Inland QLD has a number of the nation’s most gorgeous waterfront tenting beside its many lakes, rivers, creeks, dams and weirs. Listed here are 5 of the very best to flee the coastal crowds and get your toes moist with out changing into shark bait.
1. Lake Corella (AKA Corella Dam)
Roughly halfway between Mt Isa and Cloncurry in QLD is Lake Corella and it’s merely good for a spot of tenting. Take a sneaky little flip off the freeway to the south, via an unlocked gate, down a brief, unsealed highway and the water opens up. The Clem Walton Dam was inbuilt 1959 to offer water to the Mary Kathleen uranium mining township. Which, by the way in which, is a superb stopover – Google it.
This one is huge. Your 36-foot, fifth-wheeler can get in right here. There are heaps of campsites proper on the waterfront, and much more scattered among the many bushes. For those who’re after photo voltaic you received’t have bother discovering any within the open both. Some folks make this a long-term ‘residence’, and it doesn’t value a cracker.
There are not any amenities, together with dump factors, so it’s possible you’ll have to journey a bit for that selection job should you keep a couple of days. The water from the lake is fairly good high quality. Lots of people get closely into red-clawing, and tinnies are fairly simple to launch from the sting. Numerous canoes get a good exercise out too. Fires are permitted, however wooden is scarce. For me, it’s a pleasant tenting spot in QLD for a dose of quiet lake bliss.
2. Lake Elphinstone
Elphinstone lake is about 90km west of Mackay in QLD and is well accessed immediately off a sealed highway for a spot of tenting.
There’s a lengthy stretch of absolute waterfront lake websites for tenting, and much more simply again just a little and up the slope at this high spot in QLD. Tenting is unstructured, and when it’s busy, be ready for somebody to squeeze in subsequent to you and even in entrance of you. Not all of the websites are dead-level, however they’re fairly good. The lake could be very in style with miners and their households, and it could get busy in peak instances (for instance, college holidays).
All the same old water actions are taken up right here, notably canoeing and putt-putting round in tinnies. However typically, the native lads carry their toys down, and the actions flip to energy boating and water snowboarding. There goes the atmosphere.
There’s a comparatively new facilities block comprising bathrooms and chilly showers and for provides, Glenden is 25 kilometres away. For me, this lake aspect tenting spot in QLD has longer-term potentialities.
3. Baralaba Weir (AKA Neville Hewitt Weir)
Sneakily working behind the hospital at Baralaba is a slim highway that heads all the way down to a pleasant little tenting space on the Dawson River in QLD. It’s a fairly spot on a slim stretch of river (no main expanses of water), with the primary semi-structured tenting areas positioned round a central grassed space.
These principal spots across the grass are fairly in style. I’ve even heard of individuals ready as much as three days to get their ‘favorite’ web site. “Properly, I come right here yearly, and that’s the place I camp.” Every to their very own.
You might most likely match a dozen caravans across the grassed space and perhaps one other 12 to fifteen scattered via the bushes just a little additional again. Almost all websites are again from the river and look down on the water; meaning it’s a must to stroll a brief distance to take a peek. However it’s fairly picturesque with tall bushes, grassy spots, barbecues, some picnic tables, a ship ramp, and bathrooms. The recent showers will value you one greenback. It’s near city, which has bought a small grocery store and a pub – the meals aren’t too unhealthy both.
For me, really helpful as an overnighter or for a few nights.
4. Julia Creek
Julia Creek is on the Flinders Freeway between Cloncurry and Richmond in QLD. Simply to the east of the city, on the creek, is a tidy little campsite managed by the native administration.
This one’s just a little completely different, although. It’s compact and a bit like a decorative pool. The creek is just about 15m huge and perhaps 70m lengthy. It’s properly grassed as much as the water with small quantities of shade. Areas are restricted and beneath the management of a pleasant on-site host. This construction works fairly effectively, because it cuts out any jostling for place or overcrowding.
The host additionally supplies fascinating details about the realm and what to do you probably have some spare time, they usually drum up a cheerful hour. There are not any amenities, and I definitely wouldn’t belief the water to drink. That is positively a “sitting-only” stopover. For me, an overnighter. The utmost size of keep right here is 96 hours.
5. O’Briens Creek
About 33km north of Mount Shock (on the Gulf Improvement Highway, 230km east of Croydon) is the O’Briens Creek Gemfield. Right here is the place you’ll discover the O’Briens Creek waterfront tenting space. The highway in is unsealed and maybe just a little tough in locations, however definitely not troublesome.
That is fairly a horny space with tall bushes and plenty of flat house. It’s preferrred for every type of rigs, simply mooch round and decide a spot you want. The creek is definitely fenced off from the tenting space to maintain the cattle out, however there are many gates, and it’s solely a brief stroll to the water. It’s extra of a trickling brook than a raging torrent, however fairly fairly and enjoyable. It’s a spot to get your toes moist and absorb the bush.
However in fact, should you’re a fossicker, and plenty of do camp for lengthy durations, it’s an incredible place to arrange a base whilst you make your fortune. There are showers and bathrooms, however no provides. Calm down for an evening or two – except the gem fields name.
Extra info
To my data, there is no such thing as a definitive information to waterfront tenting in Queensland. It’s a matter of ferreting about and performing some analysis. Camps Australia Extensive (pictured under) is a unbelievable useful resource for these searching for out these campsite gems!
Phrases and pictures Greg Cartan.
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