What are the best North QLD parks (free & paid)

[Expandaman]

Throwing it out there.
Looking for suggestion on which parks are worth mentioning. ( Free or Pay )
We are planning a trip to North QLD. Interested in other people's opinions on any parks between Mackay and Port Douglas. We have three kids so we are looking for parks that have things to do close to them. We are members of BIG4 and Top Tourist But we are not limited to these.
Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated.

 

[gwadir]

Hi Expandaman, for us Cape Hillsborough NP was unreal, right on the water, great fishing and bush turkeys walking around everywhere, also check out Eungella NP, beautiful, up on the tablelands above the coast, camping in the rainforest, kangaroos & wallabies during the day and possums at night. We did these back in '98 so do some research things may have changed. Further north Airley Beach was great and when in Cairns don't forget to go to Kuranda, we went up by rail and came back by cable car over the top of the rainforest, stop off at middle station it is so worth it, in Kuranda check out the butterfly house.

Dave

 

[crackacoldie]

Keeping an. Eye on. This on Expandaman, as we leave in. Three weeks for our trip up there.

cheers Cracka

 

[TTBRIDGE]

Hey Expandaman,

I recommended this post to crackacoldie when he asked about Cairns. Cairns Coconut Resort. It is a big 4, we stayed there in 2011 unfortunately it rained the 3 days we were there. Facility s were great, such a clean environment, and so well kept.

We particularly went for the kids. They at the time had the "biggest water park in the southern hemisphere was the claim" The style with the tipping bucket etc. But it is big. Jumping pillows, slides, slippery slides into the pools. These funky trikes you could hire, if they are a bit younger and you want to ride.

It is right on the main highway, but you enter off the side street. We were in a camper and i can say the road noise never bothered me (cannot remember it) as all the attractions are along the highway fence so you are a bit away from it. They are a bit out of town, 5 mins? Not walking distance, but not a big drive.

I do remember is being like Queens street when we pulled up, it was so bloody busy with vans parked everywhere checking in or out. We enjoyed it so much that on the way home we had to over night to wait for 2 replacement tires to come from Townsville, we did not give a 2nd thought on where we would stay.

It is a fantastic place for the kids, if they cannot look after them self you will never see them.

 

[expanda]

Cairns Coconut sound great will be there in about 3 or 4 weeks !!!

 

[mfexpanda]

this is a couple of years back but camp spots around Mackay found were difficult due to the large permanents work force so we skipped that and went straight to airlie beach. Paronella park near Innisfail need to book a couple days in advance but entry ticket allowed you to camp across the road from the park. Lake Tinarro near Cairns its a top tourist quite good,
Free camp balgal beach but not a lot of room but does have a laundramt and fish and chip shop and people fish at the river watch out for crocs. We did port douglas as a day trip too trendy for us!!!! Home Hill rest stop(free camp) has good showers and toilets and very clean. In cairns we have stayed at both coconut grove and crystal cascades both were very good . dont forgot on the way to cairns to stop at the frosty mango between townsville and ingham the kids will love to empty your wallet there the icecreams are really good.

 

[expanda]

this is a couple of years back but camp spots around Mackay found were difficult due to the large permanents work force so we skipped that and went straight to airlie beach. Paronella park near Innisfail need to book a couple days in advance but entry ticket allowed you to camp across the road from the park. Lake Tinarro near Cairns its a top tourist quite good,
Free camp balgal beach but not a lot of room but does have a laundramt and fish and chip shop and people fish at the river watch out for crocs. We did port douglas as a day trip too trendy for us!!!! Home Hill rest stop(free camp) has good showers and toilets and very clean. In cairns we have stayed at both coconut grove and crystal cascades both were very good . dont forgot on the way to cairns to stop at the frosty mango between townsville and ingham the kids will love to empty your wallet there the icecreams are really good.

Hmmmm frosty mango looks great penciled it in on my way up to !!!

 

[Brad & Donna]

Mate, can't beat big four adventure whitsunday at airlie beach. Have stayed there several times and it is the best between Mackay and cairns, it is nearly as good as Cairns coconut. You can easily lose a day or two in airlie, plenty of stuff to do. In Townsville we stay at rowes bay cv park. It is close to city but nice and quiet, right on beach. The other one that is quite but clean and really nice is to pull in at rollingstone beach cp about 40 min north of Townsville.

Just remember if travelling in summer you need to be careful in the water, stingers and snapping hand bags are around, most beaches have nets so stick to those areas.

 

[Holden_man]

Hey brad, looking for free camps either side of Mt Isa, Antman rated Clem Walton Park, the other camp that looks interesting is a WW2 airfield that's in the camps book about 50km NW of Mt Isa. Have you seen either of these...thx...HM

 

[Brad & Donna]

Hey brad, looking for free camps either side of Mt Isa, Antman rated Clem Walton Park, the other camp that looks interesting is a WW2 airfield that's in the camps book about 50km NW of Mt Isa. Have you seen either of these...thx...HM

HM - Definatly clem Walton park, much nicer as you camp on the dam. it is about 2 km off the main road and fairly tight but you will get in no trouble, if it was dark I think it would get a bit sketchy. There is nothing at the WW2 site, only a toilet on the side of the road, and a marker for ww2. there is another free spot right on the hwy just past clem Walton turn off called fountain springs rest area. I've never actually stopped for a look but it is right on the hwy and there is always heaps of vans parked there, it has toilets, tables and good shade. It is exactly half way between cloncurry and Isa.

hope this helps

 

[Expandaman]

Mate, can't beat big four adventure whitsunday at airlie beach. Have stayed there several times and it is the best between Mackay and cairns, it is nearly as good as Cairns coconut. You can easily lose a day or two in airlie, plenty of stuff to do. In Townsville we stay at rowes bay cv park. It is close to city but nice and quiet, right on beach. The other one that is quite but clean and really nice is to pull in at rollingstone beach cp about 40 min north of Townsville.

Just remember if travelling in summer you need to be careful in the water, stingers and snapping hand bags are around, most beaches have nets so stick to those areas.

Hi,
Airlie is on our list. The kids will love it. Planning a day trip to one of the islands and maybe some snorkeling. My wife and I went there before we had kids. The main street seems to have happy hour all day if you know which bars are at which time. LOL.

 

[Hubble80]

I would recommend the BIG4s at Cairns (Coconut) and the one in Airlie as well. Great places to stay and kids will have a ball! On you way north the Yeppoon and Hervey Bay BIG4s are good too! Yep we are members also!!!!

Free camps I would go up to Eungella and check out Cape Hillsborough also.

 

[Woodman]

Hi,
Airlie is on our list. The kids will love it. Planning a day trip to one of the islands and maybe some snorkeling. My wife and I went there before we had kids. The main street seems to have happy hour all day if you know which bars are at which time. LOL.

 

[Expandaman]

Hi all. Well some time has passed but I have finally pulled my finger out and it is now time to go. Tomorrow morning we are North bound. We are leaving Dalby with a brief stop at Rockhampton for the night. Then on to Airlie beach Big 4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort For 3 nights. Then on to Townsville Big4 walkabout palms for a night. Then onto Cairns Big4 Coconut resort for 4 nights. We then aim to head for the Daintree and onto Cooktown with time permitting. We will let everyone know how it all goes. Wish us luck. 3 boys on board aging 5-10. The road home will be taken as it comes. We have no real plans in place for the return trip. Just the way I like it.

 

[Xpandafan]

Hi all. Well some time has passed but I have finally pulled my finger out and it is now time to go. Tomorrow morning we are North bound. We are leaving Dalby with a brief stop at Rockhampton for the night. Then on to Airlie beach Big 4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort For 3 nights. Then on to Townsville Big4 walkabout palms for a night. Then onto Cairns Big4 Coconut resort for 4 nights. We then aim to head for the Daintree and onto Cooktown with time permitting. We will let everyone know how it all goes. Wish us luck. 3 boys on board aging 5-10. The road home will be taken as it comes. We have no real plans in place for the return trip. Just the way I like it.

We're jealous as. Have a really fantastic trip. Assume boys have their allocated "camp duties"?

 

[crackacoldie]

The boys will love the water park in Townsville and the coconut resort in Cairns has more pools than anywhere I have seen. Have a great trip.

 

[gwadir]

Hi Expandaman, Have a great trip, drive safely, are you going to head up the Bloomfield Track, if so drop in at Home Rule Rainforest Lodge, if heading north turn right at Helenvale onto the Homerule Road, it's a really lovely spot, camping in the rainforest, and you must stop in at the Lion's Den Hotel, it's a classic old bush pub, so jealous wish it was us.

Dave

 

[expanda]

Hey Expandaman when are you at cairns coconut?

We will be there till next wednesday if you are there by then give us a shout.....

 

[Expandaman]

Update: stayed a night at Townsville big 4 park. I think this park is best used as an overnight stay. It is poorly maintained. We then moved on to Airlie beach Adventure Whitsunday Big4 park. This park is fantastic. Very clean. Very tidy. The kids loved it and so did we. We then moved on to Cairns Coconut Resort Big 4. Once again, very clean very tidy and the kids love it. Very friendly staff. We are now planning an overnighter up to Cooktown over the Bloomfield track. Going to check out Daintree village, cape tribulation then up the track. Leaving our van at coconut resort In storage for only $6 a night and it is a lot secure than in town. Love to hear from anyone who has done the Bloomfield.

i will keep everyone posted on our progress from here.

 

[Expandaman]

Hey Expandaman when are you at cairns coconut?

We will be there till next wednesday if you are there by then give us a shout.....

Sorry to here that we missed you guys in Cairns. Always great to catch up with other Expanda owners and swap stories. Maybe we can catch up on the road another time.