15,500+ Campsites Verified By Aussie Campers Over 30 Years
15,500+ Campsites Verified By Aussie Campers Over 30 Years
Camps Australia Wide
Showgrounds and country clubs are one of the best-kept secrets of travelling Queensland. Many open their grounds to caravans and self-contained travellers for a small fee, with a level site, basic facilities and a friendly local welcome. We have been checking camps and stopovers around Queensland since 1992, so the guidance here comes from travellers who have actually stayed.
Showground camping in Queensland
Below is our guide to showgrounds and club stays across Queensland, grouped by region and by season. When you are planning the trip, CAMPS 13 lists showgrounds and club stays right around the country, and the Camps Australia Wide App puts Personally Checked sites, with GPS coordinates and offline maps, in your pocket.
We are adding our favourite Personally Checked Queensland showgrounds and club stays to this page. In the meantime, CAMPS 13 lists showgrounds and club stays across the state, and the Camps Australia Wide App helps you find and map verified sites as you travel.
Queensland is a big place, so timing shapes both the weather and how busy it gets. Here is the rough rhythm of the year.
While the southern states rug up, the northern dry season turns on warm days and mild nights. This is peak season for the tropical coast and the outback, so northern spots fill early and prices lift. Book ahead for the popular ones.
Good for: Tropical North, the North Queensland coast and outback stopovers.
From late spring the tropical north gets hot and sticky, with storms and the odd road closure. This is a good time for the southern coast, the rivers and the ranges, quieter outside the school holidays. Keep an eye on Christmas and Easter, busy statewide.
Good for: South East Queensland, the Southern Queensland Country and the Capricorn coast.
Queensland breaks roughly into these travelling regions. Here is the lay of the land, then open the Camps Australia Wide App or CAMPS 13 to find sites in the area you are headed.
Around Cairns, Port Douglas and the Atherton Tablelands, handy for the reef, the rainforest and the Daintree.
Townsville, the Whitsundays and Mackay, with easy access to the islands and the beaches.
Winton, Longreach and Barcaldine, big-sky country with long, quiet stretches between towns.
Rockhampton, Yeppoon and Agnes Water, a natural stop on the run up the coast.
The Western Downs, Chinchilla and the Granite Belt, quieter and often better value.
Within reach of Brisbane, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast and the hinterland.
Fresh from our blog. These update on their own as we publish new Queensland stories, so the page never goes stale.
Prefer a book on the dash? CAMPS 13 is our go-to for free and low-cost camping right around the country, including showgrounds and club stays, all personally checked.
Shop CAMPS 13
The Camps Australia Wide App finds Personally Checked sites near wherever you are, works offline when you lose coverage, and lets you filter for your setup. It is $14.99 a year, and most travellers tell us it pays for itself on the first night of the trip.
Get the Camps Australia Wide AppA little planning goes a long way. A few simple habits help every time.
Many Queensland showgrounds open their grounds to self-contained travellers and caravans for a small fee, especially outside show week and events. Facilities vary, and grounds are often run by local committees. Check current availability in the Camps Australia Wide App and CAMPS 13.
It is usually low cost, often a small nightly fee paid to a caretaker or an honesty box, which helps the local show society. Prices vary, so check the listing or call ahead.
Often you can just turn up, but it pays to call ahead, especially around show dates and long weekends when grounds may be closed to campers or booked out.
Most have toilets, many have showers and power, and some have a dump point. Facilities are basic and vary a lot, so confirm what is available before you arrive.
Many are, since they are open grounds, but rules vary and some close to pets during events. Always check before you bring the dog.
Heading across the border? We have it covered there too.
Wherever the road takes you in Queensland, we hope you find a cracking spot and love it out there. For new sites as we check them, our free weekly newsletter is well worth a look.
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