A guide to the best day walks and hikes in Carnarvon Gorge

It takes a full day to drive to Carnarvon Gorge from Brisbane. Stop in Toowoomba or Roma to replenish food, caffeine and fuel levels. Once you’re out on the country roads, avoid driving at dawn or dusk when the local wildlife is active (and hard to see). Roma makes for a great overnight stop if you’re running out of light. Injune and Rolleston are the last stops for fuel before heading towards Carnarvon Gorge.

For a speedier trip, fly to Emerald and hire a car for the three-hour drive to Carnarvon Gorge.

Short Carnarvon Gorge walks

Rock Pool (600m return)

With a name like Rock Pool, it’s no surprise that this short Carnarvon Gorge walk leads to the only designated swimming area. It’s a beautiful spot to visit after a day of hiking the gorge's many trails, with a picnic area and toilets also located here. 

Keep your eye out for platypuses and turtles while you swim in the cool waters or laze around in the shade of fig and casuarina trees. 

Nature Trail (1.5km return)

Short and sweet, the nature trail is a beautiful yet concise way to see just what Carnarvon Gorge is about. Head out at dawn or dusk for your best chance to see wildlife, including platypus in Carnarvon Creek.

Mickey Creek Gorge (3km return)

Mickey Creek Gorge is a fun walk for little ones or day-trippers, as the trail becomes a rock-hopping and scrambling adventure at times. Take care as the rocks can be slippery after rain. Keep an eye out on your walk: swamp wallabies and echidnas can often be spotted along the track.

Medium Carnarvon Gorge walks

Boolimba Bluff (6.4km return)

Be warned: the track to Boolimba Bluff is steep. 

One of the best Carnarvon Gorge walks, this hike has one particularly arduous section where you'll have to conquer a few hundred metres of steps and ladders. But, the view from the top, 200m above Carnarvon Creek, is well worth the effort.

If the mind and body are willing, start early to arrive in time for sunrise.

Moss Garden (7km return)

Escape the midday sun and make your way to the cool waterfall and green walls of the Moss Garden. Supported by the largest spring in the Gorge, this gem of a walk is like stepping into a storybook; rock-covered moss cliffs, soaring palm trees, and a rugged path crossed by trickling creeks—the place has a magical feel to it.

Continue on and this trail leads to the area's iconic Big Bend.

Amphitheatre (8.6km return)

This Carnarvon Gorge walk is for the slightly more advanced hikers and adventure-seekers. To access the floor of the Amphitheatre (and to see this soaring beauty from ground level), you'll need to scale a tiered ladder before continuing down 60m into the sandstone chamber. 

Ward’s Canyon (9.2km return)

Along this lush canyon trail through Ward's Canyon, you’ll come face-to-face with ‘green dinosaurs’— home to the world’s largest fern: the king fern (Angiopteris evecta).

Walking through the narrow passage of damp, cool sandstone, it's the perfect pit stop to rest your feet, cool down and watch the gentle swaying ferns. Keep heading along this trail to get to your next spot.

Art Gallery (10.8km return) 

As well as boasting some of the most breathtaking landscapes, Carnarvon Gorge is also home to some of Australia’s best examples of Indigenous art. Head to the Art Gallery for a wonderful day out where you'll be able to hear stories and local history from the region's Bidjara and Karingbal people.

There’s a slight hill towards the end of the trail, but the extra huff and puff is worth it. 

Long Carnarvon Gorge walks

Cathedral Cave and Boowinda Gorge (18.4km return)

It may be one of the longest trails in Carnarvon Gorge, but your reward is to clap your eyes on the remote, magnificent Cathedral Cave; home to an incredible preserved area of Aboriginal rock art. 

Just 100m upstream of Cathedral Cave is Boowinda Gorge; a narrow boulder-filled landscape that is prime for exploring.

Big Bend (19.4km return)

Big Bend is a full-day walk that winds into the upper reaches of Carnarvon Creek—and is one of the best ways to see Carnarvon Gorge in all her glory. 

If almost 20km seems challenging, camp overnight at Big Bend before heading back the next day. This option allows you more time to explore all the hidden smaller tracks in the park.

An extra-long Carnarvon Gorge walk

Carnarvon Gorge Great Walk (87km circuit) 

For serious hikers, the Carnarvon Gorge Great Walk is a challenging and rewarding way to explore the park in full. The six to seven-day journey links the Carnarvon Gorge and Mount Moffat sections of the national park, treating walkers to quiet trails and five walker’s camps.

Expect to see plenty of wildlife, sleep under a blanket of stars each night and reach the ‘Roof of Queensland’ at 1232 metres above sea level. You'll need to be completely self-sufficient for this hike and have had previous experience with multi-day hikes.

Note: the walk is closed from the start of November to the end of February due to the summer heat.

What to bring on your Carnarvon Gorge hike

As with any hike in the wild, make sure you bring more than enough food, water, sunblock, insect repellent and warm clothing.

For any of the longer hikes, go with a partner or group and let someone know where you’re going.

The average temperature is normally very pleasant, but in winter, the minimum can creep below zero so pack accordingly.

And always make sure you check the QLD Parks website before departing for the latest alerts.

Where to stay

Ready to start planning? Check out the full guide to visiting Carnarvon Gorge.