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We loved camping at Cumberland Chimney and Lagoon, on the Gulf Developmental Road. It’s a free camp which is set back from the road, and has a lovely lagoon filled with waterlilies and an abundance of birdlife. It’s got nature, history and an awesome viewing deck and platform. It’s 20km west of Georgetown and 127km east of Croydon, making it a perfect place to stop for the night if you are on the way to or from Karumba, or exploring the Savannah Way. The site itself is located on the remanents of the former township of Cumberland, and specifically the Cumberland Gold Mining Company, which tells a little of the history (more on this below). The facilities here include a covered viewing deck with telescope, two covered picnic tables, toilets and interpretive signage. Otherwise, it’s BYO everything and find a spot that suits your needs, we stayed close to the viewing deck.
This was a great first free camp experience for us, we loved the history and birdlife, the camping site is set back from the road and had no road noise and everything was clean and tidy. We spent 1 night here and Richard got this great photo!
We first spotted this camping spot on the way to Karumba. We had a sneaky little look and decided this was where we would stop on the return journey to Cairns. There’s signage on the highway, but the camping site itself is set-back from the road, so there was no road noise. We were attracted by the chimney and lagoon and learned more about both during our stay. Cumberland was a mining settlement in the gold rush era of the 1800s. The Cumberland Prospecting Claim was first registered in 1872 and reached a peak of 11,500 gold pounces in 1886, around which time nearly 400 residents lived here. The gold mining company made the lagoon to create a permanent water supply for the township, and built the Cumberland Chimney in 1889, as a part of the mining facilities. Little remains of the mine or the township, except for the lovely lagoon and towering chimney, which are the landmark features of this Savanah Way camping site.
We visited in July, which is the ‘dry season’ in the Gulf Savannah. The lagoon still held lots of water, creating an oasis for cows and a wide array of birdlife. In fact, over 170 bird species have been recorded at Cumberland lagoon, including rare migratory birds. Some of the birds recorded here include, but are not limited to; Emus, Black Necked Storks, Red-Tailed Black Cockatoos, Cattle Egrets, Rainbow Bee-Eaters, Many Finches, Pigeons, Ducks and Quails. Sunrise and sunset is a great time to see the birds at the lagoon, and the perfect place to do it is at the covered viewing platform, which even has a telescope. We took our camp chairs and snacks down there to enjoy the show and the sunset. It was beautiful.
“The Cumberland Chimney and Lagoon camping site is one of those places we didn’t even know existed, until we drove past and then stopped in for the night. It was lovely. The lagoon was peaceful and so pretty with its flowering waterlilles – the perfect place for sundowners and snacks. This was our first experience at a free camp, and I give it 10/10. Looking forward to discovering more of these little places during our camping adventures.” – Julie Johnston
On the way back from Karumba we saw a sign for Cumberland Chimney, so we thought we’d check it out. Turns out it was a free camping site, with flat ground. There was a dam which had lots of birds and waterlilies. They had a shaded viewing deck, which had a telescope so you could see the birds, that was really cool. We took our chairs down, had some snacks and watched the sunset which was really pretty. There was also a big chimney there which Mum and Dad took lots of photos of. If you are driving through this way, then we definitely recommend this place as somewhere to stay. It’s free and you can take your dog.
The Cumberland Chimney and Lagoon camping site is located on the Gulf Developmental Road, between Georgetown and Croydon. It’s 20km west of Georgetown and 127km east of Croydon. There are signposts on the road and you can see the Chimney as a prominent marker from the road.
Yes – we definitely think it’s worth stopping at Cumberland Chimney and Lagoon camping site if you are on the Savannah Way and looking for somewhere peaceful to stop for the night. It’s also free, so that helps the budget.
Cumberland Chimney and Lagoon is 405 km from Cairns, and it would take around 5 hours to drive.
Cumberland Chimney and Lagoon is 184 km from Pinnarendi Station, and it would take around 2 hours to drive.
Cumberland Chimney and Lagoon is 160 km from Undara, and it would take around 1 hour and 45 min to drive.
Cumberland Chimney and Lagoon is 106 km from Cobbold Gorge, and it would take around 1 hour and 40 min to drive.
The facilities at the Cumberland Chimney and Lagoon camping site include a covered viewing deck, two covered picnic tables, toilets and interpretive signage. Otherwise, it’s BYO everything and find a spot that suits your needs.
There are no specific camp sites marked out at the Cumberland Chimney and Lagoon camping site, so you just need to find a space that suits your needs and rig. There are plenty of spaces available.
Yes, camp fires are allowed at the Cumberland Chimney and Lagoon camping site. The usual rules will apply though, as in make sure you contain it and extinguish it before you leave. Thie free camp is located on the Savannah Way and the surrounding countryside is pretty dry, so make sure to manage your camp fire correctly.
This is a free camp. It’s located on the Gulf Developmental Road in the Etheridge Shire on the Savannah Way, between Georgetown and Croydon. It is ‘open’ all year round. There are no ‘set’ camp sites as such, so you can find a place to suit your needs and vehicle. The lagoon is very pretty, and the shaded viewing deck with telescope is the best place to check out the wildlife and birds. The Cumberland Chimney is also pretty impressive and made for a great night-time photo subject, for Richard. There are toilets on site and covered picnic tables.
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