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Rinyirru (Lakefield) National Park (CYPAL) Tropical North Queensland

Spend your days soaking up the solitude. Photo credit: Doug Davidson © Queensland Government

Brolgas prepare to take flight at Breeza Lagoon. Photo credit: Adam Creed © Queensland Government

Brown Creek camping area

Make this camping area your Rinyirru base, high on a bank at the junction of Brown Creek and the Bizant River.

Accessible by

Camping area facilities

Campfires allowed (conditions apply)
Generators allowed (conditions apply)
Tent camping
Camper trailer camping
Tent camping beside car
Boating
Fishing

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Always check

Park alerts for the latest information on access, closures and conditions.
Bureau of Meteorology weather forecasts.
Current bushfire warnings and incidents and also fire bans and restrictions.
Your camping permit is booked.
Any park-specific camping information for Rinyirru (Lakefield) National Park (CYPAL).
Visiting Rinyirru (Lakefield) National Park (CYPAL) safely for important safety information.

The self-service kiosk at this park has been decommissioned.

Visitors need to book their camping permit before they visit. Book online, at an over-the-counter booking office or by phone.

This open and sunny camping area has lovely views over the waterways and surrounding floodplain.

Take your boat to the nearby Bizant River boat ramp and spend the day fishing and sightseeing in Brown Creek, Bizant River and Princess Charlotte Bay.

Critically endangered Bizant River sharks, or speartooth sharks, are found in the Bizant River. Very little is known about this species, but they are susceptible to line fishing, gill netting and habitat destruction. Take care if you happen to hook one and return it unharmed to the water.

Once the sun sets, sit around a camp fire swapping fishing stories and listening to the sounds of the night.

Rinyirru (Lakefield) National Park (CYPAL) is jointly managed by the Rinyirru (Lakefield) Aboriginal Corporation and the Queensland Government.

Getting there and getting around

Brown Creek camping area is in the northern part of Rinyirru (Lakefield) National Park (CYPAL), 340km north-west of Cairns, and 140km west of Cooktown, on southern Cape York Peninsula.

The camping area is north of the Hann Crossing, on the junction of Brown Creek and Bizant River.
You need a 4WD to access the national park (CYPAL) and camping area.
Read 4WD with care for important information on 4WD safety and minimal impact driving.

From the north

Take the Lakefield turn-off at the Musgrave Roadhouse on the Peninsula Developmental Road and drive 38km east on Marina Plains Road to the national park (CYPAL).
Continue 46km through the national park (CYPAL) to the Hann Crossing.
Turn left and drive another 26km north to the camping area.

From the south

Drive 2km north past Laura on the Peninsula Developmental Road and take the Lakefield turn-off.
Drive 25km to the national park (CYPAL).
Continue 105km north through the national park (CYPAL), past the Lakefield ranger base, to the camping area.

From Cape Melville

Drive 70km from Wakooka in Cape Melville National Park (CYPAL) to Kalpowar on the eastern boundary of Rinyirru (Lakefield) National Park (CYPAL).
Continue 1km to Lakefield Road.
Turn right and drive a further 45km north to the camping area.

Before you visit

Seasonal closures

Rinyirru (Lakefield) National Park (CYPAL) is closed throughout the wet season every year.

Camping areas south of Lakefield ranger base are closed from 1 December to 31 May.
Camping areas north of the Lakefield ranger base are closed from 1 December to 30 June.
These dates vary each year depending on weather and road conditions.
Refer to the park map (PDF, 395.2KB) for location of the Lakefield ranger base and camping areas.

Brown Creek camping area

Photo credit: © Queensland Government

Camping area features

The camping area is on a high bank at the junction of Brown Creek and Bizant River. It is close to the Bizant River boat ramp. This camping area is used to access both the Bizant River and Princess Charlotte Bay. The unformed boat ramp is open to the public. Large crocodiles are frequently seen here—Be Crocwise in Croc Country.

Location: northern part of the national park (CYPAL) on the junction of Brown Creek and the Bizant River—by road, 26km north-north-east of Hann Crossing and 45km north-north-west of Lakefield ranger base.

Map: Rinyirru (Lakefield) National Park (CYPAL) northern camping areas map (PDF, 216.7KB)

Access: the camping area can be reached by four-wheel-drive vehicle only. It is not accessible for caravans, campervans or buses. The road becomes impassable after rain.

Boat launching: boat trailer access at nearby Bizant River boat ramp.

Number of sites: 1 numbered site—maximum 4 cars and trailers (12 people).

Camp sites are suitable for: tent camping beside your car and camper trailers.

Camp site surface: dirt and grass (seasonal).

Shade: nil.

Facilities: nil.

Open fires: allowed (except when fire bans apply). Fuel stoves are recommended. Do not collect firewood in the national park (CYPAL).

Generators: only generators operated at less than 65dB(A), when measured 7m from the generator, are permitted, and only between 8am and 7pm.

Essentials to bring: adequate food and drinking water (no fresh water available), rubbish bags, insect repellent, mosquito nets, fuel stove and adequate fuel and spare parts for your vehicle. Read more about before you visit.

Mobile phone coverage: not available.