Allenvale Campground

Allenvale Campground is a 20-site, unpowered tent campground beside the St George River just beyond Lorne. It suits campers who want a bush setting and don't need to drive to their pitch; each site accommodates up to six people. Book ahead: reservations and payment are required year-round.

Park at Allenvale Carpark, then carry your gear along the fire track for more than 200 metres; vehicles don't reach the sites. There are non-flush toilets, low picnic tables and shelters. The water is non-potable, so bring drinking water. Fires aren't allowed.

Platypus inhabit the St George River and may be seen around dawn or dusk. Nearby, the Allenvale Mill to Phantom Falls Walk crosses the river, passes an orchard and climbs a steep, loose-gravel track before descending to a pool below the falls. That's a separate outing from the campground. With 20 sites, other campers are part of the setting, and late noise can interrupt the quiet.

The name comes from the Allen family. Jesse Allen established a 100-acre property beside the St George River in 1880; he and Sarah later ran a tea room in a bush hut near the bridge. Their Devonshire teas became a local draw for walkers.