Queensland National Parks Queensland’s sandstone wilderness parks Contents Parks at a glance .......................................................................2 Salvator Rosa section, Carnarvon National Park .......................16 Welcome ....................................................................................3 Minerva Hills National Park ......................................................18 Queensland’s Sandstone Wilderness .........................................4 Nuga Nuga National Park .........................................................19 Plan your getaway ......................................................................6 Lonesome section, Expedition National Park ...........................20 Choose your adventure...............................................................7 Beilba section, Expedition National Park..................................21 Blackdown Tableland National Park ...........................................8 Robinson Gorge section, Expedition National Park ...................22 Carnarvon Gorge section, Carnarvon National Park ..................10 Lake Murphy Conservation Park ...............................................24 Mount Moffatt section, Carnarvon National Park .....................12 Isla Gorge National Park ...........................................................25 Slow down on a Great Walk ......................................................14 Stay longer ...............................................................................26 Ka Ka Mundi section, Carnarvon National Park .........................15 Further information ..................................................................28 Parks at a glance Wheelchair-assisted access only Toilets Camping Camp fires Day-use area Short walks Hiking lookout Scenic 4WD access Blackdown Tableland National Park n Carnarvon Gorge section, Carnarvon National Park * Mount Moffatt section, Carnarvon National Park Ka Ka Mundi section, Carnarvon National Park Salvator Rosa section, Carnarvon National Park Minerva Hills National Park Nuga Nuga National Park l Lonesome section, Expedition National Park Beilba section, Expedition National Park Robinson Gorge section, Expedition National Park Lake Murphy Conservation Park Isla Gorge National Park *Camping in Carnarvon Gorge Visitor Area is only available in the Easter, June–July and September–October Queensland school holidays. n Some areas within the park can only be accessed by 4WD. • 4WD recommended. Front cover and this page Isla Gorge National Park 2 © Robert Ashdown Welcome Follow in the footsteps of famous explorers, where hidden springs, tumbling streams and seasonal lakes sustain an amazing diversity of plants and animals. Be uplifted as you watch the sunrise Embark on a challenging 6–7 day and enjoy marvellous hike, through winding gorges and views from towering elevated plateaus of spectacular, sandstone cliffs, remote sandstone country. rising above valleys and plains. Puzzle (clockwise from top): with the morning bird Carlia schmeltzii, over precious Awaken Robert Ashdown © Qld Govt; chorus, fresh eucalypt-scented air view from Boolimba Bluff, stories told Carnarvon Gorge, © Dave Hoolihan; and pure relaxation in the heart king parrot, © Bernice Sigley; on stone in Cathedral Cave, Carnarvon Gorge, of the Sandstone Wilderness. Michael O’Connor © Qld Govt; an ancient Carnarvon Great Walk, Robert Ashdown © Qld Govt; cultural © Robert Ashdown (centre) landscape. Welcome to Queensland’s Sandstone Wilderness Parks Welcome to Sandstone Country. Take a moment to discover the natural beauty that this land has to offer. As a Park Ranger and a Traditional Owner, I welcome you to discover the hidden treasures within the Sandstone Wilderness, where you can experience diversity and cultural connections. Respect this country and the places you visit as if they were your own. Leave only footprints and take home wonderful memories, so we can have this special area for future generations. Background image: © Carlin Burns Ranger image: © Raelene Neilsen Yindi woogoo yunie thiligoo nunee bindbee—you come to see good land. Ranger Scott Toby Ghungalu Descendant, Blackdown Tableland National Park 3 Rockhampton Rubyvale Emerald Parks of To Longreach Blackwater Ca pric Dingo or ay n hw Alpha Hig Queensland’s Duaringa Sandstone Wilderness Blackdown Gregory Highway Tableland NP Legend Minerva National park 4WD access Scale Hills NP 0 30 60 120km Springsure Woorabinda Conservation park Shared road Camping area Great Walk Dawson Highway Waterways Rock art Visitor information centre (VIC) Camping Biloela Rolleston Wi-Fi access Banana Camping—car access Dawson Developmental Road QldParks-Wifi Camping—4WD access Bauhinia Moura Park office Caravan Carnarvon Information 4WD camper trailer NP Road Salvator Fairfield Information shelter Road ntal Rosa Arcadia Valley 2WD camper trailer Access Road section Nuga me Parking Mapala Swimming Mt Playfair Road Nuga Tambo Ka Ka Mount Theodore Parking—bus Mundi Moffatt section NP No water section Develop Flagstaff Toilets Hill Fires prohibited Fitzroy Isla Shower Carnarvon No rubbish bins Gorge section Gorge Robinson Wheelchair access Matilda Way NP Swimming prohibited Gorge section Cellular coverage Diving prohibited Lonesome Expedition Restaurant Warning section NP Accommodation Water—treat before drinking Lake Walking track Murphy Unstable cliff Beilba CP Picnic table section Taroom Town Sheltered picnic table Mountain Womblebank Augathella Fires permitted Spring Injune Landsborough Highway Open fireplace Cliff line Gate Forestvale Road Barbecue—wood Great Inland Grid Leichhardt Barbecue—fuel Fence Wandoan Highway Viewpoint Way Highway Sealed road Mitchell Highway Lookout Unsealed road Wildlife spotting 4WD track Morven Walking track Charleville Scenic drive Warrego Highway Mitchell Roma Track classifications Yuleba To Bourke Wallumbilla Miles Grade Suits Track description To St George Jackson 2 No bushwalking experience required. Tracks may Families Chinchilla have a compacted surface with gentle incline sections with young and some steps. May be suitable for wheelchair users children who have someone to assist them. 3 People Suitable for most ages and fitness levels. Tracks may with some have short steep hill sections and many steps. bushwalking Caution is needed on creek crossings, ladders and experience lookouts. Ankle-supporting footwear required. 4 Tracks may be extensively overgrown, rough and very (Left to right): Experienced steep. Caution is needed on creek crossings, loose Sacred kingfisher; Boolimba Bluff walking bushwalkers surfaces, cliff edges and exposed naturally-occurring track, Carnarvon Gorge; outlooks. Ankle-supporting footwear required. Lake Nuga Nuga High level of physical fitness and map-reading skills Photos: (left to right): 5 Very © Mike Peisley; required. Track has very steep sections, irregular experienced © Michael O’Connor; surface and loose stones. Directional signs limited. bushwalkers Robert Ashdown High-quality, ankle-supporting footwear required. © Qld Govt 4 Rockhampton Rubyvale Emerald To Longreach Blackwater Ca pric Dingo or ay n hw Alpha Hig Duaringa Blackdown Gregory Highway Tableland NP Minerva Scale Hills NP 0 30 60 120km Springsure Woorabinda Dawson Highway Biloela Rolleston Banana Dawson Developmental Road Bauhinia Moura Carnarvon NP Road Salvator Fairfield Road ntal Rosa Arcadia Valley Access Road section Nuga me Mt Playfair Road Nuga Mapala Tambo Ka Ka Mount Theodore Mundi Moffatt section NP section Develop Flagstaff Hill Carnarvon Fitzroy Isla Gorge section Gorge Matilda Way Robinson Gorge section NP Lonesome Expedition section NP Lake Murphy Beilba CP section Taroom Womblebank Augathella Injune Landsborough Highway Forestvale Road Great Inland Leichhardt Wandoan Way Highway Mitchell Highway Charleville Morven Warrego Highway Mitchell Roma Yuleba To Bourke Wallumbilla Miles To St George Jackson Chinchilla 5 Sandstone outcrops from grassy plains © Qld Govt Ashdown Robert Plan your getaway Wander through twisting gorges, gazing in awe at towering sandstone cliffs and outcrops. Discover rock art sites, cooling mountain streams, tumbling waterfalls and abundant wildlife. Let the wild, dramatic scenery and evidence of an ancient yet ongoing culture lift your spirit and capture your imagination. Almost 5000km2 of national parks in Queensland’s Sandstone Wilderness await your discovery! Best time to visit Add some local flavour The best time to visit is between April and Plan your journey to coincide with September. Temperatures vary widely, local events and festivals. From with summer temperatures regularly Southern Queensland Country to the exceeding 35°C. Heavy frosts sometimes Southern Great Barrier Reef area, occur in winter when temperatures fall you’re bound to fill your calendar Salvator Rosa, Carnarvon National Park Brendan Moodie © Queensland Government below freezing. with memorable experiences to last a lifetime. Choose from Easter festivals, Rain falls mostly between December rodeos and country shows, food and and March; however, storms can occur art festivals, sporting events or just throughout the year. Many roads are stop and discover some of the region’s unsealed and impassable after even a best assets, the people. Find all the small amount of rain. Remember—if it’s details at mymaranoa.org.au and flooded, forget it. centralhighlands.com.au Best way to visit Visit southerngreatbarrierreef.com.au Head out in your own vehicle to explore. and southernqueenslandcountry.com.au