Coppermine is a great campground. It sits in the northern Grampians at the end of a sandy 4WD track, with just four sites, and even with campers on the other sites it feels remote and away from everything. We drove in late in the afternoon, after the long run over from Pymbroke Camp in the Adelaide Hills, had a fire going in the evening, and spent a quiet night in the rooftop tent before heading off into the rest of the park the next morning.
What we like
- Only four sites
- Feels remote and quiet
- Fireplace on the sites
- Big, flat sandy sites
- Near Mt Stapylton walks
What we don’t
- 4WD only
- No drinking water
- Book well ahead
About Coppermine CampgroundAbout
Coppermine is a Parks Victoria campground in the north of Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park, the area dominated by the Mount Difficult Range, Mount Stapylton and Mount Zero. It’s small and simple: four sites for up to six people each, suitable for tents, camper trailers and campervans, with shared fireplaces, a pit toilet and a tank of untreated water. Every site has to be booked and paid for on the Parks Victoria website before you arrive, all year round. When we checked, a site was $35.60 a night.
Quick facts
- AddressCoppermine Campground, Coppermine Track, Grampians National Park VIC 3401, AustraliaSee on the trip map →
- FacilitiesToiletsFire PitsCamper Trailer Access4WD AccessNo Drinking WaterNo ShowersNo Power
- Good to know4WD only4 booked sitesNo dogs
- Fees$35.60 a night, up to 6 people
- 8.5/10Overall rated
- Book via Parks Victoria
Getting There
The campground is on the Coppermine Track, 1 km from Pohlners Road or 4 km from Mount Zero Road, and Parks Victoria lists it as 4WD only. The track is soft, pale sand in places, winding through low scrub and stringybarks, and our Prado had no trouble with it in the dry. A green sign asks if you’ve booked your campsite before you reach the camp. Fill up with drinking water and buy firewood before you leave the bitumen, because there’s none to get out here.
The Campsites
The four sites are big, flat clearings of pale sand, spread out among the gums with bush between them, so even with every site taken you hardly see your neighbours. Each has a steel fire ring with a hotplate arm and a log or two to sit on, and there’s plenty of room for a 4WD with a rooftop tent, an awning and a table. With only four sites and no through traffic, it’s very quiet once everyone has settled in.
Campground LayoutLayout
The four sites sit together just off the Coppermine Track, spread out among the trees with a shared fireplace near each one and the pit toilet close by. From the campground, Pohlners Road is 1 km one way along the track and Mount Zero Road 4 km the other.
Facilities
Facilities are basic. There’s a single pit toilet with a water tank beside it, but the water is untreated, so bring all your drinking water. There are no showers and no power. The sign at the entrance spells out the rules: no dogs, no littering, no picking plants and no drones, and take your rubbish with you when you go.
Around the CampfireCampfire
Fires are only allowed in the fireplaces, and never on a Total Fire Ban day. The campground is in the Wimmera fire district, and on Catastrophic fire danger days the park closes, so check the rating before you go. Bring your own firewood. Our Fiskars 7-inch folding saw came out at the fire here, and a fire in the fire ring was the best part of a night out here.
Things to Do NearbyThings to do
The northern Grampians are on your doorstep. Mount Zero Picnic Area is the start of the gentle walk up to Flat Rock, the Mount Stapylton Loop Walk scrambles over rocky outcrops and up the steep slope of Flat Rock, and the short, steep Hollow Mountain walk leads to the Gulgurn Manja rock art shelter, with its small handprints on the rock. The next morning we took the sandy tracks south below the ranges towards Halls Gap.
Summary
Coppermine is a small, remote bush camp in the northern Grampians: four big sandy sites at the end of a 4WD track, a fireplace on each and a pit toilet, a long way from anywhere. Bring a 4WD, your own drinking water and firewood, and book early, because four sites don’t last long.
A great little 4WD camp in the northern Grampians.
Coppermine has just four big sandy sites at the end of a 4WD track, each with a fireplace, and even with the other sites taken it feels remote and away from everything. Bring your own drinking water and firewood, and book early, because four sites go quickly.
- 4WD tourers
- Couples
- Groups
Yes. $35.60 a night for up to six people gets you one of only four sites in a quiet corner of the Grampians, with a fireplace and a pit toilet close by.
Recommended Gear for Coppermine Campground
There’s no drinking water, so carry plenty in good water containers. You’ll need your own firewood, and a compact folding saw makes quick work of it. Fires are out on Total Fire Ban days, so pack a gas stove like the Dune single burner, and a headlamp like the Black Diamond Astro 300 helps on the walk to the toilet after dark.
