Townsville Camping

Hi SDG,

Not sure where you are starting from but if you are coming from north of Townsville there is a nice free camping spot right on the beach at Balgal (turn off the Bruce Highway just south of Rollongstone and its about 5km to beach). Always very popular and may need to wait to get a site there but there is a limit and council does check on overstayers.

Also about 8km south of Marlborough is the Waverley free camp. When we were there in August they were still upgrading it with a new toilet block and even showers I think. It should be close to being finished now. All bitumin roads and nicely landscaped.

Cheers

Hi SDG
I don't think they have a ranger there anymore, which may be the reason for no vans/campers
Nice little spot here 40 minutes north of Townsville if you are travelling that side.
Bushy Parker Park on the river at Rollingstone, toilets and cold outside showers but a vey nice spot with plenty of water for a dip
Cheers Ray (Balgal Beach)

Yes it is Alligator Creek and yes it used to be nice to camp before NP's spoiled it. For day use it is still worthwhile, but camping??? We stayed there in late July. When it says no vans - it means no vans. We got wedged half way around the loop trying to get out of the place. It is all timber bollards everywhere and the only thing that now fits is a tent or a small camper. Even Camper trailers don't fit if they open out sideways. Had a nightmare experience because we didn't know of the new rules and it was nearing dark so we couldn't go on anyway. I spent about 20 minutes on a Satellite Phone at great expense organising a camp feeas there is no longer an honesty box. We managed to reverse in to a side car park but were told that we couldn't stay by a real person on the other end of the phone. We were also told that they were heavily booked and that there were only 5 spots left. In fact there were only 5 sites taken and about 16 free. Another case of booking sites simply doesn't work. Very disappointing as it used to be a special camp for us. It was not cheap either this time. The whole camp is now a fire hazard in my opinion because of the set up. Another warning - there is a sign as you enter the park to say that the outer gate is locked at night!! There are some lovely spots north of Townsville as mentioned in the following posts.

cheers, nomads

Thanks for the replies.
Coming in from the west, will need to research a bit more. Thought I had this spot all planned out, until today. Lucky I did not just rely on my "knowledge" and show up.

There used to be a park/camp area just off the Woodstock - Giru Rd. or Link Rd., not far from where it comes out onto the Bruce Highway. It wasn't a free-camp but from memory, a very pleasant spot. It'd be more than 20 years since I've been there so things may have changed……..

Hi, If yor're coming from the west & need room for the kids to run the free camp at Macrossan on the Burdekin would be good.On the coast north of T'ville Bushy Parker is good as are the beaches but these can be a bit cramped. South of T'ville there are no free camps that I know of on the west side of the highway. On the eastern side there are a few spots but only good if you are into fishing & you like mosquitos. South of Home Hill there is the "Funny Dunny". No swimming naturally but plenty of room to roam & explore. Bill