PUNSAND BAY, CAPE YORK, QLD
Punsand Bay is just 5km west from ‘The Tip’ and is the northernmost address in Australia, making it the perfect base for a Cape York adventure.
There’s powered and unpowered beachfront sites, and if you want a bit of a break from self-contained travel then Punsand Bay is it, as it has a full range of facilities with everything you could need at your fingertips.
There’s great fishing, 4WD scenic tours to head out on, and there’s a fascinating Cape York history to get to the heart of. There’s even a bar, so you can enjoy a cold one at the end of a busy day’s exploring. Great scenery is a given at Punsand Bay.
It’s pretty easy to get used to seeing the sun rise out of the Coral Sea in the Pacific Ocean, and set over the Arafura Sea in the Indian Ocean!
FAST FACTS
- Where: Lot 11 Punsand Bay via Bamaga.
- Facilities: With a full range of facilities, anything you could want is available.
- Explore: There’s plenty of fishing, 4WD adventures, and historic sites for you discover.
- Of course, you can always just relax on the beach!
- More info: www.capeyorkcamping.com.au
CAPE TRIBULATION CAMPING, DAINTREE RAINFOREST, QLD
You could easily describe this spot as paradise, so stunning are its surrounds. The golden sands of Myall Beach, the verdant Daintree, and the sparkling Great Barrier Reef make this a location that’s hard to leave. Choose from powered or unpowered sights that are grassed and shady. Arrive, settle in and head off to explore this lush wonderland and its beach. The only problem will be deciding what to do first.
FAST FACTS
- Where: Lot 11 Cape Tribulation Road, Cape Tribulation, two and a half hours north of Cairns.
- Facilities: From amenities to camp kitchens to free barbecues, there’s a full range of facilities.
- Explore: Rainforest walks in the World Heritage-listed Daintree, fishing right from the campground, ocean safaris, beach combing, and horse riding.
- More info: Visit www.capetribcamping.com.au
ADELS GROVE CAMPING PARK, LAWN HILL, QLD
With a perfect location close to Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) National Park, Adels Grove has the quality of being a remote location, with enticing enough surrounds to persuade you to extend your stay.
It’s 10km from Lawn Hill Gorge and it has plenty of unpowered campsites available, suitable for large vans. There’s great swimming at Adels Grove in the clear, spring-fed Lawn Hill creek. If you don’t feel like a dip, maybe hop in a canoe and explore that way. It’s also a top fishing spot. For an exploration that’s a little bit different, the campground is 50km from the Riversleigh World Heritage fossil site.
FAST FACTS
- Where: Adels Grove is located 10km from Boodjamulla National Park and 88km west of
- Gregory Downs.
- Facilities: Toilets, showers, camp kitchen,
- shop, and licensed restaurant.
- Explore: There’s plenty to do from fishing, swimming and canoeing to bushwalking
- and birdwatching.
- More info: www.adelsgrove.com.au
HENRIETTA CREEK, WOOROONOORAN NATIONAL PARK, QLD
A little piece of paradise just south of Cairns, Wooroonooran National Park is a lush, green oasis with rivers, swimming holes, walking tracks and unique wildlife. Henrietta Creek is a grassy camping area surrounded by rainforest.
There’s a walking track section of about 800m from the campground to Goolagan Creek, and along this you can view aquatic wildlife including platypuses and turtles. Take in the scenery from the viewing lookout, and perhaps take the chance to walk on further to sites like Wallicher Falls and Tchupala Falls. Wooroonooran National Park is part of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. Its fertile soils and extremely wet climate have fostered some of the oldest continually surviving rainforests on earth.
Henrietta Creek can easily be reached by conventional vehicle, and there are some campsites available that are suitable for caravans.
FAST FACTS
- Where: 38km from Innisfail, just off the Palmerston Highway.
- Facilities: Composting toilets, picnic tables,
- gas barbecues. Generators are allowed but restrictions apply.
- Explore: Plenty to explore in the national park – great swimming holes, bushwalks, and lookouts.
- More info: www.npsr.qld.gov.au/parks/wooroonooran-palmerston/camping.html
The full feature appeared in Caravan World #565. Subscribe today for the latest caravan reviews and news every month!