PRE BOOKING FOR QLD NATIONAL PARKS

get your facts right before you post such a remark about us queenslanders or we will shut the border to you all :)

Peter,

Don't believe all that you hear. Online bookings are available in a number of areas. Go to epa.qld.gov.au and select camping bookings. Those marked with an asterisk are able to be booked on line and by phone. The system does have its share of critics.

If you saw the demand and the presure some of these parks are under by sheer visitor numbers then you might think again before criticising the place. Honesty fee payments are not the issue at all.

If you don't feel like visiting then that is OK as well as squillioins of others sure do. It is a great place with lots of unique things to offer, and by not coming will only be to deprive yourself.

Hi Meandet - some of the concerns are valid.
Some areas that require pre-booking, are not suited to it.
For example, we prebooked a site at Coochin creek. At the time of booking, we were the 2nd camper to book, and specified van/camper site.
Arrived after a 2 hour+ drive to find all sites taken.
The park has a limited number of van/camper sites, with the central area blocked off for tents.

So - EPA demand prepayment for a service/product they know cannot be delivered/guaranteed.
How would a normal small business fare, if they did that? (Take your money knowing full well it is impossible to deliver the goods/service.)

After much effort in emailing/phoning etc, they credited my fee to the computer system that caused the problem. No refund - just a credit ( by email.)
Shortly after my hard drive crashed, so I lost the number that enables me to access the credit.
While it may provide convenience and cost cutting for the Govt, it leaves me less than impressed.
(and we have always supported the honesty system)..........Keith

I will stand correcting on this but over Easter Bookings have to be made for Carnaron Gorge, and Fraser Is, any others I can't comment

Yeh, I loved some of the campsites I stayed at in Qld, but as I couldn't be sure of what day I was going to be where, I had to ring on the actual day to make a booking. When you are on a mobile phone for 15-20 mins, while the multi-tasking govt worker at the other end tries to work out how to drive the computer, it gets pretty exasperating, as well as expensive. Recall it cost me about $15 for the phone call, and about $10 for the campsite.
Fortunately there was a spot when I arrived, in fact most places were pretty lightly booked.
Loved the place otherwise, and will continue to go back there.
Gerry

Kenilworth for example you can just turn up self book and pick a spot in Charlie Moreland camp area. But If you want to camp across the road from there at Boloumba Creek camping areas, there you have to book because they are induvidual camp sites not an open area like Charlie M.

Cheers
Jo

Looks like many parks require prebooking. I stopped at Kroombit Tops National Park a little while back, and couldnt book at the campsite, but had to get phone reception to make a booking. They had a few places on the way to the park stating that CDMA reception was available. Ended staying somewhere else. The place was empty except for the ranger we drove past.

Here is a list of parks, the * means prebooking available (nice way of saying you have to book up first or waste money and time on the mobile)

Cape York Cape Melville National Park
*Flinders Group National Park
*Hope Islands National Park
Iron Range National Park
Jardine River National Park and Heathlands Resources Reserve
Lakefield National Park
*Lizard Island National Park
Mungkan Kandju National Park
Nymph Island National Park
Palmer River Goldfield Resources Reserve
*Snapper Island (Hope Islands National Park)
Turtle Group National Park
Two Islands National Park

North Qld *Barnard Islands Group National Park
Cedar Bay National Park
*Daintree National Park
Davies Creek National Park
*Dinden National Park (Davies Creek camping)
*Frankland Group National Park
Goldsborough Valley State Forest
Remote areas - Atherton
Russell River National Park - Graham Range
Speewah Conservation Park
*Tinaroo (Danbulla State Forest)
Undara Volcanic National Park
*Wooroonooran National Par

Around Townsville
*Bowling Green Bay National Park
*Broadwater (Abergowrie State Forest)
*Dalrymple National Park
*Family Islands National Park
*Girringun National Park
*Goold Island National Park
*Hinchinbrook Island - Thorsborne Trail
*Hinchinbrook Island - other camping
*Misty Mountains Trails
*Murray Falls State Forest
*Orpheus Island National Park
*Paluma Range National Park
*Porcupine Gorge National Park
*Tully State Forest
*White Mountains National Park

Outback Qld
Bladensburg National Park
*Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) National Park
Camooweal Caves National Park
*Culgoa Floodplain NP
Currawinya National Park
Diamantina National Park
Idalia National Park
Lochern National Park
Mariala National Park
Moorrinya National Park
Simpson Desert National Park
Thrushton National Park
Welford National Park

Mackay Proserpine
*Brampton Islands National Park
Cape Hillsborough National Park
Cape Palmerston National Park
*Cape Upstart National Park
*Carlisle Island (Brampton Islands National Park)
Cathu State Forest
*Conway National Park
*Conway State Forest (Whitsunday Great Walk)
*Crediton State Forest
*Dryander National Park
*Eungella National Park
*Gloucester Islands National Park
*Goldsmith Island (Smith Islands National Park)
*Homevale National Park
*Lindeman Islands National Park
Mia Mia State Forest
*Molle Islands National Park
*Newry Islands National Park
*Repulse Islands National Park
*Scawfell Island (South Cumberland Islands National Park)
*Whitsunday Islands National Park

Central Highlands
Alton National Park
*Barakula State Forest
Beilba State Forest
*Blackdown Tableland National Park
*Bulburin National Park
*Carnarvon Gorge (Carnarvon National Park)
Expedition National Park
Isla Gorge National Park
Lake Murphy Conservation Park
Mazeppa National Park
*Mount Moffatt (Carnarvon National Park)
Nuga Nuga National Park
Salvator Rosa and Ka Ka Mundi (Carnarvon National Park)
Wild Cattle Island National Park

Central Coast
Auburn River National Park
Broadwater Conservation Park
*Byfield State Forest and National Park
*Capricornia Cays National Park
Castle Tower National Park
Charon Point Conservation Park
*Curtis Island National Park
*Dan Dan National Park
Dawes National Park
Deepwater National Park
Eurimbula National Park
Goodedulla National Park
*Keppel Bay Islands National Park
*Kroombit Tops National Park
Mouth of Baffle Creek Conservation Park 2
*Rundle Range National Park, State Forest and Resources Reserve
Shoalwater Bay Conservation Park

Sunshine Coast / Wide Bay
*Amamoor State Forest
*Brooyar State Forest (Glastonbury Camp Area)
*Burrum Coast National Park
*Cooloola (Great Sandy National Park)
*Fraser Island (Great Sandy National Park)
Goodnight Scrub Resources Reserve
*Inskip Peninsula Recreation Area
Kalpowar State Forest
Mount Walsh National Park
*Noosa River (Great Sandy National Park)
Tuan State Forest
Wongi State Forest
*Woody Island (Great Sandy National Park)

West of Brisbane
Benarkin State Forest
*Bunya Mountains National Park
Crows Nest National Park
Dunmore and other western Downs areas
*Girraween National Park
*Glen Rock Park
Goomburra Forest Reserve
*Jimna State Forest
*Kenilworth State Forest (Conondale)
*Main Range National Park
*Mapleton Forest Reserve
*Moogerah Peaks (Mt French) National Park
*Mount Barney National Park
*Sundown National Park

Around Brisbane
*Beerburrum / Beerwah State Forests
*Bribie Island Recreation Area
*Brisbane Forest Park
*Lamington National Park
*Main Range Remote Bushwalking
Moreton Island National Park
*Mount Mee State Forest
*Springbrook National Park

Col

Not that keen. Copy and paste is your friend. Pity the EPA (with this pathetic idea of prebooking) isnt!
Col

Hi Peter

I was talking to one of the National Parks Rangers at the Tewantin Office just
near the vehicle ferry on the way to Teewah Beach, he said they were still
happy to issue permits, before you hit the beach, and camp on the beach
further up, you only have to book for the Fresh Water Camp site.

I know their are many National Parks but I think they will be a bit flexible
re: the permits. all they might do is reduce the areas where you might camp.

Cheers
Daza

well from what I'm reading it really is becoming a sad world!. If what i have read is correct it seems to destroy one of the most enjoyable things about travelling, arriving when and where you want. having to stick to a set timetable is to much like work. if i turned up to a full camp site, fine i'll move on. We are about to travel for a full year so i think working out each day might be just a little silly.
We were told we couldn't tow our boat into lawn hill as it would take up to much space(in april!!), went in anyway, suprise suprise the place was empty and the ranger said nothing!. i suppose he could have called the cops! :). well that my rant.