Where to stay

The Census is coming

Census night is Tuesday 11 August 2026. You will need to complete a Census form wherever you are staying on Census night.

Census staff will visit popular travel spots to drop off forms. You can also complete the Census online by heading to www.census.abs.gov.au, select ‘Continue to Census form’ and select ‘Get a Census number’. You’ll need to use a mobile phone to complete the process of getting a Census number and password.

For more information, visit www.census.abs.gov.au/travellers

Make a booking online.

Book online

The ACT's camping and cottage sites offer a variety of facilities and natural beauty.

Camping in remote areas by bushwalkers is allowed in much of Namadgi National Park – check the walk-in camping options in the Namadgi National Park Brief Guide (5.5 MB). Vehicle-based camping is only permitted at established campgrounds.

Various huts within Namadgi National Park are suitable for day or emergency use only. If you plan to stay at a hut site, bring a tent.

For the accommodation sites listed below, please book your stay before you go.

Please respect the area as all plants, animals and habitats are precious and are protected by law.

Blue Range Recreation Area

Blue Range Recreation Area hut

Blue Range Recreation Area

Blue Range Recreation Area is centred around the heritage-listed remains of a World War II internment camp and includes a picturesque campground set amongst tall eucalypts and former pine plantation.

Centenary Trail Northern Border Campground

The Northern Border Campground is a bush camping site located near the border of NSW, north of Gungahlin. Walk or cycle Section 2 or Section 3 of the Centenary Trail to access this basic, remote bush camping area.

The view of rolling hills from the Northern Border Campground

Cotter Campground

Campers at Cotter Campground

Cotter Campground

Cotter Campground is set on the banks of the beautiful Cotter River near where it meets the Murrumbidgee River. The campground is wheelchair accessible and caters for a wide range of camping styles.

Honeysuckle Campground

Honeysuckle Campground is very close to the former space tracking station site. It is also near Booroomba Rocks and Orroral Ridge, which each offer bushwalking and rockclimbing opportunities.

Honeysuckle campground

Kowen Recreation Area

ColliersRuin - a partially collapsed stone structure

Kowen Recreation Area

Kowen Forest is home to Old Kowen Homestead Recreation Area campground and has a strong network of trails for mountain bike enthusiasts. The campground is accessed via a dirt road about 10 kilometres behind locked gates.

Mount Clear Campground

Mount Clear is the most remote campground in the ACT, located in the southern end of Namadgi National Park. It features small private areas for smaller groups.

Mount Clear Campground area

Nil Desperandum

Nil Desperandum cottage

Nil Desperandum

Nestled in a tranquil, natural bush setting beneath the Tidbinbilla Range, Nil Desperandum maintains its heritage charm and offers visitors a feeling of remoteness just a short drive away from the centre of Canberra.

Orroral Campground

Orroral Campground is located alongside the Orroral River. It features tent sites for small parties as well as sites for campervans and caravans.

Orroral Valley

Ready-Cut Cottage

Ready Cut Cottage

Ready-Cut Cottage is an early 'ready-cut' or prefabricated kit home situated in the Gudgenby Valley, on the southern bank of the Gudgenby River in Namadgi National Park. This historic home is a cosy base from which to explore the majestic mountains and rivers of Namadgi.

Woods Reserve

Woods Reserve is located on the banks of Gibraltar Creek south-west of Canberra. It is a popular place for camping (tents and campervans), picnics and functions and can accommodate large groups.

Gibralter creek

Ngunnawal Country and People

This is Ngunnawal Country, an ancient and diverse landscape managed and cared for by Ngunnawal people for tens of thousands of years.

For time immemorial Ngunnawal people have maintained a tangible and intangible cultural, social, environmental, spiritual, and economic connection to these lands and waters.

Before you go

Prepare by understanding safety and checking alerts.

In general you will need to:

make a booking
take your rubbish away with you (bins are not provided)
abide by campfire usage guidelines (where fires are permitted):
- bring your firewood with you or purchase it from the Namadgi Visitor Centre or Tidbinbilla Visitor Centre
- only use constructed fireplaces provided
- do not light a fire a on a day of total fire ban
- keep 3 metres around the fireplace clear of flammable material
- remain in attendance at all times
- completely extinguish the fire before leaving

bring your own drinking water
check river levels in times of flooding – never enter or drive through floodwater
check road and safety conditions
be aware that mobile phone reception may be unreliable
check if dogs are allowed

Please abide by rules noted on the signs.

More information

If you notice any issues during your visit:

report maintenance issues to Access Canberra
report vandalism or other illegal activities to the police on 131 444
in an emergency, call 000

Find out about:

In a life threatening emergency dial Triple Zero (000)

triple zero 000

5124 0000

6201 6111

1800 629 354

6205 1065

13 11 26

5124 9977

(02) 6205 1700

1800 022 222

13 25 00

Where to stay

The Census is coming

Blue Range Recreation Area

Centenary Trail Northern Border Campground

Cotter Campground

Honeysuckle Campground

Kowen Recreation Area

Mount Clear Campground

Nil Desperandum

Orroral Campground

Ready-Cut Cottage

Woods Reserve

Ngunnawal Country and People

Before you go

More information