The season’s good weather has hit, and it’s beautifully aligning with the Easter long weekend from 15 April to 18 April 2022, giving you all the reason to go on a family camping trip.
To get your engines going, here are the top camping spots across Far North Queensland that offer great activities and experiences including wildlife and places to cool off. Do note that these hotspots can book out quickly, so be sure to get in early once you know where you want to go.
Fraser Island camping
Fraser Island is the world’s largest sand island making it one of the best places to camp – especially for the 4WD experience and sand tracks that lead to pristine lakes, cold water creeks, sand dunes and unrivalled beaches that bring out the best of fun in the sun.
Only a 1.5 hour journey from Hervey Bay (a 6 hour ride from Brisbane), you will need to hop on a 10 minute barge from Inskip Point near Rainbow Beach followed by a 30 minute journey from River Heads.
For free spirits, you can wander off the beaten track to some extent, although free camping isn’t technically allowed. You will need to apply and pay for a camping permit beforehand, and the informal campgrounds aren’t free camps with little to no facilities.
The cost to camp per night is $5.75 per person, with children under 5 at no cost, and $23 per family.
One of the most popular formal campgrounds on Fraser Island is Cathedrals on Fraser which is centrally located and has a dingo fence around its premises, making it the perfect place to stay and relax on your getaway. There is a wide range of accommodation offered including self-catering cabins, permanent canvas tents, powered and unpowered campsites, and a well-stocked general store on the island.
The campgrounds are sheltered behind sand dunes 6 kilometres north of the Mahendranathan Shipwreck, with great facilities and amenities backed by friendly hosts that will make you feel at home.
Daintree Rainforest camping
Camp among the UNESCO World Heritage rainforests as you embrace the lush greenery that surrounds you. Easter tends to be a shoulder season meaning drier and cooler weather moving away from the summer heat.
Located only 1.5 hours north of Cairns, the Daintree Rainforest offers spectacular experiences that bring the best of Far North Queensland. A stone’s throw away from the Great Barrier Reef while being immersed in Mother Nature, you and your family will not run out of things to do when Easter camping here.
The Daintree Rainforest Village is an extremely popular camping spot with powered, unpowered and sheltered campsites in the heart of the Daintree Rainforest. Set on a lush 20 acres, 12 acres of the campgrounds consists of dense jungle while the remaining 8 acres include rolling green lawns and hills with some rainforest trees and colourful gardens dotted around.
The views of the rainforest and mountains are phenomenal here, with a great location being so close to all the top attractions of the Daintree.
Cairns camping
Probably the most popular hotspot in Far North Queensland, Cairns is the place to be for the camper who simply likes to keep busy and bustling.
With an incredible amount of activities and experiences offered, the kids are guaranteed to enjoy their Easter holidays this year. Activities include daring helicopter tours over the Great Barrier Reef, immersive snorkelling and diving, steam train and sky rail to the Kuranda rainforest, feasting on delicious treats, soaking in waterfalls, and so much more. There’s plenty of fun in the sun with pretty much any beach activity available for hire or as a guided tour or lesson.
One of the most popular camping sites in Cairns includes the Ingenia Holidays Cairns Coconut which offers powered and unpowered campsites, a water splash park, tennis court, volleyball court, a hot spa, on-site gym, followed by fantastic views.
Weipa camping
For those who happen to be on the Western side of Far North Queensland these Easter holidays, you’ll want to check out the Weipa Camping Grounds if Easter camping is on your list.
The park is on the beach, meaning amazing sunset backdrops for a good, relaxing time. There’s a tropical pool with a waterfall that gives you and the kids an opportunity to dip in safety from the beach – away from crocodiles. Patrons speak highly of the campgrounds stating that the location is perfect followed by friendly staff who are very accommodating.
Weipa is a great place to teach your kid to snag a big one, with fantastic fishing opportunities that make the region renowned for being the Barramundi capital of Australia. Take advantage of the Catch & Cook Experience at the Albatross Bay Resort for those who have had a successful fishing day. With professional chefs to cook your catch to perfection, served with a side of chips and salad, there’s no better way to enjoy your prize. And if you aren’t lucky to catch anything, the Deck Restaurant & Bar offers fresh caught seafood that will satisfy your cravings.
For those looking for more luxury, a stay at the Albatross Bay Resort will complete your stay. With a wide range of accommodation that will suit all travellers, rooms are filled with comforts that will make your stay relaxing and welcoming, making it the great Easter break you deserve.
