Byfield | CQ Towns & Places

Byfield ~ Waterpark ~ Stony Creek

Byfield is well known for its unspoilt rainforests and clear streams, and its artist communities.

Surrounded by Byfield National Park, and to the north, by the Shoalwater Bay Military Area, Byfield is situated 40kms north of Yeppoon on the Capricorn Coast, and 75kms from Rockhampton City. Byfield falls within the local jurisdiction area of Livingstone Shire Council.

Accessing Byfield

The road into Byfield township is bitumen and is easily accessible in a normal car.

From Yeppoon, head north along Farnborough Road and follow the signs. If you are coming from Rockhampton, you can bypass Yeppoon by taking the Byfield exit at Bondoola on the Rockhampton-Yeppoon Road. The turnoff is well signed and is also lit up at night. The Yeppoon bypass road offers some beautiful scenery as it passes through Bungundarra and Cooberie.

The township has a local store, primary school, and several types of accommodation all within a few minutes drive.

Camping

Further off the beaten track, are the camping and day use areas of Upper Stony Creek, Red Rock, and Waterpark Creek. They are dirt roads and the condition can vary greatly from one day to the next. The roads are generally usable by 2WD vehicles but are very bumpy so take it slowly. In wet weather, 4WD is recommended. Also be aware that if there has been a night of heavy rain, the roads may be cut off altogether until the creeks go down, so plan ahead.

Red Rock

Red Rock is the easiest camping ground to access as it is only a few hundred metres off Byfield Road. It is also the least likely to flood in heavy rains. Dogs permitted. Crocodile warning signs are in place. The fire roads and access trails are suitable for exploring on a mountain bike. Byfield township is about a five minute drive if you need supplies.

Waterpark Creek

Waterpark Creek is also a relatively short drive from Byfield Road. It is however easily prone to flooding after heavy rains. No dogs allowed. Crocodile warning signs are in place. The fire roads and access trails are suitable for exploring on a mountain bike. Byfield township is only a few minutes away.

Waterpark Creek road is also the access track to Five Rocks. A pretty drive, this track quickly descends into the bowels of Hell (but fun) so don’t even think about going there unless you have a good 4WD.

Upper Stony Creek

Upper Stony is 12 kms of dirt from Byfield Road. It is a popular swimming hole and has good day use and camping facilities. The road varies from slightly awful to apocalyptic due to the high rate of tourist traffic, coupled with heavy logging trucks. The road can flood quickly after heavy rains at the creek itself and the many floodway crossings along the road. Dogs are not allowed. The fire roads and access trails are suitable for exploring on a mountain bike. Byfield township is about 25 minutes away.

All the above camping info is provided as a guide only. Things change from time to time and it’s always best to get current local knowledge. Byfield Store is the focal point in the area, so if you have any questions, I’m sure they will be able to help you out.

Finally, if you intend to camp at any of the National Park camping areas listed above, you will need a camping permit from the Queensland Department of National Parks, Sport and Racing website. The local store issues camping permits as well.

If you enjoy this type of article, you can find more on the Central Queensland Places page. Feel free to leave any related comments at the end of this page.