Camping & caravan parks

RV travellers can deposit their wastewater (sewage) from caravans and RVs at either of Council's dumping sites:

• Manunda:  8-38 Macnamara Street. This site is available 7am to 4pm seven days a week, excluding public holidays.
• Gordonvale: Greenpatch Campground. Seasonal closures apply, please see below entry for more information.
• Babinda:  Rotary Park, Howard Kennedy Drive.

Visitors are not permitted to camp on Council-controlled land including roadsides, the Esplanade, cemeteries, public parks, car parks, sporting grounds, drainage reserves and beaches.

Camping includes persons staying overnight in vehicles, campervans, RVs, tents, hammocks and swags. People found camping illegally can receive a $309 on-the-spot fine.

To ensure fair use of our campgrounds, stays are limited to 72 hours and guests can not return to the same campground within 14 days of their last stay.

We provide the Greenpatch (Gordonvale), Babinda Rotary Park and Babinda Boulders campgrounds as free, short-term camping sites.

Length of stay

• The maximum length of stay is 72 hours (3 nights)
• Users may not return to the same campground within 14 days

General conditions

Use of the campgrounds are governed by the Land Act 1994 and Council’s Local Laws (No. 6 & 11).

Council officers routinely patrol these campgrounds to enforce the below rules.

A person must not:

1. Camp for more than 3 consecutive nights, after which a person must not return to the camping area to camp within 14 days of departure;

2. Reside or carry out domestic tasks in a caravan, tent or motorhome that is dilapidated, unsightly or overcrowded or unfit for use;

3. Light or maintain a fire in the open air except in a properly constructed fireplace approved by Council;

4. Engage in unlawful business, trade or occupation;

5. Display or exhibit advertising matter;

6. Park a caravan, motorhome or erect in a tent in a place that is not approved by Council;

7. Let or hire a caravan, motorhome cabin or tent to another person without written approval from Council;

8. Use hand washing facilities for purposes other than their intended use;

9. Lay down floor covering on the ground surface;

10. Damage, destroy or remove a tree, shrub or plant;

11. Dig a hole or trench;

12. Use a generator after 8:00pm and before 8:00am;

13. Damage or interfere with local government infrastructure;

14. Deposit or leave any refuse or rubbish anywhere other than in refuse or rubbish bins provided;

15. Not dispose of waste water appropriately;

16. Under Local Law No. 2 (Animal Management) 2015 it is an offence not to remove faeces of an animal and dogs must be on a lead at all times.

Anyone who fails to comply with these rules or Council’s Local Laws may be evicted.

Please report any issues to Council on 1300 692 247.

These rules are for the comfort and enjoyment of all camping ground users to ensure that everyone has a pleasant and enjoyable stay.