Calliope South Campsite

Calliope South Campsite is a free 48-hour riverside rest area on the Old Bruce Highway at River Ranch, on the south bank of the Calliope River south of Gladstone. It is a zero-cost, dog-friendly stopover with flush toilets, directly on the water, and the trade-off is Bruce Highway traffic noise.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome to stay overnight in your own tent, caravan or RV at no cost, with no reported size limits or pet fees. The rule that matters is lead discipline: dogs are kept on a lead or tethered at all times, and you clean up after them. This is a roadside camp rather than an off-leash reserve, so plan walks along the river bank with the lead firmly on.

Worth knowing

The site is spacious and unsealed, taking big rigs, caravans and camper trailers, with picnic tables, gazebos, rubbish bins and fire pits along the bank. Flush toilets are confirmed; there is a bore water tap but it is not drinkable, so carry fresh water in litres for you and the dog. The river itself is not for swimming: estuarine crocodiles and stingers are a real risk in this system, so keep dogs away from the waterline too.

Getting there and parking

Access is directly off the Old Bruce Highway on the south side of the river, and note the vehicle bridge between the north and south camps is closed, so you cannot drive across. Arrive by mid afternoon to claim a river-facing spot away from the highway edge, because it fills with Bruce Highway travellers in peak season.

Pair it with

The Calliope River North Rest Area is the sister free camp on the opposite bank, while the Calliope Caravan Park offers a powered fallback in town. For another stopover, the Boyne River Tourist Park sits south at Benaraby. More options are on the Queensland dog friendly stays guide and the River Ranch destination page.