Outback Central West and Gulf Country, Qld

see also:

• helpful travel links and information - Australia
• camping in Queensland
• camping in Australia in Winter
• my blog post on travel tips to the wet tropics
• tropical north Queensland
• Whitsundays, Mackay and Townsville region
• Capricorn region of Queensland - Bundaberg - Rockhampton
• brisbane
• Sunshine Coast - Fraser Island / K'gari region
• Gold Coast and hinterland region
• Darling Downs Qld
• Queensland travel tips
• New South Wales travel
• Northern Territory - Alice Springs and the Macdonnell Ranges
• Victoria

• this is the western half of Queensland and includes part of the Simpson Desert, Longreach, Winton, Mount Isa, Cloncurry, and the south end of the Gulf of Carpentaria which includes Karumba and Normanton

• Canarvon Gorge
  • 20 million-year-old sandstone cliffs, 2000-year-old Indigenous carvings, ochre stencils and hand paintings
  • Canarvon Gorge camp ground (Carnarvon Gorge visitor area) is only open on school holidays (Easter, June/July and September/October) and is 6km unsealed road to park entrance, camping permits are required and fees apply
  • Big Bend hike in camping area wit drop toilet is open all year around but is a 19.4km return walk from your car at the visitor's centre; can’t swim in the creek here; max 10 campers per night and you need to book it;
  • Ka Ka Mundi bush camp 4WD access only;
  • Bunbuncundoo Springs (Ka Ka Mundi) camping area 4WD ?AWD only and only in dry weather, peaceful camping area beside Bunbuncundoo Springs, flanked by coloured sandstone cliffs. bookings required.
  • Mt Moffatt areas camping
  • [[https://parks.desi.qld.gov.au/parks/carnarvon-salvator-rosa/camping|Salvator Rosa section] camping] camp on the broad sandy bank of the Nogoa River
• Blackdown Tablelands National Park
  • lovely area
  • rainbow falls (Gudda Gumoo) track is the hike with rock pools and watering holes
  • camp at Dingo and drive up
  • can also camp at Munall campground but the climb up the hill and camp is not suitable for vans
  • need to stay at least 2-3 nights to do all the walks
• Julia Creek Caravan Park
  • between Townsville and Mount Isa
  • six baths directly connected to the warm waters of the Great Artesian Basin
• Fountain Springs Rest Area, Cloncurry Area
  • beauty of a permanent deep waterhole with plenty of wildlife to spot; free camp
• Dawson River, Theodore
  • The towns 1950’s tropical feel; free camp;
• Fisherman’s Rest, Mitchell
  • bush camping spot only 5 kilometres from the town Mitchell, nestled along the shady banks of the Maranoa River. Great for fishing or kayaks;
• Cooper Creek, Windorah
  • Burke and Wills camp area on a river bank? free bush camp
  • Windorah’s International Yabby Races
• Stubby Bend, Barcoo River, Tambo
  • free camp, short walk from here to Tambo’s Coolibah Walk and to town for pub meal
• Lloyd Jones Weir, Barcaldine
  • spacious and secluded free camp with bird life; 14km south-west of Barcaldine; annual Barcaldine Tree of Knowledge Festival.
  • can be busy in peak periods
• Mary Kathleen, Cloncurry
  • the ghost town of Mary Kathleen located between Mount Isa and Cloncurry, the remaining concrete slabs from the abandoned uranium mining town make this a great spot for caravans. free camp;
  • eerie uranium mine
• Clem Walton Park, Cloncurry
  • free bush camp on a lake; food trucks make a regular appearance here

• camping is mainly at bush camps but some with amenities are named below

• Bough Shed Hole camp area

• Lawn Hill Gorge camping area

• Gum Hole camping area
• Hunters Gorge camping area

• Four Mile Waterhole camping area

• the largest NP in Qld and part of the Simpson Desert and Poeppel Corner of the 3 states
• 50m high sand dunes which run for 200km
• closed in summer due to very high temperatures

• Pyramid campground

• Little Boomerange Waterhole camping area

• Adels Grove
• Apex Riverside Park Longreach
• Barcoo Weir
• Birdsville Caravan Park (need to book 6 months ahead!) - 50 powered sites
• Burke and Wills Roadhouse - 12 powered sites
• Cameron Corner camping area
• Charlotte Plains
• Dajarra campground
• Dig Tree camping area
• Fishermans Rest camping area
• Jericho showground camping area
• Major Mitchell campground 45km N of Mitchell
• Neil Turner Weir camping area
• Oma Waterhole camping area
• Opalton Field camping area
• Redbank Park camping area
• Wallam Creek camping area
• Wilson River Reserve camping area