Bathurst 1000 Camping Guide: Where to Pitch
Where People Actually Camp at the Bathurst 1000
Most Bathurst 1000 campers pitch a tent on the mountain itself, inside the circuit, at one of three official grounds: McPhillamy Park, Reid Park or Sulman Park. These are run through Supercars Australia as part of race ticketing, not through the local caravan parks, and they're what people mean when they talk about camping at Bathurst 1000 rather than staying in town. If you want to be close to the cars and the atmosphere, this is it. If you'd rather sleep properly and drive in each day, off-circuit camping and caravan parks around Bathurst are the better call.
The Official On-Circuit Campgrounds
Mount Panorama is a 6.213 km public road circuit that climbs 174 metres, and the three named campgrounds sit at different points around that loop, which is exactly why they feel so different from each other.
McPhillamy Park sits high on the circuit near the top of the mountain, in the section drivers hit at serious speed. It has long been one of the more popular camping sites at Bathurst 1000 because you get elevation, a view back down over parts of the track, and a strong sense of being in the middle of the action. Expect a lively, densely packed crowd.
Reid Park is another long-running on-circuit ground, generally considered a bit more laid-back than the areas right on the fastest sections, while still putting you inside the fence for the full race weekend.
Sulman Park rounds out the trio. Like the other two, it's inside the circuit boundary, so once you're set up you're not driving anywhere until the event wraps up.
None of the three is "quiet." They're all inside a working racetrack for the biggest event on the Bathurst calendar, and the appeal is exactly that you can hear engines from your swag. If hushed nights matter to you, this isn't the camping option.
On-Circuit vs Off-Circuit Camping
On-circuit camping means walking to your grandstand rather than driving, no traffic jams on race morning, and being part of the mountain-top community that builds up over the week. It also means committing to your gear for several days once you're in. Bump-in and bump-out happen at set times, and you don't casually pop out for supplies once the event is underway.
Off-circuit camping — at caravan parks around Bathurst, or on private paddocks some landholders open up for race week — trades that immersion for comfort. You get a car park next to your tent, proper amenities, and the option to drive into town. Plenty of families with young kids, or anyone towing a caravan, choose this route instead of the mountain.
Reading the Bathurst 1000 Camping Map
Supercars Australia publishes a Bathurst 1000 camping map each year showing where the grounds sit relative to the circuit's famous features — the Cutting, Skyline, Reid Park itself as a corner, and the Chase. Study it before you book, because position on the mountain changes your experience more than most people expect. Sites near the top get wind and cooler nights but arguably the best views of the circuit snaking below. Sites lower down are more sheltered but further from some vantage points. Match the map against how much walking you're willing to do.
What to Pack for October at Mount Panorama
The race falls on the second weekend of October, spring in the Central Tablelands, and that means genuinely unpredictable weather. Bathurst sits at altitude and nights can drop close to freezing even after a warm afternoon. Pack for four seasons in one weekend:
Noise, Atmosphere and What Nobody Tells You
This is not a quiet weekend away. Practice and qualifying run through the days, generators hum overnight, and neighbouring campsites keep their own hours. Earplugs are standard kit for anyone who actually wants sleep. That said, this is also the reason people come back year after year — bonfire-adjacent chats with strangers, shared eskies, and a genuine festival feel that a motel three towns over can't replicate. Go in expecting a big, social, occasionally sleep-deprived few days.
Facilities: What to Expect
On-circuit campgrounds provide the basics — toilet blocks and some water access — geared toward a temporary population rather than a resort stay. Showers, phone charging and creature comforts are limited, so plan to be reasonably self-sufficient. A power bank earns its keep. Off-circuit caravan parks offer a real step up: powered sites, amenities blocks, sometimes camp kitchens, which is a major reason families often choose them over the mountain.
Getting In and Out
Once you're camped inside the circuit, you're generally there for the duration. Vehicle movement in and out of the on-circuit grounds is tightly managed around session times, and you shouldn't count on ducking out to the supermarket mid-event. Bring supplies for the whole stay. Getting to the mountain in the first place also gets busy — expect queues on the approach roads during bump-in, and allow far more time than a normal drive across town would take.
When Camping Sells Out: Alternatives
Camping both on and off the circuit tends to book out six to twelve months ahead, sometimes earlier for the more sought-after spots. If you're planning late, here's what's left:
Our Bathurst 1000 race guide covers tickets, the schedule and the wider accommodation picture if camping turns out not to be your thing.
Whichever way you go, lock it in as soon as you've decided. Waiting until closer to October usually means settling for whatever's left.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do you camp at the Bathurst 1000?
Most race-goers camp on Mount Panorama itself, at one of the official on-circuit grounds — McPhillamy Park, Reid Park or Sulman Park — booked through Supercars Australia as part of race ticketing. Others choose off-circuit caravan parks around Bathurst and drive in each day.
Can you camp for free at Bathurst 1000?
No. The on-circuit campgrounds are ticketed through Supercars Australia and form part of the official event, not a free public camping area. Off-circuit options such as caravan parks also charge for sites.
How early do you need to book Bathurst 1000 camping?
Sites typically sell out six to twelve months in advance. If you have firm dates, book as soon as tickets and camping passes open rather than waiting until closer to the event.
What's the difference between McPhillamy Park, Reid Park and Sulman Park?
All three sit inside the Mount Panorama circuit, but they occupy different points around the 6.213 km loop, which changes your view of the track, your elevation, and how far you'll walk to your preferred vantage point. Check the official camping map to compare their positions before choosing.
Is camping at the Bathurst 1000 suitable for families?
It can be, but the on-circuit grounds are noisy, self-sufficient camping with basic facilities and a big social atmosphere running around the clock. Families after a calmer setup with proper amenities often prefer an off-circuit caravan park instead, driving in for race day.