Camping near Cardwell

Beaches, tropical forests, reef, and islands await campers in the Cardwell area.

91% (418 reviews)
  1. Cardwell
91% (418 reviews)

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12 top campgrounds near Cardwell

99%
(85)

Tully Mountain Views

6 sites · RVs14 acres · Djarawong, QLD
Our property is located 10 minutes north of Tully and 15 minutes to the beautiful Mission Beach, we are close to the highway so travellers can rest and enjoy our views. Camp sites are located around the dam and waterfall with views of the Tully mountains and Tully town with the mill stacks in the far distance. Come and enjoy our peaceful spot. It is a 5 minute drive to Alligators Nest which is the local swimming hole with crystal clear water but with no alligators, or try our local Feluga Pub for a coldie or a great pub meal a few minutes up the road. Or why not check out the great little town of Tully and that giant gumboot. So come breathe in the fresh air and wake up the sounds of our beautiful bush birds. Fire wood available for a small fee. Please take all rubbish with you on departure.
Pets
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from 
AU$30
 / night
* Before taxes and fees
96%
(68)

GLOWS Garden Centre Camp

7 sites · RVs, Tents2 acres · Mission Beach, QLD
GLOWS Garden Centre Camp is set in a large field backing onto world heritage rainforest to the East/South and adjoining Garden Centre and Raw Materials Yard to the north. We have only opened 4 lovely grassy sites. Our Hipcamp opened September 2024 and only 200m away is a cafe at our Garden Centre for a great coffee 6 days a week! You will need to be self-sufficient however we do have a cold water shower and toilets available between 7am and 5pm in the adjoining Garden Centre. We are located on Tully Mission Beach Road with the bike path between Wongaling Beach and Mission Beach running right past the front gates, so a quick ride into town and plenty of space to bring your boat! We your hosts, (Nancy and Shane) operate the adjoining Garden Centre and Raw Materials yard so there is always something happening and with vast local knowledge of what to do and where to go, we are only happy to help. Opened in September 2024 we have planted a tropical fruit forest plantation as well as citrus orchard and with our 50 beautiful free-range chooks (pets) you will have them wandering around freely, clucking away happily.
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from 
AU$30
 / night
* Before taxes and fees
99%
(82)

Clearview

6 sites · RVs, Tents350 acres · Dingo Pocket, QLD
We are a working cattle property with extensive permaculture inspired production gardens. Our goals are towards regenerating the land and being as self sufficient and organic in production as possible. We encourage you leave lasting marks on the farm by being apart of our regeneration, self sufficient projects, we provide the first hand experiences to our farming lifestyle and volunteer our knowledge to encourage everyone to do their part to a more sustainable future. Situated 15 minutes from the North Queensland town of Tully, on record as being the wettest places in Queensland. We also encourage you to explore our 350 acres of bushland, rainforest and open grasslands or used us as a base to explore the surrounding environment including the stunning Tully Gorge National Park or the beautiful Mission Beach and Dunk Island or just chill out and relax and enjoy the peace and quiet of the surrounding farmland. Our campsites have near 300-degree views of the surrounding Tully Valley, down private gullies or open grasslands. Other options in the area include sky diving, white water rafting, bush or coastal walking, swimming in pristine fresh or saltwater or star gazing this region has it all. Pets are welcome but must be under control at all times. We have a passion for the environment, agriculture and reducing the amount of waste created by humans, we try to reuse and repurposing as much of our own and others waste as possible. You can follow our progress to transform our farm on the Facebook page Clearview - Tully. We are fully off-grid, so you will need to be fully self-contained, a dump point and laundry mat is available in Tully if required. Campfires permitted.
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AU$18
 / night
* Before taxes and fees
93%
(120)

Mungalla Station

14 sites · RVs, Tents100 acres · Forrest Beach, QLD
Mungalla Cattle Station Camp (125kms north of Townsville, near Forest Beach) Campers MUST provide car registration details at time of booking.If you have your own tent, van or RV come and camp! Small dogs welcome. Flat sites, suitable for caravans and 2WD. Guests are welcome to use the worker's toilets and showers, though please keep in mind these are very basic if self-contained greywater can be dispersed on the ground.Mungalla Station is a historic cattle station near Ingham in North Queensland. Come and share a unique experience of the culture and history of Mungalla Station and its Aboriginal owners.Guests can meet the Nywaigi Aboriginal people, the Aboriginal traditional owners of the lands around Ingham in North Queensland. Experience our rich culture and history.Explore the property established by James Cassady, who fled the potato famine of Ireland and created a pastoral dynasty. Visit the birthplace of the world-famous Droughtmaster cattle breed, the original homestead, the graves of James Cassady and his son.Children under 6 stay for free. Do not include them at time of booking.We ask campers to please try to arrive before it gets dark. Please read all information provided carefully and only contact your host if absolutely necessary.
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from 
AU$25
 / night
* Before taxes and fees
98%
(117)

Mena Creek River Retreat Camp

11 sites · RVs, Tents20 acres · Germantown, QLD
Our campsites are on a private horse property with pristine creek access and a beautiful spring. We are dog friendly.Enjoy beautiful grassed areas overlooking the property, or down by the creek, accessible to all campers.Please note that property access is generally suited to 4WDs, with some areas ok if you're towing a camping trailer with high clearance. Please check with us if unsure or if the weather has not been favourable.Please be mindful of our neighbours when driving to our property as there is a short distance of dirt, please drive slow not to kick up dust past the neighbouring houses. When you arrive at our property please be mindful of small children and animals roaming the grounds. There are pristine creek views from most of the camp sites, meaning you will be waking to the lovely sound of running water. There is also a beautiful spring for swimming. We are dog friendly, and can offer pet sitting. We ask you to please text us your arrival times the night before you are coming to make sure your arrival time will suit and to check on the weather for access.Children under 7 stay for free.
Pets
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from 
AU$30
 / night
* Before taxes and fees
67%
(3)

Echo Creek Adventure Centre

29 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents30 acres · Munro Plains, QLD
We are located in the heart of the Tully Valley in tropical Far North Queensland midway between Cairns and Townsville, situated on a 240 acre cattle property amongst the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. A great location for nature based activities, weddings, group events, conferences and school camps, excursions or simply a weekend getaway or camping trip with the family. When you experience the outdoors in Tropical North Queensland you open a gateway to the thrills, spills and adrenalin of activities but also the tranquil, peaceful and abundant natural aspects of the World Heritage Area of the Wet Tropics. Echo Creek provides the doorway into this wonderful outdoor experience through active participation in the many activities, educational programs, Corporate teambuilding and leadership programs and Special Interest Retreats such as Yoga, Wellness and Raw Indulgence getaways. Our tours and educational programs provide a wealth of information and knowledge about the Tropical Rainforest Environment but also developing and supporting team and leadership qualities for all. We offer a range of quality products from interpretative bush walks/hiking, local bush tucker tours, journey based trekking, rock climbing to student educational tours which journey you through some of the tropical north’s breath-taking World Heritage Rainforest. You can even walk in the footsteps of the Ancestors with our local Jirrbal people and weave a bracelet, paint your face, throw a boomerang and catch a fish. Let Echo Creek take you on an educational experience of a life time or simply relax and unwind at a indulging Retreat.
Potable water
Toilets
Campfires
Showers
Trash
from 
AU$30
 / night
* Before taxes and fees
Value Prop
Value Prop
Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field
Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

Camping near Cardwell guide

Overview

The Northern Queensland town of Cardwell is in a convenient location on the coastal Great Green Way driving route that connects Townsville and Cairns, and on the Cassowary Coast. It’s also the gateway to Australia’s largest national park, Hinchinbrook Island, as well as the UNESCO-listed Great Barrier Reef and the wet tropics world heritage area. In short, there’s a lot to see and do around little Cardwell. Campers in Cardwell can choose between well-equipped coastal holiday parks in the town, as well as wilder campsites in the many national parks and forests in the wider area, including offshore Hinchinbrook Island. While Cardwell itself isn’t a beach destination–its foreshore is muddy and infested with crocodiles—the beaches of Hinchinbrook are spectacular.

Where to go

Hinchinbrook Island

Australia’s largest national park, Hinchinbrook Island can be accessed by boat from Cardwell, either private vessels or water shuttles that take people to and from the Thorsborne Trail. Campers on Hinchinbrook can choose between coastal and forest sites, but all are accessible only by boat or kayak and are suitable only for tent camping. Most are very basic and do not offer any facilities, while a few have toilets and picnic tables. Camping permits are required, and there are fees.

Girringun National Park

Inland from Cardwell, Girringun National Park has some incredible waterfalls that are worth going out of your way to see, particularly Wallaman Falls and Blencoe Falls. It’s also a great bird-watching spot, with seasonal waterholes and lagoons. Campers can choose from six different campsites within the park, a couple of which are hike-in only while others are suitable for caravans and camper trailers as well as tents.

Townsville

Northern Queensland’s largest city, Townsville is about two hours’ drive south of Cardwell. There are many places to camp around Townsville, whether you’re in a tent or a camping vehicle. Lake Paluma is a popular camping spot among UNESCO-listed wet tropics forests. Offshore Magnetic Island is a popular day and over trip destination from Townsville and although there’s only one actual campsite here, you can find plenty of upmarket cabin, glamping, and lodge accommodation.

When to go

Unlike much of the rest of Australia, tropical Northern Queensland experiences two main seasons—the wet and the dry—rather than four. The wet season is the hottest, and while it’s not necessarily a bad time to visit, you should expect high humidity and for some natural areas to be inaccessible due to the weather, including flooding. The dry season coincides with winter in southern parts of Australia so it’s a popular time to visit to escape the cold, and weather conditions are ideal for camping and outdoor activities.