The best camping near Weipa
Weipa offers remote Cape York camping and fishing with sunset views over the sea.
The best camping near Weipa guide
Where to go
Weipa Beaches
Beaches around Weipa and the western shores of Cape York are a great place to watch the sunset over the sea—a rarity in Queensland. A 4WD is pretty much essential for getting to any Weipa area beaches, where you’ll rarely find another soul. Red Beach (Prunung) is on the northside over the Mission Bridge, while the town beach at Kerr Point is also a draw. Holiday parks offer beachfront campsites, powered sites, and cabin accommodation, plus bonus amenities like saltwater swimming pools, camp kitchens, and kids playgrounds.
Pennefather River
About 70 kilometres north of Weipa, Pennefather River is a coastal camping area accessible by a 4WD track off the Mapoon Road. Here, waterfront campsites are accessible for tents and camper trailers but offer no facilities, so campers should be self-sufficient. The river mouth empties into the Gulf of Carpentaria, where long stretches of beach run all the way to Duyfken Point to the south and the town of Mapoon to the north. Much of the sandy shoreline is frequented by campers with 4WD vehicles who hit this tidal river system for fishing and shucking oysters off the rocks.
Kutini-Payamu (Iron Range) National Park
A hundred kilometres east of Weipa on the Cape York Peninsula is Kutini-Payamu (Iron Range) National Park. The park’s traditional owners are the Kuku Yalanji people, many of whom live at the coastal community of Lockhart River. Here, lush tropical forests bump up against long stretches of sweeping remote beach. Iron Range National Park features four camping areas: the Cooks Hut, Gordon Creek, Chilli Beach, and Rainforest camping areas. Book your permit through QLD Parks and Forests.
When to go
Peak season for camping on Cape York is generally from May to September, when it’s coldest down south. This is when campers will see the best weather due to low humidity and rainfall. With a limited number of caravan and camping sites available, popular campgrounds get booked up well in advance. If you’re intent on fishing for barramundi (and quite frankly, nearly everyone in Karumba has barra on their lips), you’ll need to be in Weipa between February and October when the season runs. Avoid peak season crowds by visiting between September and November, when spectacular, wave-like Morning Glory cloud formations roll in from the Gulf of Carpentaria.
Know before you go
- Weipa sits within the tropical cyclone zone, so the region may be impacted by tropical storms between November and April. Because the town is isolated, it may be cut off by floodwaters—check the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) website for information.
- Barramundi fishing season runs from February to October, but there are plenty of other species to land, such as Jewfish, queenfish, salmon, and Spanish mackerel.
- Saltwater crocodiles inhabit coastal waters and rivers, so use caution whenever close to shorelines or in small boats.
- Marine stingers are a year-round hazard, so swimming is not recommended, even in offshore waters in the Gulf of Carpentaria.
- Weipa is connected to Cairns (800 km to the south) via the Mulligan Highway and Peninsula Development Road, though getting there is an adventure in itself due to the remoteness of the central and northern Cape York. Ensure your vehicle is well equipped.