Free camping in Emerald? (Nogoa River camp is now closed)
Campfire said
03:05 AM Feb 29, 2012
Hi All,
A few of us are meeting up in Emerald in March, we were going to camp at the Nogoa River camp under the bridge but that's has been closed due to flood damage.
Does anyone know of any other free camping in the Emerald area?
Thanks and cheers
Cate
Dougwe said
03:58 AM Feb 29, 2012
The various floods around the country are really causing problems all round. I really feel for all those people that live in the flooded areas.
Cruising Granny said
03:59 AM Feb 29, 2012
I don't know if there's free camping at Lake Marboon, but there's a well-run caravan park there. There are a few spots in the region but you'd have to refer to the Camps book to confirm. Much of that country has been affected by flood, and because it's so flat and lyw-lying it takes a long time to dry out. I was up there for Christmas after the previous floods, and they've had floods or heavy rain again since. You need to find some high ground, maybe in the Springsure area would be better. Good luck and have fun.
justcruisin01 said
04:41 AM Feb 29, 2012
Campfire wrote:
Hi All,
A few of us are meeting up in Emerald in March, we were going to camp at the Nogoa River camp under the bridge but that's has been closed due to flood damage.
Does anyone know of any other free camping in the Emerald area?
Thanks and cheers
Cate
We have not been to this one but friends stayed there last year & said it was ok.
Camps 5
No 331 Higher ground homestay.
16 kl SW of Emerald.
JC.
OZKiteman said
03:05 PM Feb 29, 2012
Was under the bridge 3 months ago. Any amount of rain is enough to transform the place into a mud flat (Council closes the area when that happens). Took us a week to get car and caravan clean of all that mud.
Lake Maraboon Caravan Park (Top Tourist chain) is 20 Km out of Emerald. Good Caravan Park but very expensive. Plates and signs everywhere around the lake tell if you free camp, you will be killed, prosecuted, sent to Siberia, or any other nightmare-style outcome of such a terrible act.
Closest option for free camp is in Sapphire, 50 Km west of Emerald. (about 45 min drive) Can stay up to 48 hours.
The best thing for us in Emerald was the new Coles supermarket with warm and fresh bread every hour, not to mention the Giant Pacific Crab for $ 35 half (huge). So we had crab sandwich for breakfast, lunch and dinner for about 4 consecutive days.
Cheers.
Ma said
03:27 PM Feb 29, 2012
Yeah, OK, rub it in. Us poor people down here in rainy Victoria pay heaps more for crab and that's not the giant variety. I REALLY hope you enjoyed it.......
Bear50 said
09:51 PM Feb 29, 2012
Not free but cheap. The fossicing area at Saphire is only a few dollars per day. I have seen groups camping near the "Blue Hollow Mine" at Rifle Range area. The general store is handy. Rubyvale is just a little further up the road with a good pub and meals. Good cheap potable water nearby. All 40 km from Emerald
Cruising Granny said
02:17 AM Mar 1, 2012
There's always the Caltex truck service centre. Showers, washing machines, driers and lots of trucks. The showers are clean and more like an ensuite than just a shower cubicle. The caravan park has amenities with shower, toilet and heaps of room. All very clean.
the rocket said
02:25 AM Mar 1, 2012
OZKiteman wrote:
Was under the bridge 3 months ago. Any amount of rain is enough to transform the place into a mud flat (Council closes the area when that happens). Took us a week to get car and caravan clean of all that mud.
Lake Maraboon Caravan Park (Top Tourist chain) is 20 Km out of Emerald. Good Caravan Park but very expensive. Plates and signs everywhere around the lake tell if you free camp, you will be killed, prosecuted, sent to Siberia, or any other nightmare-style outcome of such a terrible act.
Closest option for free camp is in Sapphire, 50 Km west of Emerald. (about 45 min drive) Can stay up to 48 hours.
The best thing for us in Emerald was the new Coles supermarket with warm and fresh bread every hour, not to mention the Giant Pacific Crab for $ 35 half (huge). So we had crab sandwich for breakfast, lunch and dinner for about 4 consecutive days.
Cheers.
now that's a top breakfast. rocket n strop
the rocket said
02:28 AM Mar 1, 2012
Have been there. There is a "country character" there. A fellow in his 20's who lives rough up the river a bit and sits and walks around the gardens. He is vision impaired so if you see him, stop and say hello, he is a generous character and a joy to have a chat to. Anyone else seen him? rocket n strop
Campfire said
04:59 AM Mar 1, 2012
Thanks everyone for all the good information, we're a clever bunch aren't we!!!!!!
We need to stay in Emerald because we're attending a 3 day celebration starting on 16/3. We don't want a long drive in and out of Emerald everyday. I was there about a month ago when the river was flooded, and just about everywhere else.
There's two good van parks in Emerald (and one shocker, trust me I've stayed there) but you know what it's like............free camps are free.........We'll just have to bite the bullet and pay.
Thanks again
Cheers from Longreach, Cate
Dunmowin said
05:52 AM Mar 1, 2012
Have stayed in both c/parks in Emerald. Needed power, therefore no free camping that week. South side was cheap & nasty, but not so bad afterall. Northside was same price, clean and well kept. Made many GN friends in Emerald.
Hi All,
A few of us are meeting up in Emerald in March, we were going to camp at the Nogoa River camp under the bridge but that's has been closed due to flood damage.
Does anyone know of any other free camping in the Emerald area?
Thanks and cheers
Cate
There are a few spots in the region but you'd have to refer to the Camps book to confirm.
Much of that country has been affected by flood, and because it's so flat and lyw-lying it takes a long time to dry out.
I was up there for Christmas after the previous floods, and they've had floods or heavy rain again since. You need to find some high ground, maybe in the Springsure area would be better.
Good luck and have fun.
We have not been to this one but friends stayed there last year & said it was ok.
Camps 5
No 331 Higher ground homestay.
16 kl SW of Emerald.
JC.
Was under the bridge 3 months ago. Any amount of rain is enough to transform the place into a mud flat (Council closes the area when that happens). Took us a week to get car and caravan clean of all that mud.
Lake Maraboon Caravan Park (Top Tourist chain) is 20 Km out of Emerald. Good Caravan Park but very expensive. Plates and signs everywhere around the lake tell if you free camp, you will be killed, prosecuted, sent to Siberia, or any other nightmare-style outcome of such a terrible act.
Closest option for free camp is in Sapphire, 50 Km west of Emerald. (about 45 min drive) Can stay up to 48 hours.
The best thing for us in Emerald was the new Coles supermarket with warm and fresh bread every hour, not to mention the Giant Pacific Crab for $ 35 half (huge). So we had crab sandwich for breakfast, lunch and dinner for about 4 consecutive days.
Cheers.
Yeah, OK, rub it in. Us poor people down here in rainy Victoria pay heaps more for crab and that's not the giant variety. I REALLY hope you enjoyed it.......
The general store is handy. Rubyvale is just a little further up the road with a good pub and meals. Good cheap potable water nearby.
All 40 km from Emerald
The showers are clean and more like an ensuite than just a shower cubicle. The caravan park has amenities with shower, toilet and heaps of room. All very clean.
Have been there. There is a "country character" there. A fellow in his 20's who lives rough up the river a bit and sits and walks around the gardens. He is vision impaired so if you see him, stop and say hello, he is a generous character and a joy to have a chat to. Anyone else seen him? rocket n strop
Thanks everyone for all the good information, we're a clever bunch aren't we!!!!!!
We need to stay in Emerald because we're attending a 3 day celebration starting on 16/3. We don't want a long drive in and out of Emerald everyday. I was there about a month ago when the river was flooded, and just about everywhere else.
There's two good van parks in Emerald (and one shocker, trust me I've stayed there) but you know what it's like............free camps are free.........We'll just have to bite the bullet and pay.
Thanks again
Cheers from Longreach, Cate
Have stayed in both c/parks in Emerald. Needed power, therefore no free camping that week. South side was cheap & nasty, but not so bad afterall. Northside was same price, clean and well kept. Made many GN friends in Emerald.