Most campgrounds near Sydney are a few hours’ drive away. Discovery Parks Lane Cove is about 10 km from the CBD, in the bushland of Lane Cove National Park. We stayed one night during the week, with the rooftop tent on the Prado.
What we like
- Only 10 km from the Sydney CBD
- 10-minute walk to the Metro
- Spacious: didn’t feel crowded
- Kitchens and BBQs all around
- Walk into the national park
- Small outdoor pool
What we don’t
- Powered sites unpowered for now
- Drive around to enter the park by car
- No pets
About Discovery Parks Lane CoveAbout
Discovery Parks Lane Cove, formerly Lane Cove Holiday Park, is a holiday park on Plassey Road in Macquarie Park, surrounded by the bush of Lane Cove National Park. It has campsites for tents, caravans and campervans, as well as cabins and deluxe tents. It’s the only place to camp in Lane Cove National Park: there’s no camping at the park’s picnic areas.
It was pretty busy when we were there: a mix of long-term campers who seem to live there permanently, campers passing through like us, and families who had booked the cabins and deluxe tents. We paid $39 for one night on an unpowered site. One thing to know before you book: all powered sites are temporarily running as unpowered sites, and the park expects that to last a while, so bring your own power if you need it.
Quick facts
- AddressDiscovery Parks - Lane Cove, 13 Plassey Road, Macquarie Park NSW 2113, AustraliaSee on the trip map →
- FacilitiesFlush ToiletsCamp KitchenBBQsSwimming PoolLaundryPlaygroundKioskDump PointCaravan AccessCamper Trailer AccessNo Powered SitesNo CampfiresNo Pets
- Good to know10 km from the CBDMetro 10 min walkWalk into the national park
- Fees$39 per night (tent site)$49 (caravan, camper trailer, campervan)
- 8.8/10Overall rated
- Book your site
The campsites
Even though it was busy, it didn’t feel crowded. The holiday park is pretty spacious, with plenty of spots along its sealed roads, so the sites don’t feel packed in. Tent sites sit on grass under the gum trees, along the roads through the park.
Caravans and campervans
Caravans, camper trailers and campervans have their own rows of sites, at $49 a night midweek. Like the tent sites, they’re all running as unpowered for now, so come with your own power. There’s a dump point in the park too, so you can empty your toilet cassette or waste tank before you head off.
Cabins and deluxe tents
If you don’t bring your own tent, there are cabins and deluxe tents, which were popular with the families staying while we were there. The cabins have one or two bedrooms with their own bathroom, a kitchenette and air conditioning. The deluxe tents stand in a row along their own road, with a canvas roof over a solid base.
Facilities
You never have to walk far: bins, camp kitchens, barbecues and toilet blocks are scattered all around the holiday park. Near the reception there’s a small outdoor pool too, which is a nice extra on a hot day in Sydney. There’s also a laundry, a playground for the kids and a small kiosk.
The national park
The best thing about staying here is the national park around it. From the holiday park there are easy walks into Lane Cove National Park, with its picnic areas, the river and walking tracks. To drive into the national park with your car, though, you have to go around to one of the park entries, where it’s $8 per vehicle per day. We have a NSW National Parks annual pass, which covers that.
You can leave the car behind for the city as well. North Ryde Metro station is about a 10-minute walk away, so you can take the train into the CBD instead of driving and parking in Sydney.
Summary: Is Discovery Parks Lane Cove Worth It?Summary
Discovery Parks Lane Cove is a spacious holiday park in the bush, only 10 km from the Sydney CBD. It was busy on a weeknight, with long-term campers, travellers and families in the cabins and deluxe tents, but it never felt crowded, and the kitchens, barbecues and toilet blocks are never far away. With easy walks into Lane Cove National Park, a small pool by the reception and the Metro a 10-minute walk away, it’s a handy base for a night or two in Sydney, and a tent site starts at $39 a night. Just bring your own power for now: the powered sites are running as unpowered.
A spacious holiday park in the bush, 10 km from the Sydney CBD, with everything you need close by.
It was busy on a weeknight but never felt crowded, and the Metro to the city is a 10-minute walk away. The powered sites are running as unpowered for now, so bring your own power.
- Families
- Travellers
- Car campers
Yes, for a night or two in Sydney. We paid $39 for our unpowered site, which is good value this close to the city, with kitchens and barbecues all around and the Metro a 10-minute walk away.
Recommended Gear for Discovery Parks Lane Cove
With the powered sites running as unpowered for now, bring your own power: a good power bank keeps phones and lights charged overnight. The camp kitchens and barbecues cover the cooking, so a couple of camping chairs and some camping lighting are all you need at your site, and a water bottle comes along on the walks into the national park.
