Blencoe Falls camping area

Blencoe Falls camping area sits in open woodland on the rim of the Herbert River gorge in Girringun National Park, Far North Queensland. The campground overlooks one of the state's tallest waterfalls — a 320-metre drop in two stages into the gorge below — and the camping is the kind of remote, 4WD-only, no-facilities experience most national park camps lost decades ago. Private sites are scattered along the creek; group sites sit in the larger open woodland.

Getting there#

Trailhead and access: Blencoe Falls Road, off the Kennedy Development Road, accessed from Mount Garnet or Cardwell.

This is genuinely 4WD-only access — a high-clearance vehicle is essential. The track has rough bedrock sections, creek crossings (depth depends on recent rain), and steep grades on the descent. Towing is not recommended; caravans are not permitted.

Drive options:

• From Cardwell (~75 km, 2.5 hours) — west on the Kennedy Development Road, then north on Blencoe Falls Road. The most common approach for east-coast visitors.
• From Mount Garnet (~70 km, 2.5 hours) — south-east via the Kennedy Development Road through dry tropical savannah.
• From Cairns (~290 km, 5 hours total) — Bruce Highway south to Cardwell, then west.
• From Townsville (~270 km, 4.5 hours total) — Bruce Highway north to Cardwell, then west.

Track conditions are regularly closed during the wet season (December to April). Always check the QPWS park alerts page before setting out. Mobile reception is non-existent on the track and at camp.

Sites and facilities#

Open woodland sites and private creek-side sites, all multi-use for tents, camper trailers, and walk-in camping. Caravans are not permitted. Group sites available for larger parties.

Check-in is from 2pm; check-out is before 11am.

On site:

• Hybrid (non-flushing) toilets — some sites are 100+ metres away, so QPWS recommends carrying a portable toilet
• Bring-your-own campfires permitted (conditions apply; check fire bans)
• Generators allowed (with conditions)
• No tap water
• No power, no showers, no barbecue plates, no picnic tables

Bring with you:

• All drinking water — 25 L+ per person, longer trips need more
• A portable toilet for convenience
• Recovery gear and a tyre repair kit — the track is unforgiving on tyres
• A reliable two-way radio if travelling alone (no mobile reception)
• Fuel stove as backup for fire-ban days
• Insect repellent and lightweight long sleeves

Dogs are not permitted in Girringun National Park.

Nearest town and supplies#

• Cardwell (~75 km, 2.5 hours east) — the practical resupply town. IGA, fuel, takeaway shops, and the only meaningful service stop between camp and the coast.
• Mount Garnet (~70 km, 2.5 hours north-west) — small inland town with fuel and a basic general store.
• Ingham (~110 km, 3 hours south-east) — full supermarkets (Woolworths), hardware, hospital. The right place for serious supplies if you're approaching from the south.
• Cairns or Townsville — last-chance airports and full retail, both around 5 hours away.

The pragmatic plan: shop in Ingham or Cardwell, fuel up, then commit to the track. Once you leave the Kennedy Development Road, you are properly remote.

What to do at Blencoe Falls#

• Blencoe Falls lookout — a short walk from the campground to the lookout over the falls, which drop 320 metres in two stages.
• Blencoe Gorge swimming holes — natural pools above the falls for cooling off on hot dry-season days. Always check water levels and conditions.
• Wildlife spotting — Girringun holds threatened species including spotted-tailed quolls, southern cassowaries (in nearby rainforest), and a strong diurnal birdlife.
• Stargazing — no light pollution for tens of kilometres. The Milky Way is shockingly bright.
• Photography — the falls in early morning light with the gorge mist rising is the headline shot.

Best time to visit#

• Dry season (May–October) is the only sensible camping window. Track conditions are good, days are 22–28°C, nights are mild, rain is minimal.
• Late dry (September) is the driest month with just 13mm average rainfall and stable warm weather.
• Shoulder (April, November) is variable — track may be open or closed depending on the wet season's behaviour.
• Wet season (December–March) is impractical. Monthly rainfall averages 170–300mm, the track is regularly impassable, and the falls thunder but the access is closed.

Tropical Queensland averages 29°C dry-season days / 12–14°C dry-season nights at Blencoe Falls' elevation. The wet season delivers most of the year's 1,200mm of rain in just five months.

Camping fees#

Camping is charged at the standard QPWS rate per person, per night (subject to seasonal pricing). No park entry fee for Girringun National Park.

Confirm current pricing and book on the QPWS Blencoe Falls page.

Can't get a booking?#

Blencoe Falls' dry-season weekends and QLD winter school holidays fill quickly. The 4WD-only access filters out the casual market, but committed travellers know the window is narrow and book accordingly.

Set up a free CampWatch alert and we'll text you the moment a Blencoe Falls site opens up. No app, no account — just your phone number.