Blanket Creek bush camp

🏕️ Blanket Creek Bush Camp — Kirrama QLD

PAID CAMP

🚩 Description & Location

🌿 Located approximately 10.5 km along the Juwun and Jambal sections of the Wet Tropics Great Walk in Kirrama National Park, Blanket Creek Bush Camp is a remote walkers' campsite beside the Herbert River. Surrounded by she-oak woodland, it offers a natural grass and dirt surface ideal for backpackers seeking solitude within rugged gorge country.

🪶 History

📜 This walk-in-only camp lies within the traditional lands of the Warrongo people. It forms part of the Wet Tropics Great Walk, which was developed in the 1990s to connect diverse ecosystems from rainforest to uplands, with Blanket Creek serving as one of the designated overnight stops within the gorge walk.

🚻 Facilities and Amenities

• 🚫 No toilets, potable water, showers, or rubbish collection

• 🔥 Open fires prohibited—no fire infrastructure provided

• ⚙️ Generators not permitted

• 📶 No mobile reception—fully remote area

• 💧 All supplies, including drinking water and food, must be carried in

• 🚤 No formal boat or river access; site is reachable by foot only

🚗 Vehicle Access

• 🚶 Accessible only by foot from trailheads on the Wet Tropics Great Walk

• 🥾 No vehicular access; heavy packs require prior conditioning

• ⚠️ Trail portions descend steeply into the Herbert Gorge

🏕️ Stay Information (as at August 2025)

• 💵 Fees apply—camping permit required via Queensland Parks Booking Service

• 📅 Booking essential, especially during the Great Walk season

• 🏛️ Managed by: Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service

• 🏕️ Site type: Formal walkers' bush camp along a multi-day trail

• ⏳ Maximum stay: part of 4–6 day walking itinerary; no fixed per-night limit

• 🐕 No pet policy found

• 🔐 Open access after trail entry; no gates or codes

• 🕑 Camp active only during permitted walk days; arrive after trail checkpoints open

• 🚫 Fully self-contained gear required—this is a wilderness site

• 📞 Phone: 13 74 68 (Parks QLD general line)

• 🌐 Web Address: parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/great-walks-wet-tropics

• 📧 Email: not known; contact managing authority for updates

🍻 Nearby Pubs & Clubs

• 🚫 None nearby—this is remote wilderness. Nearest services in Mount Garnet (~60 km) or Ravenshoe (~80 km)

🏕️ Nearby Campgrounds

• 🌿 Blencoe Falls Campground: Managed forest campsite within Kirrama NP, with facilities (~10 km north)

• ⛱️ Possum Creek Bush Camp: Private, rural bush camp off Cashmere–Kirrama Road (~45 km away)

🌄 Nearby Attractions

• 🚶 Sections of the Wet Tropics Great Walk including Herbert Gorge, Smoko Creek rapids, and Orange Tree lookout

• 🏞️ Blencoe Falls lookout for panoramic views and waterfall access

• 🐦 Birdlife in the gorge includes sea eagles, sulphur-crested cockatoos, and woodland species

🛒 Nearest Supplies

• ⛽ None within hiking range—carry all supplies

• 🏬 Supplies, fuel, and clinics: available in Mount Garnet (~60 km) or Ravenshoe (~80 km)

📝 Reviews Summary

✅ Positives

• Completely isolated bush camp with serene riverbank location

• Ideal for experienced walkers seeking remote wilderness along the Great Walk

• Natural setting with minimal human impact—quiet and pristine

⚠️ Cautions

• No facilities—bring all water, food, and extras

• Beware crocodiles in the Herbert River; swimming not advised

• Challenging access—trail is rugged, steep, and requires strong navigation skills

• No mobile reception; pack satellite or emergency comms

🚨 Breakdown & Emergency Info

• 📻 UHF CB Channels: Road = 40 | Emergency Only = 5

• 🧭 Use trip plan and leave itinerary with someone before entering

• ⛑ Carry full bushwalking kit, supplies for emergencies, and GPS navigation

• 🏥 Medical: none nearby—emergency care only in Ravenshoe or Mount Garnet

• 💬 Note: Emergency responders may take hours to reach you due to remoteness

🔚 Final Note

🌿 Blanket Creek Bush Camp is a pure walkers’ destination along the Wet Tropics Great Walk—no infrastructure, only remote natural beauty along the Herbert Gorge. Ideal for multi-day hikers prepared for rugged terrain, swift river changes, and fully self-supported trekking. Booking is essential and caution is paramount.