AROUND-OZ MOTORHOMES

This is one of those delightful rustic campgrounds owned by the forward thinking Beaudesert Shire Council and leased to a management company Wildwood. We love Darlington Park because it is only 90kms south from the heart of Brisbane. Situated almost at the headwaters of the lovely Albert River that runs all year. It just looks ever so inviting on the way in as you top the last hill and the camp comes into view. Lots of tall old trees, with acres of mown grass right down to the waters edge. A ranger calls daily and fees are paid via a box on the Registration Hut. There is tap water from the creek, but obviously this should be boiled as you are in cattle country folks. Toilets are located at either end of the park which straddles both sides of the road with hills on either side. We checked it out last Easter 2001 and there were still spots left - worth remembering. Our favourite camp spot is on the elevated creek bank just left of the bridge as you come in. The site the photos were taken from below was not too bad, but we did need a bit of juggling to get the van level. We were however only two metres from the waters edge and you could see the fish feeding from the A'van's table. It was also a perfect site for getting full solar as we were A-Round Oz-ing and needed all the power we could get. TV reception is just about non-existent, but truly you don't need it. Radio works just fine.

The park is very popular with camper/motor home clubs. We popped over the bridge one day and low and behold there was a solitary A'van lost in a sea of motor homes. We set up and within minutes Charlie & Rose Garvin wandered over. Apparently we had stumbled on the AGM of the Brisbane Motorhome Club. Charlie was founder of the club. Of course we had to ask what the heck was he doing in an A'liner! Easy he said - he wanted something easier to handle in his old age as he had had a bit of a health scare. So he remained an honorary 'member'. The club joined half a dozen tarps together over the BBQ area and this was perfect for the 100 or so members. This campsite is ideal for A'van gatherings as there is room to spread out and it is all grass, but no showers or electricity mind you..

Toilets are both flush and well cared for by Wildwood Management. Two big bins for rubbish. There is no lighting at all so bring torches. Telstra CDMA is hopeless from Beaudesert, and GSM stops at Kerry. In an emergency there are several homesteads within 5 kms a little further up the road. The best bet is Bunyup Homestead Est. 1934 - lovely family. Children are well catered for with a good play area and a huge oval with a cricket pitch as well, and all fenced too. Now if you want a really private site try up behind the oval near the river. You could even get away with a quick shinny dip in the morning if you don't feel like putting up the shower, as it is right next to a very bushy and private part of the river.

To find Darlington Park head towards Beenleigh and at the roundabout in town head towards Beaudesert. At the five ways turn immediately HARD left at Kentucky Fried Chicken. You are on the right road if it says -- This is NOT the road to NSW. You will see a large black and white sign, Kerry 15 and Darlington 27. It is ever so easy to get lost at this point! The road is easy towing, but some of it is single lane bitumen. The route is very scenic. Beaudesert is the only town, so best to stock up with fuel and food. There is a very good bakery just before KFC. We used the RACQ Gold Coast - Northern Rivers map. Kerry is shown, but not Darlington.

The river is not much bigger than a large creek and it seems to be very safe as there appear to be no deep holes. No good for doing laps, but great for cooling off. It is not suitable for canoes, but fantastic for Li Los! Fires on the ground are allowed, and there are several well made stone fireplaces. There are some free gas BBQs and these are all under cover and very well maintained.

There are no walking tracks, but wandering up the road early mornings is quite pleasant and you can get fresh eggs at the two story cottage. Bike riding is great as you can go for miles on good bitumen with lots of bends, but only tiny hills.

Car day trips are good. If you keep following the road west out of the park you will get to an area called the Lost . This is actually a valley directly below the famous O'Reilly's Guest House. A lot of this road is single lane dirt. About 5kms out of the park you come to a right turn marked Hillview. Don 't try this road with the van on, as it is narrow and steep, but very scenic. Turn left and go about 10kms until you pass the National Fitness Camp. Just past it is another delightful little park called Stinson's Memorial Park. Great camping spot right on Christmas Creek, but no dogs allowed. This is where the search parties left from in 1937 to try to find the Stinson plane crash. There is a plaque with a very interesting story. Dozens of hikers get lost in this area every year! If you have a 4WD go back out of Darlington towards Beaudesert until you come to a road on the right called Duck Creek Road, just after crossing a small bridge over Duck Creek. This leads up to O'Reillys Guest House and is an excellent introduction to 4WD adventures, as even compact 4WDs will make it OK as long as it is not raining. EXTREMELY scenic so take your time. Best to leave dogs at Darlington as O'Reillys is in a National Park. There is a very good description of this trip in Dirty Weekends.

There is a good Darlington Park review in Camping in Southern and Central Queensland on page 26. Darlington has a nice web page with links to other parks managed by Wildwood. If you mention their website to the ranger young Garth you get a free bag of wood - (available June to August ONLY) Firewood is very scarce in the immediate area, but you can buy wood from the ranger each day at around $5 a fertiliser bag full. For further information you can contact Garth Hobba at Wildwood Park Management on 0419 762 247.

The cost per person in April 2002 was $3.85. We absolutely recommend this clean well managed park to all who enjoy rustic camping.