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Our First Stay at Canungra Showgrounds Camping
Family Friendly Creek Camping Near Brisbane
First Bush Camping Experience in the Mountains Canungra Showgrounds Camping
I’ve always preferred water-based camping, so until now, we usually stayed at campgrounds near the beach.
This time, however, I wanted to visit a campsite where we could enjoy creek swimming, so we decided to try bush camping in the mountains for the first time.
The place we chose was Canungra Showgrounds Camping.
It’s not located deep in the mountains, but right next to a small town called Canungra. Because of its easy access, it’s an ideal camping spot near Brisbane.
One of the best things about this campground is that a creek runs right beside it, making it a great place to enjoy creek water play with kids. Campfires are also allowed, so we could really experience the atmosphere of classic bush camping. Another convenient point was that the town has an IGA supermarket, cafés, and restaurants nearby, making it easy to buy supplies or grab a meal if needed.
This trip was planned as a short 1-night, 2-day camping getaway.
Eddie had recently bought new camping BBQ equipment and was eager to use it, so we packed as lightly as possible and headed out for a simple and relaxed camping trip.
Day 1 – Creek Swimming and BBQ at Canungra Showgrounds Camping
We arrived at Canungra Showgrounds Camping, located about one hour from Brisbane.
As soon as we arrived, we quickly set up our tent and headed straight to the creek to enjoy some creek swimming.
We had heard that it might rain in the afternoon, so we made the most of the good weather and hurried to enjoy ourselves while we could.
We thought creek tubing would be fun, so we even bought two tubes and left them by the front door at home so we wouldn’t forget them. However, once we arrived at the campground, we realized that Eddie had moved them somewhere else inside the house. Since I couldn’t see them, they completely slipped my mind, and in the end, we couldn’t go tubing.
The creek had different water depths, which made it a great place for kids to play. In some areas, rocks were placed to block the water flow, creating small natural pools. This made it a really good environment for camping with kids.
Since it was our first time playing in a creek, there was one thing we didn’t expect—the rocks were very slippery. Wearing shoes was actually much safer. Liam wore his Crocs and was able to move around safely, but I think aqua shoes would have been an even better choice.
Liam absolutely loved playing in the creek. There were also many Australian families camping with their kids, and the whole place truly felt like a paradise for children.
After finishing our time in the water and taking a shower, the sky started to darken and it felt like heavy rain was about to pour down.
Some of the local campers mentioned that hail might be coming soon and began moving their cars under cover. We followed their lead, moved our car to the undercover area, and waited there for the rain to pass.
Luckily, the hail and rain clouds avoided our area. It only rained lightly for a short time before stopping.
For reference, the hot water showers at Canungra Showgrounds Camping operate on a paid system.
You can use hot water for three minutes per payment, and each shower cubicle has its own card payment machine, making it very convenient as long as you have a card.
A Rainy Evening and Our First BBQ Attempt
Bringing rain boots turned out to be a great decision, as we had expected rain.
Even with the wet ground, moving around was not a problem at all.
As dinner time approached, it looked like it might rain again, which made us hesitate for a moment.
However, with pure determination to use his newly purchased camping BBQ equipment, Eddie started lighting the fire umbrella in hand. Having a BBQ on a rainy evening was definitely challenging, but it was also one of those moments where we truly felt the charm of camping.
At last, our new BBQ gear had its first official run.
Our little space.
This camping trip was a minimal camping setup, with just one tent, a small table, and a couple of chairs—no gazebo this time. We gathered together in the small space in front of the tent to enjoy dinner, and it actually felt even more cozy and comfortable. Camping like this, not far from home, made for a very satisfying one-night camping trip near Brisbane, even with such a simple setup.
Day 2 – Alpaca Farm Near the Campground
The next morning!
The morning at Canungra Showgrounds Camping after the rain was beautifully clear, with a bright blue sky and not a single cloud in sight.
After having a simple breakfast early in the morning, we headed to an alpaca farm near the campground.
Although it was only about a 10-minute drive from the campsite, the scenery along the way was so beautiful that even the short drive felt like part of the trip. We visited the alpaca farm thinking Liam, who loves animals, would really enjoy it.
However, to our surprise, Liam wasn’t very interested at all…
Mon-Sun 9:00am-4:00pm
A 30-minute alpaca walk and feeding experience costs $24.50 per person.
In the end, it was actually Eddie and I who were more excited while walking the alpacas and feeding them.
It was our first time ever feeding alpacas up close, so we took photos for each other and genuinely enjoyed the experience. The alpaca farm had a well-maintained, park-like atmosphere, and it felt like a great place for a light day trip near Brisbane.
After leaving the alpaca farm, we had lunch near Movie World. Since we have annual passes, we stopped by Warner Bros. Movie World for a short visit before heading home. When it feels a bit too soon to go straight home after camping, adding a quick stop like this really helps make the day feel more complete.
Although this was a short 1-night, 2-day camping trip, we filled both days with creek swimming, a BBQ, an alpaca farm visit, and even a theme park stop. It honestly felt like we had been away for a whole week.
Even though it was our first time trying bush camping in the mountains, it turned out to be very satisfying, even with a child, and naturally made us look forward to our next camping trip.
We already have another campsite booked for early December, and I’m already excited for the next adventure.
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