Australia So Much to See

Free camping and low cost camping places we have enjoyed in Queensland

Queensland Roadside Rest Areas

Camooweal Billabong.  Access from a track just west of the Georgina River bridge on the west side of Camooweal.  A dirt track follows around the billabong, and there are plenty of camping opportunities along the waters edge on the west side of the lagoon. Self sufficient campers only - no amenities.  Free.  Water birds, station cattle and reptiles.  Visited 2009

Hamilton Hotel Ruins rest area.  76 kilometre east of Boulia on the Boulia-Winton road, near Hamilton River channels.  At historic ruins, a short distance from the road, with windmill, tank and two taps.  Trees are being watered and grown in this open plain.  Picnic area.    Although open a pleasant free camp. No amenities.  Visited 2009

Longreach Apex Riverside Park 

Free Campground. 

Four kilometres west of Longreach near an old and now closed bridge across the Thomson River, and alongside the old road.  This is out of town, away from the highway and fairly quiet.  Flush toilets and untreated river water tap.  The area near the toilets has been coated with gravel, but the rest of the grounds are on black river clay which becomes very sticky when it rains.  Recommended for dry weather only.  Very popular during peak tourist season.  Fishing from bridge.  This free camp ground is maintained by the Shire.  Visited 2009

Twelve Mile Hotel – Stockyard Creek Rest Area.  22 kilometres south of Ilfracombe, on the road to Isisford.  There is a fairly new picnic shelter with table and bin, but no other amenities.  The rest area is by Stockyard Creek and near the site of the former Twelve Mile Hotel.  Across a cattle grid and through a station paddock is an example of stone pitching, a form of dam building.  There is a loop track with a bin near the stone pitching site which would also make a good camp, being well away from the road, but it is on Evanston Station so permission would need to be sought.  Visited 2009

Now $3 per night.  At $2 per night or $10 per week, camping along the Barcoo River near town, or out of town at Oma Waterhole, is certainly a bargain.  Toilets and hot showers available in town as well as at Oma Waterhole.  Dump point at toilet block nearest to the river in town.  Dry weather camping only, with an alternative bitumised area behind Shire building to move to if it rains.  Laundromat in town.  Historic Clancy of the Overflow Hotel (Update: This hotel closed September 2013 and opened under new ownership May 2014), historic shops and the Outer Barcoo Interpretation Centre featuring Isisfordia Duncani, reported to be the ancestor of all modern crocodilians from almost 100 million years ago.  Nearby is the historic Isis Downs shearing shed which is free to visit.  Visited 2009

Fourteen kilometres south west of Barcaldine and accessed from the Blackall Road.  A small free camp ground by a disused dam on the Alice River which was constructed in the 1950s to provide water for nearby vegetable farms and orchards.  Flush toilets and tap with water from a tank.  Dump point with hose.  Picnic tables and fireplaces.  Well maintained by the seasonal “Grey Nomads”.  Visited 2009

A tiny town accessed by a loop of old highway from the New England Highway forty kilometres south of  Warwick and twenty kilometres north of Stanthorpe.  Screened from the main highway by a paddock with trees, on a small green grassed area, free camping at Jim Mitchell Park is welcomed.  A new unisex flush toilet with movement sensitive night light, tap and a dump point. There was a railway line nearby but it is no longer in regular use.  A pleasant overnight camp.  Continue south via the old highway by going under highway and following the fruit road where orchardists and wineries have door sales. 

Right in the quiet and tiny town opposite Rudd’s Pub.  Steele Rudd was the Author if the Dad and Dave series of Australian comedy literature.  Free camping area for motorhomes and caravans is alongside the railway line by the disused siding, screened from the road by a large hedge.  Toilet block, taps, picnic area and playground close by.  A few powered outlets for $3. Several trains go through day and night, and trucks still use the weighbridge during the day.  Avoid parking under the orange night lights as they are quite bright.  An enjoyable visit to the town, although not really a quiet night with a couple of trains going past.  A good feed at Rudd's Pub.     

Chinchilla Weir. Nine kilometres south of the town, by a weir with a large water area. 

Flush toilets, no taps.  Signage directing to camp only in designated area.  Several power poles, which were accessed by about eight campers via very long power cords.  Power free for first two days, then pay at tourist centre.  Dump point in town.  

Judd’s Lagoon, Yuleba.  Accessed from a road to the east of the small town; south side of highway.  No amenities apart from a very old can toilet.  Update: Toilet has been replaced by a disability access unisex flushing toilet. Picnic tables by the small lagoon.  44 gallon drum bins.  Large mowed area for camping.  Close to minor rural roads, trains near highway some kilometres away barely audible.  A good overnighter. 

Another tourist town which encourages self contained visitors to stay by providing cheap camping by the river which is now $8 per night, payable at Information Centre, with honesty box for out of hours arrivals.  Three day limit has been implemented. Dry weather camping only, with requirement to move to the truck parking bay nearby if it rains.  Toilet and dump point at camp ground and amenities block with hot showers in easy walking distance in the town.  There are water fill points at the picnic area near the bridge and at Ram Park Visitor Information Centre.  Attractions include Blackall Woolscour, The Black Stump, the site of the first Artesian bore in the town and many other points of interest.  Visited 2009

I have been informed that the power outlets at Chinchilla Weir are 10 amp.  As most caravan and camper inlets are 15 amp, the only legal way to use these is with an Ampfibian or a Safelec RVDSafe Power Lead and the load in the camper will need to be kept below 10 amps. 

Note that from January 2015 a $3 per night fee or $15 per week is required.  Please pay at Visitor Information Centre, 99A Qantas Park Eagle Street, Longreach.  The four day time limit has been removed. 

Free unserviced camping along a few hundred metres of the Wilson River, at a wide pool.  About 300 metres from the road and Noccundra Hotel.  No services at site, but a toilet and shower block beside the Hotel.  No

phone service.  Visited 2017

Free (donation) unserviced camping along Wallam Creek, at a wide pool.  Western end of turn, turn north at Fire Brigade shed.  There is a formed walkway of one kilometre to toilets and showers in town.  There is a toilet at the cemetery at the far end of the campground which some campers have used.  Visited 2017.

A number of sites with concrete slabs and fire pits with power outlets each with multiple sockets and taps. Pay at Hotel (across railways line).  A larger open flat area adjacent.  Toilet and shower block with hot showers.  Disability access toilet with handbasin but no shower.  Dump point.   Painted silos were just completed when we visited and these can be viewed from the camping ground.  First photo below shows the golden colours of dawn lighting up these paintings.  Visited 2017.