headng to the cape

Submitted: Thursday, May 05, 2016 at 21:02
ThreadID: 132324 Views:2903 Replies:9 FollowUps:12
This Thread has been Archived
my husband and l are heading off to the cape within the next month. we would be happy for anyone with advice on free camping all the way, hoping to stay a couple of days in some of these camps. our 1st night will probably be Moree nsw. we will be travelling through St.George, Roma, Emerald, Charters Towers, Mareeba etc. We are not young and our days of travelling long distances are gone, any ideas on free camping along these routes will be very much appreciated. regards Suzanne f.
Back Expand Un-Read 0 Moderator

Reply By: Hoyks - Friday, May 06, 2016 at 05:47

Friday, May 06, 2016 at 05:47
About 50km south of St George is a place called Nindagully. There is a creek and a pub, imaginatively named Nindagully Pub, where you can camp for free. If you buy dinner at the pub they let you use the hot showers for free, if not I think it is a gold coin donation. I've stopped there a few times and it is a nice spot.
http://nindigully.com/about/

Up toward Charters Towers, we spent the night off the road in a gravel stock pile site. There were a few other travelers there and there a quite a few similar places to stop. We were aiming for a place north of town, but ran out of daylight. Just keep an eye out and stop where you need to.


This might be handy, there are also apps you can download. http://www.freecampingaustralia.com.au/
AnswerID: 599586

Follow Up By: suzanne f - Thursday, May 19, 2016 at 20:52

Thursday, May 19, 2016 at 20:52
nindigully will be one of our stops for sure thanks hoyks
0
FollowupID: 869640

Reply By: Malcom M - Friday, May 06, 2016 at 07:06

Friday, May 06, 2016 at 07:06
Leaving Cherters Towers heading for Townsville. Some 5-10 Kms after Charters you cross a huge long bridge over a deep river gully. Just after the bridge there is a right turn off to a free camping area that you can stay in for a week or so. Local council provided.
AnswerID: 599587

Follow Up By: Bob Y. - Qld - Friday, May 06, 2016 at 07:12

Friday, May 06, 2016 at 07:12
That's the Burdekin River, Malcolm, and think the name of the park is Macrossan Park.

It's like a caravan city at peak of the season!

Bob

Seen it all, Done it all.
Can't remember most of it.

Lifetime Member
My Profile  My Blog  My Position  Send Message

0
FollowupID: 868876

Follow Up By: Malcom M - Friday, May 06, 2016 at 07:48

Friday, May 06, 2016 at 07:48
Yup that's it. Not a very nice spot but its free. Does look a lot better after an 800Km drive :)

There's also some more on the left hand side of the main road before the bridge. Guessing some 20Km down tracks.
0
FollowupID: 868878

Follow Up By: suzanne f - Thursday, May 19, 2016 at 20:53

Thursday, May 19, 2016 at 20:53
sounds like a great stopover thanks so much malcom m
0
FollowupID: 869641

Reply By: Bob Y. - Qld - Friday, May 06, 2016 at 07:29

Friday, May 06, 2016 at 07:29
About 70kms north of the Lynd, there's a gravel pad close to the highway, on left hand side as you head north.

Doesn't look real inviting, but we found most of the traffic stopped after dark. Enough room for a number of vans etc. The big plus is, there is FULL Telstra signal at that spot, as there is a tower only a short distance away.

Most of that part of the highway is now double fenced, so difficult to get too far off the road. There's a few more sites closer to Mt Garnet, if you keep a lookout. Just before you get to Ravenshoe there is a big grassed freebie on the right, always busy, but a big area and has loo's.

Don't remember much from Ravenshoe to Mareeba, as it's pretty settled. Might be the odd spot? Worth a look at Granite Gorge while you're in Mareeba, plenty of room, pick your own spot but not free. Plenty of friendly wallabies, who like their rolled oats.

Bob

Seen it all, Done it all.
Can't remember most of it.

Lifetime Member
My Profile  My Blog  My Position  Send Message

AnswerID: 599588

Follow Up By: suzanne f - Thursday, May 19, 2016 at 20:54

Thursday, May 19, 2016 at 20:54
ravenshoe will be a stopover for sure thanks bob y
0
FollowupID: 869642

Reply By: Member - Mark (Tamworth NSW) - Friday, May 06, 2016 at 07:48

Friday, May 06, 2016 at 07:48
We went to the Cape last year and have been as far as Emerald numerous times. Just purchase that Free camps app and or the Camps (7 or 8) book. You will have no problem in finding spots as long as you aren't worried about what your ultimate destination is each day.

Many of the main roads (not Highways) double as stock routes, so the fences are 100m or more back from the road. Just stay off main highways as much as possible when looking for a spot and you will be right.
There's another very popular site just north of the beautiful small town of Surat on the Condamine River between St George and Roma. It's as busy as Macrossan Park that Bob mentioned just east of Charter's Towers.
You'll find that smaller towns & villages like Surat are more likely to have designated Free Camp sites. Boggabri 90 minutes south or Mungindi 80 minutes NW of Moree are good examples. Showgrounds are also often very cheap.
AnswerID: 599589

Follow Up By: suzanne f - Thursday, May 19, 2016 at 20:55

Thursday, May 19, 2016 at 20:55
have seen that one at surat, always seems very busy, never stayed there, maybe timecheck it out this time, thanks mark
0
FollowupID: 869643

Reply By: 9900Eagle - Friday, May 06, 2016 at 08:02

Friday, May 06, 2016 at 08:02
If you go up trough Wandoan you can camp in town at the environmental park wit good toilets and showers for nix. Just remember to buy something to help support the town.

North of the Towers on the Gregory Dev road across Lolworth creek there is a spot just off the road on both sides, you also can go down a track on the right to Dalrymple Nat park on the Burdekin River and the old site of Dalrymple township.
AnswerID: 599591

Follow Up By: suzanne f - Thursday, May 19, 2016 at 20:56

Thursday, May 19, 2016 at 20:56
thank you so much for your suggestions, cant wait to get goin
0
FollowupID: 869644

Reply By: Member - rondesron - Friday, May 06, 2016 at 11:40

Friday, May 06, 2016 at 11:40
invest in wikicamps for your smart phone gives sites costs photos and reviews. Would not leave home without it.

Lifetime Member
My Profile  Send Message

AnswerID: 599603

Follow Up By: Chambo - Friday, May 06, 2016 at 15:56

Friday, May 06, 2016 at 15:56
Couldn't agree more, the best 4 or 5 $ you will ever spend. My friend just spent 2 months in Tassy using only Wiki Camps and did not pay for one night accommodation. Best app ever.
0
FollowupID: 868893

Follow Up By: suzanne f - Thursday, May 19, 2016 at 20:59

Thursday, May 19, 2016 at 20:59
sounds like a plan, will have to upgrade my technical skills and ditch the old dinasour mobile and invest in one of those fancy smart phones, looks like a great app, checked it out on the website looks like it could be very useful
0
FollowupID: 869645

Reply By: Member - Robyn R4 - Sunday, May 08, 2016 at 10:40

Sunday, May 08, 2016 at 10:40
Oh yes, I agree with Hoyks.
Nindigully Pub.
It's our regular if we're ever within cooee.
AnswerID: 599686

Follow Up By: suzanne f - Thursday, May 19, 2016 at 20:51

Thursday, May 19, 2016 at 20:51
love nindigully, been there a few times. thanks robyn will be there for sure
0
FollowupID: 869639

Reply By: Member - Brian H16 - Tuesday, May 10, 2016 at 15:51

Tuesday, May 10, 2016 at 15:51
In Emerald Qld you should be ok in the large space just west of the big concrete Vince Lester Bridge over the Nagoa River if not a big rain season. Plenty of warning anyway. Some of our great van friends have camped there. Just a short walk to large Coles etc shops (Toilets). The rail bridge will be on one side & road bridge the other. We moved to Bundaberg from there Feb 2015 so I doubt not much has changed. Enjoy the Cape. We did. Roads are so good now.
AnswerID: 599813

Follow Up By: Bob Y. - Qld - Tuesday, May 10, 2016 at 16:33

Tuesday, May 10, 2016 at 16:33
Plenty of "residents" in that spot when we crossed the bridge on Friday night, Brian. Always popular!

Bob

Seen it all, Done it all.
Can't remember most of it.

Lifetime Member
My Profile  My Blog  My Position  Send Message

1
FollowupID: 869082

Follow Up By: suzanne f - Wednesday, May 11, 2016 at 14:26

Wednesday, May 11, 2016 at 14:26
thank you so much brian, sounds like a great spot, can't wait to try it out
0
FollowupID: 869140

Reply By: Hoyks - Thursday, May 19, 2016 at 21:38

Thursday, May 19, 2016 at 21:38
Come to think of it, another worth a look is School Point at Tinaroo Dam. It isn't free, but relatively cheap. We spent a few days there and had the place to ourselves.
http://www.nprsr.qld.gov.au/parks/danbulla/about.html
AnswerID: 600319

Sponsored Links