Queensland national parks special collection | Pocket guide
Discover freely
Heart Reef in the Whitsundays, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
WelcomeWhether you’re looking for a fun family day-trip or an epic journey to a remote destination, this brochure caters to all with a special collection of Queensland’s parks. Be inspired to discover Queensland’s most extraordinary natural wonders.
For more information visit: nationalparks.queensland.com
Our rangers look forward to welcoming you to our parks soon.
Enjoy and respect our heritageQueensland’s national and marine parks protect our natural heritage—plants, animals, landcapes and prehistoric fossil remains—for our future enjoyment. Parks also protect cultural heritage—reminders of early European history and Aboriginal cultural values.
Many parks are part of the traditional country (land and water) of one or more groups of Aboriginal people. These Traditional Owners share spiritual beliefs about how the landscape was created, and their rights and responsibilities for using and caring for their country. To Aboriginal people, their country is a living ‘cultural landscape’, interwoven with language names for places, traditional stories, cultural sites, such as middens, burials and rock art sites, and spiritual beliefs. All aspects of the landscape— both natural and cultural—hold great importance for the Traditional Owners.
Queensland’s parks protect the best of Queensland. ‘Tread lightly’ during your visit and respect our parks’ natural and cultural heritage so that others may enjoy them after you.
ContentsWelcome 2
Enjoy and respect our heritage 2
Unforgettable experiences in nature 3
Gold Coast 5
Brisbane 7
Southern Queensland country 9
Sunshine Coast 11
Fraser Coast 13
Southern Great Barrier Reef (Central Queensland) 15
Outback Queensland 17
Whitsundays and Mackay 19
Townsville and surrounds 21
Tropical North Queensland 23
Index 26
Further information 27
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Clockwise from top: discover the weird and the wonderful with a ranger; getting up close and personal with a carpet python; enjoy a hike in Carnarvon National Park.
Photos clockwise from top: © Queensland Governtment, © Queensland Government, © Tourism and Events Queensland
Boulia
Birdsville Windorah
Morven
Jericho
Taroom
Rolleston
Muttaburra
Thargomindah Cunnamulla St George
Hungerford
Quilpie
Winton
Biloela
Emerald
Monto
Miles
YeppoonBarcaldine
Goondiwindi
Charleville
Warwick
Kingaroy
Dalby
Gladstone
Maryborough
Bundaberg
Noosa
Caloundra
Georgetown
Richmond Airlie Beach
Mission Beach
Port Douglas
Coen
Karumba
Burke and Wills Roadhouse
Camooweal
Clermont
Sarina
Proserpine
Mossman
Cooktown
Lockhart River
Normanton
Croydon
Burketown
Australian fossil mammal sites (Riversleigh/Naracoorte)
Wet Tropics
Cloncurry
Bowen
Hughenden
Charters Towers
Mount Isa
AyrHomeHill
Ingham
Innisfail
MareebaChillagoeAtherton
Whitsunday Islands
Fraser Island
Gondwana Rainforests of Australia
Julia Creek
Bamaga
Weipa
Blackall Tambo
Roma
Hervey Bay
Gympie
Longreach
Great Barrier Reef
Theodore
Surfers Paradise
BrisbaneToowoomba
Rockhampton
Mackay
Townsville
Cairns
RegionsGold Coast
Brisbane
Southern Queensland Country
Sunshine Coast
Fraser Coast
Southern Great Barrier Reef (Capricorn, Bundaberg, Gladstone)
The Whitsundays and Mackay
Townsville North Queensland
Tropical North Queensland
Outback Queensland
200 400kmScale0
LegendWorld Heritage area
Sealed road
Unsealed road
Partly sealed road
4WD track
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Unforgettable experiences in natureBeyond our vibrant cities and charismatic regional communities, Queensland’s national and marine parks offer truly authentic and inspiring experiences. Feel a sense of tranquillity only found when surrounded by nature. Stand awestruck atop a mountain overlooking ancient rainforests stretching to the ocean. Cool off near a cascading waterfall. Take a deep breath as you watch the sun rise over the Great Barrier Reef. Experience the excitement of spotting a crocodile in the wild or seeing a rare spotted quoll, or visiting an ancient landscape that pre-dates the dinosaurs allowing a glimpse into our timeless past.
Whether you are a family full of lively children, intrepid travellers out to explore or wildlife lovers wanting to glimpse one of our rare creatures, you’ll find more than just beautiful scenery in Queensland’s national and marine parks. Satisfy your thirst for adventure and discovery, and experience our parks in new and exciting ways.
Life-changing moments in nature await you in Queensland’s national parks. Keep discovering!
Toilet
Picnic area
Camping
Caravan/camper trailer/campervan
Walking track
Wheelchair accessible
Fishing permitted
Horseriding permitted
Mountain biking permitted
The symbols in this pocket guide are only a small sample of the facilities and opportunities that can be enjoyed on these parks. Visit the NPSR web page for further information.
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Pacific Mwy
Gold Coast Hwy
Advancetown Lake
Coolangatta
SouthStradbroke Island
NorthStradbroke Island
Moreton BayMarine Park
Surfers Paradise
Southport
Biggera Waters
Nerang
Robina Burleigh Head
Numinbah
Binna Burra
Green Mountains
Beechmont
SpringbrookPlateau
Natural Bridge
Mudgeeraba
Beenleigh
Canungra
NorthTamborine
TamborineOxenford
To Brisbane
To Beaudesert
4 8 12 14kmScale0
LegendGold Coast
Protected area
World Heritage area
Visitor information centreAirport
Sealed road
Town
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4
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Gold CoastMake yourself at home in one of Queensland’s most remarkable natural environments, where some species have survived since prehistoric times, and feel life’s stresses melt away. Some of the Gold Coast’s most remarkable experiences include:
1 Hit the waves on a surfboard at the world-renowned Burleigh Heads surf break, or simply salute the surfers at sunrise from the headland in Burleigh Head National Park. From waves to wallabies! Enjoy a ranger-guided wildlife show in the secluded heart of Burleigh Heads at 2 David Fleay Wildlife Park.
3 Immerse yourself in the grandeur of Lamington National Park where densely-forested ranges and valleys conceal the area’s ancient volcanic origins. Part of the World Heritage-listed Gondwana Rainforests of Australia, this bushwalking mecca is one of Queensland’s best national parks.
4 Feel the glow in Springbrook National Park where famous glow-worms at Natural Bridge attract visitors from around the world, keen for a nocturnal glimpse of the tiny, yet brilliant, blue-green lights decorating rocky overhangs—the glow- worm’s natural environment.
5 Tamborine National Park, including Witches Falls—Queensland’s first national park—offers walking tracks leading to secluded places where you can soak up cool mountain air in the forest and enjoy a picnic with friends and family.
Natural Bridge, Springbrook National Park Phot
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Explore breathtakingly
Check website for details about facilities
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Lake Wivenhoe
LakeSamsonvale
Lake Somerset
NorthStradbroke Island
South Stradbroke Island
Brisbane
Gatton LockyerValley
Fernvale
Strathpine
Esk
Ipswich
ManlyWynnum
CapalabaCleveland
Beaudesert
Rathdowney
Redcliffe
Kilcoy
Boonah
Caboolture
Woodford
To Kingaroy
To Warwick
To Toowoomba
To Gympie
Tamborine
North Tamborine
Canungra
Loganholme
To Killarney20 40km
Scale0
LegendBrisbane
Protected area
World Heritage area
Visitor information centreAirport
Sealed road
Town1
2
3
4
5
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NorthStradbroke Island
Moreton Bay Marine Park
BrisbaneJust beyond Queensland’s vibrant capital city, a natural world of adventure and weekend escapes awaits. Some of the most sensational escapes include:
1 Leave all your worries behind as you escape to the stunning waters of Moreton Bay Marine Park—Brisbane’s aquatic playground. Look for dolphins, dugongs, whales and turtles as you kayak, sail or snorkel in the bay’s calm clear waters. Or why not take the boat out through the sheltered waters of the Pumicestone Passage.
2 Head for the sand hills. Feel the thrill and excitement of Moreton Island National Park and Recreation Area as you reach the top of reputedly the southern hemisphere’s highest vegetated sand dune, Mount Tempest.
3 Every day’s a holiday on Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island), in Moreton Bay. A classic beach ‘getaway’ where life revolves around long stretches of beach, surfing, diving, snorkelling, fishing and swimming. Discover the history and Aboriginal cultural connections of Naree Budjong Djara National Park which makes up almost half of this beautiful sand island.
4 Escape from the city to the remote gorges and subtropical rainforest of D’Aguilar National Park—a perfect place for a family adventure. Discover your adventurous spirit at Walkabout Creek, go for a bushwalk, a horse ride or a mountain-bike ride—you choose your speed.
5 Take the kids koala spotting in Daisy Hill Regional Park. Nestled in open eucalypt forest, this park is a popular retreat for Brisbane residents. Why not visit the Daisy Hill Koala Centre where fun, interactive displays highlight the ecological importance of koalas.
6 Mount Barney National Park is a climbing and bushwalking mecca. Experienced bushwalkers can take on the unmarked climbing routes to the peak of Mount Barney. While climbers can conquer the sheer, rugged peaks, gorges and crevices on the way to the summit of Mount Barney.
Tangalooma wrecks, Moreton Bay Marine Park Phot
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Check website for details about facilities
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Roma
Texas
DalbyMaclagen
Wallangarra
Murgon
St George
Miles
Tara
Stanthorpe
OakeyJondaryan
Wondai
Dirranbandi
Injune
Nanango
Crows Nest
Hampton
Millmerran
Warwick
MitchellChinchilla
Yarraman
Mungindi
Surat
Wandoan
Kingaroy
Jandowae
Toowoomba
Inglewood
Blackbutt
Gatton
To Rolleston
To Mundubbera
To Gayndah
To Goomeri
To Taroom
To Lightning Ridge
To BoonahTo Ipswich
To Killarney
To Charleville
To Cunnamulla
To Moree
To Boggabilla
To Tenterfield
60 120kmScale0
Goondiwindi
LegendSouthern Queensland Country
Protected area
World Heritage area
Visitor information centre
Sealed road
Town
1
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3
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Main Range National Park Phot
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Southern Queensland CountrySome of Queensland’s best parks lie within a short drive of Brisbane. Here is a collection of unforgettable experiences in Southern Queensland Country.
1 Let your spirit soar as you meet the challenge of a short bushwalk or an extended exhilarating hike in Main Range National Park. Explore endless scenery in this World Heritage-listed park, part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia.
2 Make nature your holiday home—set your ‘out of office’ email reply to ‘taking a few days out at a nature retreat’. Journey to the Bunya Mountains National Park, where the world’s largest stand of ancient bunya pines towers over lush rainforest on the crest of a range that rises abruptly from the surrounding landscape.
3 Enjoy a wildflower wonderland and hike among the impressive granite boulders of Girraween National Park. Girraween means ‘place of flowers’ and you will be amazed by the sheer size of the huge granite outcrops towering above open forests in contrast to the delicate wildflowers that splash colour across the landscape in spring.
4 Get among the gum trees and enjoy the variety of eucalypts—and perhaps learn to tell a stringybark from an ironbark or a bloodwood—at Crows Nest National Park, where spectacular creek scenery, granite outcrops and a waterfall will enthral you.
Walk serenely
Photo: © Tourism and Events Queensland
Admiring a strangler fig at Bunya Mountains
National Park
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Lake Cootharaba
Double Island Point
Lake Weyba
CaloundraKawana
Gympie
Noosa
Coolum
Beerwah
Tewantin
Elanda Point
Bribie Island(north end)
Nambour
Montville
Goomeri
Cooroy
Kybong
Tin Can Bay Rainbow Beach
Maroochydore Mooloolaba
To Brisbane
To Gayndah To Maryborough
To Murgon
To Kilcoy
To Nanago
20 40kmScale0
LegendSunshine Coast
Protected area
Visitor information centreAirport
Sealed road
Town
1
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4
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Noosa National Park Phot
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Sunshine CoastQueensland’s Sunshine Coast offers balmy weather year round, incredible natural wonders and relaxing adventures. Here, outdoors is a way of life, and ‘relaxed’ is the only possible answer to the question ‘How are you?’ Below are a few examples of what makes the Sunshine Coast special.
1 Discover the beach and beyond at Noosa National Park—one of Queensland’s most beautiful combinations of beach and forest is waiting to be explored. Watch the surfers as they soak up the morning sunshine amid the waves or wind your way along the rocky Noosa headland, perhaps spotting a turtle or a dolphin below.
2 The Sunshine Coast hinterland national parks of Conondale, 3 Kondalilla, 4 Mapleton and 5 Mapleton Falls offer nature-lovers an opportunity to spot birds, frogs and reptiles all flourishing in their natural
environments. Cool off beside crystal clear creeks, wander among tall open forests and enjoy a scenic drive off the beaten track.
6 At the Glass House Mountains National Park—named by Lt. James Cook—craggy volcanic peaks tower over beautiful hinterland scenery. Look for koalas, goannas, echidnas and grey kangaroos as you go.
Coast dramatically
7 The Sunshine Coast is the gateway to the popular Cooloola Recreation Area in Great Sandy National Park—a little taste of paradise. Escape the hustle and bustle and soak up the stunning beauty of this expansive landscape of sand dunes and tranquil waterways.
8 Dive the ex-HMAS Brisbane and experience this historical treasure. The Ex-HMAS Brisbane Regional Park is an artificial reef that is one of Australia’s premier wreck dive attractions. So what are you waiting for? Dive right in.
Check website for details about facilities
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Great Sandy Marine Park
Fraser Island
Maryborough
Hervey Bay
River Heads
Howard
Burrum Heads
Torbanlea
Tiaro
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
To Childers
To Biggenden
To Woolooga
To Tin Can Bay
To WooloogaTo Gympie 16 32km
Scale0
LegendFraser Coast
Protected area
World Heritage area
Visitor information centre
Sealed road
Town1
2
Photo: © Tourism and Events Queensland
A humpback whale plays in the calm of Hervey Bay,
Great Sandy Marine Park.
Seventy Five Mile Beach on Fraser Island, Great Sandy National Park Phot
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Fraser CoastThe national and marine parks of the Fraser Coast offer amazing natural adventures which will surprise, delight and inspire even the most experienced traveller. Here is a small collection of the best of the Fraser Coast.
1 Come face-to-face with a majestic humpback whale in the shallow, protected waters of Hervey Bay in the Great Sandy Marine Park, one of the only places in the world where humpback whales find sanctuary to ‘stay and play’. Be awed by the sheer size of these curious creatures as they emerge at the ocean’s surface and perhaps swim closer to you to get a better look! Feel a sense of peace and connection as you listen to their song and, if you are lucky, watch a mother swimming with her calf by her side. See whales in Hervey Bay between July and November.
2 By foot or by 4WD, in your own vehicle or with a professional tour guide, World Heritage-listed Fraser Island, in Great Sandy National Park, is a place of incredible natural beauty that will surprise you with its diversity. One minute you are walking beside crystal-clear freshwater lakes; the next, overlooking a huge sandblow or driving your 4WD on long sweeping beaches; then later you are exploring subtropical rainforest growing on sand!
Experience freely
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LakeMaraboon
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
MouraBauhinia
Rolleston
Injune
Gin GinChilders
Agnes WaterTannum Sands
Bargara
Gayndah
Biloela
Gladstone
Calliope
Rockhampton
Miriam Vale
Blackwater
TheodoreMonto
Bundaberg
Mundubbera
Yeppoon
MountMorgan
BiggendenTaroom
Dingo
Marlborough
Eidsvold
Springsure
Emerald
To Mackay
To Nebo
To Maryborough
To GoomeriTo Roma To Wandoan
To Clermont
To Alpha
80 120kmScale0
LegendSouthern Great Barrier Reef(Capricorn, Bundaberg and Gladstone)
Protected area
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2
3
4
5
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7
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World Heritage area
Visitor information centreAirport
Sealed road
Town
Check website for details about facilities
Green turtle hatchling, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Phot
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Southern Great Barrier Reef (Central Queensland)Central Queensland’s national parks are abundant in wildlife, cultural and adventure experiences which will capture your heart and your imagination. Here are just a handful of ideas.
1 Witness an ancient life cycle of the animal kingdom, as majestic sea turtles make their journey to the shore to lay their eggs. Delight at the sight of their young hatching months later, and making their perilous journey to the sea. It’s the circle of life at Mon Repos Regional Park from November to March every year.
2 Go batty! Be amazed by the bats at Mount Etna Caves National Park. Join a ranger-guided evening tour of Mount Etna’s Bat Cleft and experience the rush as thousands of little bent-wing bats emerge at dusk from the caves
each summer from December to mid-February.
3 For 4WD enthusiasts, you can’t beat the 35km 4WD-only track through Kroombit Tops National Park, which offers exceptional scenery and rugged terrain, and that true ‘off the beaten track’ feeling.
4 See the sunset from a different angle—below the towering sandstone cliffs of Cania Gorge National Park. Eucalypt woodland and grass trees dot the dramatic sandstone landscape in this spectacular national park.
Discover curiously
5 Venture into the past with a visit to Blackdown Tableland National Park. Protecting a sandstone plateau rising 600m above the flat plains of Central Queensland, the park features ancient rock art painted thousands of years ago.
6 Take a 4WD adventure! Drive through the haze hovering above surrounding dry plains to arrive at the lush gorges and rocky creeks waiting to refresh you at Carnarvon National Park. The towering sandstone cliffs and vibrantly coloured gorges take pride of place here.
7 Escape to Byfield national and regional parks and state forest, one of Queensland’s unofficial ‘best places to enjoy a campfire’. Explore by foot or by 4WD to enjoy brilliant coastal scenery, and find your own special camping spot, destined to become a family favourite.
8 Find your own ‘Robinson Crusoe-style island escape’ within the refreshing waters of the Southern Great Barrier Reef island national parks, part of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. Endangered loggerhead turtles occasionally pop their heads up for a peek hello while majestic manta rays may provide memorable experiences for divers.
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BilpaMorea Claypan
Simpson Desert
Bulloo Lake
Lake YammaYamma (Mackillop)
Quilpie
Thargomindah
Windorah
Richmond
Blackall
Boulia
Charleville
Camooweal
Gregory Downs
Burke and WillsRoadhouse
Cloncurry Hughenden
CunnamullaEulo
Hungerford
Julia Creek
Muttaburra
Morven
Jericho
Mount Isa
Longreach
Winton
Birdsville
Bedourie
Alpha
Tambo
To Burketown
To Townsville
To Emerald
To Springsure
To Mitchell
To St George
To Tibooburra To Bourke
To Normanton
To Mount Garnet
Barcaldine
120 240kmScale0
LegendOutback Queensland
Protected area
World Heritage area
Visitor information centreAirport
Sealed road
Unsealed road
Partly sealed road
4WD track
Town
1
2
3
45
6
7
Lawn Hill Gorge, Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) National Park Phot
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Outback QueenslandYou will never feel more Australian than here. Sleep under a million twinkling stars, and listen to ancient stories being told by the light of a glowing campfire. Some of the Outback’s unforgettable experiences include:
1 Hear the stories where they happened at Currawinya National Park. Thousands of years of Aboriginal history, teeming wildlife and Australia’s 19th and 20th century pastoral heritage make this park well worth a visit.
2 Get off the beaten track at Munga-Thirri (Simpson Desert) National Park. Only accessible by 4WD and only in the dry season, the Simpson Desert offers the ultimate journey for self-sufficient adventurers with the experience of ‘big dune country’.
3 Keep your camera ready at Janet’s Leap lookout, where panoramic views inspire photographers from around the globe. In Diamantina National Park, sand dunes, grass plains and weathered sandstone ranges merge with the channels of the Diamantina River.
4 Follow in the footsteps of dinosaurs at Lark Quarry Regional Park where scientists and palaeontologists have uncovered some 3300 footprints made by dinosaurs about 95 million years ago.
Float peacefully
5 See the outback as it was at Bladensburg National Park. You’ll discover a sense of history and view an amazing variety of wildlife at this park.
6 There’s a pyramid in the middle of Queensland’s outback? In Porcupine Gorge National Park, Porcupine Creek has excavated a deep chasm through layers of sandstone to create an incredibly scenic gorge, with a ‘pyramid’ shaped monolith rising dramatically from the gorge floor.
7 This park will take your breath away. Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) National Park is one of Queensland’s most scenic destinations, with exhilarating walking tracks and peaceful camping spots in the outback oasis of Lawn Hill Gorge. Canoe along the emerald green waters in the spectacular gorge, while orange sandstone cliffs tower high above you. At Riversleigh World Heritage Site, this timeless landscape reveals fossils of unimaginable age, allowing us to glimpse into the past. Check website for details about facilities
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Lake Dalrymple
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
Holbourne Island
CalenSeaforth
Collinsville
Moranbah
Bowen
Clermont
MarianWalkerston
Mackay
Proserpine
Dysart
Sarina
Mount Coolon
Middlemount Marlborough
Nebo
To Charters Towers
To Townsville
To Emerald To Dingo To Rockhampton
100kmScale0
Airlie Beach
LegendThe Whitsundays and Mackay
Protected area
World Heritage area
Visitor information centreAirport
Sealed road
Town
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45
6
Inset map
Airlie Beach
Proserpine
Whitsunday Island
Conway National Park
Hook Island
North Molle Island
GloucesterIsland
South Molle Island
Hamilton Island
Repulse Island
Lindeman Island
10 20kmScale0
2
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Hill Inlet, Whitsunday Islands National Park Phot
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Whitsundays and MackayDiscover a part of Queensland where ‘laid back’ is a way of life and adventure is just around the corner. The Whitsundays feature many island national parks in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. To the south, the relaxed region of Mackay is home to national parks full of hidden treasures and surprising natural encounters. Some of the most sensational escapes include:
1 Ahoy there sailor! Captain a sailing yacht or catamaran on an adventure of a lifetime through the crystal clear waters of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park surrounding the Whitsunday national park islands. Zig-zag between islands and explore secluded bays, glistening white beaches, rocky headlands and colourful fringing reefs.
2 Take a sea journey launched thousands of years ago on the Whitsunday Ngaro Sea Trail—one of Australia’s most unique cultural experiences. Follow in the footsteps of the Ngaro people in a journey blending island seaways and sensational walking tracks.
Hoist your sails, kayak to your heart’s content, or join a guided tour over turquoise water.
3 You’ve waited long enough—it’s time for a dream holiday on one of the Whitsunday national park islands. Make your choice from unique island resorts surrounded by national parks, ranging from comfortable budget to award-winning 6-star luxury; or set up camp at your own secluded beach to enjoy the amphitheatre of lush island flora and million dollar views.
Escape breathtakingly
4 Many visitors head to the mist-shrouded rainforested mountains of Eungella National Park with one thing in mind—the chance to see the intriguing platypus in its natural environment. Enjoy the calm stillness at Broken River around dusk as you wait with bated breath for a glimpse.
5 Join a wallaby for breakfast at Cape Hillsborough National Park—one of the most scenic locations on the Central Queensland coast. Rugged, rainforest-clad hills plunge to rocky headlands and white sandy beaches in this scenic park. Be at the beach at sunrise or sunset to hang out with agile wallabies—a truly iconic Australian experience.
6 Are you up for an adventure? Discover the Whitsundays on mountain bike. Ride through majestic tropical rainforest on the Whitsunday Great Walk in Conway National Park. Enjoy spectacular views across the Whitsunday’s famous islands and fringing reef while pedalling along tracks on South Molle Island in 7 Molle Islands National Park.
Check website for details about facilities
Check website for details about facilities
Check website for details about facilities
Check website for details about facilities
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LakeDalrymple
LakeBuchanan
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
Charters Towers
Lucinda
Home Hill
DalbergBurdekin Falls Dam
Townsville
Ingham
Ayr
Cardwell
Mount Garnet
Ravenswood To Bowen
To Frankfield
To Hughenden
40 80kmScale0
LegendTownsville North Queensland
Protected area
World Heritage area
Visitor information centreAirport
Sealed road
Unsealed road
Town
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3
4
5
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Wallaman Falls, Girringun National Park Phot
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Townsville and surroundsRelax. You’re on tropical time here, and there’s absolutely no rush. Townsville’s national parks are studded with streams to refresh you, wetlands alive with waterbirds, vivid reefs teeming with fish, secluded bays and rugged ranges for you to explore. Some of Townsville Region’s most memorable experiences include:
1 Only minutes from Townsville’s city centre, the Townsville Town Common Regional Park offers bird watching bliss. Nearly 280 bird species chatter, honk and squawk among the lagoons, wetlands, woodlands and sheltered beaches.
2 Get amongst nature at beautiful Paluma Range National Park where you’ll feel embraced by the natural beauty in this southern-gateway to the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. Escape the coastal lowland
heat and relax in the cool mountain air of the Paluma Range.
3 Lose yourself for a day or a week on Magnetic Island. Rocky granite headlands fuse with sheltered bays and beaches, studded with majestic hoop pine trees, to create a dramatic coastline. Magnetic Island National Park is a haven for native wildlife, like rock wallabies, possums and northern Australia’s largest colony of koalas living in the wild.
Explore stunningly
4 Stand in awe at Wallaman Falls, Australia’s highest permanent single-drop waterfall, located in Girringun National Park. In between the forest-clad ridge tops and rainforest-lined gullies and creeks, Wallaman Falls stands tall at 268m.
5 Stay at the luxury resort or take a boat for a daytrip to unwind on Orpheus Island National Park in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. Snorkel off the beach in blue-green reef waters to discover a marine wonderland.
6 Separated from the mainland only by the narrow Hinchinbrook Channel, the rugged peaks of Hinchinbrook Island National Park rise abruptly from the sea, signalling the island’s wild nature. Hinchinbrook Island is home to the world-renowned wilderness walk, the Thorsborne Trail.
Check website for details about facilities
Check website for details about facilities
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Tropical North QueenslandWild, unspoilt and adventurous by nature, Tropical North Queensland is home to two World Heritage- listed natural wonders and enough adventure to tick off the bucket list of even the most seasoned traveller. Here is a sample of what this region has to offer.
1 Are you up for a world class rafting experience? Head to the mighty Tully River, in Tully Gorge National Park, one of Australia’s wettest areas, where heavy rainfall ensures plenty of white water and lush tropical vegetation.
2 Escape to new heights in Wooroonooran National Park. Among the beautiful rainforest, wild rivers and waterfalls, high rainforest-clad peaks and steep gorges, you will find plenty of memorable wet tropics experiences. Elevated walkways,
a cantilever and observation tower offer visitors the exhilarating experience of being high in the rainforest canopy at the Mamu Tropical Skywalk.
3 Choose your own adventure to travel from the coast up to the tableland via the Barron River Gorge, in Barron Gorge National Park.Jump aboard the historic scenic railway and wind past picturesque waterfalls or experience the thrill of travelling in a gondola over the rainforest canopy.
4 Explore one of the world’s most ancient rainforests in the intriguing Daintree National Park. Start your journey at Mossman Gorge where crystal-clear waters cascade over granite boulders. Enjoy a rainforest tour with local Traditional Owners or a stroll along boardwalks high in the rainforest. Next, take one of Australia’s most scenic drives into the heart of the Daintree, exploring the rainforest and golden beaches along the 33km road from the Daintree River ferry to Cape Tribulation.
5 Drop into Crater Lakes National Park, where the clear blue rainforest-fringed waters of Lake Barrine and Lake Eacham—extinct craters up to 65m deep—will refresh and restore you for the adventures ahead.
6 Head out to Green Island National Park, a rainforest-clad cay built entirely by coral, and fringed by sandy beaches that slope into clear, blue-green water. Spend an afternoon snorkelling in the shallows or hire a kayak and glide over the reef looking for turtles and stingrays.
7 For grand vistas, visit Fitzroy Island National Park. This densely forested island offers plenty of outdoor activities from bushwalking
to snorkelling. In winter, watch for humpback whales from the lighthouse.
8 To get away from it all and experience the true isolation of an island close to the outer Great Barrier Reef, fly or cruise out to Lizard Island National Park. Surrounded by brilliant coral and crystal-clear waters, Lizard Island should be on top of your list! Here you can stay in 5 star luxury in the resort or get back to basics and pitch a tent.
9 Travel deep beneath the surface to the fascinating underground world at Chillagoe-Mungana Caves National Park. Here you can join a ranger-guided tour through spectacularly-lit limestone caves. Journey to the centre of the earth at 10 Undara Volcanic National Park. Walk in the path of an ancient volcanic lava flow and explore sections of the world’s longest lava tube, formed by a volcanic eruption 190,000 years ago.
11 Experience the magic of one of Australia’s ‘last frontiers’ on a 4WD wilderness journey. This is true adventure territory, so prepare for the trip of a lifetime as you explore the space and legend of Cape York. Go fishing for barramundi in Rinyirru (Lakefield) National Park (CYPAL), discover the rainforest at
Snorkelling at Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Phot
o: ©
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Check website for details about facilities
Check website for details about facilities
Check website for details about facilities
Check website for details about facilities
23 24
Great Barrier ReefMarine Park
CooktownLauraLakeland
Lockhart River
BramwellJunction
Eliot Falls
Thursday Island
Bamaga
Coen
RavenshoeMount Garnet
NormantonGeorgetownBurketown
Croydon
Karumba
TullyCardwell
Weipa
CairnsAtherton
Musgrave Roadhouse
Hann RiverRoadhouse
Archer River Roadhouse
Port DouglasMareeba
DimbulahChillagoeInnisfail
To Ingham
To Hughenden To Charters Tower
100 200kmScale0
LegendTropical North Queensland
Protected area
World Heritage area
Visitor information centre
Airport
Sealed road
Unsealed road
4WD track
Town
9
10
11
12
13
8
Mareeba
Ravenshoe
Mossman
DaintreeVillage
Port Douglas
Cape Tribulation
Lakeland
Atherton Yungaburra
Herberton
Gordonvale
Kuranda
Innisfail
Babinda
Malanda
Cairns
Tully
Mission Beach
To Cardwell50km
Scale0
Inset map
1
3
25
4
4
7
15
614
IndexAAtherton Forest Mountain Bike Park 25
BBarron Gorge National Park 23
Blackdown Tableland National Park 16
Bladensburg National Park 18
Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) National Park 18
Bunya Mountains National Park 9
Burleigh Head National Park 5
Byfield Regional Park 16
Byfield National Park 16
Byfield State Forest 16
CCania Gorge National Park 15
Cape Hillsborough National Park 20
Carnarvon National Park 16
Conondale National Park 11
Cooloola Recreation Area, Great Sandy National Park 12
Conway National Park 20
Crater Lakes National Park 24
Crows Nest National Park 9
Currawinya National Park 17
DD’Aguilar National Park 7
Daintree National Park 24
Daisy Hill Regional Park 8
David Fleay Wildlife Park 5
Diamantina National Park 17
EEungella National Park 20
Ex-HMAS Brisbane Regional Park 12
FFitzroy Island National Park 24
GGirraween National Park 9
Girringun National Park 22
Glass House Mountains National Park 11
Great Sandy Marine Park 13
Great Sandy National Park
Cooloola Recreation Area
Fraser Island
12
13
Green Island National Park 24
HHeathlands Regional Park 25
Hinchinbrook Island National Park 22
KKondalilla National Park 11
Kroombit Tops National Park 15
Kutini-Payamu (Iron Range) National Park (CYPAL) 25
LLamington National Park 5
Lark Quarry Regional Park 17
Lizard Island National Park 24
MMagnetic Island National Park 21
Main Range National Park 9
Mapleton Falls National Park 11
Mapleton National Park 11
Molle Islands National Park 20
Mon Repos Regional Park 15
Moreton Bay Marine Park 7
Moreton Island National Park and Recreation Area 7
Mount Barney National Park 8
Mount Etna Caves National Park 15
Munga-Thirri (Simpson Desert) National Park 17
NNaree Budjong Djara National Park 7
Noosa National Park 11
OOrpheus Island National Park 22
PPaluma Range National Park 21
Porcupine Gorge National Park 18
RRinyirru (Lakefield) National Park (CYPAL) 24
SSmithfield Regional Park 25
Springbrook National Park 5
Southern Great Barrier Reef island national parks 16
TTamborine National Park 5
Townsville Town Common Regional Park 21
Tully Gorge National Park 23
WWhitsunday Islands 19 and 20
Wooroonooran National Park 23
Chilli Beach in 12 Kutini-Payamu (Iron Range) National Park (CYPAL) and have a swim at Fruit Bat Falls in 13 Heathlands Regional Park. Before finally basking in the pride of standing at the true ‘Top End’ of Australia.
14 Explore the coastal rainforest by pedal power. With views of the Coral Sea from its highest point, Smithfield Regional Park is host to many international mountain bike events. But mountain bike opportunities don’t stop there. Marvel at the diverse scenery of the Atherton Tablelands as you ride through the 15 Atherton Forest Mountain Bike Park.
Check website for details about facilities
Check website for details about facilities
25 26
Copyright©State of Queensland 2015.
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing.
BP2062 June 2015. Printed on eco-friendly paper to save energy and resources.
DisclaimerThis information is a guide only. Every effort has been
made to ensure this information is accurate at the time of writing. Conditions change and activities may occasionally
be prohibited in some places. No liability is accepted by the Queensland Government for any decisions or
actions taken on the basis of information in this guide.
Photo (front cover): Carnarvon National ParkPhoto (back): Whitehaven Beach
© Tourism and Events Queensland
Further informationFor more inspirational ideas on how you can enjoy national parks visit nationalparks.queensland.com or you can:
• Likeusonfacebookat facebook.com/qldnationalparks
• Finddetailedinformationaboutallthe parks in your area or along your route, together with all the information you need to plan a safe and enjoyable trip by visiting npsr.qld.gov.au/parks
• Checkactivitiesandfacilitiesassomeare only available in specific areas within the park. Please check the relevant web page carefully and keep an eye out for signs onsite.
• Bookyourcampsiteinadvancebyvisiting qld.gov.au/camping
• Forhelpwithplanningyourholiday,visit queensland.com