We drove across a narrow strip of dirt with Lake Nuga Nuga on either side and set up camp on an island. I’ve camped in plenty of National Parks around Queensland, and this is one of the more unusual ones I’ve stayed at.
Getting onto the island depends on conditions. We got lucky on our visit, but there’s also plenty of camping around the lake’s banks if the crossing is under water.
Lake Nuga Nuga was flat and ridiculously photogenic while we were there. A few other campers were about, but everyone had spread out. Our closest neighbour was well over 100 metres away. It’s the sort of place where you sit by the water for a good while, content with that being your plans for the entire afternoon.
Queensland Parks has recorded more than 150 bird species in the park and around the lake. Pelicans, black swans and brolgas are among the birds that turn up, and the waterlilies flower at certain times of year. You can enjoy all of that from camp even if, like plenty of us, you’d struggle to name half the birds you’re looking at.
If you’re camping with kids, this is definitely a camping destination where nature is the playground. We clambered up a small mountain on one side of the lake and the kids spent a good chunk of their time in a tree at camp. There are no formed walking tracks, so if you go exploring, you’ll need to wear sturdy shoes, be sensible and watch for prickly pear and other spiky plants.
The bush camp is about 216km north of Roma by road, with access via Arcadia Valley Access Road from the Injune or Rolleston side. It’s important to note that the Arcadia Valley Access Road is mostly gravel and is therefore dusty and corrugated in spots. The final seven kilometres into the park is unsealed.
Queensland Parks recommends a 4WD and lists the camping area as suitable for off-road camper trailers, caravans and motorhomes in dry weather. Rain can make the roads impassable, so check conditions before you tow in.
Camping is in an open area without numbered sites. Bring your own loo, drinking water and cooking gear, and take your rubbish home as there are zero facilities. There’s no mobile reception, and generators and pets aren’t permitted. You’ll need to book a camping permit and display your booking number at camp.
I’d happily go back and camp on the bank. The island made for a good story, but that flat stretch of water at sunset is what I’d go back for.
Park alert, 10 November 2026: Nuga Nuga National Park is closed after a fallen tree blocked the entrance. The alert covers 5-11 November, with the park reopening once rangers deem it safe. Check the current Queensland Parks alert before travelling.
