hi we are travelling up north from South australia this year around June July. Our first big trip in our van. Looking at free camping and caravan parks. Any tips where to stay in Cairns and Port Douglas. Will we be best to book now as I guess it gets busy. Thanks
Dougwe said
07:03 AM Jan 14, 2018
Welcome to the gang gaskerry00, enjoy here and out in the playground.
Book as early as possible once you work out where, as that is the busiest time of the year and a bit squishy. Sorry, no suggestions form the Chief.
Keep Safe on the roads and out there.
Pamela G said
07:45 AM Jan 14, 2018
Ellis beach half way between cairns and port douglas. nothing free in the coast area.
the rocket said
08:25 AM Jan 14, 2018
Hello and a very warm welcome. So i am of no help for your question. Just wanted wanted to pop in n say hi.
brickies said
08:57 AM Jan 14, 2018
Hi we have stayed at Palm Cove caravan park just north of Cairns and south of Port Douglas easy day trip to Cairns, Port Douglas and Mossman/Daintree Area Have stayed at Walkamin Central Caravan Park on the Tablelands about half way between Atherton and Mareeba great spot to take in the Tablelands , It is only about an hours drive to Cairns . Cairns and port Douglas are tourist meca but easier to visit for the day staying quit lot dearer .
Desert Dweller said
09:19 AM Jan 14, 2018
Popular area, popular time. As the chicken said on the way to the library: Book book book.
Birdo said
11:01 AM Jan 14, 2018
Hi
I wish you all the best in the caravanning life .We had our first caravan holiday from Mount Gambier to Lakes entrance fifty two years ago in a Franklin that we bought in Mount Gambier and are still enjoying traveling around Australia ,thirteen vans later.
We have been in the Cairns,Port Douglas area a few times.
In the Cairns area we stay at Lake Placid which is away from the main tourist area and at Port Douglas we stay at the Glengarry caravan park which also is out of the main tourist area.
At that time of the year it is very busy and you have to book well ahead.
If you are staying in one area for over six weeks attach a cord hanging from your awning and you will most probably have a Yellow-bellied Sunbird nesting on it.
Cheers.
Cupie said
11:15 AM Jan 14, 2018
I thought that 'Birdo" was having a lend of us ... but no
I should have known .. with an username like that.
Enjoy your trip ..
Birdo said
11:56 AM Jan 14, 2018
Hi Cupie
Thank you for the reply re the Sunbird.
I dont do FAKE NEWS!
Cheers
mezza56 said
08:08 AM Jan 15, 2018
Last time we took a caravan to cairns was 34 years ago , and the roads were shockers up that way , best thing I remember was the boat out to green island . We got into a park easy as winky back then I bet it has changed unbelievably , but then so has every thing .We are hopefully going to retrace our footsteps again this winter . Better start looking at booking ourselves .
Haji-Baba said
12:40 PM Jan 15, 2018
You could try the Newell Beach van park if it is still there. Close to the water, small, quiet and near the mouth of the Mossman River for the fisher people.
Very good base to see all the north beaches and into cape tribulation area.
Walkamin is also good and central to all locations.
Have fun Haji-Baba
Dick0 said
02:13 PM Jan 15, 2018
Welcome gaskerry00.
Firstly, you may be best to get the Wikicamps App or similar if you have not as yet.
Cairns/Port Douglas is not a friendly RV free camp location. Newell Beach CP is well located but small and need to book in well in advance. Alternative could be at Wonga Beach CP or Pinnacle Village CP also at Wonga Beach. Short drive to Mossman & Daintree attractions and Port Douglas.
There are great free camps along the Kennedy Highway and Mulligan Highway up in the Ranges.
Dunmowin said
09:56 PM Jan 15, 2018
Having spent the best part of winter/spring in Cairns and north, I can say:
Agree with Birdo about the rope from your annex. We saw many sunbirds nesting in the north
Caravan Park at Newell extremely small and cramped, cannot comment on Wonga Beach
Daintree Village CP nice place, but you will need to book
Lake Placid I think is a BiG 4, you will pay accordingly
Walkamin is popular, but we did not stay there,
Mareeba Bush Stays and Mareeba Ringers Rest are two low cost camp sites I can recommend at Mareeba on the tablelands, and free/donation Rifle Creek Rest Area at Mt Molloy
If you get over the Daintree River, the Cape Tribulation Caravan Park has a low cost camp site called Green Camp - was $10.00 per night in 2017
Agree with last comment. Get Wikicamps app
Hope this helps.
Try2findus said
12:11 PM Jan 16, 2018
There is a good free camp at Rocky Creek between Mareeba and Atherton. It gets crowded at times but is pretty empty at the moment. It is very hot and humid on the coast as we wait for the monsoon to arrive, much more comfortable climate in the Walkamin, Atherton, Malanda, Milla Milla areas, still hot but nowhere near as bad as on the coast.
Dunmowin said
02:38 PM Jan 16, 2018
Try2findus wrote:
There is a good free camp at Rocky Creek between Mareeba and Atherton. It gets crowded at times but is pretty empty at the moment. It is very hot and humid on the coast as we wait for the monsoon to arrive, much more comfortable climate in the Walkamin, Atherton, Malanda, Milla Milla areas, still hot but nowhere near as bad as on the coast.
Agree about Rocky Creek, we stayed there earlier last year, but when we passed it later in the year, they had ploughed up all the grass - maybe it will have regrown by now.
hi we are travelling up north from South australia this year around June July. Our first big trip in our van. Looking at free camping and caravan parks. Any tips where to stay in Cairns and Port Douglas. Will we be best to book now as I guess it gets busy. Thanks
Book as early as possible once you work out where, as that is the busiest time of the year and a bit squishy. Sorry, no suggestions form the Chief.
Keep Safe on the roads and out there.
Hello and a very warm welcome. So i am of no help for your question. Just wanted wanted to pop in n say hi.
I wish you all the best in the caravanning life .We had our first caravan holiday from Mount Gambier to Lakes entrance fifty two years ago in a Franklin that we bought in Mount Gambier and are still enjoying traveling around Australia ,thirteen vans later.
We have been in the Cairns,Port Douglas area a few times.
In the Cairns area we stay at Lake Placid which is away from the main tourist area and at Port Douglas we stay at the Glengarry caravan park which also is out of the main tourist area.
At that time of the year it is very busy and you have to book well ahead.
If you are staying in one area for over six weeks attach a cord hanging from your awning and you will most probably have a Yellow-bellied Sunbird nesting on it.
Cheers.
I thought that 'Birdo" was having a lend of us ... but no
https://www.thalabeach.com.au/yellow-bellied-sunbird/
I should have known .. with an username like that.
Enjoy your trip ..
Thank you for the reply re the Sunbird.
I dont do FAKE NEWS!
Cheers
Last time we took a caravan to cairns was 34 years ago , and the roads were shockers up that way , best thing I remember was the boat out to green island . We got into a park easy as winky back then I bet it has changed unbelievably , but then so has every thing .We are hopefully going to retrace our footsteps again this winter . Better start looking at booking ourselves .
Very good base to see all the north beaches and into cape tribulation area.
Walkamin is also good and central to all locations.
Have fun Haji-Baba
Welcome gaskerry00.
Firstly, you may be best to get the Wikicamps App or similar if you have not as yet.
Cairns/Port Douglas is not a friendly RV free camp location. Newell Beach CP is well located but small and need to book in well in advance. Alternative could be at Wonga Beach CP or Pinnacle Village CP also at Wonga Beach. Short drive to Mossman & Daintree attractions and Port Douglas.
There are great free camps along the Kennedy Highway and Mulligan Highway up in the Ranges.
Having spent the best part of winter/spring in Cairns and north, I can say:
Agree with Birdo about the rope from your annex. We saw many sunbirds nesting in the north
Caravan Park at Newell extremely small and cramped, cannot comment on Wonga Beach
Daintree Village CP nice place, but you will need to book
Lake Placid I think is a BiG 4, you will pay accordingly
Walkamin is popular, but we did not stay there,
Mareeba Bush Stays and Mareeba Ringers Rest are two low cost camp sites I can recommend at Mareeba on the tablelands, and free/donation Rifle Creek Rest Area at Mt Molloy
If you get over the Daintree River, the Cape Tribulation Caravan Park has a low cost camp site called Green Camp - was $10.00 per night in 2017
Agree with last comment. Get Wikicamps app
Hope this helps.
Agree about Rocky Creek, we stayed there earlier last year, but when we passed it later in the year, they had ploughed up all the grass - maybe it will have regrown by now.