Disturbing roadside find near Aussie campground prompts plea to 'cheeky' tourists

Yahoo

11-07-2025

The frustrated owner of a family-run campground in the heart of one of Australia's most iconic tourist regions has issued a plea to 'cheeky' travellers after making a disturbing roadside find.
Jil, who runs Tirranna Springs Roadhouse in northwest Queensland with her husband, was heading down her driveway earlier this week with her children and dogs in tow when she spotted the remnants of a campfire still burning on the side of the track.
Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, the mum said it didn't take her long to realise that visitors had driven past her business after the sun set and illegally camped overnight on her private property.
While it's not the first time a tourist has snuck in hoping to score a free night's accommodation on her land, Jil said it was the pile of hot embers left behind the next morning that really got her fired up.
'That's what made me angry,' she said, noting it was 'lucky' no one had accidentally stepped on it. 'The whole area relies on tourism quite heavily, and we're only open for three or four months of the year. The rest of the year, it's either too hot or too wet.
'If you want to free camp, fine, out in the bush, but not in my driveway — that's silly. Might as well call in and spend the $15 and support a family,' Jil said, referring to the price of the Roadhouse's unpowered sites. The campground, located near the infamous Gregory River Crossing, also features powered sites, ensuite units, toilet blocks, showers, a 24-hour fuel station, a restaurant, and a small shop.
Jil and her husband took over the Tirranna Springs Roadhouse in 2018, but have spent the last two years rebuilding after three back-to-back floods destroyed everything. 'We got completely wiped out — our home, our farm animals, our pets and all of our stuff,' Jil told Yahoo.
The last thing the business needs now is the threat of a bushfire, she said. 'It's so dry and windy. It only takes a gust of wind to take those embers somewhere else, and bang, we're on fire.'
In an attempt to deter others, Jil pleaded with travellers online this week to please be responsible. While most tourists are "greatly appreciated", she often busts groups trying to camp in bushland on her property.
'A lot of times it is people camping just outside of our view. They don't pull into the driveway, they just drive around us and camp. It does happen quite a bit,' she said.
'They've never left a fire behind before but they do use our toilets and showers in the hotel accommodation, and then go back out to their free camp. That's proper cheeky.'
🚐 Brazen $300k act prompts caravan warning amid growing Aussie trend
🏕️ Major crackdown coming to travel hotspot amid surge in illegal camping
🔥 Aussie traveller calls out deadly recurring issue after 11,000km trip
And Tirranna is not the only local business impacted by the trend.
Hudson, manager of the nearby Burke and Wills Roadhouse, told Yahoo tourists often camp in a vacant lot across the road and wander over to use their facilities. 'They tend to go park over there among the bushes. To be fair most of them come over and buy food and everything so they can use the showers and the toilets, but a lot of them tend to not do that.'
Councils across the country continue to crack down on illegal camping at major tourist areas, with levels of overcrowding, damage to the environment, and littering soaring at frequently visited spots.
Yahoo has contacted the Burke Shire Council for comment.
Do you have a story tip? Email: [e-mail].
You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.