Pig Creek Rest Area – Cherwell

The Pig Creek Rest Area is a large and strategically important free 24-hour stopover on the Bruce Highway, providing a much-needed break for travellers between the major regional hubs of Maryborough and Childers. This is a classic, functional highway rest stop, designed with the safety and convenience of long-distance drivers in mind. The site is particularly well-designed, featuring separate, spacious, drive-through loops for trucks and caravans, which helps to organise parking and minimise noise for those in smaller vehicles. The camping area is a mix of bitumen and gravel set within a pleasant bushland setting, offering more of a natural feel than many other roadside stops. Facilities are basic but sufficient for an overnight stay, with a toilet block, rubbish bins, and some picnic tables available. As there are no shower or power facilities, it is best suited to self-contained travellers. The size of the rest area is one of its key features, as it can accommodate a large number of vehicles even during peak periods, making it a reliable option when other smaller stops might be full. Its location is purely for convenience, breaking up the journey and allowing drivers to manage fatigue effectively without needing to detour. For a safe, spacious, and no-cost overnight rest, the Pig Creek Rest Area is an excellent and highly utilised facility.

Site Information

• Location: On the Bruce Highway, approximately 20 km north of Childers and 20 km south of Howard.
• Site Suitable For: All vehicle types, with separate areas for trucks/caravans and cars.
• Road Access: Sealed highway to the site.
• Site Surface: Bitumen and gravel.
• Camping Permitted: Yes, this is a free 24-hour maximum stay rest area.
• Maximum Overnight Stays: 24 hours.
• Facilities: Toilets, rubbish bins. No showers or power.
• Picnic Tables: Yes, some sheltered tables are available.
• Potable Water: No. Bring your own drinking water.
• Mobile Phone Coverage: Patchy. Telstra is the most reliable carrier in this area.
• TV Reception: Variable.
• Onsite Public Toilets: No.
• Rubbish Bins: Yes.
• Open Fires: Prohibited.
• Generator Use: Permitted, with considerate use for other travellers.
• Number of Sites Available: Very large area with no defined sites.
• Essentials to Bring: It is best to be fully self-contained with water, power, and shower facilities.
• Pet Friendly: Yes, pets are permitted on a leash.
• Fishing: No.
• Short Walks: Walking around the large rest area.

Local Amenities

The nearest services are in the small town of Howard, with major services in Childers (south) and Maryborough (south-east).

• Local Pubs:
  • Grand Hotel, Howard (approx. 20 km)
  • Federal Hotel, Childers (approx. 20 km)
  • The Grand Hotel, Childers (approx. 20 km)
• Places to Eat:
  • The Howard hotel and local cafes. Numerous options in Childers.
• Local Attractions:
  • Burrum River Coal Discovery Festival (in Howard, annually)
  • Historic town of Childers
  • Snakes Downunder Reptile Park (near Childers)
• Nearest Caravan Parks:
  • Howard Sawmill Caravan Park (approx. 20 km)
  • Childers Tourist Park & Camp (approx. 20 km)
• Next Free Camps:
  • Childers Rest Area (48hr, low-cost, approx. 20 km south)
  • Apple Tree Creek Rest Area (24hr, approx. 10 km south)
• Nearest Dump Points:
  • A public dump point is available in Childers and Howard.
• Nearest Petrol Station:
  • Service stations are available in Howard and Childers.
• Drinking Water Resupply:
  • Available in Childers and Howard.
• Public Toilets:
  • Available onsite.

Seasonal Weather Forecast

This region has a subtropical climate, with mild winters and warm, humid summers.