ALSO, HERVEYS RANGE ROAD .. NORTH WEST OF TOWNSVILLE.
This is part of the Bruce highway (Highway 1), and forms part of the main (east) coastal highway system.
It has some passing lanes, a fair number of truck parking bays, and more recently signed car parking bays
adjacent to highway.
Most councils/shires in this section have erected numerous "no camping"
signs in likely parking spots .. particularly so in beach areas.
0 km (393.0 km) MACKAY. Centre of Ron Camm bridge, PIONEER RIVER.
[1.6 km]
1.6 km (391.4 km) NORTHERN BEACHES, Mt. PLEASANT SHOPPING CENTRE .. turn to
north. Shopping centre not recommended for anything larger than small motorhomes.
[6.4 km]
8.0 km (385.0 km) FARLEIGH town.
[3.4 km]
11.4 km (381.6 km) MOBIL ROADHOUSE north east side. Reasonable fuel prices.
[6.2 km]
17.6 km (375.4 km) THE LEAP. Top of hill.
[0.6 km]
18.2 km (374.8 km) THE LEAP HOTEL .. north east side .. interesting looking old hotel!
[0.6 km]
18.8 km (374.2 km) SEAFORTH turn off .. north east side. Access to a number of caravan
parks .. Seaforth, Halliday Bay, Cape Hillsborough.
[6.9 km]
25.7 km (367.3 km) MARIAN Road to south .. shortcut to Mackay - Eungella Road.
[3.4 km]
29.1 km (363.9 km) KUTTABUL .. old country style hotel to north east of highway.
Carvan park at side .. towards the rear.
[1.6 km]
30.7 km (362.3 km) KUTTABUL .. store, fuel, pay phone to south west of highway.
[2.4 km]
33.1 km (359.9 km) PALM TREE CREEK REST AREA .. south west side of highway.
Class 5. 21° 01.670'S 148° 53.561'E Hema map 9, D 8.
Toilets, tables, shade, non potable water, BBQ, rubbish bins, OK big
rigs, drive through area.
[3.1 km]
36.2 km (356.8 km) JOLIMONT Caravan Park north east side. $5.50 pppn.
[8.3 km]
44.5 km (348.5 km) MIRANI - Mt. OSSA Road, south west side of highway.
BOULDER CREEK (Class 1 parking) may be accessed by sealed road to Mt.
Charlton .. 15.1 km, then turn right into road to Calen, Boulder Creek is
1.8 km via a gravel road.
[8.8 km]
53.3 km (339.7) CALEN .. Mt. CHARLTON - CALEN Road south west side of highway.
Old store on west side of corner .. unusual worth a look .. everything from
proverbial needle to anchor. Also pub with meals near by.
-----------------------------
Turning south west at Calen on Mt. Charlton Road.
BOULDER CREEK may be accessed by 12.3 km (some single lane) sealed, then 6.4km gravel road.
BOULDER CREEK .. directions as per above .. also accessible from Mirani. Parking on south west side of
road. Medium size garss area with slight slope. Toilet and some facilities opposite.
Maintained by local farmers in memory of Warren John Jackson.
* Class 1. 21° 00.547'S 148° 43.181'E Hema map 9, D 8.
Toilet, tables, some shade, water from creek, BBQ, 25m max from road but little night traffic
OK big rigs, no reasonable time limit, good TV, weak CDMA.
------------------------------
MACKAY TO TOWNSVILLE .. continued.
[18.7 km]
72.0 km (321.0 km) CATHU STATE FOREST to west .. gravel road 12.5 km.
* Class 1 ($4 pppn) 20° 47.877'S 148° 32.602'E Hema map 8, C 7.
Toilet, tables, shade, water (boil), BBQ, Medium size rigs just OK.
TV .. poor video, sound OK. Managed by Qld. Parks & Wildlife Service.
[8.6 km]
80.6 km (312.4 km) Truck parking .. west side. Sealed drive through section parallel to highway.
Class 2. 20° 44.403'S. 148° 36.290'E. Hema map 8, C 7.
No shade, rubbish bins, OK big rigs, 30m max from 100 kph highway .. noisy.
Sealed road off to the south .. signed Taranga .. couple of parking spots along
this road. Puts embankment between highway, so should be quieter.
[4.3 km]
84.9 km (308.1 km) BLOOMSBY .. roadhouse .. normally best fuel price this area.
Midge Point .. turn to east. This road loops back to highway at a point 17 km
north. 2 caravan parks at Midge Pt. One is CMCA friendly!
------------------------------
HERB WINTON PARK .. north of Midge Point .. on the coast.
Class 5. 20° 38.039'S 148° 41.603'E Hema map 9, C 8.
Table, some shade, water, OK big rigs.
------------------------------
MACKAY TO TOWNSVILLE .. continued.
[12.2 km]
97.1 km (295.9 km) TRUCK PARKING .. east side .. now 20 hr. limit, June '04.
Class 2 (20 hours). 20° 36.593'E 148° 36.679'E. Hema map 8, C 7.
Little shade, rubbish bin, large drive through area, 35m max. from 100 kph highway.
[4.5 km]
101.6 km (291.4 km) MIDGE POINT .. NORTHERN ENTRANCE to east. Laguna
Keys access. Road loops back to highway further south at Bloomsby.
[1.2 km]
102.8 km (290.2 km) O'Connel River .. caravan park to south .. good reports May 2004.
[11.9 km]
114.7 km (278.3 km) Proserpine airport .. turn to west.
[9.0 km]
123.7 km (269.3 km) PROSERPINE turn west - this is the main street of the town.
* PROSERPINE SHOWGROUND .. continue down main St., across railway line, take
Jupp St. to left, continue to end. Council caravan park to left. Enter
showground, caretakers residence to left. They take "overflow" from caravan
park, also big rigs and people with large animals. Seem happy with any
custom! ? fee $6 pvpn (charged our CMCA chapter) or $6 pppn. powered.
Class 1. 20° 24.391'S 148° 34.11'E Hema map 8, C 7.
Toilets, showers, shade, water, rubbish bins, quiet, OK big rigs. CLOSED MAY '05.
NOTE: Checked again May '06 .. still closed by order Proserpine Council! Strongly suggest
suggest driving straight through Proserpine area due to above and closure of Rodeo Ground north.
[1.2 km]
124.9 km (268.1 km) AIRLIE BEACH to east. Access to Whitsunday Islands via
Shute Harbour.
[6.1 km]
131.0 km (262.0 km) CARAVAN PARK, west side.
[5.6 km]
136.6 km (256.4 km) AIRLIE and DINGO Beaches turn to east.
[7.3 km]
143.9 km (249.1 km) RODEO GROUND .. west side. No sign on highway, but turn off is at the top of a
slight rise in the highway. Very large level area. INFO .. CLOSED MAY '05, still closed May '06.
* Class 1 ($5 pvpn powered) 20° 16.841'S 148° 28.989'E Hema map 8, B 7.
Toilets, showers, no shade, water, OK big rigs, 200m from highway, good TV and CDMA.
[2.6 km]
146.5 km (246.5 km) Ten Mile Creek.
[28.4 km]
174.9 km (218.1 km) FRUIT and VEGETABLE STALL (Bowen Farm Shop) .. west side.
Class 3 or 4 (Class 2 with permission). 20° 07.343'S 148° 15.141'E. Hema map 8, B 7.
Table, shade, medium size drive through area, OK big rigs, 50m max. from 100 kph highway. Dam on
northern edge, numerous (private) tracks .. farm trial bike rides! NOTE: appeared closed May '06.
[5.1 km]
180.0 km (213.0 km) Rest area .. covered tables, rubbish bins.
[4.1 km]
184.1 km (208.9 km) BOWEN REST AREA .. east side .. small area between highway and bay.
Class 5 (strictly policed by caravan park). 20° 02.764'S. 148° 13.750'E. Hema map 8, B 7.
Toilets, covered tables, shade. water (just inside entrance on left), rubbish bins, OK
medium size rigs, large ones park outside. Info centre, public phone, caravan park opposite.
[4.3 km]
188.4 km (204.6 km) BOWEN turn off, town straight ahead. Highway north, turn
west (left). Bowen airstrip on corner.
[2.0 km]
190.4 km (202.6 km) FRUIT and VEGETABLE BARN .. southern side.
Class 4 or 5 (Class 2 with permission). 28° 01.084'S 148° 12.362'E. Hema map 8, B 7.
Tables, some shade, water, rubbish bins, 50m max. from 80 kph highway. Best parking
south east corner, drive through (around and behind building) area.
[1.6 km]
192.0 km (201.0 km) Collinsville .. turn off south.
[42.4 km]
234.4 km (158.6 km) GUTHALUNGRA REST AREA .. servo to south, good fuel price.
* Class 2. 19° 55.402'S. 147° 50. 561'E. Hema map 8, B 6.
Toilets, tables, very little shade, water signed "for washing only", BBQ, rubbish bins, 50m max from
highway .. ? noisy with truck traffic, railway opposite. OK big rigs as drive around area,
now (May '06) signed 20 hours maximum, good TV, good CDMA.
[15.6 km]
250.0 km (143.0 km) MONGALORE CREEK turn east.
6 km to Fishing/Boating Club, Caravan Park. $10 pvpn, unpowered.
* Class 1. Forgot to take lat. and long. Hema map 8, B 6.
All caravan park facilities, boat ramp, floating pontoon jetty, interesting
large channel been bulldozed to ocean.
[1.6 km]
251.6 km (141.4 km) GUMLU to west, across railway line, caravan park.
[11.2 km]
262.8 km (130.2 km) REST AREA to east. 2 medium size gravel loops.
Class 2. 19° 50.099'S. 147° 35.663'E. Hema map 8, B 6.
Covered tables, some shade, 35m max. from highway, OK big rigs as drive through.
[9.1 km]
277.3 km (121.1 km) Yellow Gin Creek.
[0.1 km]
277.4 km (121.0 km) Turn off east .. signed "Town of Wungunja" .. travel 12.3 km over gravel
road to "Funny Dunny Park". Medium size level area.
* Class 2. 19° 45.154'S. 147° 35.754'E. Hema map 8, A 6.
Toilet, covered tables, some shade, non potable water, wood BBQ,s and fireplaces, OK big
rigs, good TV and CDMA, donation box, 200m from ocean.
[2.0 km]
279.4 km (119.0 km) Saltwater Creek.
[3.8 km]
277.8 km (115.2 km) INKERMAN servo to east. Reports of inexpensive cooking gas refills .. $2 per kg.
Gravel road leads to fishing spot and on to Groper Creek.
[0.6 km]
278.4 km (114.6 km) INKERMAN ROAD .. 2 km to lookout at top of hill. From
memory, road somewhat steep and narrow. Suggest OK small motorhomes
(confirmed July '04), ? possible to park overnight, good views.
[5.9 km]
284.3 km (108.7 km) CHARLES HILL ROAD .. signed WWII radar site.
PARKING AREA on NE corner of intersection, irrigation channel at rear.
* Class 3. 19° 42.627'S. 147° 26.951'E. Hema map 8, A 6.
No facilities, some shade, mango and pine trees
150m max from highway, some noise. OK big rigs .. large level area.
------------------------------
0 km Turn east off highway.
1.5 km Turn south off sealed Rd.
2.0 km Top of hill. Gravel road .. RADAR SITE ex WWII .. 2 concrete
buildings, some antenna foundations remain.
* Class 3. 19° 42.999'S. 147° 27.871'E. (40m asl) Hema map 8, A 6.
No facilities, good views.
-----------------------------
MACKAY TO TOWNSVILLE .. continued.
[5.6 km]
289.9 km (103.1 km) GROPER CREEK turn off, REST AREA turn east off highway,
and adjacent to race track.
Class 3 ?. 19° 40.252'S. 147° 25.116'E. Hema map 8, A 6.
Toilets, some shade, WATER on south side of toilet block, BBQ, rubbish bins, 150m max
from highway, OK big rigs. Servo opposite.
------------------------------
0 km TURN OFF east of highway.
15 km GROPER CREEK CARAVAN PARK.
* Class 1 (caravan park) 19° 41.456'S. 147° 31.877'E. Hema map 8, A 6.
Toilets, shade, water, power, rubbish bins, phone, quiet, OK big rigs.
Interesting area, buildings/phone box/power outlets elevated 3m or so
above ground due to possibility of floods.
NOTE May '06: Info from others .. turn west at above servo, across railway line for Home Hill Showground.
Apparently OK to stay longish term with WATER and power at $5 pvpn .. mentioned, no garbage collection.
------------------------------
MACKAY TO TOWNSVILLE .. continued.
[0.6 km]
290.5 km (102.5 km) HOME HILL POST OFFICE.
[0.1 km]
290.6 km (102.4 km) "Comfort Spot" .. west side. Access from service road or from road at rear
where it is opposite the railway station.. Opened June '04.
* Class 1 (May '06). 19° 39.929'S. 147° 24.853'E (at rear). Hema map 8, A 6.
Toilets, hot showers, covered tables, WATER .. containers only as non threaded taps, electric BBQ's, rubbish bins,
noisy from rail traffic, OK big rigs parking beside road, being signed 48 hour maximum, good TV, good CDMA.
Nice clean facilities so suggest patronise town. Time limit just extended from 24 to 48 hours (May '06).
[2.4 km]
293.0 km (100.0 km) LIONS PARK REST AREA to east. Probably Class 5 .. in busy area.
[1.3 km]
294.3 km (98.7 km) BURDEKIN RIVER .. centre of bridge. This bridge carries rail and road traffic.
[6.5 km]
300.8 km (92.2 km) ROTARY PARK REST AREA east side.
Class 5. Hema map 8, A 6.
Toilets, tables, shade, rubbish bins.
[1.3 km]
302.1 km (90.9 km) POST OFFICE, AYR.
[0.6 km]
302.7 km (90.3 km) in main street Ayr, turn left for Townsville.
Large Coles supermarket 2 blocks along, north side, with parallel parking along
highway, north side .. handy for shopping. Discount Woolworths fuel opposite.
[8.6 km]
311.3 km (81.7 km) REST AREA south side.
Class 5. Hema map 8, A 5.
Toilets, tables. Used for "driver reviver" on long weekends.
[20.3 km]
331.6 km (61.4 km) GREENACRES servo and fruit barn. Fuel least expensive in this area.
[5.9 km]
337.5 km (55.5 km) GIRU to north via Shirbourne Road.
[3.4 km]
340.9 km (52.1 km) WOODSTOCK to south, 32 km, short cut to Charters Towers etc.
GIRU to north, 4 km.
------------------------------
GIRU REST AREA (ACTUALLY A PARK) .. 2 blocks behind PO/store, cnr. Brook & Walton Streets.
about 200m north of mill chimneys & south of railway line. Large level grassed area.
* Class 1. 19° 30.783'S. 147° 06.479'E. Hema map 8, A 5.
Toilets, showers, shade, WATER, rubbish bin, washing tub, 100m max from railway, some noise,
OK big rigs, no time limit noted, but use discretion, good TV, good CDMA, emergency helio pad.
------------------------------
[29.3 km]
370.2 km (22.8 km) Aligator Creek CALTEX ROADHOUSE, west side with large sealed level parking bay to south,
and grassed area further south. Laundry/rest rooms/facilities mid way along west side of parking area.
* Class 2. 19° 22.98' S. 146° 55.81' E. Hema map 8, A 5.
Toilets, showers, WATER at rest rooms, 80m max from highway .. some noise, OK big rigs, good TV, good CDMA.
[12.2 km]
382.4 km (10.6 km) INFO CENTRE .. south side.
Class 5. Toilets, showers .. donation box!. Hours 9 till 5.
[2.5 km]
384.9 km (8.1 km) BP ROADHOUSE, north side, large parking area.
Class 2 ? with permission, Hema map 8, A 5.
Roadhouse facilities, 150m max from highway., OK big rigs.
[0.7 km]
385.6 km (7.4 km) CHARTERS TOWERS Road. Turn south (left) for Charters Towers,
north (right) for Townsville city .. this is actually the old highway.
[7.4 km]
393.0 km (0 km) TOWNSVILLE .. ROSS RIVER Road, crosses highway. Taken as
centre of Townsville as highway now bypasses main part of city.
NOTE: May '06 .. new ring road .. from south enter from centre lane near hospital (signed) .. travels over Ross River
south of Thuringowa thence to main intersection at Thuringowa where one may turn left (west) into Herveys Range Road.
(Ross River Road is to the east). Travel 17.4 km to Black River Road on right (north) .. follow that 12.5 km to Bruce
Highway well north of Townsville .. thus bypassing the bulk of the Townsville traffic.
INFO ON ROSS RIVER DAM and HERVEYS RANGE ROAD.
0 km (131.6 km) Turn west along Ross River Road for Ross River Dam and Herveys Range Road (or use ring road described above).
[4.4 km]
4.4 km (127.2 km) .. Willows Shopping Centre.
--------------------
For Ross River Dam turn left at The Willows, Upper Ross River Road parallels the river, and after about 11 km, Ross River Dam
is on the left. Large level parking area where a CMCA mini rally was held. Apparently closed for construction work till ?2008.
Class 3?, but suspect locked at times. 19° 24.542'S. 146° 44.051'E. Hema map 8, A 5.
Toilets, shade, WATER, BBQ, rubbish bins, OK big rigs, good TV and CDMA.
DUMP POINT (maybe locked!!) + WATER .. left side of first entrance road.
19° 24.472'S. 146° 44.009'E. Hema map 8, A 5.
--------------------
HERVEYS RANGE ROAD .. continued.
Continuing west at The Willows along Harveys Range Road .. all sealed as from about mid 2005.
[17.4 km]
21.8 km (109.8 km) Junction .. north side .. Black River Road .. 12.5 km to Bruce Highway well north of Townsville.
There is a large cleared grassy area on the north east corner of the junction with a dirt track cutting off
the corner and accessible from each end .. offers a dry weather parking/overnight possibility.
Class 3. Hema map 8, A 5. Level area, no shade, 20m from roads, Ok big rigs.
[7.0 km]
28.8 km (102.8 km) Large truck inspection bays .. both sides of road.
[3.2 km]
32.0 km (99.6 km) Large gravel pit/parking area noted .. north side.
[12.2 km] Part of which is travelling up the range!
44.2 km (87.4 km) Level gravel area adjacent to road .. east side.
* Class 3. 19° 24.75' S. 146° 25.01' E. Hema map 8, A 4.
Small level gravel area, no shade, 20m max to road, OK one big rig, TV OK, no CDMA.
[14.8 km]
59.0 km (72.6 km) Keelbottom Creek .. info from a local T'ville traveller is that the track on the eastern side of the road
and on the northern side of the bridge is usable for motorhomes into a distance of 50 metres. The turn off the
main road looked difficult and the track looked narrow and muddy at the time of our visit, so we avoided it!
[9.8 km]
68.8 km (62.8 km) Junction .. south west side .. signed Mingella 68 kms.
[1.3 km]
70.1 km (61.5 km) Junction .. north east side ..a principal entrance to the military area.
[43.7 km]
113.8 km (17.8 km) Burdekin River .. large bridge.
[12.1 km]
125.9 km (5.7 km) Signed "historic site" .. north side .. picnic area for smallish vehicles.
[5.7 km]
131.6 km (0 km) Junction .. Gregory Development Road .. south to Fletcher Creek and Charters Towers, north to The Lynd etc.
signed to Townsville 126 km.
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