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The whole point of escaping the city is to see something other than streetlights at night. Ideally, that means a sky full of stars, not three lonely dots and a plane. If you’re keen to camp under truly dark skies, Hipcamp – the world’s #1 app for discovering and booking campsites – has updated its map with new NASA satellite data, making it easier to find spots with less artificial light and a better view of the night sky.
The new feature is free to use; simply open Hipcamp’s search map and select 'Layers' → 'Night sky'. You can browse more than 500,000 campsites worldwide, filtering by budget, camping style and facilities.
So how does it work? Well, the map uses NASA’s latest 2026 Black Marble satellite imagery that accounts for moonlight and atmospheric effects to show how much artificial light is around after dark. All you have to do is pick a site in the dark spots.
“We’re using satellites looking down at Earth to help more people look up,” says Alyssa Ravasio, Hipcamp’s founder and CEO. “A night under the Milky Way can change how you feel about a place. We want to make it easier to find those skies and give more people a reason to care about keeping them dark.”
There’s some research to back up the appeal of getting away for a few nights, too. In the Caravan Industry Association of Australia’s Real Richness 2026 study, nine in ten campers said camping helped relieve stress. Australians took 17.3 million caravan and camping trips in 2025, and 87 per cent of those trips were to regional areas.
Where are the best camping destinations for stargazing in Australia?
If you’re planning a stargazing trip in Australia, start with the Warrumbungles near Coonabarabran in NSW, home to Australia’s first International Dark Sky Park and Siding Spring Observatory. In South Australia, the River Murray International Dark Sky Reserve spans more than 3,200 square kilometres, with Swan Reach Conservation Park at its heart. The Sunshine Coast Hinterland offers another option, with its newly designated International Dark Sky Reserve encompassing parts of the Kenilworth and Conondale region.
For a night under the vast outback sky, head to South Australia's Flinders Ranges or the Northern Territory's Karlu Karlu (Devils Marbles) – the newest Dark Sky Sanctuary in Australia. Just check access conditions and campsite availability before you go.