Downfall Creek camping area, Danbulla National Park and State Forest

🏕️ Downfall Creek Camping Area — Tinaroo QLD

PAID CAMP

🚩 Description & Location

🌊 Set along the serene banks of Lake Tinaroo within Danbulla National Park and State Forest, Downfall Creek Camping Area offers expansive, open grassy sites with uninterrupted water views framed by hoop pines and native forest. It lies about 7 km from the western park entrance, reached via Danbulla Road, and roughly 21 km from the eastern access point.

🪶 History

📜 This site rests on the traditional lands of the Yidinji and Ngadjon-Jii peoples, whose ancestral custodianship encompasses the Atherton Tablelands and its waterways. The area was incorporated into the Danbulla conservation estate post-1960s dam construction, now protected for its heritage and ecological significance.

🚻 Facilities and Amenities

• 🚻 Flush toilets in a central facility

• 🚿 Shared shower cubicle—campers bring own shower gear

• 🔥 Individual fire rings provided; fires allowed when permitted

• ⚡ Generators permitted between 8 am and 7 pm (≤ 65 dB at 7 m)

• 💧 Taps supplying non-potable water—bring drinking water

• 🗑️ No bins—pack-in/pack-out policy strictly enforced

• 📶 Mobile reception generally available at sites

🚗 Vehicle Access

• 🛣️ Accessible by standard 2WD vehicles via unsealed Danbulla Road

• 🚐 Suitable for tent campers, camper trailers, and small caravans

• ⚠️ Danbulla Road is signage-marked as unsuitable for large caravans

• 🧍 Park beside your vehicle; sites are grassy and open

• 🌧️ Choose dry-season travel where possible—sections may degrade in wet weather

🏕️ Stay Information (as at August 2025)

• 💵 Fees apply; camping permit required before arrival

• 📅 Booking essential via Queensland Parks Booking Service—tag must be displayed

• 🏛️ Managed by: Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service

• 🏕️ Site type: Formal lakeside campground within protected park and forest land

• ⏳ Maximum stay: 21 nights

• 🐕 Dogs not permitted

• 🔐 Open access—no gate codes or controlled entry

• 🕑 Check-in from 2 pm | Check-out by 11 am

• 🚫 Not required to be self-contained

• 📞 Phone: 13 74 68

• 🌐 Web Address: parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/danbulla/camping/downfall‑creek

• 📧 Email: not known; contact Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service

🍻 Nearby Pubs & Clubs

• ☕ Tinaroo Township (~4 km): lakeside café and basic store

• 🍽️ Atherton (~20 km): licensed pubs, bistros, and dining venues

🏕️ Nearby Campgrounds

• 🌿 Kauri Creek Campground (~5 km): linked via the Regeneration Walk, excellent for bushwalkers

• 🏖️ Fong-On Bay Camping Area (~5 km): ideal for waterskiing and lake group access

🌄 Nearby Attractions

• 🚶 Regeneration Walk: 2–2.5 km grade‑3 trail connecting to Kauri Creek campground

• 🚣 Lake Tinaroo activities: waterskiing, jet skiing, boating, kayaking, fishing

• 🦋 Rich in birdlife and Ulysses butterflies—look for interactive habitat near camp

🛒 Nearest Supplies

• ⛽ Tinaroo Township (~4 km): fuel, café, small shop

• 🏬 Atherton (~20 km): full supermarket, medical services, bakery and more

📝 Reviews Summary

✅ Positives

• 🌄 Expansive lake views and open shore-side camping areas

• 🚗 Suitable for camper trailers and smaller caravans

• 🔥 Fire rings allow campfires within permit rules

• 💦 Access to water recreation and scenic walking links

• 📶 Mobile reception sufficient for booking and updates

⚠️ Cautions

• 🛻 Road marked as unsuitable for larger caravans—travel with caution

• 💧 No potable water or waste services; plan ahead

• 📅 Gets busy—especially weekends; pre-book to secure a spot

• 🦠 Some biting insects reported near water edge

🚨 Breakdown & Emergency Info

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

• ⛽ Fuel: Available at Tinaroo (~4 km) or Atherton (~20 km)

• 🏥 Medical: Clinic in Atherton; full hospital services there

• 📶 Mobile is likely adequate at camp but unreliable deeper into Danbulla forests

• 🧭 Bring offline maps and notify contacts before arrival—cell signal may fade

🔚 Final Note

🌿 Downfall Creek Camping Area is a welcoming, well-situated campground offering lakeside ambience, ease of access for smaller rigs, and gateway access to walking trails and aquatic recreation. While facilities remain basic, they’re clean and functional. With peaceful surroundings, easy booking, and allowable generator use, it’s a strong pick for families and casual campers exploring Lake Tinaroo’s beauty.