West Mary Creek Camping

🏕️ West Mary Creek Camping — Mount Carbine QLD

PAID CAMP

🚩 Description & Location

🌿 Located just a few kilometres north of Mount Carbine along East Mary Road, West Mary Creek Camping (also called Mary Creek Camp/Bustard Downs) is a riverside bush campground on organic farm land. Set beneath ironbark and eucalyptus woodland and situated above Mary Creek banks, it blends natural creek access with open grassy sites edged by shade.

🪶 History

📜 Established in the late 1970s primarily as accommodation for mine workers, the camping area is now part of the Bustard Downs accommodation complex. The site lies on traditional Country of Indigenous custodians of the Einasleigh Uplands and has evolved from a functional worker stop into a welcoming bush‑style campground.

🚻 Facilities and Amenities

• 🚻 Flush toilets and hot showers provided in a small amenities block

• 💧 Drinking water available (creek‑sourced)—taps treated by hosts

• 🔌 Mix of powered and unpowered grassy camping sites

• ♻️ Rubbish bins provided; guests encouraged to pack out excess

• 🔥 Campfires allowed in designated fire pits (check seasonal bans)

• 🐾 Dogs allowed on leash

• 📶 Telstra 4G coverage; Wi‑Fi available around main building onsite

🚗 Vehicle Access

• 🛣️ Enter via East Mary Road (turns off sealed Mulligan Highway); final road is unsealed but well maintained

• 🚐 Suitable for caravans, camper trailers, 4WDs, rooftop tents, and swag setups

• ⚠️ Riverbank terrain; creek access may be muddy or require high-clearance vehicle after rain

🏕️ Stay Information (as at August 2025)

• Power Sites: Tariff Rate 2 (Tariff Price Chart at bottom of page)

• Unpowered Sites: Tariff Rate 1 (Tariff Price Chart at bottom of page)

• 📅 Booking recommended—call or email to confirm availability

• 🏛️ Managed by: Bustard Downs / Mary Creek Camping (private operator)

• 🏕️ Site type: Formal scenic bush campground beside Mary Creek

• ⏳ Maximum stay: not known

• 🐕 Dogs allowed on leash—confirm when booking

• 🔐 Access via farm drive; after-hours arrival instructions provided

• 🕑 Check-in from 12 pm | Check-out by 11 am

• 📞 Phone: +61 7 4094 3094

• 🌐 Web Address: bustarddowns.com.au

• 📧 Email: info@bustarddowns.com.au

🍻 Nearby Pubs & Clubs

• 🍺 Mount Carbine Hotel (~5 km): Meals and pub-style dining

• ☕ No other venues nearby—major options located in Mareeba or Port Douglas

🏕️ Nearby Campgrounds

• 🏞️ Mount Carbine Caravan Park (~5 km): Council-run powered campground with amenities

• 🛻 Rifle Creek Rest Area (~36 km east via highway): Basic council rest stop with toilets and dump point

🌄 Nearby Attractions

• 🚶 Scenic creekside walking and birdwatching—ideal habitat for honeyeaters, finches, and shorebirds

• 🐟 Fishing or paddling in Mary Creek during the dry season

• 🚗 Access to Annan Gorge, Mount Lewis National Park, and Brooklyn Sanctuary for trails and wildlife viewing

📝 Reviews Summary

✅ Positives

• Peaceful creekside setting with shady, open sites and natural bushland charm

• Excellent value for mixed powered/unpowered camping with peaceful surrounds

• Well-regarded hosts and good birdlife, creek access, and starry nights

• Flexible camping options—from tents to rigs and swags

⚠️ Cautions

• Not fenced—creek edges may be slippery or muddy after rain

• Water quality varies—boil or treat creek water before use

• No dump point or potable water guarantee—bring supplies accordingly

• Very limited phone and emergency signal outside Telstra coverage

• Seasonal weather may affect access track conditions

🚨 Breakdown & Emergency Info

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

• ⛽ Fuel: Mount Carbine Hotel / Roadhouse (~5 km)—full services at Mareeba (~68 km)

• 🏥 Medical: Clinic at Mareeba or larger facilities in Cairns or Mareeba Hospital

• 📶 Telstra coverage reliable near creek; satellite or UHF recommended for remote areas

• 🧭 Guests advised to register arrival and departure with hosts, carry offline maps, and prepare self-supplied gear

🔚 Final Note

🌿 West Mary Creek Camping offers a comfortable yet authentic bush retreat—creekside, shaded, and scenic. Perfect for nature lovers, birdwatchers, and travellers on the Savannah Way seeking a quiet creek escape. Just phone ahead to book, bring water or purification gear, and enjoy the cooling creek-side serenity as your backcountry oasis.