queensland national parks special collection …...a glimpse into our timeless past. whether you are...

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

Phot

o: ©

Tou

rism

and

Eve

nts Q

ueen

sland

Phot

o (r

ight

): M

axim

e Co

quar

d ©

Que

ensla

nd G

over

nmen

t

2

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

Town

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.

3 4

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

12

3

4

44

4

5

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

o: ©

Mar

tin C

anni

ng

Explore breathtakingly

Check website for details about facilities

5 6

Lake Wivenhoe

LakeSamsonvale

Lake Somerset


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


Sealed road

Town1

2

3

4

5

6


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

o: ©

Tou

rism

and

Eve

nts Q

ueen

slandExperience

spectacularly


7 8

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

2

3

4

Main Range National Park Phot

o: ©

Tou

rism

and

Eve

nts Q

ueen

sland

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

9 10

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


Sealed road

Town

1

23

4

5

6

8

7

Noosa National Park Phot

o: ©

Tou

rism

and

Eve

nts Q

ueen

sland

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.


11 12

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


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

o: ©

Tou

rism

and

Eve

nts Q

ueen

sland

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

13 14

LakeMaraboon


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

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

World Heritage area


Sealed road

Town


Green turtle hatchling, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Phot

o: ©

Tou

rism

and

Eve

nts Q

ueen

sland

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.

15 16

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


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

o: ©

Tou

rism

and

Eve

nts Q

ueen

sland

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

17 18

Lake Dalrymple


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


Sealed road

Town

1 3

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

27

2

6

Hill Inlet, Whitsunday Islands National Park Phot

o: ©

Tou

rism

and

Eve

nts Q

ueen

sland

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.





19 20

LakeDalrymple

LakeBuchanan


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


Sealed road

Unsealed road

Town

12

3

4

5

6

Wallaman Falls, Girringun National Park Phot

o: ©

Tou

rism

and

Eve

nts Q

ueen

sland

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.



21 22

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: ©

Tou

rism

and

Eve

nts Q

ueen

sland Discover

majestically





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


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.



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

queensland national parks special collection …...a glimpse into our timeless past. whether you are...

Documents