – The Neck lookout. The campground has pit toilets and non-treated tank water. Interestingly, The Neck campground is actually outside South Bruny National Park, so a Tasmania Parks Pass is not required to camp at The Neck. Camping fees still apply.

Cost from 3 November 2026: $18 per site per night, maximum six people.

The Pines – Free Camping at Cloudy Bay

For travellers looking for genuinely free camping on Bruny Island, The Pines is the one to remember. Located on Cloudy Bay Road, around 500 metres before the road reaches Cloudy Bay Beach, The Pines is a small and fairly basic campground. Its location makes it particularly appealing to surfers, walkers and travellers who prefer simple bush camping. There are pit toilets, but PWS does not list tank water at The Pines, so campers should arrive with sufficient drinking water.

Best of all:

Camping at The Pines remains FREE.

Campfires are normally permitted unless seasonal restrictions apply.

Cloudy Corner Campground

Cloudy Corner offers a much more adventurous camping experience. The campground is at the far end of Cloudy Bay and access involves approximately 3 km of beach driving. Parks and Wildlife advises that 4WD vehicles are required, and access should be undertaken at low tide. This makes Cloudy Corner unsuitable for ordinary 2WD vehicles and many conventional caravans. The campground has pit toilets and non-treated tank water. Cloudy Corner is also a Fuel Stove Only Area. Campfires, fire pots and devices burning wood, charcoal or other solid fuels are prohibited. Gas stoves and gas BBQs are permitted.

Cost from 3 November 2026: $18 per site per night, maximum six people.

New Camping Fees from November 2026

South Bruny is one of the areas included in Tasmania’s new Parks Online Booking System. From 3 November 2026, the fee for Jetty Beach, The Neck and Cloudy Corner becomes:

$18 per campsite per night – maximum six people

This replaces the previous pricing structure of $10 per night for one or two campers, with additional charges for extra adults and children and a $15 family rate. The new pricing therefore represents a noticeable increase for solo travellers and couples, although the flat site fee can work out more favourably for larger groups.

The Pines remains free.

Do I Need to Book?

Yes you absolutely have to book! The new online booking arrangements are being introduced from 3 November 2026.

South Bruny is included in the first stage of Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service’s new Parks Online Booking System, which allows travellers to arrange their campsite online before arriving. This is a significant change from the previous system, under which campers could arrive and pay camping fees using pay-and-display facilities. Booking ahead should be particularly worthwhile during summer, Christmas, New Year, Easter and school holidays, when Bruny Island can be extremely popular.

Are Dogs and Pets Allowed?

No – you should not take pets to these PWS camping areas unless PWS specifically identifies an area where dogs are permitted.

Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service generally prohibits dogs and other domestic pets from national parks and a range of other reserves, including game reserves and conservation areas. The restrictions are intended to protect native wildlife. This is particularly relevant on Bruny Island because the area provides important habitat for wildlife and threatened bird species.

Assistance animals are subject to separate provisions.

Facilities

These are basic bush campgrounds, so campers should arrive prepared to be largely self-sufficient.

You can expect:

• Pit toilets at all four camping areas
• Non-treated tank water at Jetty Beach, The Neck and Cloudy Corner
• Tent camping
• Caravan and campervan access at suitable sites
• Beach access
• Fishing opportunities
• Swimming and kayaking nearby
• Campfires at Jetty Beach, The Neck and The Pines when fire restrictions allow
• Gas stoves and gas BBQs at Cloudy Corner

You should not expect powered sites, showers, a camp kitchen, laundry facilities or rubbish collection.

There are no rubbish collection facilities, so everything you bring into the campground needs to leave with you.

Tank water should also not be relied upon as drinking water. Bringing your own supply of fresh drinking water is strongly recommended.

Do You Need a Parks Pass?

A valid Tasmania Parks Pass is required when entering South Bruny National Park, in addition to your camping fee. The exception is The Neck campground, which is outside the national park boundary. You don’t need a Parks Pass simply to camp at The Neck, although the camping fee still applies. If you intend to explore South Bruny National Park during your stay, however, you will need an appropriate parks pass.

Getting to South Bruny

Bruny Island is reached by vehicle ferry from Kettering, approximately 40 minutes south of Hobart. The ferry crossing to Roberts Point takes around 15 minutes. From the ferry terminal, allow approximately 50 minutes to reach Cloudy Bay and a little over an hour to reach Jetty Beach, depending on road conditions. Some roads on Bruny Island are unsealed, so allow more travelling time than the distances might suggest. Cloudy Corner is the major exception when it comes to access. The final section involves driving approximately 3 km along Cloudy Bay Beach and is 4WD only. Tide conditions need to be considered before attempting the drive.

Which South Bruny Campground Should You Choose?

Jetty Beach Campground – a good all-round choice for families, swimming and relatively easy access.

The Neck Campground – a convenient if you want a central location for exploring Bruny Island and don’t want to venture as far south.

The Pines is the pick for budget-conscious travellers, surfers and anyone specifically looking for free camping on Bruny Island.

Cloudy Corner is the choice for properly equipped 4WD travellers looking for a more remote coastal camping experience.

Whichever you choose, South Bruny isn’t about powered sites and resort-style facilities. These are simple Tasmanian bush campgrounds where the attraction is the location – beaches, wildlife, walking tracks and some of the most impressive coastal scenery in southern Tasmania.

South Bruny Camping at a Glance

Cost: Free at The Pines; $18 per site/night at Jetty Beach, The Neck and Cloudy Corner from 3 November 2026
Maximum people: 6 per paid campsite
Bookings: Online booking system commencing 3 November 2026
Maximum stay: 28 days
Pets: No – pets are generally prohibited in PWS national parks and reserves
Toilets: Yes – pit toilets
Showers: No
Powered sites: No
Drinking water: Bring your own
Rubbish collection: No – take all rubbish with you
Campfires: Permitted at Jetty Beach, The Neck and The Pines subject to restrictions; prohibited at Cloudy Corner
4WD required: Cloudy Corner only
Parks Pass: Required for South Bruny National Park; not required simply to camp at The Neck