Cameron Corner: The Ultimate Outback Adventure (Here's Why)

Cameron Corner is one of the few places in Australia where you can stand in 3 states at the same time – the north west corner of NSW, the southwest corner of QLD, and the eastern South Australian border.

A rugged landscape with rolling hills and reddish dirt trails at Jump-up Loop in Sturt National Park, NSW, under a partly cloudy sky. The terrain is arid, with sparse vegetation. — Jump-up Loop Landscape in Sturt National Park.

It’s as remote as it sounds. The nearest town is Tibooburra, a.k.a. the hottest place in New South Wales. So if you want to step foot in this historical landmark, avoid summer at all costs!

There are quite a few things you can do here, like celebrating New Year’s Eve 3 times or checking out the world’s longest dog fence.

We’ll tell you all about it in this guide, including how to get there, where to stay, precautions, and more!

How to get to Cameron Corner?

Getting there is half the fun – it’s the quintessential outback adventure!

The closest major town is Tibooburra in New South Wales, about 200 km away, or a 3:30-hour drive.If you’re coming from Queensland, the nearest town is Thargomindah, about 450 km northeast of Cameron Corner (a 6-hour drive).

A lone vehicle drives on a vast, dry, and cracked red dirt road leading to Cameron Corner via Tibooburra. — Crossing the Waka Claypan en route to Cameron Corner from Tibooburra, NSW

The roads are unsealed, so you will need a 4WD vehicle to get there regardless of where you’re coming from.

Also, make sure to check for local updates and road closures to avoid any surprises!

7 Things to do in Cameron Corner

We recognise the traditional owners of these lands, the Wangkumara and Kullilli people.

1) Cameron Corner Survey Marker

This is a small but significant landmark established in 1880 to define the borders between the three states – South Australia, Queensland and New South Wales. Take a picture with it during your visit!

2) Cameron Corner Store

This is a store, restaurant, and camping spot all rolled into one.

A distant view from the roadhouse to Cameron Corner, NSW, showing an Australian flag on a pole, dusty red terrain, and vehicles parked under a bright blue sky with scattered clouds. — View of Cameron Corner from the Roadhouse.

It offers fuel, basic supplies, and the best steak for miles (literally for miles). It’s not overly priced which is surprising, considering it’s in the literal middle of nowhere!

3) Explore Sturt National Park

Sturt National Park has 340,000 hectares of wild, remote and rugged landscapes.

You’ll see sandhills, gibber plains, jump-ups and mesas, flood plains, gorges, creeks, and what remains of some of the pastoral properties in the area.

An emu drinks from a small waterhole at Cobham Lake, surrounded by a flock of birds, with a backdrop of trees and a dry, rugged landscape. — Cobham Lake with Emus, Silver City Highway

The Silver City Highway runs right through the park, but you can 4WD along the imaginatively named Middle Road through the varied landscape in the middle of the park!

There are several campgrounds in the park as well.

4) Stargazing

There aren’t many places left on Earth with no light pollution – this is one of them. The wide-open spaces and clear skies make for some of the best stargazing you’ll ever do!

That’s why you should consider to…

5) Stay overnight

The Cameron Corner Store offers basic camping facilities, including powered and unpowered sites. It’s a great way to experience the outback’s solitude and starry nights!

A view from a covered porch looking across the street at two pubs in Tibooburra, NSW. The scene is set at dusk with the soft evening light. — Tibooburra has hotels and pubs for convenient stays!

Be sure to book in advance, especially during peak travel seasons! If you’d rather have more comfort, consider staying in Tibooburra.

6) Celebrate the New Year!

There’s a big party every year there, as you can celebrate the New Year 3 times, once per time zone:

11 pm (NSW)
11.30 pm (SA)
12 am (QLD)

There are games, great vibes, and a recovery breakfast the morning after! It’s hosted at the Cameron Corner Store.

7) Check out the world’s longest dog fence

The Dingo Fence is a 5,614-kilometre-long structure designed to keep dingoes out of the fertile southeastern part of Australia and protect livestock.

A long, wire-mesh dingo fence stretches across the red desert landscape at Cameron Corner, New South Wales, under a sky filled with fluffy clouds. — Dingo Fence at Cameron Corner, New South Wales

It starts near Jimbour in Queensland, stretches across South Australia, and ends up at the cliffs of the Nullarbor Plain. It’s a fascinating feat of engineering and dedication, originally constructed in the 1880s and continually maintained to this day!

Cameron Corner is around the middle section of the fence, from where you will see it stretching into the horizon.

Precautions before going there

We got marooned twice on our way there.

First, after an overnight downpour that closed ALL roads entering and leaving Tibooburra.

A muddy dirt road near Tibooburra, NSW, with large rocks and a sign displaying road conditions and closures, including the route to Cameron Corner, under an overcast sky. — Marooned! Road Closure signs at Tibooburra, New South Wales

Second, after a flat tyre caused by a small piece of bone. Apparently, it’s the most common cause of flat tyres in these parts.

All of this to say – bring spare tyres! And make sure your vehicle is in top condition. The road is rough and conditions can be unpredictable.

Places to stay and/or stop nearby

We recognise the traditional owners of these lands, the Wangkumara and Malyangapa people.

Tibooburra

Tibooburra is the last major town before you reach Cameron Corner. It’s a great place to stop overnight, refuel, restock supplies, and learn a bit of outback history!

Here are 7 things you can do in Tibooburra:

Climb Mt Wood (4 km return) on the 100 km (~60 mile) Gorge Loop Trail.
Walk to the Jump-ups (3.5 km return) on the Jump–up Loop Trail.
See relics from the past at the Courthouse Museum.
Check out a replica of Sturt’s boat and other historic memorabilia at Pioneer Park.
Drive – or walk – to Sunset Hill Lookout for great views across the town and surrounds.
Take a short drive out to Golden Gully for gold mining heritage memorabilia.
Go hunting for South Australia’s floral emblem, the Sturt’s Desert Pea!

Locals say the best time to go prospecting for gold in the main street is after rain!

S&C Travel Tip

Milparinka

For an almost ghost town, there’s a lot going on in Milparinka, just 40 km south of Tibooburra.

The family running the historic Albert Hotel serve great coffee, drinks, and meals. Though small, this historic town offers a glimpse into the past.

A few small buildings with red roofs on reddish dirt near Cameron Corner, under a vast blue sky with wispy clouds, as seen at the Alfred Hotel in Milparinka, NSW. — Alfred Hotel, Milparinka, New South Wales

Here are 5 things to do in Milparinka:

Visit the Milparinka Heritage Precinct.
Explore the historic police barracks.
Check out the old post office.
Wander through the restored courthouse.
Visit the Albert Kersten Mining and Minerals Museum.

Milparinka also offers some accommodation options, mainly geared towards self-contained travellers.

The Milparinka Heritage Precinct has a campground, and there’s the Milparinka Hotel for those looking for a place to rest.

When is the best time to go to Cameron Corner?

The best time to visit Cameron Corner is during winter – or what passes for winter down under – so the heat won’t be a problem.

During these colder months (April to September) the temperatures are milder, making travel and outdoor activities more comfortable.

A Galah, a pink and grey cockatoo, perched on a rusted metal post near the Dingo Gate at Cameron Corner, Australia, with its eyes closed as if resting under a partly cloudy sky. — Spot Galahs at the Dingo Gate in Cameron Corner all seasons.

Summer months is a bad time to visit as it gets extremely hot, with temperatures often exceeding 40°C.

How many days to stay in Cameron Corner?

This place is quite remote, so you’ll want to stay at least 2-3 days to make it worthwhile.

Be mindful of your supplies and your vehicle condition, as services are very limited. Make sure you have enough food, water, and fuel to cover the duration of your stay and any unforeseen circumstances.

Did you know?

Cameron Corner is not the only place in the country where you can stand on 3 Australian states at the same time! The other ones are:

Poeppel Corner, where you can stand on the Northern Territory, South Australia, and Queensland.
Surveyor Generals Corner, where you can stand in Western Australia, Northern Territory, and South Australia.

FAQs

Is it worth going to Cameron’s Corner?

Cameron’s Corner is definitely worth a visit if you’re up for a bit of adventure and love remote spots. It’s where Queensland, New South Wales, and South Australia meet, so you can stand in three states at once.

Why is it called Cameron’s Corner?

It’s called Cameron’s Corner after John Brewer Cameron, a Scottish surveyor who marked the border point between New South Wales and Queensland in the 1880s.

The bottom line

Cameron Corner is an absolute must-visit for anyone craving a unique outback adventure.

This remote spot offers a rare blend of history, fun, and pure Aussie wilderness, where you can celebrate New Year’s Eve three times in one night!

Just make sure to pack a few spare tyres.

Cameron Corner: The Ultimate Outback Adventure (Here’s Why, Things To Do, Precautions, And More)

Table of Contents

How to get to Cameron Corner?