Heading far north QLD

mike g g · Senior Member

Heading far north QLD

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Due to winter being very busy in the areas you mention might be a good idea to pick a couple of places and maybe ring to see what they think. I hang out in Townsville for winter and it gets pretty busy there. At least ring a day before you get to an area. I hope to be in Townsville around the first week in May at this stage and will be there until end August, so if you go through send up the smoke signals.

brickies · Guru

Which way are you heading after ST George , Not a problem finding some where to stay if you don't want to stay in Cairns and popular beach areas .

PeterD · Guru

There are a few places like Mission Beach that may be a problem getting into on short notice but most places you will be OK getting into on a day or three notice.

For Townsville I recommend the Riverside Convention Centre for best value.

Longreach, stay just short of there at Ilfracombe Caravan Park

If you have time the go around the Natural Sciences Loop.

Darmc · Veteran Member

Mike, last year we left Springsure after the long weekend in June, and needed to book ahead at Clermont for a powered site. We then went across to Mackay via Nebo. Kinchant Dam near Mackay is a nice spot, and some of the beaches just north of Mackay. If you want something off the main H'way, Conway Beach, Dingo beach are quieter spots. South Mission big 4 is a little difficult if you have a fifth wheeler of large van, as they do not have a lot of sites for big vans, Wongling and Mission Beach both have good parks. Once you get to Ingham you have Taylors or Forest Beach and Lucinda Point. Lucinda Point is heavily booked by southerners escaping the cold, but popular with fisher people.
Cardwell, Kurrimine and Flying Fish Point near Innisfail are all Ok.
Atherton have two good parks and a cheaper but popular park is at Walkerman, although a very small township, only about 20 mins from Atherton and Mareeba. Went past on Saturday and is starting to fill up already. This park is well located if you want to use it a a base for day trips. These parks vary in standards, but we have always found them suitable for our needs.
Enjoy your time in the north, hopefully we won't get a late cyclone. A good spot in Cairns is a council owned park at Palm Cove, it has undergone some upgrades, and you will need to book.
Darmc

Grey fox · Veteran Member

Mike , last year june to August we went up through the inland ,Emerald Charters,Tablelands to Cooktown then down to Mossman and back on highway 1 at lot of good free. Camps along the way up ,but not many coming south until after T/ville. Would book ahead for sure anywhere you really want to stay.even now some may be booked out. Staying a day or so longer is possible in most but not all CoolWaters Cairns, kurrumine, Cardwell mission beach was booked out..harvey range T/ville is good,on the tablelands Lake Tinaro c/v park magic place out near the road of honour.

GarrynLyn · Senior Member

Mike,

I'm a Tableland local and a good free camp for a few nights is at Rocky Creek, between Tolga and Mareeba. Lots of military history there.

For a week or so, try the Walkamin Caravan Park, also between Tolga and Mareeba. I've had mates who've stayed there and speak highly of it.

brickies · Guru

Walkamin is a good base for tablelands great park , I have been doing the north Queensland trip for the last 7 years the only time i book is if I want a spot for long time , Just for 1 or 2 nights I ring after lunch to check if they have a spot most time I get one if not try somewhere else don't like to be tried down to be at a place at any special time , Never not had somewhere to stay, always a free camp somewhere , But don't expect a free camp at the beach or big town

jules47 · The Happy Helper

Rocky Creek, as Garrylyn says, is a good camp - NO GENERATORS AT ALL - even for medical purposes apparently. but a good spot nevertheless.

Within 50k north of Townsville are five free camps - going south - Rollingstone (Bushy Parker Park), big area, next is Balgal Beach - USE THE HIGHWAY to get there, because of a 2.4m bridge. small area - right on the beach, fish and chip shop (if it is still going), next is Tumulla - another biggish area, short walk to the beach, the next is on the right going south - Bluewater - maybe 50 vans if everyone parks nicely, and the final one is Saunders Beach - small area, much favoured by small whizz bangs. All of these have toilets, water and a dump point. Get in early duas they are very popular, especially during the northern migration, which usually starts after Easter.

Near Mackay is Boulder Creek, 18k off the highway north of Mackay - small town called Caden? I think. Not huge spot - right in the middle of canefield - water from the creek is drinkable on the north side of the bridge, and about 100m downstream is a swimming hole. There is a flushing toilet as well, Watch for cane trucks during harvest.

There are other free camps off the highway, as well as low cost parks. Enjoy your trip.

mike g g · Senior Member

thanks for all the info will now get down to business working out the route ,mike g.

mike g g · Senior Member

thanks for the info my wifes grandfather was the last butter maker on the tableland ,so some history there to find .

wendyv · Guru

There is a very nice caravan park at Rollingstone; some beach frontage, excellent swimming pool, some ensuite sites as well as normal powered ones.

Forrest Beach out of Ingham has a caravan park with beach frontage - can walk for kms on beach on firm sand at low tide. Fishing too. Park is rather basic- we were last there in 2013 and amenities showing age. No frills but thus not too expensive. The hotel complex it is part of served good meals at good prices.

Sol · Senior Member

G'day Mike
I'm a mobile mechanic from Tully and travel between Cardwell and Innisfail.
I'm down at Mission Beach a couple of times a week and during peak season from early May through to late September most of the parks here are booked out. I'd say you're better off booking ahead if you want to stay in the Mission Beach area. There's a very good park at Tully Heads (Googarra Beach Van Park) as well. Murray Falls is a beautiful National Park to stay in. There is also King Reef Resort Caravan Park at Kurrimine Beach but that is also booked out during peak season. If you're interested on your way up, please feel free to phone me and ask how busy it is around here and I'll be more than happy to let you know. 0439704544.

Cheers

Sol

mike g g · Senior Member

hi thanks sol maybe will get on to relo`s eric to walk down to beach and check out a spot for us .