Caravan dump points in Australia: every one on the national map, by state and town

Where they are, state by state

Open a state for the full list. Unlike most pages on this site, the state dump-point pages list every recorded point, in town order, because “is there one in this town” is the whole question.

1,097 dump points are at sites recorded as open 24 hours and 96 at sites with a shower. Highway corridor pages mark dump points in their stop tables — see toilets by highway.

How to use a dump point

1. 1

   Park so the cassette or outlet is beside the point

   Pull up with the toilet hatch or the black-tank outlet on the dump-point side and leave room for the next vehicle. Put gloves on before you touch anything.

2. 2

   Open the dump point and empty slowly

   Lift the lid or cap, hold the cassette spout or the outlet hose inside the opening, and pour slowly so it does not splash back. Press the vent button on a cassette as you pour to stop it glugging.

3. 3

   Rinse the cassette with the site hose, not a drinking tap

   Use the hose provided at the dump point to rinse the cassette and empty the rinse water into the point too. Never rinse at a drinking-water tap or a picnic-area sink.

4. 4

   Wash the point down and close it

   Hose any splash off the dump point, close the lid, and coil the hose. Councils and clubs close points that are repeatedly left dirty.

5. 5

   Add chemical and refill

   Put the treatment chemical into the empty cassette and a little water, refit it, and refill the flush tank. Bin the gloves; do not leave them at the point.

The CMCA’s etiquette guide puts it bluntly: points get closed when they are left dirty, and many are maintained by small councils or volunteer groups. Leave it as you would want to find it.

Black water, grey water and the law

Black water is toilet waste. It goes into a dump point and nowhere else — not a stormwater drain, not a creek, not a public toilet bowl — in every state and territory. Grey water is sink and shower water; some councils and free camps allow it onto the ground well away from waterways, but national parks and many towns require it to go to a dump point or a designated outlet, and the rules change at every boundary. If in doubt, it goes in the dump point.

Cost: most council points are free, a minority take $2–5 on an honour box, and points inside caravan parks are for guests or a paid fee. Our data does not record fees, so carry coins. RACQ and Camps Australia Wide cover the cassette side of the routine.

What our data can and cannot tell you

Every dump point here is one a council or venue submitted to the National Public Toilet Map. The map records that a point exists, and — only where the submitter filled it in — whether it has a rinse hose and whether it can be reached after hours. It does not record fees, whether grey water is accepted, or whether the point is currently out of order. 17% of points carry an after-hours note, so an absent note means "not recorded", not "closed at night". Every listing links to its page on the official map and has a report button; a report that a point was locked or broken shows on the listing within minutes.

Related guides and tools

• All dump points nationally — a spread across the country, with the state lists linked.
• Free showers for travellers
• Highway rest areas · toilets by highway corridor
• Toilets with drinking water — refill points for the tank.
• 24-hour toilets

Frequently asked questions

What is a caravan dump point?

A dump point is a sealed inlet to a sewer or septic system where a caravan, motorhome or campervan empties its toilet cassette or black-water tank. Most are a lidded pipe set in concrete with a rinse hose beside it, in a rest area, showground, caravan park or council depot. Emptying a toilet anywhere else — a drain, a bush, a public toilet bowl — is illegal in every state.

Are dump points free to use in Australia?

Most are. Councils fund the majority, and the Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia has subsidised hundreds more, so the typical council point costs nothing. A minority charge a small fee, usually $2 to $5 on an honour box, and dump points inside caravan parks are normally for guests or a paid fee. Our data records that a point exists but not whether it charges.

Can I put grey water in a dump point?

Yes, and in national parks and many towns you must. Grey water (sink and shower water) can legally be released to the ground in some places if it is well away from waterways, but rules vary by state and council and a dump point is always the safe answer. Black water (toilet waste) must go into a dump point, everywhere, with no exceptions.

How do I find the nearest dump point?

Open the state page for where you are — every recorded dump point is listed town by town with directions — or use the finder on the homepage with location on. The National Public Toilet Map, which our data comes from, also lists them, as do the CMCA and camping apps. If a point is closed or missing, use the report button on its listing.

Are dump points open 24 hours?

Many in rest areas and open council grounds are; points inside depots, showgrounds or caravan parks are often behind a gate. Where the council recorded it, a listing says the dump point is reachable after hours. Where it did not, assume daytime and plan the stop for the afternoon.

Can I empty a cassette toilet in a public toilet?

No. Cassette chemicals and the volume of waste can damage septic systems, the smell lingers for hours, and councils treat it as illegal dumping. Use a dump point; the state pages list every one the national map records.