The best forest camping near Winton

While camping is not allowed in Lark Quarry Conservation Park, it is worth the trip to see the preserved tracks of an 83-million-year-old dinosaur stampede. Combine this with a trip to the Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History, just 25 kilometres outside Winton. Here you can see palaeontologists working on dinosaur bones found in this region, wander through Dinosaur Canyon, and learn about the night skies.

Daytime temperatures and humidity can be high at any time of the year and nights can be cool, but the cooler months of the year, from April to September, are the best times to visit Winton, as summer daytime temperatures can hit 45°C and higher. In June and July, Winton hosts the Vision Splendid Outback Film Festival at one of Australia’s oldest open-air theatres.

• Where fires are permitted in national park camping grounds, campers still need to bring their own milled firewood (a fuel stove is a better idea for cooking). 
• Winton has excellent facilities for stocking up on supplies before you go camping, plus services including a post office, pharmacy, visitor information centre, bank, and car hire companies.
• Even small amounts of rain can cause road closures and flooding in this region, so check access before you go and be self-sufficient in case of stranding. 
• Advance camping permits are required for all Queensland parks, forests, and reserves and must be booked online. Make camping bookings as early as possible.