Plantation Campground is the free option close to Halls Gap: a big, open camping area under old pines on the edge of the Mount Difficult Range, with no fees and no bookings. We didn’t camp here. We drove through around midday on the way from Troopers Creek to Halls Gap, and it was busy, with tents, camper trailers and caravans spread right across it.
What we like
- Free, no booking needed
- Close to Halls Gap
- Dogs allowed on a lead
- Room for caravans and trailers
- Big, open camping area
What we don’t
- Busy in the holidays
- No drinking water
- Watch for falling limbs
About Plantation CampgroundAbout
The campground sits in Mount Difficult State Forest, just outside the boundary of Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park, among an old radiata pine plantation on the eastern edge of the Mount Difficult Range. Parks Victoria calls it the gateway to the northern Grampians. It’s free and first come, first served, and because it’s outside the national park, dogs are allowed on a lead.
Quick facts
- AddressPlantation Campground, Mount Zero Road, Mount Difficult State Forest VIC 3381, AustraliaSee on the trip map →
- FacilitiesToiletsFire PitsPicnic TablesCaravan AccessCamper Trailer AccessNo Drinking WaterNo Power
- Good to knowFree, no bookingsDogs on a leadBusy in holidays
- FeesFree
- 8.3/10Overall rated
Getting There
The campground is on Mt Zero Road, north of Halls Gap. The road is gravel and fine for a 2WD or a caravan, but it was very dusty when we drove it, so keep your distance from the car in front. Fill up with water in Halls Gap before you come out.
The Campsites
The camping area is big and open, with tall old pines and gums spread across flat ground marked out with timber posts, and picnic tables dotted between them. There’s room for tents, camper trailers and caravans, and when we drove through, every corner of it had someone set up. There’s plenty of shade under the pines, but a sign at the entrance warns that limbs may fall, so look up before you pitch under a big branch.
Campground LayoutLayout
Plantation sits on the gravel Mt Zero Road, on the eastern edge of the Mount Difficult Range, just outside Grampians National Park. Halls Gap is to the south, Troopers Creek and Briggs Bluff are further north along the range, and Lake Wartook is on the other side of the range to the west.
Facilities
There are drop toilets, including a newer block with a water tank beside it, picnic tables and fire pits. The tank water is untreated, so bring all your drinking water, and there’s no power. Fires are only allowed in the fire pits, never on a Total Fire Ban day, and you need to bring your own firewood.
Things to Do NearbyThings to do
Halls Gap, with its cafes, shops and the visitor centre, is a short drive south. North along the range are the booked national park campgrounds, Troopers Creek below Mt Difficult and the small 4WD-only Coppermine, and the walks to Briggs Bluff and Mt Gar start from Troopers Creek.
Summary
Plantation Campground is free, unbooked camping under old pines just north of Halls Gap, with drop toilets, picnic tables and room for caravans and dogs on a lead. It fills up quickly in the holidays, so get there early, bring your own water and firewood, and watch the branches overhead.
Free camping close to Halls Gap.
Plantation Campground is a big, open area under old pines on the edge of the Mount Difficult Range, with drop toilets and picnic tables, and you don’t need to book. Because it’s free, it fills up fast in the holidays, so arrive early, bring your own water and keep an eye on the branches overhead.
- Families
- Caravanners
Yes. It costs nothing, takes caravans and dogs, and Halls Gap is a short drive away, as long as you get there early enough to find a spot.
Recommended Gear for Plantation Campground
The tank water is untreated, so carry plenty in good water containers. You’ll need your own firewood, and a folding saw makes it easy to cut to size. For cooking on fire ban days, pack a gas stove like the Dune single burner, and a headlamp like the Black Diamond Astro 300 helps on the way to the toilets after dark.
