Inland QLD has some of the country’s most stunning waterfront camping beside its many lakes, rivers, creeks, dams and weirs. Here are five of the best to escape the coastal crowds and get your feet wet without becoming shark bait.
Roughly midway between Mt Isa and Cloncurry in QLD is Lake Corella and it’s simply perfect for a spot of camping. Take a sneaky little turn off the highway to the south, through an unlocked gate, down a short, unsealed road and the water opens up. The Clem Walton Dam was built in 1959 to provide water to the Mary Kathleen uranium mining township. Which, by the way, is an excellent stopover – Google it.
This one is big. Your 36-foot, fifth-wheeler can get in here. There are heaps of campsites right on the waterfront, and even more scattered among the trees. If you’re after solar you won’t have trouble finding any in the open either. Some people make this a long-term ‘residence’, and it doesn’t cost a cracker.
There are no facilities, including dump points, so you may need to travel a bit for that choice job if you stay a few days. The water from the lake is pretty good quality. A lot of people get heavily into red-clawing, and tinnies are quite easy to launch from the edge. Lots of canoes get a fair workout out too. Fires are permitted, but wood is scarce. For me, it’s a nice camping spot in QLD for a dose of quiet lake bliss.
Elphinstone lake is about 90km west of Mackay in QLD and is easily accessed directly off a sealed road for a spot of camping.
There is a long stretch of absolute waterfront lake sites for camping, and even more just back a little and up the slope at this top spot in QLD. Camping is unstructured, and when it is busy, be prepared for someone to squeeze in next to you or even in front of you. Not all the sites are dead-level, but they’re pretty good. The lake is very popular with miners and their families, and it can get busy in peak times (for example, school holidays).
All the usual water activities are taken up here, notably canoeing and putt-putting around in tinnies. But sometimes, the local lads bring their toys down, and the activities turn to power boating and water skiing. There goes the ambience.
There is a relatively new amenities block comprising toilets and cold showers and for supplies, Glenden is 25 kilometres away. For me, this lake side camping spot in QLD has longer-term possibilities.
Sneakily running behind the hospital at Baralaba is a narrow road that heads down to a nice little camping area on the Dawson River in QLD. It’s a pretty spot on a narrow stretch of river (no major expanses of water), with the main semi-structured camping spaces positioned around a central grassed area.
These main spots around the grass are pretty popular. I’ve even heard of people waiting up to three days to get their ‘favourite’ site. “Well, I come here every year, and that’s where I camp.” Each to their own.
You could probably fit a dozen caravans around the grassed area and maybe another 12 to 15 scattered through the trees a little further back. Nearly all sites are back from the river and look down on the water; that means you have to walk a short distance to take a peek. But it is quite picturesque with tall trees, grassy spots, barbecues, some picnic tables, a boat ramp, and toilets. The hot showers will cost you one dollar. It’s close to town, which has got a small supermarket and a pub – the meals aren’t too bad either.
For me, recommended as an overnighter or for a couple of nights.
Julia Creek is on the Flinders Highway between Cloncurry and Richmond in QLD. Just to the east of the town, on the creek, is a tidy little campsite managed by the local administration.
This one’s a little different, though. It’s compact and a bit like an ornamental pool. The creek is only about 15m wide and maybe 70m long. It’s nicely grassed up to the water with small amounts of shade. Spaces are limited and under the control of a friendly on-site host. This structure works pretty well, as it cuts out any jostling for position or overcrowding.
The host also provides interesting information about the area and what to do if you have some spare time, and they drum up a happy hour. There are no facilities, and I certainly wouldn’t trust the water to drink. This is definitely a “sitting-only” stopover. For me, an overnighter. The maximum length of stay here is 96 hours.
About 33km north of Mount Surprise (on the Gulf Development Road, 230km east of Croydon) is the O’Briens Creek Gemfield. Here is where you’ll find the O’Briens Creek waterfront camping area. The road in is unsealed and perhaps a little rough in places, but certainly not difficult.
This is quite an attractive area with tall trees and lots of flat space. It is ideal for all types of rigs, just mooch around and pick a spot you like. The creek is actually fenced off from the camping area to keep the cattle out, but there are plenty of gates, and it’s only a short walk to the water. It’s more of a trickling brook than a raging torrent, but quite pretty and relaxing. It’s a place to get your feet wet and soak up the bush.
But of course, if you’re a fossicker, and many do camp for long periods, it’s a great place to set up a base while you make your fortune. There are showers and toilets, but no supplies. Relax for a night or two – unless the gem fields call.
To my knowledge, there is no definitive guide to waterfront camping in Queensland. It’s a matter of ferreting about and doing some research. Camps Australia Wide (pictured below) is a fantastic resource for those seeking out these campsite gems!
Words and images Greg Cartan.
