It’s the great Australian dream to travel the country in our very own RV or caravan, but at some point, the conveniences of wash down and sewer facilities will be requires. Here is a quick guide for the Atherton Tablelands, to make convenient the inconveniences of owning / driving the great Australian travelling home.
Public RV sanitary point dumps
The Atherton Caravan Dump Point is in Grove Street Road at the Atherton Sewerage Works Conveniently Grove St runs between Kennedy Highway (National Highway 1) and Kennedy Highway (52). Also conveniently the road to the sewerage works and the dump station has a nice easy turning circle. It’s free and can be accessed Monday to Friday 7.30am to 3.30pm. There’s a hose for cleaning.
The Yungaburra dump point in on Mulgrave Road at the Tablelands Regional Council depot. It’s easiest reached through Cedar St and then Penda Street.
The Mareeba RV dump point is in Doyle St Mareeba. Doyle St is probably best reached off Jacobsen/Keeble St off the Kennedy Highway. It’s behind the Leagues club and rodeo grounds.
Chillagoe’s RV dump point is in Frew St in the town’s rodeo grounds.
RV Sanitary Dump Points for Registered Guests and RV facilities
Starting in the north-west at Mt Carbine, Bustard Downs is an organic beef farm catering for tourists. This park like facility is just above the Mary River with 12 powered and unpowered sites. There’s drinkable water, vehicle wash down facilities, a communal fire place and safe swimming. Bustard Downs is at 61 & 93 East Mary Road, just off the Mulligan Highway.
Describing itself as a green oasis in Savannah Country, Mount Carbine Caravan Park has large shady sites with concrete slabs. There is free van storage if you want to explore without your caravan. There’s a creek for swimming in the wet and is surrounded by Brooklyn Station, owned by the Australian Wildlife Conservancy. The park is at 6806 Mulligan Highway, Mount Carbine.
Heading south, Mareeba has a choice of several holiday parks with sanitary dump facilities.
The Mareeba Rodeo Grounds at Kerribee Park are on the Mareeba-Dimbalah Road 3km out of Mareeba has a dump point. There are 100 powered sites and plenty of unpowered ones. It’s pet friendly.
Mareeba Bushy Stays on Chewko Rd is a natural style caravan park with some powered sites. The 150-acre park is in open bush land with panoramic views over the Atherton Tablelands. The park is at 822 Chewko Road, 8km from the centre of Mareeba and has a dump point.
Trinity Plains Tourist Park at 186 Tinaroo Creek Road has a dump point, a drinkable water connection and 50 powered sites including drive through sites available. Tinaroo Creek Rd is off Kennedy Highway, on the Kuranda side.
The other Mareeba park is Mareeba Riverside Caravan Park at 13 Eagan Street, which is just a short walk into the centre of town. It backs on to the Barron River and has 50 sites and excellent shade.
If you are heading into the bush, the Dimbulah Caravan Park has 22 powered sites and several unpowered ones. There’s a pool to use in the summer and gas and wood BBQs. It’s off the Burke Development Road.
Stopping in Tolga? The Tolga Cabin & Van Park on Kennedy Highway are at the northern end of the town. There are big, flat grassy sites, a playground and guests have access to the fitness equipment at the nearby sports complex. Tolga is just a 10-minute walk away.
If you want to stop in to the Atherton Tablelands’ biggest town – two spots have sanitary dump spots – Atherton Halloran’s Leisure park and BIG4 Atherton Woodlands Tourist Park.
Atherton Halloran’s Leisure Park is on 6.5 acres close to town and with a pool and powered and unpowered drive through sites. It’s on 12th Avenue just off the Kennedy Highway. BIG4 Atherton Woodlands Tourist Park on Herberton Road has powered and unpowered sites set in lush rainforest with a pool.
The other RV facility is Atherton Holiday Park at 64 Mountain View Drive. There are powered and unpowered van sites on level grassed areas, a pool and even some Caravan Ensuite sites available. It’s off the Gillies Range Road (52).
Bonadio RV & Nature Park sits beside the Barron River just off the Gillies Range Rd between Atherton and Yungaburra. There are powered and unpowered sites and water is available, as is a dump point.
If you are having a break in Yungaburra the Lakeside Motor Inn and Caravan Park is at 2 Tinaburra Drive, besides Lake Tinaroo. It has powered and unpowered sites, a pool and is about five minutes from the town.
Lake Tinaroo Holiday Park is at 28 Tinaroo Falls Dam Road, Tinaroo. This park has a pool, café and shop along with some lagoon side spots for camping. Some spaces have fire pits. It also sells fuel and hires out water craft such as stand up paddle bards and kayaks. It has a dump point.
Lake Eacham has a very simple park – just you and the great outdoors. Lake Eacham Caravan Park at 198 Lakes Drive has seven drive through powered sites on concrete slabs and others for smaller vehicles on grassy sites.
Malanda Falls Caravan Park is next to the Malanda Falls Environment Park, which has virgin native rainforest. It has grassed and slabbed powered and unpowered sites. As well as being on the edge of a wildlife sanctuary it has its own animal nursery and has private access to the falls. It’s at 38 Park Rd off the Malanda-Atherton Rd. It has a dump point.
Millaa Millaa Tourist Park has seven acres of rainforest gardens and lush grassed surrounds. It has a powered and unpowered sites, swimming pool and is pet friendly. It’s located on the corner of Lodge Avenue and the Millaa Millaa-Atherton Road.
Heading to Herberton? Wild River Caravan Park at Herberton has 15 powered and unpowered sites and a sheltered meeting pace with a fire pit. Watch the birds get feed morning and night in this quiet semi forested area. It’s located at 23 Holdcroft Drive. This is about 1km from The Historic Village Herberton and 2km from Herberton on the Atherton side of the town. It has a dump point.
Down the road at Ravenshoe, the Ravenshoe Railway Caravan Park is as its name suggests is near the steam railway depot. There are 50 powered and unpowered sites at the 63 Grigg Street location. It’s close to town, is pet friendly and has a dump point.
Tall Timbers Motel and Caravan Park at 13185 Kennedy Highway, Ravenshoe is an affordable facility set on 12 acres. It is pet friendly and has powered and unpowered sites.
Out west, Mount Garnet Travellers Park is dog friendly and has powered and unpowered sites as well as fire pits with wood available. It’s on Nymbool Road to the south of the town. Lots of shade, drive through sites and in well-established gardens which attract the wildlife.
Also in the area is Pinnarendi Station Stay & Café. Situated just before Forty Mile Scrub on Kennedy Highway this RV park offers 10 bush camping sites on a working cattle station. It calls itself a camping ground with basic facilities, but it has its own restaurant: the Brick Oven which does an amazing array of food including smoked meats and home baking.
Undara Bush Breakfast @undara.experience
Undara Experience Caravan Park & Outback Camp Ground is its own little village in the Undara Volcanic National Park on the Savannah Way. There are 38 powered van sites, with 22 drive through and nine unpowered sites. Pets are not allowed. The site has a pool and individual campfire pits, with wood for sale. The resort also has a restaurant and shop. Undara is off the Gulf Developmental Rd (National Highway 1).
In gorge country, Cobbold Village on Agate Creek Road at Forsayth has both powered and unpowered sites including terraced drive through and ensuite options. There are several different locations throughout the extensive park guests can stop for the night. Pets under supervision are welcome. There’s a pool, restaurant, bar and firepit among the facilities.
