Lower Davies Creek Campground
The Lower Davies Creek Campground, is a stunning rural campground located in the Dinden National Park in Far North Queensland. It is made up of eight unallocated sites scattered along flat Granite boulders and a gravel/sand terrain.
The crystal clear Davies Creek passes through the centre of this campground, providing freshwater swimming pools and flowing streams for you to swim in and enjoy. There is a short drive to the popular Davies Creek Falls, which features plenty of large rock pools to swim in as well as an infinity pool at the edge of the falls.
Toilets are in close proximity however there are no shower facilities. There are a small number of scattered picnic tables available for your convenience however these are shared with day travellers. There are no bbqs or camp kitchen facilities on site so please ensure to bring your own cooking equipment and drinking water.
Camping here will have you waking up to picturesque views and enjoying plenty of refreshing swims to cool down on those hot sunny days. When nightfall comes, you can enjoy laying under a blanket of bright stars while listening to the peaceful ambience of your surrounds. We love this campground for how underrated and relatively untouched it feels compared to the nearby Upper Davies Creek Campground.
OUR OVERALL RATING OF LOWER DAVIES CREEK CAMPGROUND
See for yourself
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CAMPING AT LOWER DAVIES CREEK
Campground & Bookings
Lower Davies Creek Campground is recognised as a National Park Campground as it is located within the Davies Creek National Park.
National park campgrounds are allocated sites within a landscape protected by the government to preserve the natural environment.
The national parks in Queensland are protected by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service otherwise known as QPWS.
As these areas are protected, there can be many different restrictions and rules in place. This is to ensure that campers are able to experience the beautiful landscapes while exposing minimum risk to the environment.
To learn more about the Davies Creek National Park, click here.
The Lower Davies Creek Campground consists of 8 allocated campsites. These sites are not numbered.
Please see the map above displayed above for a detailed view of the campground.
The lower Davies Creek Campground allows a maximum of 10 people at each campsite.
There are 8 allocated campsite locations within this campground.
For current availability click here
The Lower Davies Creek Campground offers moderate shade.
Depending which campsite you choose, you have to option to set-up camp in an area that has full-sun, part-sun or full-shade.
There are plenty of trees and shrubs around but not all campsites get enough coverage for shade.
The Lower Davies Creek Campground terrain consists of large granite slabs, dirt and gravel.
This ground can make it quite difficult for pegging tents.
Depending on which site you choose, the terrain of the Lower Davies Creek Campground can make it quite difficult to peg a tent.
Some sites are entirely made up of large granite rock surfaces making it almost impossible to hammer pegs into.
The Lower Davies Creek Campground only allows for tent camping. This is because the campground can only be accessed by foot from the nearby carpark.
Yes, bookings are required to camp at the Lower Davies Creek Campground.
You will need to book your camping permit through the Queensland National Parks website (click here to book).
All bookings need to be made online. We strongly recommend organising your camping permit at home or somewhere where you’ll have guaranteed internet access.
A copy of your tags are emailed to you once confirmation of your booking has been made.
Your booking permit needs to be displayed at your campsite at all times, as park rangers conduct spot checks to ensure campers are not camping for free.
You are permitted to book at the Lower Davies Creek Campground for up to 21nights consecutively.
To camp at the Lower Davies Creek Campground you will need to purchase your permit through the Queensland Government’s National Parks website (click here).
The fees are as follows:
$6.85 per person per night, or $27.40 per family per night
$3.75 per person per night for students and accompanying adults on approved educational excursions
Family rate
A family group is defined as one or two adults and accompanying children under 18, up to a total of eight people. Children under five years of age camp for free.
*These fees have been sourced by the Queensland National Parks website. We list the prices as a guide for our customers when booking their desired campground.
These prices can be subject to change. We advise visiting the website or calling the campground, to ensure you have up to date fee prices.
You can check-in to the Lower Davies Creek Campground between 2:00pm – 11:59pm. There is no admin or office building for you to visit during check-in.
All you need to do, is display your booking permit on the dash of your car or at your campsite, then you’re good to go.
Tags to display the details of your booking permit are usually provided at the information notice board, located toward the entrance of the campground.
These can run-out quickly. We recommend printing your tag or writing down all your details to display, before arriving at the campground.
The check-out time listed for the campground is 11:00am.
Lower Davies Creek Campground is beautiful all year round. For safety reasons, we recommend camping here during the dry months (May to November).
This is a remote campground so if you get hit by bad weather and need assistance, it can be difficult to get help.
Yes! You’ve come to the right place. Kickback Camping services are available at the Lower Davies Creek Campground.
Here at Kickback Camping, we provide custom campsite set-ups for those travelling and exploring within Far North Queensland.
Our packages provide you with all the equipment you’ll need for a comfortable and stress-free camping experience. Plus, we set-up your entire campsite ready for your arrival, AND pack it all down once you’re finished.
For more details on our services, click here.
For a customised and obligation free quote, click here.
Bookings can be made at the Lower Davies Creek Campground 12 months in advance.
We recommend booking any campground as early as possible as some campgrounds can book out months in advance.
To book your camping permit , click here.
vehicles & Getting there
It is recommended by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) that all vehicles, except for caravans and large motorhomes, can access the Lower Davies Creek Campground.
Due to the terrain we’d recommend taking extra caution when travelling here in a conventional car. We highly recommend using a 4WD.
Please note that vehicles cannot drive onto the actual campground. There is a carpark at the campground but you will need to walk to your campsite with your equipment.
At Lower Davies Creek Campground, vehicles cannot drive onto the actual campground itself.
There is a carpark at the campground where you can leave your vehicle. You will then need to walk to your campsite with your equipment.
The road leading to the Lower Davies Creek Campground is mostly unsealed.
Please take care when driving this road as it consists of gravel, possible sharp rocks, potholes, some corrugation and can get boggy from the rains.
Amenities
There is no drinking water available at the Lower Davies Creek Campground. We can assure you that any taps you may see at this campground do not supply drinking water.
For this reason, we recommend ensuring you pack plenty of large containers/bottles of drinking water that will last you for the entirety of your camping trip.
As a rule of thumb you should pack 3L per person per day. However, keep in mind that you may need more depending on if the weather is hot or if you’ll need water to cook and clean with.
There are no bins available at the Lower Davies Creek Campground.
Please ensure you bring rubbish bags with you (preferably environmentally friendly bags) and take them with you when you leave.
Yes. There are two cubicles with non-flushing toilets at the Lower Davies Creek Campground.
These toilets have a ramp for wheelchair access as well. There are no lights in the cubicles so please remember to pack a torch with you when using the toilets at night.
There are no showers at the Lower Davies Creek Campground.
Please ensure that if you would like a shower while camping here, that you bring the necessary equipment with you. Please note that there are no taps to hook hoses up to.
In terms of toilet facilities, yes there is wheelchair access.
However, due to the uneven and very rocky terrain, we wouldn’t regard the Lower Davies Creek campground as being disability friendly.
At the very least, you would need support workers that are able to help navigate you through the terrain.
No campfires are permitted at the Lower Davies Creek Campground.
There are no BBQs available at the Lower Davies Creek Campground.
There are no camp kitchens available at the Lower Davies Creek Campground
Yes. The Lower Davies Creek Campground features a small number wooden picnic tables throughout the campground.
These tables are located closer to the carpark. They’re intended for the use of those visiting for the day.
Yes. There is a well kept day use area 200m before the Lower Davies Creek Campground.
Please note that there are no facilities here and camping his prohibited.
Phones, Internet & Power
There is very little to no phone reception at the Lower Davies Creek Campground.
You may find the odd spot that’ll receive one bar, but expect to be without reception for the entirety of your camping trip.
There is no wi-fi available at the Lower Davies Creek Campground.
There are no powered sites at the Lower Davies Creek Campground.
We recommend bringing solar power and batteries to charge your electronics and appliances.
Please note that generators are also not permitted at this campground.
Generators are not permitted for use at the Lower Davies Creek Campground at any time.
We recommend using solar panels and blankets with deep cycle batteries to charge your electronics and appliances.
Water Landscape
Yes. The freshwater Davies Creek runs through the Lower Davies Creek campground. Davies Creek is flowing all year round and is safe for swimming.
Please be careful of strong currents during and after heavy rains. Plus we caution you to take care on the slippery rocks as they can cause serious injuries.
Yes, there are two stunning waterfalls near the Lower Davies Creek Campground.
The Davies Creek Falls are situated 4 minutes up the mountain toward Upper Davies Creek and will need to be travelled to via car.
There’s also the stunning Emerald Creek Falls which is roughly a 30 minute drive from the Lower Davies Creek Campground.
You can drive the majority of the way to both waterfalls. There are walking tracks to both waterfalls from the nearby carparks.
No. There is a constant flow of fresh water in the Davies Creek. This creek runs through the Lower Davies Creek Campground.
Levels may rise and drop slightly but the creek is constantly flowing due to the large waterfall upstream called Davies Creek Falls.
Yes, the Davies Creek which runs through the Lower Davies Creek Campground, is safe for swimming.
We recommend you to take caution when swimming or walking near any flowing creek. Rocks can get very slippery and pools might be too shallow for jumping and diving.
Click here for more safety information from the Queensland Government’s Parks and Forests website.
The Davies Creek runs through the centre of the Lower Davies Creek Campground. This means that you can camp directly in front of the creek or further back; giving yourself a small walk.
We wouldn’t recommend the Lower Davies Creek Campground for kayaking and paddle boarding as the creek is not flat.
The water cascades in downward streams through different levels of rock pools. For this reason, we don’t believe you’d have enough room to enjoy kayaking and paddle boarding or to prevent damage occurring to your equipment.
You could bring your boat or jet ski, but it would remain safely tied up on your trailer.
There is no where in the Lower Davies Creek Campground (or surrounding areas) where you could safely use your boat or jet ski.
The Lower Davies Creek Campground does not feature a boat ramp or any other access point for boats and jet skis.
No. We do not recommend fishing at the Lower Davies Creek Campground.
dogs
No. Dogs are not permitted at the Lower Davies Creek Campground.
trails
There are a number of great walking trails in close proximity to the Lower Davies Creek Campground. However, you will need a car to access the start of these trails.
For short walks you have:
The Clohesy River Fig Tree Boardwalk (Grade 2)
– Walk is 300m return
– Approximately 20 minute walk
– Wheelchair accessible
– Encircles the Clohesy River Fig Tree with signs along the walkway providing information on the local rainforest
– Accessing the start of this walking trail is only possible via 4WD
Bunda Bibandji rock art walking track (Grade 3)
– Walk is 1.9km return
– Approximately 1 hour walk
– Compacted surface
– Some short uphill sections and steps
– Features beautiful rainforest landscape with identifaction labels to learn the different types of plants
– Features two indigenous rock art sites
Davies Creek Falls circuit track (Grade 3)
– Walk is 1.1km return
– Approximately 20 min walk
– Features two look outs. One of the valley and one of the 75m Davies Creek Falls
– Remain behind barriers for safety
Emerald Creek Falls lookout walking track (Grade 3)
– Walk is 1.9km return
– Approximately 1 hour walk
– Features stunning views of the falls and back along the valley
Bottom of Emerald Creek Falls walking track (Grade 4)
– Walk is 1.6km return
– Approximately 40 min walk
– Track features walking through gullies, over rocks and between water gums
– Do not attempt this walk during or after wet weather as surfaces can become extremely slippery
For long walks you have:
Turtle Rock circuit trail (Grade 4)
– Walk is 8km return
– Approximately 3-4hr walk
– The 936m summit features stunning boulders and breathtaking views in all directions
Ridge trail (Grade 4)
– Walk is 9.2km return
– Approximately 5hr walk
– Features the enormous boulders of Kahlpahlim Rock
– Can combine track with Ridge trail to form a circuit trail
Kahlpahlim Rock trail (Grade 4)
– Walk is 10.8km return
– Approximately 6hr walk
– Stunning rainforest scenery with creeks and birdlife
– Ends with the enormous granite boulders of Kahlpahlim Rock
– Can combine track with Ridge Trail to form a circuit trail
For a more in-depth overview of these walking tracks, click here.
There are a number of cycling trails near the Lower Davies Creek Campground.
For a detailed overview of the bike trails in this area, click here.
The Lower Davies Creek Campground is a great location for birdwatching as it is nestled within the eco-rich Davies National Park. Plus it neighbours the dense rainforests of the Dinden National Park.
For an extensive list of all the birds you can spot in this area, click here.
Dangers
There are no reported crocodiles inhabiting the waterways within the Lower Davies Creek Campground.
However, you should always make sure to look out for signs and stay up to date on the campground’s website for current notifications on croc sightings.
For more information on how to be croc wise click here
For up to date croc sightings click here
There are no sharks inhabiting the waterways in or around the Lower Davies Creek Campground.
There are no stingers inhabiting the fresh waters of Davies Creek. Stingers are only found in our oceans not in our freshwater catchments.
Yes, it is not uncommon to find snakes at the Lower Davies Creek Campground. In saying that, most encounters are of the snakes keeping to themselves and not posing a threat to campers.
As always we recommend steering clear of them when you see them and ensure you have first aid equipment with you (suitable for snake bites).
Snakes that inhabit the Davies Creek National park (where the Lower Davies Creek Campground is located) include:
– Northern death adder
– Yellow-faced whipsnake
– Collared whipsnake
– Coastal taipan
– Brown tree snake
– Green tree snake
– Spotted python
– Amethystine python (Australian form)
There are no life guards or safety personnel that patrol the swimming areas within the Lower Davies Creek Campground. When entering unpatrolled waterways, you enter at your own risk.
For this reason we recommend taking note of any caution signs surrounding the waterways. Do not enter the water during the rains or within a short period after. Take note of depths before jumping and be careful of slippery rocks.
If you cannot swim. Do not enter the water.
Insects
Dependent on what time of the year you visit, the insects can become a nuisance.
March flies especially can be a problem at the Lower Davies Creek Campground.
We definitely recommend bringing bug sprays and bug repellents. Whichever products you feel more comfortable with and/or you believe will be most effective for you.