Free Camping Site or Less expensive C'park near Gold Coast

Morning Peter,
In relation to Stotts Island camping area, we stayed there overnight a couple of years back, it's right on the highway which is noisy, and the roosters will wake you very, very early in the morning.
According to the camps 6 it doesn't seem to allow camping.
If you travel along the road a bit further (2-3 ks) just before Tumbulgum turn right over the bridge, once across the bridge turn right again and the road comes back under the bridge.
Drive some 1.5ks and you will come to a little unknown park called Bluey Hills Park, which is on the banks of the Mary River over looking Tumbulgum, there are no facilities, but it's free.
Hope this helps.
Cheers.
Baz

If you prefer a caravan park for the cooler months the Ferry Reserve Holiday Park (Family Parks) at Brunswick Heads is pet friendly and in a convenient location for the Gold Coast Airport. It is beside the river and the pleasant township has all necessary facilities. Plenty of good dog walks on the beaches or riverside paths. The price is reasonable for the area and the amenities are very good. Lynne

I would think Scotts Island would only be good for an overnighter. It gets very dank in wet weather and there is often lots of water lying around.

Burringbar Park may be a goer, it's 44 km from the airport.

This map shows your selection of parks around Tweed Heads. The green pins are yours, zoom in and click on the pins for more info. There are links for the parks web sites and Badgers revues on that extra info.

Peter,
I understand totally. It cost us (family with 2 small children) no less than $58 per night at Southport. The Gold Coast wasn't part of our plans at first but our circumstances changed. If it wasn't pouring rain at the time we would've kept going & done what you propose, stay further out of town.

First off pleas accept my apologies for NOT responding to you all sooner.
I have had a MATURE MOMENT couple of days. I posted the question and then travelled over to Deniliquib to see a visiting Cardiologist and now next week need to travel down to Bendigo to get a battery replacement for my pacemaker.
Thank you for your suggestions I will look into them all. This morning I contacted the Qld Association of Showgrounds and their web site is great. You just click on a town name and the site gives you all the contact details and whether it is caravan & motor home friendly.
http://www.queenslandshows.com.au/default.asp?PageID=113 this is Beenleigh for example.
Regards to all
Stay safe & stay well
PeterM Qld

I'm at stotts now and its very damp muddy with traffic roaring past & yes roosters - need ear plugs Sad to see so many transients sleeping in cars not just here but outside most cities.