You check your phone before you’re properly awake. You scroll on the couch, in the queue, in bed. Then a weekend away comes around and you spend half of it watching other people’s weekends away. Sound familiar? This summer, try something different. Put the phone down, point the van somewhere green, and see what happens when you actually switch off.
A digital detox doesn’t mean throwing your phone in a lake. It just means stepping back from screens for a while (a day, a weekend, a week) and filling that time with something better. Even a short break can make a difference. In a University of Bath trial, people who took just one week off social media reported better wellbeing and less anxiety and depression than those who kept scrolling. The trick is what you swap the scrolling for. That’s where getting outdoors comes in.
Australian campers already know the feeling. In Caravan Industry Association of Australia’s Real Richness survey, 90% of campers said camping relieves stress.
“It helps us to switch off and disconnect from social media and phone addictions.” Ros, Victoria
Screens and artificial light after dark push your body clock later. Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder found that a week of camping with only natural light shifted people’s internal clocks back in line with sunrise and sunset. A follow-up study found even a weekend of camping moved things in the right direction. Early nights and easy mornings, no app required.
A large UK study of almost 20,000 people found those who spent at least two hours a week in nature were more likely to report good health and wellbeing. It didn’t matter whether that was one long hike or a few short walks. A summer camping trip ticks that box in a single day.
In one US study, people who spent four days hiking with no devices scored around 50 percent better on a creativity test than those who hadn’t set out yet. Closer to home, 57% of campers in the Real Richness survey said camping makes them feel more creative. A few days outdoors without notifications gives your head room to think.
No group chat can compete with a sunset. Cards, swims, walks, cooking together, talking rubbish under the stars: switching off leaves room for the stuff you remember.
“Camping humbles me and helps me slow down and enjoy the present moment with those I love.” Lauren, New South Wales
You don’t need to drive for days to find somewhere to unplug. These parks are all within about two and a half hours of a capital city.
Kookaburra Park, in the Sunshine Coast hinterland near Kenilworth, is set on 75 acres beside the Mary River. Cool off with a river swim, tackle the 2.4 km Jurassic Trail, and settle in around your own fire pit. Boreen Point Campground sits right on the shore of Lake Cootharaba in the Noosa hinterland. Hire a kayak or paddleboard, swim in the shallow lake, then wander to the pub for dinner.
Kangaroo Valley Glenmack Park sits beside the Kangaroo River with mountain views in every direction, and there’s a paddling outfitter right on site. Patonga Caravan and Camping Area, on the Central Coast at the mouth of the Hawkesbury, is a small beachside park surrounded by national park. Swim, fish, bushwalk, or catch the ferry across to Palm Beach.
Kennett River Family Caravan Park, halfway between Lorne and Apollo Bay, has the Otways at its back and a patrolled surf beach across the road. Koalas hang out in the trees around the park. Warburton Holiday Park, in the Upper Yarra Valley, has a kilometre of river frontage. Float the Yarra, look out for platypus, or head up to Mt Donna Buang and the Redwood Forest.
Clayton Bay Riverside Holiday Park sits on Lake Alexandrina, where the Murray meets the lakes, and every site has water views. Expect big sunsets, plenty of birdlife and kayaks for hire. Morgan Riverside Caravan Park is tucked among river gums on the Murray. Swim, fish, or hire a tinny, kayak or canoe and spend the day on the water.
Guilderton Holiday Park is where the Moore River meets the Indian Ocean. Paddle or SUP the calm river, then hit the surf beach. The nearby Gravity Discovery Centre observatory promotes some of the clearest night skies in the region. Binningup Beach Caravan Park, south of Mandurah, is a quiet, shady park with a sheltered beach just through the back gate.
BIG4 Iluka on Freycinet, at Coles Bay, keeps its wifi to a single spot in the camp kitchen. That leaves your days free for Wineglass Bay, Mt Amos and the Freycinet beaches. Triabunna Cabin & Caravan Park is a five-minute walk from the Maria Island ferry. Spend the day on a car-free island, then head back to the van for the night.
Litchfield Tourist Park, about 85 km south of Darwin near Batchelor, is a handy base for Litchfield National Park’s waterfalls, which put on their biggest show in the wet season. Some swimming spots close in the wet, so check what’s open before you go, then cool off back at the park’s pool. Dundee Beach Holiday Park, about two hours from Darwin, has shady grassed sites, pools and a bar, plus a beach made for fishing and big Top End sunsets.
A digital detox doesn’t mean being unreachable in an emergency. Keep your phone charged and somewhere you can grab it, and let someone know where you’re heading and when you’ll be back. Download the free Emergency+ app before you go. It can show your GPS location even without mobile coverage, so you can read it out to Triple Zero (000). You’ll still need coverage on some network to make the call, so check signal in remote areas before you settle in. It’s summer, so check the fire danger rating and any total fire bans before you light up.
You don’t need a big trip or a remote hideaway. A weekend at a caravan park near the beach or the bush is enough to feel the difference. So, pack the van, round up your crew, and give your thumbs a rest. Summer’s waiting.
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