Cocoa Creek Campground

🌿 Cocoa Creek Campground – Cape Cleveland, QLD

📍 Description & Location

Nestled along the banks of Cocoa Creek in the Cape Cleveland section of Bowling Green Bay National Park, this intimate bush campground offers six unnumbered sites for tents or camper trailers. It lies about 33 km southeast of Townsville, accessed via sealed Cape Cleveland Road before branching onto unsealed Cocoa Creek Road for approximately 2.5 km.

🏞️ History

The area falls within the expansive Bowling Green Bay National Park protecting coastal wetlands, mangroves, and granite country near Cape Cleveland. Low-impact bush camping here supports nature-based recreation like fishing and birdwatching.

🔧 Facilities & Amenities

• 🛣️ No toilets, showers, or potable water—fully self‑sufficient

• 🔥 Campfires allowed only in above-ground containers (conditions apply; fire bans override)

• ⚡ Generators permitted (must meet park noise standards)

• 📵 Mobile coverage is poor; satellite or UHF recommended

🚙 Vehicle Access

• 🛞 Access suitable for high-clearance 4WDs; wet-season conditions (Dec–Apr) may render roads boggy and eroded

• 🚙 Tent or camper trailer campsites are right beside your vehicle

🏕️ Stay Information (as at July 2025)

• Type: Bush campsite in Bowling Green Bay National Park

• Fees: Fees apply; camping permit and booking tag required

• Booking: Essential via Queensland Parks booking system

• Authority: Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service

• Site Type: Informal bush camping — tent or camper trailer beside 4WD

• Max Stay: Maximum 8 people per site; check current limits

• Pet Policy: No domestic pets

• Self‑containment: Must be fully self-contained

• Croc Awareness: Estuarine crocodiles inhabit the creek—always be “Croc‑wise”

🌄 Nearby Attractions

• 🎣 Cocoa Creek itself: ideal for fishing, wildlife spotting

• 🌳 Coastal woodland tracks and Chunda Rock short walk

• 🔭 Birdwatching at mangroves and wetlands

• ⛰️ Cape Cleveland’s granite headlands and nearby Salmon Creek camping area for beach access

⭐ Reviews Summary

👍 Positives:

• Rustic creek‑side sites with direct access to water

• Great for campers seeking off-grid solitude and fishing

• Unique landscapes: mangroves, woodlands, granite backdrop

⚠️ Caution:

• No facilities—bring everything (water, toilet, stove, fire container)

• Croc‑present creek—exercise caution

• Wet‑season road access can be uncertain for non‑4WD

• Insect repellant required; sandflies and mosquitoes reported

🚨 Breakdown & Emergency Info

• 📞 Emergency (Police/Fire/Ambulance): 000

• ⛽ Fuel/mechanical: Townsville (~33 km)

• 📡 Mobile: Unreliable; bring UHF or satellite

• 📻 UHF Channels: Road = 40; Emergency Only = 5

• 🎒 Safety tips: Pack clean firewood, insect repellent, robust recovery gear

📝 Final Note

Cocoa Creek Campground offers an authentic bush camping experience—ideal for 4WD adventurers and anglers craving creek-side solitude. It's wild and beautiful, but very basic: plan thoroughly, stay Croc-wise, and be ready for wet-season variability. Book early, bring all essentials, and enjoy the quiet rhythm of coastal bush camp.