Camping around the Gold Coast is great, but what about out west? Camping Plus explore new territory and head out to Toowoomba and surrounds to check out the best camping spots out west. Camping in Toowoomba and Murphy’s Creek is a great option for anyone seeking new adventures in the south east Queensland region. We’ve found three of our favorite Toowoomba camping and Murphy’s Creek Camping sites that are perfect for campers and caravanners alike.

Crows Nest is an 18km² national park on the Darling Downs, the area is dominated by granite rocks with domed outcrops. The vegetation in the park is mostly open eucalypt forest.

Location

Turn off the New England Highway at the police station at Crows Nest (44km north of Toowoomba) and take the sealed road 6km to the park. About 6km east of Crows Nest, 50km north of Toowoomba.

What’s special

After good rain, water tumbles through eucalypt forest along a series of boulder-strewn cascades, before plunging 20m over Crows Nest Falls into a waterhole surrounded by steep, granite cliffs.

Crows Nest National Park protects spectacular creek scenery, granite outcrops, a scenic waterfall and eucalypt forest in the headwaters of Crows Nest Creek on the Great Dividing Range west of Brisbane.

Few places have such a wonderful variety of eucalypt trees from gums to stringybarks, bloodwoods and ironbarks, delighting even the most amateur naturalist. The park is a haven for wildlife including platypus, swamp wallabies, echidnas, bandicoots, lace monitors, birds, and the brush-tailed rock-wallaby, which is vulnerable to extinction in Queensland.

Camping and Accommodation

Camp beneath the eucalypts in the small bush camping area which has unpowered tent and caravan sites, pit toilets, wood barbecues and ‘boil-your-own-water’ showers. Camping permits are required and fees apply.

A range of holiday accommodation is also available in and around Crows Nest, Toowoomba and the Hampton and Ravensbourne areas.

Walking

Take a creek-side walk to waterholes and to lookouts with spectacular views.

Tracks lead from the picnic area and follow the steep-sided gorge in the upper reaches of Crows Nest Creek to a lookout overlooking Crows Nest Falls. Continue to Koonin Lookout for an impressive view over a deeper gorge known locally as the Valley of Diamonds.

Explore around the creek, but be careful. Rocks and stepping-stones can be slippery, especially after rain.

For more information on the park visit the DNRM website.

Second, on our list is the Murphy’s Creek campground. This is an exciting campground with plenty of activities on offer for the whole family.

Location

Murphy’s Creek is a picturesque campground offering powered, non-powered and remote camping on large sites within an amazing natural bush setting.  Only 1 ½ hours from Brisbane and 30 minutes from Toowoomba, camping doesn’t get any better in South East Queensland!  

Take your time to explore the area, take a dip in the inland seasonal sandy beach, try any one of the many adventure activities (235 metre flying fox, ropes course, archery or abseiling), don’t forget your bike to test the mountain bike tracks, have a  BBQ or picnic or relax under the trees with a book, cook a damper and spin a yarn around your own open campfire, or simply enjoy a beverage on the banks of Murphy’s Creek.  

Accommodation and Camping

At Murphy’s Creek Camping, there are many types of campsites such as:

1. Powered Sites
2. Unpowered Sites
3. Remote Sites
4. Army Tents
5. Permanent Sites (for caravans and the like)

Facilities

Camp kitchen with fridge-freezer, microwave, and a large bonfire ring for campfire cooking, BBQ area with seating, coin-operated laundry, flushing toilets and hot showers, playground, a kiosk for gas and basic provisions, fenced paddocks for your own horse. You are also allowed to bring your dogs. 

Activities

The activities on offer at Murphy’s Creek are immense and great fun for the whole family. Some activities that Murphy’s creek camping offers are;

1. Ropes Courses
2. Abseiling
3. Flying Fox
4. Swimming 
5. Hiking
6. Archery
7. Mountain Biking
8. Bird Feeding
9. Cliff Walk 

Whether you have a large family and kids to entertain or just want to relax in a beautiful bush setting, Murphy’s Creek is worth a visit. For more information about this campsite visit their website.

This great little camping spot boasts excellent camping and caravanning – just turn up and pitch your tent or caravan in one of the 50 camping spots at just $25 per night.

Location

This campground is located in the picturesque Lockyer Valley. Lake Dyer Campground is about 50 km east of Toowoomba. It’s a shaded camp and campground with lake views.

Facilities

Toilets, hot showers, gas and wood BBQs, covered picnic tables, tap water, boat ramp, playground nearby, managers on site.

Activities

Kayaking or canoeing, BBQ, swimming, and fishing. The park is not too far from the Crows Nest national park, so if you’re up to explore the national park and do some hikes, this campsite can be a great base for you.

Get out and enjoy the west

Now that you have a few options to stay at and explore what the darling downs has to offer, time to get out there and enjoy it. Of course, if you need any gear for your adventure in the Toowoomba and Murphy’s Creek campgrounds then visit our online store.