Camping at Innot Hot Springs

Camping at Innot Hot Springs Review on the Atherton Tablelands

The Innot Hot Springs Caravan and Leisure Park is located on the Kennedy Highway, between Ravenshoe and Mount Garnet. The park has 23 unpowered sites and 17 powered sites, set amongst grassy grounds with established trees for shade. The powered sites are a short walk from the thermal pools, with some facing the nearby Nettle Creek. The unpowered sites are mostly around the border of the park, with bushland views and some lagoon views. All can use the shared camp kitchen facilities, showers, toilets and laundry. There is also a small café / takeaway on site where you can purchase hot and cold beverages and snacks.

“This camping review of Innot Hot Springs has been written following our stay in April 2024. The Tablelands and Cairns has had a very ‘wet’ summer, and as a result there was still a lot of water running in Nettle Creek. We have been at different times during the year and note there is less water in the creek during winter. The campsite was lush and grassy with lots of shade. The drawcard was definitely the 6 thermal pools, which range in temperature and are well maintained. Three of these pools are outdoor pools, with water features and shade sails, there is table and chair seating adjacent to these. The other three pools are located in an enclosed room, and you must be aged 16 years and over to visit these pools. All guests are welcome to visit Nettle Creek, which is the source of the thermal waters.” – Julie Johnston

Innot Hot Springs Caravan and Leisure Park Facilities

Camping at Innot Hot Springs is by far the most popular choice for guests, although the park also has 6 standard rooms and 4 self-contained units, for those that do not have a swag, tent, campertrailer or caravan. The standard rooms share the camp kitchen, showers, toilets and laundry facilities with campers. These rooms have a Queen bed and a single bed, a bar fridge, television and kettle. The self-contained units have their own ensuite and kitchen facilities. If you are camping and using your own accommodation* (tent, campertrailer or caravan) then you can bring your pet to the park. Pets must be on a leash at all times. Pet owners are responsible for cleaning up after them. Pets are not allowed in the thermal pool area, or any of the shared spaces including camp kitchens, showers and toilets. You are welcome to take your pet to Nettle Creek. [*If you do not have your own caravan or campertrailer, then you can also hire ours – see below for more information.]

The park maintains six thermal pools, which contain filtered water from the nearby Nettle Creek. As guests you are welcome to use the pools at any time between 6am and 10pm. Each of the pools has a different temperature and please note that three of the pools are only open to those aged 16 years old and over. The camp kitchen has a fridge, kettle, microwave, toaster and stove top. BYO plates, cutlery and utensils. There is a guest laundry, and the washing machines are $4 per load. There is also showers and toilets. The park is a short walk from Nettle Creek, which is the source of the thermal waters at Innot Hot Springs.

The Waters of Innot Hot Springs & Dreamtime Story

What makes the water at Innot Hot Springs hot? Well, according to the signage on site – ‘Sandy alluvial sediment and fractured rocks of the Hodgkinson Formation combine underground with large faults extending tens of kilometres beneath the springs. The water filters down along the fractures until it comes into close proximity with the magma chamber, some 600m below. Here the water becomes heated and expands … the pressurized and heated water discharges to the surface [at Nettle Creek] to create the Innot Hot Springs.’ The water temperature has been recorded up to 75 degrees Celsius so if you are exploring the creek bed, then please exercise caution as to where you stand.

There is a Dreamtime Story of the Hot Springs, which is also recorded at on-site signage. “Father and son went hunting for sugar bag (wild honey). Anytime they did, the father would leave some sugar bag behind in the tree for the spirit. The son would sometimes stay behind to eat the left sugar bag and he was scolded by his father. This day, while he was eating, a Yamanie (Rainbow Serpent) came up behind him and swallowed him. As it did this, the Yamanie made a thumping sound. The father heard the sound and realized his son was missing. He rushed back to look for him. The old man soon saw the Yamanie trail and followed it. When he came upon the Yamanie it was resting and hiding in the muddy water of Nettle Creek. The old man could not see his son anywhere and he knew the animal had swallowed him. The father tried everything to hit the Yamanie on the head, but the animal would always be on guard and defend itself. So the father threw a gunamore (wild potato) in the water to the catch the Yamanie’s eye. When it turned its head the old man hit it with an axe and cut if off. He cut open the Yamanie’s belly and pulled out his son. As the serpent lay in the water bleeding, steam began to rise from the water, becoming hotter and hotter. Because the serpent temper was hot, his blood flowing into the creek caused the water to boil and that is why there is a hot spring in Nettle Creek today.” – Told by the keeper of the story.