Camping in Tropical North Queensland

Tropical North Queensland is where the oldest rainforest in Australia runs down to the Great Barrier Reef, so a camping trip here can mean a reef boat in the morning and a crater lake in the afternoon. Cairns is the hub, with Port Douglas and the Daintree to the north, Mission Beach to the south and the Atherton Tableland up the range.

Where is the best place to camp in Tropical North Queensland?

It depends on what you want to wake up to. For beaches and the reef, stay around Cairns and its northern beaches, where Trinity Beach, Kewarra Beach and Palm Cove line the Captain Cook Highway, or go about 60 km further north to Port Douglas, where reef boats leave the marina every day. For rainforest, carry on past Mossman into the Daintree: at Cape Tribulation, Noah Beach Campground sits where the forest meets the sea. Mission Beach, south of Cairns, has 13 km of sand with rainforest behind it, and for lakes and waterfalls, the Atherton Tableland is a plateau about 50 km south-west of Cairns, with camping right on the shore at Lake Tinaroo.

What is there to do in Tropical North Queensland with kids?

Start with the Esplanade lagoon in Cairns, a public swimming pool on the waterfront with barbecues alongside. Up the range at Kuranda, Rainforestation and Kuranda Koala Gardens are close together, and near Port Douglas, Wildlife Habitat makes an easy morning out. At Mission Beach, look out for cassowaries in the rainforest and take a water taxi out to Dunk Island. Further afield, the James Cook Museum is in Cooktown, where Cook beached the Endeavour in 1770 for seven weeks of repairs, and in Karumba on the Gulf, the Barramundi Discovery Centre is a working hatchery you can visit.

• Australian Butterfly Sanctuary – Animals, Kuranda. Closest campground: Lake Placid Tourist Park, 7 km
• Birdworld Kuranda – Animals, Kuranda. Closest campground: Lake Placid Tourist Park, 7 km
• Kuranda Koala Gardens – Animals, Kuranda. Closest campground: Lake Placid Tourist Park, 7 km
• Hartley's Crocodile Adventures – Animals, Wangetti. Closest campground: Buchan Point 2, 13 km
• James Cook Museum – Museums and history, Cooktown. Closest campground: Cooktown Orchid Caravan Park, under 1 km
• Hou Wang Temple – Museums and history, Atherton. Closest campground: BIG 4 NRMA Atherton Tablelands Holiday Park, under 1 km
• Port Douglas Court House Museum – Museums and history, Port Douglas. Closest campground: Tropic Breeze Caravan Park, 1 km
• Historic Village Herberton – Museums and history, Herberton. Closest campground: BIG 4 NRMA Atherton Tablelands Holiday Park, 14 km
• Daintree Wild Zoo – Animals, Wonga Beach. Closest campground: Daintree Beach Resort, 2 km
• Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas – Animals, Port Douglas. Closest campground: BIG 4 Port Douglas Glengarry Holiday Park, 3 km
• Rainforestation Nature Park – Animals, Kuranda. Closest campground: Lake Placid Tourist Park, 6 km
• Girringun Museum – Museums and history, Cardwell. Closest campground: Cardwell Beachcomber Motel & Tourist Park, under 1 km
• Mareeba Heritage Museum – Museums and history, Mareeba. Closest campground: Riverside Caravan Park, 1 km
• War Museum – Museums and history, Mareeba. Closest campground: Ringers Rest RV Park, 3 km
• Daintree Entomological Museum – Museums and history, Diwan. Closest campground: Noah Beach Campground, 6 km
• Discovery Theatre – Museums and history, Cow Bay. Closest campground: Daintree Beach Resort, 10 km
• Herberton Mining Museum – Museums and history, Herberton. Closest campground: BIG 4 NRMA Atherton Tablelands Holiday Park, 14 km
• Splash N' Dunk – Swimming, Wongaling Beach. Closest campground: Bali Hai Holiday Park, 1 km
• SugarWorld – Swimming, Edmonton. Closest campground: Barrier Reef Caravilla, 2 km
• Paradise Palms Mini Golf – Play, Kewarra Beach. Closest campground: Palm Cove Caravan Park & Campground, 5 km
• Rainforest Mini Golf (Kuranda Original Rainforest Market) – Play, Kuranda. Closest campground: Lake Placid Tourist Park, 7 km
• The Australian Armour & Artillery Museum – Museums and history, Smithfield. Closest campground: Lake Placid Tourist Park, 3 km
• Cairns Museum – Museums and history, Cairns City. Closest campground: Cairns Sunland Leisure Park, 4 km
• Cairns Art Gallery – Museums and history, Cairns City. Closest campground: Cairns Sunland Leisure Park, 4 km
• Mission Beach Aquatic Centre – Swimming, Mission Beach. Closest campground: Mission Beach Hideaway Holiday Village, 2 km

What are the best walks and waterfalls in Tropical North Queensland?

Mossman Gorge, about 21 km from Port Douglas, has walking trails and swimming holes in the rainforest. On the Atherton Tableland, Millaa Millaa Falls, Dinner Falls and Barron Falls are all within reach, with the crater lakes of Lake Eacham and Lake Barrine and the deep Mount Hypipamee crater close by. Queensland's highest peak, Mount Bartle Frere, rises about 15 km north of Innisfail.

• Malanda Falls – Waterfall. Closest campground: Malanda Falls Caravan Park, under 1 km
• Mena Creek Falls – Waterfall. Closest campground: The Paddock RV Park, under 1 km
• Barron Falls – Waterfall. Closest campground: Lake Placid Tourist Park, 5 km
• Dinner Falls – Waterfall. Closest campground: Malanda Falls Caravan Park, 13 km
• Mossman Gorge – Swimming spot. Closest campground: Mossman Riverside Leisure Park, 3 km
• Cairns Esplanade Lagoon – Swimming spot. Closest campground: Cairns Sunland Leisure Park, 4 km
• Palm Cove Jetty Lookout – Lookout. Closest campground: Palm Cove Caravan Park & Campground, under 1 km
• Flagstaff Hill – Lookout. Closest campground: Tropic Breeze Caravan Park, under 1 km
• Teresa Falls – Waterfall. Closest campground: The Paddock RV Park, under 1 km
• Indarri Falls – Waterfall. Closest campground: Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) National Park -, under 1 km
• The Rocks Swimming Hole – Swimming spot. Closest campground: Crystal Cascades Holiday Park, under 1 km
• Island Stack Lookout – Lookout. Closest campground: Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) National Park -, under 1 km
• Tinaroo Dam – Lookout. Closest campground: Lake Tinaroo Holiday Parks, under 1 km
• Dawadarri Lookout – Lookout. Closest campground: Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) National Park -, under 1 km
• Lower Gorge Lookout – Lookout. Closest campground: Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) National Park -, under 1 km

When is the best time to go camping in Tropical North Queensland?

The dry season, from May to October, is the easy time. The wet season runs from November to April, bringing monsoon rain, and cyclones usually form between November and May; floods can cut roads, and out on the Gulf the wet can shut road access to Karumba. Rain is part of the rainforest's appeal, though: Innisfail, south of Cairns, gets about 3,550 mm a year.

Is it safe to swim in Tropical North Queensland?

Marine stingers such as box jellyfish and Irukandji are in tropical Queensland waters all year, with the higher-risk season from November to May. Swim at patrolled beaches between the flags, inside stinger nets where they are provided, and wear a stinger suit, since nets do not stop the smaller Irukandji. Saltwater crocodiles live in rivers, estuaries and coastal waters across northern Queensland, so obey warning signs and swim only where it is marked as safe. In Cairns, the Esplanade lagoon is the easy answer.

Are there powered sites in Tropical North Queensland?

Yes. 16 campgrounds here have powered sites confirmed, including Trinity Plains Caravan Park, Bali Hai Holiday Park and Mission Beach Camping & Caravan Park. For the rest we are still confirming, so check with the park or holiday park before you book a powered site.

How far is Tropical North Queensland from Brisbane?

Cairns is about 1,695 km north-north-west of Brisbane. From Cairns, Port Douglas is about 60 km north, Cooktown about 326 km north on the Mulligan Highway, Cardwell about 182 km south, and Karumba on the Gulf of Carpentaria about 748 km by road.

Facts from Wikipedia, "Tropical North Queensland" (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikipedia, "Cairns" (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikipedia, "Port Douglas" (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikipedia, "Mission Beach, Queensland" (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikipedia, "Atherton Tablelands" (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikipedia, "Innisfail, Queensland" (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikipedia, "Cooktown" (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikipedia, "Karumba, Queensland" (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Queensland Government, dangerous marine animals.

Map of campgrounds in Tropical North Queensland

78 campgrounds

• Trinity Plains Caravan Park — Mareeba, QLD. camp kitchen, drinking water, dump point, powered sites, showers, tent sites, toilets, wifi
• Bali Hai Holiday Park — Wongaling Beach, QLD. caravan sites, drinking water, dump point, powered sites, showers, tent sites, toilets
• Endeavour River Escape — Hope Vale, QLD. bbq, campfires allowed, caravan sites, pets allowed, showers, tent sites, toilets
• Mission Beach Camping & Caravan Park — Mission Beach, QLD. caravan sites, drinking water, dump point, powered sites, showers, tent sites, toilets
• Elim Beach Campground — Hope Vale, QLD. campfires allowed, caravan sites, pets allowed, showers, tent sites, toilets
• Tropic Breeze Caravan Park — Port Douglas, QLD. caravan sites, drinking water, powered sites, showers, tent sites, toilets
• Merluna Station Campground — Archer River, QLD. camp kitchen, caravan sites, showers, tent sites, toilets
• Chili Beach Campground — Iron Range, QLD. campfires allowed, caravan sites, tent sites, toilets
• Crystal Cascades Holiday Park — Redlynch, QLD. caravan sites, dump point, powered sites, wifi
• Leichhardt Lagoon Camping Park — Normanton, QLD. caravan sites, showers, tent sites, toilets
• Tamarind Gardens Tourist Park — Almaden, QLD. pets allowed, powered sites, showers, toilets
• BIG 4 Beachcomber Coconut Holiday Park — South Mission Beach, QLD. powered sites, tent sites, wifi
• BIG 4 NRMA Atherton Tablelands Holiday Park — Atherton, QLD. dump point, powered sites, wifi
• Big4 Cooktown Holiday Caravan Park — Cooktown, QLD. caravan sites, tent sites, wifi
• Croydon Caravan Park — Croydon, QLD. dump point, showers, toilets
• Kydobi Country Park — Biboohra, QLD. dump point, showers, toilets
• Mossman Riverside Leisure Park — Mossman, QLD. powered sites, showers, toilets
• Artemis Station Campsite — Yarraden, QLD. caravan sites, tent sites
• BIG4 Ingenia Holidays Cairns Coconut Resort — Woree, QLD. drinking water, powered sites
• Cairns Sunland Leisure Park — Manoora, QLD. powered sites, wifi
• Daintree Beach Resort — Wonga Beach, QLD. caravan sites, tent sites
• Freedom Campimg by Permit — Croydon, QLD. showers, toilets
• Lake Placid Tourist Park — Caravonica, QLD. powered sites, tent sites
• Mount Garnet Travellers Park — Mount Garnet, QLD. powered sites, tent sites
• Noah Beach Campground — Cape Tribulation, QLD. caravan sites, tent sites
• Ringers Rest RV Park — Mareeba, QLD. pets allowed, toilets
• Riverside Caravan Park — Mareeba, QLD. powered sites, tent sites
• Cardwell Beachcomber Motel & Tourist Park — Cardwell, QLD. powered sites
• Cardwell Van Park — Cardwell, QLD. powered sites
• Etty Bay Cabins and Caravan Park — Etty Bay, QLD. caravan sites
• Fitzroy Island Campsite — Fitzroy Island, QLD. tent sites
• Helenvale Farm - Van Stay — Rossville, QLD. caravan sites
• Mission Beach Hideaway Holiday Village — Mission Beach, QLD. wifi
• Adels Grove — Lawn Hill, QLD
• Agate Creek Campground — Forsayth, QLD
• Atherton Caravan Park and Units — Atherton, QLD
• August Moon Caravan Park — Comoon Loop, QLD
• Barrier Reef Caravilla — Edmonton, QLD
• BIG 4 Innisfail Mango Tree Tourist Park — South Innisfail, QLD
• BIG 4 Port Douglas Glengarry Holiday Park — Mowbray, QLD
• Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) National Park - — Lawn Hill, QLD
• Buchan Point — Ellis Beach, QLD
• Buchan Point 2 — Ellis Beach, QLD
• Cooktown Orchid Caravan Park — Cooktown, QLD
• Cool Waters Holiday Park — Brinsmead, QLD
• Copperfield Lodge — Einasleigh, QLD
• Diggers Creek Motel and Van Park — El Arish, QLD
• First City Caravilla — Earlville, QLD
• Forsayth Caravan Park — Forsayth, QLD
• Goldfields Caravan Park — Georgetown, QLD
• Googarra Beach Caravan Park — Hull Heads, QLD
• Gulf Country Caravan Park — Karumba, QLD
• Hells Gate Roadhouse Camping — Nicholson, QLD
• Hillside Caravan Park — East Feluga, QLD
• Karumba Point Sunset Caravan Park — Karumba, QLD
• Karumba Point Tourist Park — Karumba, QLD
• King Reef Resort & Caravan Park — Kurrimine Beach, QLD
• Kurrimine Beach Holiday Park — Kurrimine Beach, QLD
• Lake Tinaroo Holiday Parks — Tinaroo, QLD
• Lakeside Caravan Park — Yungaburra, QLD
• Malanda Falls Caravan Park — Malanda, QLD
• Midway Caravan Park — Georgetown, QLD
• Mindarra Holiday Village — Woree, QLD
• Moreton Telegraph Station Camping Ground — Wenlock, QLD
• Newell Beach Caravan Park — Newell, QLD
• Normanton Caravan Park — Normanton, QLD
• Normanton RV Camp — Normanton, QLD
• O'Briens Creek Camp Ground — Mount Surprise, QLD
• Old Laura Homestead camping area 2 — Lakefield, QLD
• Palm Cove Caravan Park & Campground — Palm Cove, QLD
• The Paddock RV Park — Mena Creek, QLD
• Tolga Caravan Park — Tolga, QLD
• Tropical Hibiscus Caravan Park — Wongaling Beach, QLD
• Tully Caravan Park — Tully, QLD
• Tully Gorge Camping Area — Cardstone, QLD
• Walkamin Central Van Park — Walkamin, QLD
• White Rock Leisure Park — White Rock, QLD
• York Downs Station Donation Camp — Mission River, QLD

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