Far North Queensland's Most Unconventional Campgrounds
Looking for something a bit different to the typical, run-of-the-mill caravan park? Far North Queensland offers a number of unique caravan-friendly campgrounds for visitors looking to experience the variable natural beauty this region has to offer. From World Heritage-listed beachfront locations to lava tubes in the outback, these campgrounds have a range of amenities and activities to suit every type of traveller, all with an interesting twist. Whether you're looking to relax and unwind, have a family-friendly getaway or explore the local wilderness, this area has something to offer for everyone.
Mareeba Drive-In Theatre
For a good dose of nostalgia, you can’t go past the Mareeba Drive-In Theatre situated on the Atherton Tablelands. Founded in 1962 and recently taken over by new management who are bringing it back up to its previous glory, this charming outdoor theatre plays new and old movies almost every weekend throughout the year. While not a formal campground, they allow patrons to stay overnight in the facility once the movies for the night have finished, free of charge.
You’re not allowed to cook outdoors on the premises; however, the onsite cafe offers tasty food at a reasonable price. The cafe is what keeps the drive-in viable, so management encourages visitors to purchase their meals there. Overall, it’s a fun and affordable night out, made all the more convenient by being able to go straight to bed once the final credits roll.
STATS:
- Address: 5303 Kennedy Hwy, Mareeba
- 60 minutes from Cairns
- Unpowered only
- Pet-friendly
- Amenities: toilets and cafe
Granite Gorge Nature Park
Granite Gorge Nature Park is a local favourite in the Atherton Tablelands, just out of town from Mareeba. The campground is set on the edge of a beautiful granite rock gorge, which offers scenic walks of varying difficulty, as well as numerous swimming spots (the weir near the campground is the most idyllic). However, the main attraction is the local colony of adorable Mareeba rock-wallabies, which you can hand feed with food provided by the park. Other animals you can interact with are turtles, a collection of domesticated birds and more. While the park offers day visits, the campground’s lovely bush setting is so inviting, and staying overnight means you can be there at dawn and dusk, which is when you’re most likely to have an encounter with the wallabies. Plus, you’ll only be a short drive from the many attractions that the Atherton Tablelands has to offer.
STATS:
- Address: 332 Paglietta Rd, Arriga
- 80 minutes from Cairns, 15 minutes from Mareeba
- Powered and unpowered sites
- Pet-friendly
- Amenities: toilets and showers, laundry, camp kitchen, swimming holes
Paronella Park
Paronella Park is a place like no other founded by a man like no other. José Paronella, an eccentric and driven man originally from Catalonia, came to Innisfail in 1913 with a dream to build a castle for his fiancée, who was still in Catalonia. Although things didn’t necessarily go to plan, he married and brought his new bride back with him to Australia, where they set about building Paronella Park. The park quickly became a popular recreation ground for the local public; in its heyday, it had a theatre, dance hall, tea garden, swimming facilities and more. The Paronellas even built North Queensland’s first hydroelectric system to power it all. While the original buildings have lost some of their old glory as the rainforest attempts to slowly reclaim them, the new owners have worked hard to restore and preserve what’s left of the park, and today it is one of North Queensland’s most popular tourist attractions. The entry fee includes a day tour, where you learn more about the fascinating history of the park; a night tour, which includes a dazzling light show and one night’s powered camping among the lush rainforest; and unlimited entry for two years.
STATS:
- Address: 1671 Innisfail Japoon Rd, Mena Creek
- 1.5 hours from Cairns
- Powered and unpowered sites
- Pet-friendly (there is a kennel available when touring the park itself)
- Amenities: toilets and showers, barbecues, cafe, gift shop, pub restaurant next door
Etty Bay Caravan Park
At first glance, Etty Bay Caravan Park seems like your standard beachside caravan park, which it is, apart from one small — or not so small — detail. When you arrive, you check in at the office and get directions to your assigned spot. Just as you’re putting out the awning and getting ready for that first post-setup beverage, a bit of movement in the surrounding forest catches your eye. You look up and see a large, prehistoric-looking bird coming your way. No, you haven’t accidentally booked into Jurassic Park! Etty Bay is most known for its local population of cassowaries; in fact, this stretch of coastline is known as the ‘Cassowary Coast’. These colourful flightless, often elusive, birds are native to the tropical forests of Australia and Papua New Guinea, and while their numbers are unfortunately declining due to habitat loss, a sighting during a stay at Etty Bay is almost guaranteed. Besides close encounters with this unique animal, the caravan park offers beautiful beachside camping and makes a great base for exploring other highlights of the region such as Josephine Falls and Babinda Boulders.
STATS:
- Address: 332 Paglietta Rd, Arriga
- 80 minutes from Cairns, 15 minutes from Mareeba
- Powered and unpowered sites
- Pet-friendly
- Amenities: toilets and showers, laundry, camp kitchen, swimming holes
Innot Hot Springs Leisure Park
Europeans first discovered Innot Hot Springs in the 1870s when they learned from the local Mamu people of the apparent healing properties of the springs due to their high mineral content. It became a popular cure-all among settlers and was purported to heal anything from arthritis to skin conditions to respiratory issues. At one point, the water was even bottled and sent back to Europe as a health tonic. Today, the Innot Hot Springs Leisure Park has created an assortment of pools of varying temperatures, all fed by the natural springs running alongside the park. Guests can choose their preferred temperature in which to soak; the pools range from a cold pool at 20–25 degrees celsius to a hot pool at 43–45 degrees celsius. There’s even an adults-only section for a more relaxing ambiance. You can still visit the original springs next to the caravan park for a more natural and rustic experience but be aware the pools here can literally be nearly boiling. Day visit passes are available, but why not spend the night so you can sneak off for an early morning dip and likely have a pool to enjoy all to yourself? That sounds like pure bliss to us!
STATS:
- Address: Kennedy Hwy, Innot
- Approx. 2.5 hours from Cairns
- Powered and unpowered sites
- Pet-friendly
- Amenities: toilets and showers, laundry, camp kitchen, pool, breakfast bar, pub restaurant next door
Cape Trib Camping
One of the most noteworthy aspects of Cape Tribulation, located approximately 2.5 hours north of Cairns, is that it borders upon not one but two UNESCO World Heritage sites; thus, it is often referred to as “where the rainforest meets the reef”. The Daintree Rainforest, traditionally the land of the Kuku Yalanji people, is estimated to be more than 180 million years old and is home to a myriad of unique flora and fauna. Meanwhile, the Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef system at over 2300km long and houses a staggering number of marine species. While there are numerous picturesque camps throughout Cape Tribulation, Cape Trib Camping boasts the only beachfront caravan park in the area. It provides large, grassy sites nestled in the lush rainforest, with a pristine palm-lined white sand beach only steps away. This park definitely fits the definition of ‘getting away from it all’ — the only access point for caravans is via the Daintree Ferry, there is little to no reception at the campground and there are no nearby towns to quickly duck over to for supplies if needed. Nevertheless, you will find it difficult to run out of things to do here, from eco croc-spotting tours to trips out on the reef to tackling the scenic 4WD-only Bloomfield Track, there are so many options to meaningfully experience both of these precious ecosystems.
STATS:
- Address: 3812 Cape Tribulation Rd, Cape Tribulation
- 2.5 hours from Cairns
- Unpowered and powered sites
- No pets allowed
- Amenities: toilets and showers, laundry, camp kitchen, wood-fired pizzas and bar
- Note: the park will shut if the ferry is closed for repairs and for a short period around February/March for monsoon season
The Lions Den Hotel
Australia has its fair share of iconic pubs across the country, and The Lions Den Hotel certainly deserves a place on that list. It is often a starting or finishing point for those travelling through Cape York and Pajinka (the Tip), Australia’s northernmost point. As a result, there is a real adventurous spirit exuding from many of the patrons here. The energy in the pub most evenings is palpable, from those with bright eyes just starting their journey, to the weary, corrugations-rattled travellers with thrilling tales to tell. And if you have a bit too much fun during your time at the pub, your caravan can be a short walk — or stumble! — away in the provided campground. There’s even a croc-free swimming hole for a refreshing recovery dip on a hot day, which up there is most days. The pub also has a small museum, which details the interesting history of the pub and the region, that’s well worth a look.
STATS:
- Address: 398 Shiptons Flat Rd, Rossville
- 3.5 hours from Cairns, 20 minutes from Cooktown
- Powered and unpowered sites
- Pet-friendly (campground only, not the pub)
- Amenities: toilets and showers, pub restaurant, swimming hole
Undara Experience
According to the language of the Traditional Owners of the land around Undara (the Ewamian people), Undara translates to ‘long way’, and you will certainly feel like you’ve come a long way from the familiar lush landscape of Far North Queensland when you arrive. A typical outback Queensland terrain — think flat, dry, red — greets you, and while it may not seem like there’s much to see here, the real attraction lies underground. Undara boasts the longest lava tube from a single volcano in the world, which you can explore via three different tours on offer: the Archway Explorer, the Wind Tunnel Explorer and Wildlife at Sunset. The Archway Explorer is the most popular tour and takes you through a section of the lava tubes to admire the unique geology of three different arches, while the Wind Tunnel Explorer is a bit more rugged and may involve some scrambling over rocks as you traverse through the lava tubes. Lastly, the Wildlife at Sunset tour offers drinks and nibbles and close encounters with wildlife as you watch the thousands of microbats that have made the lava tubes their home leave for the evening. Book your tour(s) well ahead of time as they are very popular and will book out quickly, especially during peak periods such as school holidays. In addition, there are several bushwalking tracks that start at the facility, where you can get great views of the surrounding countryside and are likely to spot native animals such as wallabies, emus, monitor lizards and more.
STATS:
- Address: Undara Road, Mount Surprise
- 3.5 hours from Cairns
- Unpowered and powered sites
- No pets allowed
- Amenities: toilets and showers, laundry, camp kitchen, dump point, pool, restaurant and bar, convenience store
- Note: Camping shuts down during ‘Green Season’ for maintenance (usually November to March) but tours may still run during this time
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