Caravan camping near Bramston Beach with wifi provided

Just an hour south of Cairns, the sleepy seafront town of Bramston Beach is the perfect antidote to the Far North Queensland tourist trail. Swap big city life for 11 kilometres of pristine, crowd-free beach, where you can swim, stroll, fish, and—if you’re lucky—spot Australian humpback dolphins along the coast. Campers are well served by Bramston’s caravan park and beach campground, both of which offer powered and unpowered sites. You can also snag one of the five beachside tent sites in the Russell River National Park, just north of town, or check into a remote Hipcamp accessible only by 4WD.

Wooroonooran National Park 

A 20-minute drive inland brings you to the wild rivers and waterfalls of Wooroonooran National Park, where you can hike through dense rainforest, go canoeing through scenic gorges, or tackle the mountain biking trails of the Misty Mountains. Highlights include the Mamu Tropical Skywalk and Queensland’s highest mountain, Bartle Frere, while campers can choose from three campgrounds with space for tents and camper trailers.

Tully Gorge National Park

Just south of Wooroonooran, the Misty Mountains tumble down into Tully Gorge National Park, where outdoor adventurers can hike, kayak, and go white-water rafting in the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. There are also natural swimming holes where you can cool off and two campgrounds with unpowered sites for campervans and motorhomes.

Great Barrier Reef

With easy access to Cairns, Bramston Beach is well situated for discovering the UNESCO-listed Great Barrier Reef. The underwater world of dazzling corals and diverse marine life is best discovered on a snorkelling or scuba diving tour, but you can also cruise the reef on a glass-bottomed boat, camp out on a barrier island, or take a scenic flight.

The (comparatively) cooler, dryer months of April through November provide the most favourable weather for forays into Queensland’s Far North. This is prime time for snorkelling, diving, and outdoor activities, and coincides with whale-watching season (July-Sept). If you’re hiking and camping in summer (Dec-Feb), come prepared for soaring temperatures, high humidity, and regular downpours.