Camping in Southern Queensland Country

Southern Queensland Country is the high country west of Brisbane, from Toowoomba on the crest of the range down to the granite boulders of the Granite Belt, with the South Burnett to the north. It is cooler than most of Queensland: Stanthorpe holds the state's lowest recorded temperature, -10.6°C, from 1961.

Where is the best place to camp in Southern Queensland Country?

In Toowoomba, holiday parks such as BIG4 Toowoomba Holiday Park are the town bases. For the Granite Belt, Stanthorpe has caravan parks, and in Girraween National Park, the Castle Rock Camping Area has about 40 sites. For the rainforest, Main Range National Park has camps at Goomburra, and Dandabah Campground is in the Bunya Mountains. Out west, Lake Coolmunda, Goondiwindi and Tara have parks on the water.

What is there to do in Southern Queensland Country with kids?

In Toowoomba, the Garden City, Queens Park has Japanese Gardens, the Cobb & Co Museum holds Australia's largest collection of horse-drawn vehicles, and Picnic Point has lookout walks along the escarpment; the Carnival of Flowers is each September. In Nanango, the South Burnett Energy Centre is close to the parks, and the 88 km Kingaroy-Kilkivan Rail Trail passes through Murgon. Lake Coolmunda is used for water skiing, canoeing and fishing, and in Goondiwindi, on the Macintyre River at the border, the Customs House Museum is in town.

• Customs House Museum – Museums and history, Goondiwindi. Closest campground: Rivergums Caravan Park, under 1 km
• Das Neumann Haus – Museums and history, Laidley. Closest campground: Lake Dyer Caravan & Camping Ground, 2 km
• Laidley Pioneer Village and Museum – Museums and history, Laidley. Closest campground: Lake Dyer Caravan & Camping Ground, 2 km
• Queensland Transport Museum – Museums and history, Gatton. Closest campground: Gatton Caravan Park, 2 km
• Folk Museum – Museums and history, Wandoan. Closest campground: Juandah Historic Site Camping, under 1 km
• Miles Historical Village – Museums and history, Miles. Closest campground: Miles Crossroads Caravan Park, under 1 km
• Pioneer Park Museum – Museums and history, Dalby. Closest campground: Pioner Village Caravan Park, under 1 km
• South Burnett Energy Centre – Museums and history, Nanango. Closest campground: Nanango RV Park, under 1 km
• Tara and District Historical Museum – Museums and history, Tara. Closest campground: Tara Lagoon Parklands (3 loc), under 1 km
• Wondai Heritage Museum – Museums and history, Wondai. Closest campground: Wondai Free Camp, under 1 km
• Slab Hut Museum – Museums and history, Cecil Plains. Closest campground: Cecil Plains Rural Retreat Caravan Park, under 1 km
• Millmerran Museum – Museums and history, Millmerran. Closest campground: Millmerran Caravan Park, under 1 km
• The Old Nab – Museums and history, Jandowae. Closest campground: AAOK Jandowae Accommodation Park, under 1 km
• Warwick Museum Complex – Museums and history, Warwick. Closest campground: BIG4 Freedom Lifestyle Holiday Park Warwick, 1 km
• Yarraman Heritage Museum – Museums and history, Yarraman. Closest campground: Yarraman Caravan Park, 1 km
• Carbethon Museum – Museums and history, Crows Nest. Closest campground: Self-contained Sites, 2 km
• Cobb & Co Museum – Museums and history, East Toowoomba. Closest campground: Jolly Swagman Accommodation Park, 2 km
• DownSteam Toowoomba – Museums and history, Drayton. Closest campground: BIG4 Toowoomba Holiday Park, 2 km
• Jandowae Swimming Pool – Swimming, Jandowae. Closest campground: AAOK Jandowae Accommodation Park, under 1 km
• Cecil Plains Aquatic Centre – Swimming, Cecil Plains. Closest campground: Cecil Plains Rural Retreat Caravan Park, under 1 km
• Tara Swimming Complex – Swimming, Tara. Closest campground: Tara Lagoon Parklands (3 loc), under 1 km

What are the best walks and waterfalls in Southern Queensland Country?

At Girraween, the Dr Roberts Waterhole track is 600 m return, Sphinx Rock is 1.5 km and the Pyramids track is an easy 2.8 km, and wombats and red-necked wallabies live in the park. Main Range protects the largest area of rainforest in South East Queensland, part of the Gondwana Rainforests World Heritage area, and Queen Mary Falls is near its southern end.

• Queen Mary Falls – Waterfall. Closest campground: Queen Mary Falls Caravan Park, under 1 km
• walk to Castle Rock – Walk, Girraween National Park. Closest campground: Castle Rock Camping Area, 1 km
• The Pyramids walking track – Walk, Girraween National Park. Closest campground: Castle Rock Camping Area, 2 km
• Mt Kiangarow Lookout – Lookout. Closest campground: Burton's Well Camp Area, under 1 km
• Festoon Falls – Waterfall. Closest campground: Dandabah Campground, under 1 km
• Tim Shea Falls – Waterfall. Closest campground: Dandabah Campground, under 1 km
• Paradise Falls – Waterfall. Closest campground: Westcott Camp Area, 1 km
• Little falls – Waterfall. Closest campground: Westcott Camp Area, 1 km
• Brown Falls – Waterfall. Closest campground: Queen Mary Falls Caravan Park, 2 km
• Split Rock Falls – Waterfall. Closest campground: Glenlyon Dam Tourist Park, 15 km
• walk to Sphinx Rock – Walk, Girraween National Park. Closest campground: Castle Rock Camping Area, 3 km
• walk to Mount Norman – Walk, Girraween National Park. Closest campground: Castle Rock Camping Area, 4 km
• Bridle Trail – Walk, Picnic Point, Toowoomba. Closest campground: Jolly Swagman Accommodation Park, 5 km
• Dr Roberts Waterhole track – Swimming spot, Girraween National Park. Closest campground: Castle Rock Camping Area, 4 km
• Cliff Lookout – Lookout. Closest campground: Queen Mary Falls Caravan Park, under 1 km
• Boondooma Dam – Lookout. Closest campground: Boondooma Dam, under 1 km
• Koondaii Lookout – Lookout. Closest campground: Westcott Camp Area, under 1 km
• Mount Mowbullan – Lookout. Closest campground: Dandabah Campground, 1 km
• Mt Marlay Scenic Lookout – Lookout. Closest campground: Top Of The Town Tourist Park, 1 km

When is the best time to go camping in Southern Queensland Country?

Spring, from August to November, is wildflower season at Girraween. The Granite Belt and Toowoomba get cold in winter, with frost and the odd snowfall, so pack warm.

Do you need to book campsites in Southern Queensland Country?

Girraween and Main Range camps are booked through the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service.

Are there powered sites in Southern Queensland Country?

Yes. 29 campgrounds here have powered sites confirmed, including Crows Nest Tourist Park, Barambah Bush Caravan & Camping Park and Boondooma Dam. For the rest we are still confirming, so check with the park or holiday park before you book a powered site.

How far is Stanthorpe from Brisbane?

Stanthorpe is about 217 km south-west of Brisbane via Warwick, and Girraween National Park about 40 km further south. Toowoomba is about 132 km west of Brisbane, Main Range National Park about 85 km south-west, and Goondiwindi about 353 km.

Facts from Wikipedia, "Toowoomba" (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikipedia, "Stanthorpe, Queensland" (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikipedia, "Girraween National Park" (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikipedia, "Main Range National Park" (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikipedia, "Murgon, Queensland" (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikipedia, "Inglewood, Queensland" (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikipedia, "Goondiwindi" (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Map of campgrounds in Southern Queensland Country

67 campgrounds

• Crows Nest Tourist Park — Crows Nest, QLD. bbq, camp kitchen, caravan sites, drinking water, dump point, laundry, powered sites, showers, tent sites, toilets, wifi
• Barambah Bush Caravan & Camping Park — Murgon, QLD. campfires allowed, caravan sites, drinking water, dump point, pets allowed, powered sites, showers, tent sites, toilets
• Wondai Free Camp — Wondai, QLD. caravan sites, drinking water, dump point, showers, tent sites, toilets, wheelchair accessible
• Boondooma Dam — Okeden, QLD. caravan sites, laundry, powered sites, showers, tent sites, toilets
• Condamine River Caravan Park — Condamine, QLD. caravan sites, laundry, powered sites, showers, tent sites, toilets
• Leyburn Reserve Campground — Leyburn, QLD. caravan sites, dump point, powered sites, showers, tent sites, toilets
• Murgon Free Camp — Murgon, QLD. caravan sites, drinking water, dump point, showers, tent sites, toilets
• Proston Caravan Park - Key & payt at Proston Rural Supplies — Proston, QLD. caravan sites, laundry, powered sites, showers, tent sites, toilets
• Tara Lagoon Parklands (3 loc) — Tara, QLD. caravan sites, dump point, powered sites, showers, tent sites, toilets
• Tara Lagoon Parklands (3 loc) — Tara, QLD. caravan sites, dump point, powered sites, showers, tent sites, toilets
• Tara Lagoon Parklands (3 loc) — Tara, QLD. caravan sites, dump point, powered sites, showers, tent sites, toilets
• AAOK Jandowae Accommodation Park — Jandowae, QLD. camp kitchen, caravan sites, laundry, powered sites, tent sites
• Jolly Swagman Accommodation Park — East Toowoomba, QLD. drinking water, dump point, powered sites, tent sites, wifi
• Juandah Historic Site Camping — Wandoan, QLD. caravan sites, powered sites, showers, tent sites, toilets
• Possum Park — Kowguran, QLD. caravan sites, powered sites, showers, tent sites, toilets
• Twin Gums Caravan Park — Nanango, QLD. drinking water, powered sites, tent sites, toilets, wheelchair accessible
• Yarraman Caravan Park — Yarraman, QLD. drinking water, dump point, powered sites, toilets, wifi
• Chinchilla Weir — Chinchilla, QLD. caravan sites, powered sites, tent sites, toilets
• Nanango RV Park — Nanango, QLD. dump point, powered sites, tent sites, wheelchair accessible
• Top Of The Town Tourist Park — Stanthorpe, QLD. dump point, powered sites, tent sites, wifi
• Waterloo Plains Environmental Park — Wandoan, QLD. caravan sites, showers, tent sites, toilets
• BIG4 Freedom Lifestyle Holiday Park Warwick — Warwick, QLD. drinking water, powered sites, toilets
• Harland Park — Gilla, QLD. caravan sites, tent sites, toilets
• Passmore Reserve Campground — Ellangowan, QLD. campfires allowed, caravan sites, tent sites
• Toowoomba Caravan Park — Kearneys Spring, QLD. dump point, powered sites, wifi
• Toowoomba Showgrounds Caravan Park — Glenvale, QLD. caravan sites, pets allowed, showers
• Broadwater Recreational Reserve — Sandy Ridges, QLD. caravan sites, tent sites
• Castle Rock Camping Area — Girraween, QLD. caravan sites, tent sites
• Cecil Plains Rural Retreat Caravan Park — Cecil Plains, QLD. dump point, powered sites
• Gatton Caravan Park — Gatton, QLD. drinking water, powered sites
• Glenlyon Dam Tourist Park — Glenlyon, QLD. powered sites, tent sites
• Homestead Caravan Park — Nanango, QLD. drinking water, powered sites
• Killarney View Cabins & Caravan Park — Killarney, QLD. dump point, powered sites
• Lake Coolmunda Caravan Park — Coolmunda, QLD. powered sites, tent sites
• Lake Dyer Caravan & Camping Ground — Laidley Heights, QLD. caravan sites, tent sites
• Proston Free Campground — Proston, QLD. caravan sites, tent sites
• Southern Border Accommodation Park — Texas, QLD. powered sites, tent sites
• Stanthorpe Holiday Park — Severnlea, QLD. powered sites, tent sites
• Tenthill Caravan Park & Store — Upper Tenthill, QLD. drinking water, powered sites
• BIG4 Goondiwindi Holiday Park — Goondiwindi, QLD. wheelchair accessible
• Country Style Holiday Park — Glen Aplin, QLD. tent sites
• Gordon Country — Goomburra, QLD. campfires allowed
• Moonie Rest Area — Moonie, QLD. toilets
• Westcott Camp Area — Bunya Mountains, QLD. tent sites
• BIG4 Toowoomba Holiday Park — Harristown, QLD
• Burton's Well Camp Area — Bunya Mountains, QLD
• Dandabah Campground — Bunya Mountains, QLD
• Dogwood Creek Camping Area — Barakula, QLD
• Goondiwindi Top Tourist Park — Goondiwindi, QLD
• Heifer Creek — Fordsdale, QLD
• Koojarewon Lutheran Camp — Highfields, QLD
• Lake Boondooma — Okeden, QLD
• Lake Coolamunda Camping Area — Coolmunda, QLD
• Manna Gum camping area Main Range NP — Goomburra, QLD
• Miles Crossroads Caravan Park — Miles, QLD
• Millmerran Caravan Park — Millmerran, QLD
• Nanango Caravan and Motorhome Park — South Nanango, QLD
• Pioner Village Caravan Park — Dalby, QLD
• Poplar Flat camping area Main Range NP — Goomburra, QLD
• Queen Mary Falls Caravan Park — The Falls, QLD
• Rivergums Caravan Park — Goondiwindi, QLD
• Self-contained Sites — Crows Nest, QLD
• Spur-H Caravan Park — Inglewood, QLD
• Stuart River Rest Area — Wilkesdale, QLD
• Swinging Bridge Park — Cooyar, QLD
• The Village Caravan Park — Millmerran, QLD
• Wirraglen Scout Camp — Kleinton, QLD

Region boundary: ABS ASGS Edition 3 Tourism Regions 2021 (Tourism Research Australia), CC BY 4.0.