The complete guide to Carnarvon Gorge and Carnarvon National Park

One of central Queensland's biggest natural drawcards, the sheer beauty of Carnarvon National Park lures visitors. Its geography of towering sandstone cliffs, deep gorges, and green-fringed freshwater creeks that run through its landscape entices nature lovers and hard-core hikers alike. 

Combine this with a rich Indigenous history that makes the 2000-year-old cycads look young, and you can see why it’s one of these must-visit national parks in Queensland. Here, rock art, engravings and free-hand paintings serve as a continuing reminder of Aboriginal people’s ancient connection with this land.

Iconic trails of Carnarvon National Park

Lace up your bushwalking boots. Carnarvon National Park is home to a Great Walk and half a dozen shorter trails to explore.

If you’re not planning to stay overnight, we’d recommend one of two-day walks:

The Big Day Out (19.4km return from the visitor area, 8 hours)

If you’ve got a full day to spare, tackle The Big Day Out return trek that runs along the Main Gorge track to the base of the gorge to Big Bend. This walk is a highlights reel of the big-ticket attractions like the lush green Moss Gardens, the soaring Amphitheatre and the Art Gallery.

Boolimba Bluff (6.4km return from the visitor area, 3 hours)

For views of the gorge from the top down, take the 6.4km return trip to Boolimba Bluff. Expect nature’s version of a stair master, which is well worth the incline for the sheer panorama of the landscape and out over the opposing ridge.

If you don’t have time to walk the whole hog, you can easily return at any point following the route you walked in – or make one of these icons your turnaround mark:

• Moss Garden (7km return from visitor area, or 1.3km return from Main Gorge track): A botanical show of elk horns, tree ferns and a lush carpet of moss
• The Amphitheatre (8.6km return from visitor area or 1.2km return from Main Gorge track): After a steep climb, you’ll be rewarded with a sense of incredible space inside an open-topped cavern
• The Art Gallery (10.8km return from visitor area, or 600m return from Main Gorge track): Discover this cultural site which has more than 2,000 Indigenous engravings, ochre stencils and freehand paintings all along a 62-metre long wall of sandstone

Explore Carnarvon Gorge on a tour

There’s plenty of other ways to experience Carnarvon National Park, if you get a local to show you around:

Heli Central Tours: Capture the highlights in just 10 minutes from the comfort of a chopper. You’ll soar above the sandstone cliffs, with views over Twin Sisters, Three Sisters and Wool Pack, all while getting a geography lesson from the pilot.

Guide to the Galaxy: Every star tells a story, and Takarakka Bush Resort's guides share most of them in their guided astronomy tour. A star-studded sky is a perk of staying next to a national park whose nearest town is 100km away. Note: this tour is currently on hold. Check their website for updates.

Night Safari Tour with Australian Nature Guides: You'll spot plenty of wildlife on your day walks, but it’s even better here by night. Over 80% of the fauna in the park is nocturnal. Join Australian Nature Guides to spot gliders, owls and microbats on the walking tour that departs from the Visitor Information Centre. Guided day hikes are also available for those who want to learn from the experts while you trek. 

Flora and fauna of Carnarvon National Park

Carnarvon's opportunities for birdwatching are plentiful with over 173 species spotted in the park. If camping overnight, a high-lumen torch becomes essential packing for playing spotlight with nocturnal natives like gliders, possums and curlews. Tip: protect wildlife by covering your torchlight with red cellophane.

Where to stay in Carnarvon National Park

The real question is how do you prefer to sleep – camping or comfort?

Camping and Caravanning 

Want to pitch your tent inside the national park? During the Easter, winter and spring Queensland school holidays you can set up your tent or camper trailer in the Carnarvon Gorge camping area. The Big Bend camping area is open all year, but there’s just one catch. It can only be reached by a 19.4km return walk. 

All national park camping requires a camping permit. Book and pay for your camping permit online and in advance. 

Slightly outside the park (5km), you’ve got the option of setting up camp, caravan or RV in Sandstone Park (open seasonally). There’s no risk of seeing neighbours on this campsite which doubles as a cattle station with 41 unpowered sites spread over 50 acres - but you will see the incredible views over the gorge. Good news if you're travelling with your dog: Sandstone is pet-friendly, and they even have specially designed pet kennels for hire on a day rate (as you can't take pets into the national park).

There's also  or BIG4 Breeze Holiday Parks - Carnarvon Gorge, nestled on 100 acres within Carnarvon National Park

Glamping

If you like the idea of camping without any of the pack up or pack down, Wallaroo Outback Retreat offers visitors glamping tents with plenty of creature comforts and the sounds of the bush to rock you to sleep. You’ll find it on a 72,000-acre cattle station, an hour outside the main national park.

For a roof over your head

Just five minutes drive from Carnarvon National Park, Takarakka Bush Resort offers it all: powered and unpowered campsites, permanent tents with and without en-suites, cosy cabins, cottages, and smartly designed studios.

Even if camping, you’ll have access to amenities like bathrooms with sizzling hot showers and a store selling fuel, basic groceries, pre-wrapped sandwiches and souvenirs.

How to get to Carnarvon National Park

You’ll find this national park between Roma and Emerald on the Queensland map, so you can tackle it from either the north or south.

If you’re coming from Brisbane, spend a few days exploring your way here via Roma. Leaving from Mackay it’s a similar time commitment, passing via Blackwater.

Anyone short on time can also take a commercial flight from Brisbane to Emerald or Roma, and then hire a car for the remainder of the drive to Carnarvon National Park.

Either way, the road is mostly sealed and suitable for conventional cars.

When to go

Even though Carnarvon National Park is open 24 hours a day, all national park camping requires booking in advance, so you’ll want to call ahead before you take off.

Most accommodation options open seasonally, as temperatures range widely and summer can send the mercury well into the high 30s. Winter tells a different story with temperatures dropping to the freezing point, making insulated sleeping bags a must-pack item.

When packing, be sure to pack insect repellent, good walking shoes, lots of fuel, and rubbish bags. Remember, leave only footprints in this national park.

Here's how to do Carnarvon Gorge with the kids.