There’s something very nostalgic about stepping into the wilderness, and away from the wi-fi. Forget using QR codes at your local cafe. Think hot spuds wrapped in foil and chucked over coals. Ingar Creek curls past Ingar campground near Wentworth Falls in the Blue Mountains. Access to the remote campsite is on foot so it’s popular with action heroes (think hikers, mountain bikers and wildlife lovers). All up, there are eight campsites. BYO firewood. nationalparks.nsw.gov.au

You’ll experience winter camping in NSW at its finest when you set up camp by the Snowy River. Inch to the very edge of the river or opt for a site up on the hill where you’ll likely have a patch of grass to yourself. Island Bend is well located for backcountry adventures, and a great place to base yourself for the Mt Kosciuszko Summit Walk. You can also lace up your boots for a hike to the historic huts dotted around the wilderness. Be prepared for low temperatures and snowfall in winter at the campground, which is open all-year round. nationalparks.nsw.gov.au

The trail from Geehi Flats Campground leads to a few of the historic alpine huts of the Snowy Mountains. Pitch your tent, pull up your camper and set up your camp chair so you can enjoy the enormous views of the mountain. Enjoy lo-fi activities such as stargazing, birdwatching and spotting resident wildlife like wombats, red-necked wallabies and possums. Forget beef and black bean sauce in a can. Head upriver to try your luck at catching a fish. In summer, the crystal-clear Swampy Plain River is ideal for swimming and kayaking. Check local regulations before fly fishing. nationalparks.nsw.gov.au

Watch the forest come to life at dawn from the doorway of your tent at this campground in the heart of Coolah Tops National Park. Road trippers who like to plan ahead should pick up some gourmet provisions from Mudgee before pitching their tent at Cox’s Creek Campground, which is surrounded by a grove of snow gums. Download a birding app so you can better identify the calls of the crimson rosellas, red wattle birds and blue wrens. nationalparks.nsw.gov.au

A stay at one of the 31 sites at Bittangabee Campground is not about roughing it in the hardcore Alone kind of way. The daily struggles at the basic campground (which accommodates camper trailers) do not revolve around how to survive in the wilderness. The dilemmas are more about choosing whether to barbecue sausages or chops for dinner. The Green Cape campground near Eden is one the best spots along the multi-day Light to Light walk on NSW’s South Coast. Keep a lookout for lyrebirds. nationalparks.nsw.gov.au

You can see the snow-covered alpine peaks of the Snowy Mountains standing guard in the distance from the Old Geehi campground. The days dawn cool and crisp in winter at the campground, which is popular year-round for hiking, biking and fishing. Listen to the sultry song of the Swampy Plain River as it runs through the peaceful campground, which is a haven for wallabies, wombats, eastern grey kangaroos and possums. Get your Wim Hof on with a plunge into the river. Or hike to the historic Old Geehi Hut. Access to the site is by 4WD off the scenic Alpine Way, south of Khancoban. nationalparks.nsw.gov.au

Aah, the serenity. You’ll be enveloped by some of the world’s oldest wilderness when you peg out your tent at the Colo Meroo campground. The campground is just a 100-metre dash from the wild Colo River, which rushes and roars through the sandstone canyons. Access to the two campsites is only by foot. And while facilities are basic, the backdrop is cinematic. Rug up for some fireside stargazing. nationalparks.nsw.gov.au

Winter turns the forest around Bendeela Camping and Picnic Area into a misty wonderland. The free campground is near to Kangaroo River and is popular with families who come here to fish, swim, bushwalk and canoe. The rustic campground is equipped with toilets and drinking water and although it feels remote, it’s just 11 kilometres from Kangaroo Valley. Return with some provisions for a barbecue or gourmet picnic. waternsw.com.au

Prise your flatmate off the couch. Or connect with trailblazers intrepid enough to hike to Acacia Flat, in the Grose Valley. Set 0ff from Blackheath to find the 30-site campground, in one of the most secluded wilderness areas of the Blue Mountains. After pitching your tent, head to the Blue Gum Forest to spot wedge-tailed eagles and kestrels that hug the thermal currents near the cliffs. Personal locator beacons are recommended. nationalparks.nsw.gov.au

The going price for a night at this campground near the century-old Long Plain Hut is nix. But camping for free is not the only highlight of a stay here; happy campers are also close to historic huts, caves and top spots for trout fishing. Immerse yourself in the high-country heritage of Kiandra and explore the natural wonders of Yarrangobilly Caves. Stroll through grasslands carpeted with wildflowers. Or discover the area’s trails on horseback as the campground has its own horse yards. Access is via Cooma or Tumut. nationalparks.nsw.gov.au

Enjoy the magnificence of a night sky minus the light pollution before being soothed to sleep by the sound of the Tuross River rushing over the rocks. Nature turns up the volume on nature’s white noise at dawn as a chorus of insects starts to whir and birds start to sing and argue in the branches above. Follow the walking track from the Cascades Campground, which spaghettis along the river through a grove of towering ribbon gums. Bring a kayak so you can throw a line in upstream. There are only six campsites at this dinky campground. nationalparks.nsw.gov.au