Bang Bang Rest Area – Stokes

The Bang Bang Rest Area is a remote and essential free 24-hour stop for travellers traversing the iconic Savannah Way (Burke Developmental Road) in the heart of Queensland’s Gulf Country. Situated in a vast, open landscape between Normanton and Burketown, this is a classic outback rest stop that provides a safe and necessary place to break the long journey. The site is a large, cleared dirt and gravel area, offering abundant space for all kinds of self-contained vehicles, including the largest caravans and motorhomes, to pull up for the night. This is a truly primitive bush camp with very limited facilities, often consisting of just a picnic table and perhaps a rubbish bin. Campers must be completely self-sufficient, carrying all their own water, power, and toilet facilities, and must be prepared to take all rubbish with them. The true appeal of the Bang Bang Rest Area lies in its profound sense of isolation and the raw beauty of the Gulf Savannah. It offers an authentic outback experience: witnessing spectacular, uninterrupted sunsets that set the horizon ablaze, followed by an incredible display of stars in a sky completely free of light pollution. For the well-prepared, self-reliant traveller, it’s not just a rest stop; it’s a destination that captures the immense scale and quiet solitude of the Australian outback.

Site Information

• Location: On the Burke Developmental Road (Savannah Way), approximately 100 km west of Normanton.
• Site Suitable For: Fully self-contained vehicles only. Suitable for all sizes.
• Road Access: Sealed highway to the rest area.
• Site Surface: Dirt and gravel.
• Camping Permitted: Yes, this is a free 24-hour maximum stay rest area.
• Maximum Overnight Stays: 24 hours.
• Potable Water: No. You must carry all your own water.
• Mobile Phone Coverage: None. A satellite phone or emergency communication device is essential in this area.
• TV Reception: No.
• Onsite Public Toilets: Yes.
• Dump Point: Yes
• Rubbish Bins: Unlikely. Plan to take all rubbish with you.
• Open Fires: Permitted if conditions are safe and there are no local fire bans. Use extreme caution.
• Generator Use: Permitted, with consideration for any other campers.
• Number of Sites Available: Large open area with no defined sites.
• Essentials to Bring: Everything. All water, food, fuel, power, toilet, shower, and emergency supplies.
• Pet Friendly: Yes, pets are permitted but must be kept under strict control.
• Fishing: No.
• Short Walks: Informal walks in the surrounding savannah landscape.

Local Amenities

This is an extremely remote location. The nearest towns with services are Normanton and Burketown.

• Local Pubs:
  • The Purple Pub, Normanton (approx. 100 km east)
  • Burketown Hotel (approx. 130 km west)
• Places to Eat:
  • Available in Normanton or Burketown.
• Local Attractions:
  • The vast savannah landscape itself
  • Leichhardt Falls (seasonal, closer to Burketown)
  • Mutton Hole Wetlands (closer to Normanton)
• Nearest Caravan Parks:
  • Normanton Tourist Park (approx. 100 km)
  • Burketown Caravan Park (approx. 130 km)
• Next Free Camps:
  • Leichhardt Falls (camping often permitted, approx. 80 km west)
  • Other basic, unmarked rest areas along the highway.
• Nearest Dump Points:
  • Available in Normanton and Burketown.
• Nearest Petrol Station:
  • Normanton or Burketown. It is critical to have sufficient fuel range.
• Drinking Water Resupply:
  • Available in Normanton and Burketown.
• Public Toilets:
  • Available in Normanton and Burketown.

Seasonal Weather Forecast

The Gulf Country has a starkly defined tropical savanna climate with a monsoonal wet season and a long, dry season.