Mount Garnet BP Camping

🚩 Mount Garnet BP Station Campground

FREE CAMP

🚩 Description & Location

Located directly beside the Kennedy Highway in Mount Garnet, this informal roadside camp sits adjacent to a BP service station. The level gravel surface is ideal for overnight stays, especially for those refuelling. While basic in nature, the location is central to town conveniences and surrounded by the dry savannah landscape typical of the southern Tablelands region.

🪶 History

Mount Garnet was established during the tin and copper rushes of the late 1800s. Once a thriving mining town, it still bears the hallmarks of its frontier past, including old structures and railway remnants. The town lies within the traditional country of the Mbarbaram people, who maintain deep cultural ties to surrounding waterways and highland country.

🚻 Facilities and Amenities

• 🚻 Toilets available at BP station

• 🚿 Showers on site (currently under renovation; status uncertain as of August 2025)

• 🐾 Dogs allowed on leash

• 🍔 Snack food and takeaway meals at service station

• 🗑️ Rubbish bins available

• ❌ No dump point confirmed on site; nearest location not known

🚗 Vehicle Access

• 🛣️ Sealed access directly from Kennedy Highway

• 🚐 Suitable for caravans, campervans, motorhomes, tents, and big rigs

• 🅿️ Level gravel surface, no marked bays

• 🌞 Open site with no shade or windbreaks

🏕️ Stay Information (as at August 2025)

• 🆓 Fees: Free (with minimum purchase from BP station)

• 📆 Booking: Not required

• 🏢 Land manager: BP Mount Garnet (private operator)

• 🏕️ Site type: Informal roadside camp

• ⏳ Maximum stay: Typically one night (not officially signed)

• 🐶 Pet policy: Dogs allowed on leash

• 🔐 Access notes: Confirm shower status at time of arrival

• 📞 Contact: Not publicly listed—visit BP station directly

• 🚫 Not required to be self-contained

🍻 Nearby Pubs & Clubs

• 🍺 Mount Garnet Hotel (~1 km): Classic outback pub offering counter meals and a relaxed atmosphere.

🏕️ Nearby Campgrounds

• 🏕️ Mount Garnet Travellers Park (~1.7 km): Formal caravan park with powered/unpowered sites, hot showers, laundry, and pet-friendly access.

🌄 Nearby Attractions

• 💦 Innot Hot Springs (~15 km): Natural geothermal pools and spring-fed creeks—great for a warm soak

• 🐦 Wurruma Swamp: Local wetland offering seasonal birdwatching

• 🧭 Irvinebank Historic Reserve (~45 min): Ghost town and mining ruins with scenic country drives

🛒 Nearest Supplies

• 🛒 Mount Garnet General Store: Groceries, fuel, and essentials

• ⛽ BP Station: Onsite fuel and snack shop

• 🧺 Laundromat: Located at Travellers Park

• 💧 Water: No potable supply confirmed—bring your own

• 🏥 Clinic: Mount Garnet Primary Health Centre

📝 Reviews Summary

• ✅ Handy free stop right off the highway

• ✅ Ideal for self-contained travellers passing through

• ✅ Pet friendly

• ⚠️ Showers under renovation (as of August 2025)

• ⚠️ No dump point confirmed

• ⚠️ Exposed site—can be noisy or hot

• ⚠️ Basic facilities only

🚨 Breakdown & Emergency Info

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

• 📶 Mobile coverage available for both Telstra and Optus

• 🔧 Mechanical repairs available in Mount Garnet

• 🏥 Emergency services at Mount Garnet Primary Health Centre; nearest hospital in Ravenshoe (~35 km)

• ☎️ Emergency: Dial 000

🔚 Final Note

This BP station camp is a practical no-cost stop for travellers refuelling or transiting through Mount Garnet. While facilities are limited and the setting is exposed, it's a helpful overnight solution for those needing a rest break or quick refresh. Consider the nearby Travellers Park if you’re after comfort, shade, or a multi-night stay.