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SOME REST AREAS WITH USEFUL INFORMATIONE

Every effort is made to ensure this information is correct but circumstances can change. If planning a trip you should check with  local authorities that these rest areas are still available. Caravanning News would appreciate any updates on these entries.

QUEENSLAND

AUGATHELLA (Matilda Hwy): Pleasant riverside area adjoining local fishing clubhouse near town centre. Level and shady. Water tap. TV reception ok.

BAN BAN SPRINGS (Hwy 17): Nice flat area opposite roadhouse. Toilets. Table and benches. Yummy and reasonably priced food from roadhouse.
BLACKALL (Matilda Hwy): For self-contained RVs only. Large level grassy area adjoining Barcoo River near town centre. Permit required from local information centre ($8 a night). Water, table and benches at nearby BBQ area. Public toilets about 300 metres away. TV reception good. Maximum three-night stay.
BOYNE RIVER (Bruce Hwy): About 23km south of Gladstone near Benaraby. Toilets. Bins. Covered tables and benches. Suitable for large rigs. TV and mobile 'phone reception reasonable. Max 20 hours.
CALLIOPE RIVER (Bruce Hwy): About 26km south of Mount Larcom and 7km north of Calliope. Access bridge has 5-tonne limit. Toilets. Bins. Suitable for large rigs. TV and mobile 'phone reception good. Max 48 hours.
CHILDERS (Bruce Hwy): About 7km north of Childers. Large level area. Tables and benches, toilets, electric BBQs, rubbish bins and tap water (non drinkable). TV and mobile telephone reception reasonable. Maximum stay 20 hours.
COOYAR (Drovers Rest, Hwy 61): Parkland site in village centre behind pub and near suspension bridge. Large grassy area. Platypus may be seen in adjoining river. Water and toilets nearby. TV reception OK.
DUARINGA (Capricorn Hwy): Large attractive grassy area near roadhouse. Toilet block with showers.
DULULU (Hwy 17): Large flat grassy area provided by local progress association. Power and hot showers available for $5 a night power, $5 for showers. Shady spots. Table and benches. New toilet block. TV reception excellent.
EIDSVOLD: Six kilometres west of Eidsvold on the Theodore road. Large flat grassy area with covered tables and benches, toilets, bins, BBQs and tap. No TV reception. Mobile 'phone reception ok (CDMA only). Suitable for large rigs. Very peaceful.
EMERALD (Capricorn Hwy): Pleasant spot adjoining Botanical Gardens at eastern entrance to town. Noise from road and train bridges during day but not too bad through night. Water tap. Shopping centre with Coles and Target a few minutes walk away. TV reception OK.
GIN GIN (Bruce Hwy):  Pleasant area one kilometre north of Gin Gin. Toilets. Taps. Wood barbecue. Marked out individual sites. Covered tables and benches. Suitable for large rigs. TV and mobile telephone reception good. Highway noise. Maximum stay 20 hours.
GLADSTONE - Boynedale

Free bush camping near Gladstone.

Gladstone-Monto Road. Backs on to Awoonga Dam. Popular spot with fisherman. Camping also along the dam edge for campers or tents if you want more privacy or to be closer to the water.

Boynedale
GLADSTONE - Flutter Creek

All-weather access free-camp

Gladstone-Monto road about 30 minutes from Gladstone. Flutter Creek site has sealed short level road to level grassed area and toilets. Fire pits, tables and chairs. If the dam is high then water access via old highway into Flutter Creek.

 
GRANITE CREEK - Also known as Bernie Christensen Rest Area - (Bruce Hwy): 36km south of Miriam Vale. Toilets, bins, covered tables and benches. TV reception poor. Mobile telephone reception good. Water. Wood barbecue. Suitable for large rigs. Maximum stay 48 hours.
GUNALDA (Bruce Hwy): Almost opposite Windsong tourist stop. Driver Reviver site. Toilets. Tables and benches. Water. 20 hours.
GYMPIE (Bruce Hwy): Six Mile Creek, 1km south of town. Large grassy site with some level areas. Water tap. Toilets. New picnic tables and benches. Electric BBQ. Dump point. Noise from hwy. TV reception OK. Max stay 20 hours.
GYMPIE (Bruce Hwy): Chatsworth Park, 5km north of town. Picturesque level grassy area adjoining lakes  with individual RV sites. Toilets. Tables and benches. Children's play area. Highway noise. TV reception fair.
HELIDON (Warrego Hwy): Large flat area about 40km east of Toowoomba. Toilets, taps, covered benches and tables. TV and mobile 'phone reception. Highway noise. Day use only.
ISIS RIVER (Bruce Hwy): Area now closed because of dangerous access.  
JERICHO (Capricorn Hwy): Excellent peaceful facilities on Showground. Large grassy area with concrete slabs, power, water, hot showers and toilets. TV reception OK.
JULIA CREEK: About 0.75km from town's main street and 10-minute walk from information centre and shops. No facilities. Only RVs with on-board toilet allowed to stay overnight. Vehicles park alongside delightful lagoon. Area mainly flat with many shade-giving trees. Fresh town water and rubbish bins on site.
 
LANDSBOROUGH (Bruce Hwy): West of Bruce Highway on Glass House Mountains Road. Toilets. Tank water (non drinkable), tables and benches. TV reception ok. Daytime access can be difficult due to commuter car parking.
MITCHELL (Major Mitchell Caravan Park, Warrego Hwy): Two nights free on spacious ensuite site with mains water and power. Short walk to artesian baths. TV reception good. All non ensuite sites except one have no water supply.
MULGILDIE : ON the Burnett Highway (Highway 17) about 10km south of Monto. Adjoins local community hall in Palm Street. Clean toilets, water tap, covered table and benches, children's play area and nicely tended gardens. TV reception excellent. General store nearby. Local pub offers roast lunches between 11am and 2pm for a bargain $4.50!
PETRIE (Old Gympie Road): Only available for day use.  Level, shady and grassy area adjoining North Pine River and main railway line into Brisbane. Recently refurbished toilet block. Water tap. Electric BBQ. Dump point. Table and benches. Children's play area. TV and mobile 'phone reception good.
TAMBO (Matilda Hwy): Day use only. Nice flat area adjoining lakes at southern entrance to town. Adjoining truck stop but very little noise through night. BBQs, shelters with table and benches. Toilet block with cold shower and water taps. TV reception good. Three-day free camping at Stubby Bend with no services. 
TAMBO  (Stubby Bend)

Alongside Barcoo River about 1km from town shops. Pleasant 15-minute walk along gravel pathway. The 300m-long area can take 15 to 20 vehicles. Second area alongside it (the town common is about 500m square and provides plenty of space between campers. Picnic tables and council-emptied rubbish bins. Fresh water available adjacent to dump point next to fuel station in Tambo.
 

TIARO (Bruce Hwy): Flat, shady area behind park. Water tap. Park has free BBQ,  table and benches and toilet block with hot shower. TV reception good. Bargain-price meals at nearby pub or takeaway. 48-hour limit. Permits required ... $10 for 48-hour stay, obtainable from local Royal Hotel.
WALLUM RESERVE (Isis Hwy): Large flat bitumen and grassy areas with shade alongside Childers to Bundaberg highway, about 28km SW of Bundaberg. Composting toilets. Rainwater tanks. Covered tables and benches. Wood-fired BBQ. Mobile 'phone and television reception good. Suitable for large rigs. 20-hour limit.
WARWICK (New England Hwy): Large exposed flat area behind Warwick Roadhouse, 6km north of Warwick. Hot showers, toilets, meals, fuel, water and even a swimming pool available at roadhouse. Truck noise. TV reception good. An ok free stop. 24 hrs.
YULEBA (Warrego Hwy between Miles and Roma): Large flat area off hwy. Park between trees. Some truck noise through night but an OK free stop. No TV reception or facilities.
WAVERLEY CREEK (Bruce Hwy): About 11km south of St Lawrence between Sarina and Rockhampton. Flat area with toilets, bins, BBQs, public telephone, tables and benches and tap. Suitable for large rigs. 20 hours.
NEW SOUTH WALES
BANGALOW (Pacific Hwy near Byron Bay): Large flattish bitumen area alongside main highway. Toilet (composting), water (non drinkable), mobile 'phone and television reception ok. Very noisy.
  BLACKBUTTS ROAD (Pacific Hwy near Taree): Pleasant landscaped area with composting toilets, benches and tables. TV reception good.  Water (non drinkable). Highway noise.
  CELTIC COUNTRY (New England Hwy, 5km south of Glen Innis): Exposed flattish area alongside highway. Toilets, tables and benches. Suitable for larger rigs. 24 hrs.
  NEW ITALY (Pacific Hwy between Ballina and Grafton): Adjoins New Italy Museum and Aboriginal Arts and Crafts Centre. Flat dusty area offering shade. Floodlit. Tables and benches. TV reception good. Toilets. Reasonably priced meals until 5pm at museum. Highway noise.
  SID BURKE FOREST PARK (Pacific Hwy, 17km south of Coffs Harbour): NOW CLOSED. Highway has been upgraded to a dual lane expressway and bypasses this location.
  SLEEPY HOLLOW (Pacific Hwy, south of Murwillumbah): On northbound side of Pacific Hwy. Nicely landscaped with dedicated areas for trucks, caravans and other travellers. Composting toilets with taps and small sinks outside (water not drinkable). Covered tables and benches. Children's playground. Information boards. Mobile 'phone reception. Small area also on southside of highway with similar facilities. Highway and truck noise.
  YELGUN (Pacific Hwy, between Gold Coast and Byron Bay): Combined heavy and light vehicle rest area 6km north of the Brunswick River Bridge. Yelgun rest area was the first in Australia designed with separate marked-out areas for caravans, cars and trucks, including refrigerated and livestock trucks. Level bitumen area. Toilets. Table and benches. Children's playground. Information board. Mobile 'phone reception good. TV reception good.
  WESTERN AUSTRALIA  
  KWOLYIN REST AREA (between Quairading and Bruce Rock in WA's central/eastern wheatbelt. Marked bays, flush toilets, camping kitchen and free sheltered BBQ. Provided by the three shires of Bruce Rock, Kellerberrin and Quairading which have created a beautiful, well equipped free rest area for travellers. It is part of their efforts to attract visitors to towns in their shires and provides a good base while exploring the Granite Way.
 

Last updated: April, 2017