OUTBACK NATIONAL PARKS

This is wild country, no doubt. National Parks in the northern outback are like nowhere else in the world. Sadly, only a handful of visitors experience this 'unpolished' side of Australia, but those who do are left with lifelong memories of an ancient land of dinosaurs and volcanos, of great plains, rugged mountains, forests, and wetland swamps. This is paradise for the real nature lover. The sky out here is bigger than you could imagine, the characters are larger than life too. And the fishing? Well, we're trying to keep that a secret!

YOU CAN 'DRAG' THE MAP, AND ZOOM IN TO A PARTICULAR LOCATION. WHERE MANY NATIONAL PARKS ARE CLOSE TOGETHER, YOU WILL NEED TO ZOOM IN TO 'SEPARATE' THE MARKERS. ROLL YOUR MOUSE OVER THE MAP TO SEE THE ZOOM CONTROLS.

HALLORANS HILL CONSERVATION PARK

Hallorans Hill is an extinct volcanic cone on the Atherton Tableland. There is a short walk to the crater through the rainforest. Picnic tables, gas barbecues, water and toilets are provided. Camping is not permitted. For more information about this park, please CLICK HERE.

CRATER LAKES NATIONAL PARK

Lake Eacham and Lake Barrine are crater lakes surrounded by cool rainforest. At Lake Eacham, picnic tables, toilets, and gas and electric barbecues are provided. It is a popular spot for a refreshing swim. Lake Barrine is not as nice for swimming, but there is the option of taking a boat cruise. Canoes and other non-motorized boats are welcome on both lakes, but fishing is prohibited on both. Each lake has a 'lake cicruit' walking track; Barrine also has a few shorter trails. For more information about this park, please CLICK HERE.
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CURTAIN FIG NATIONAL PARK

Curtain Fig National park is significant in that it protects an endangered type of forest, called mabi forest. But most visitors come here to see one tree in particular; the 50 metre tall, 500 year old 'Curtain Fig'. This particular fig is unique because of its extensive aerial roots which have formed a 15 metre high 'curtain'. Starting from a seed dropped high in the canopy, this strangler fig grew vertical roots, which gradually became thicker and interwoven. Over hundreds of years these roots have strangled the host causing it to fall into a neighbouring tree. Vertical fig roots then formed a curtain-like appearance and the host trees rotted away, leaving the freestanding fig tree, with a trunk circumference of 39m. An elevated boardwalk protects the tree while allowing visitors uninterrupted views of the fig from all angles. There is no camping. For more information about this park, please CLICK HERE.
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HASTIES SWAMP NATIONAL PARK

Hasties Swamp National Park is a wetland which is a valuable refuge for local and migratory waterbirds. There is a large bird hide at the edge of the swamp, from which you can often view plumed whistling ducks, brolgas and magpie geese. The toilets and bird hide are wheelchair-accessible. Camping is not allowed. For more information about this park, please CLICK HERE.

WONGABEL STATE FOREST

Wongabel is an important wildlife refuge in the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. The forest also contains hoop pine plantations, other plantations and early plantings of red cedar trees. Visitors can learn about the area's Aboriginal culture and history along the heritage trail, and about rainforest trees from signs along the Wongabel Forest walk.Wheelchair-assisted access is possible to the Heritage trail. For more information about this park, please CLICK HERE.

HERBERTON RANGE STATE FOREST AND FOREST RESERVE

1107 metre high Mount Baldy dominates the park, with views over Atherton and the Tablelands. Only experienced, fit walkers should attempt the walk to the summit of Mount Baldy. The walk is quite strenuous with steep sections and loose rock. There are other fire trails through the forest, which are ideal for hiking or cycling. Camping is not allowed. For more information about this park, please CLICK HERE.

MILLSTREAM FALLS NATIONAL PARK

Millstream Falls is reputedly Australia's widest single-drop waterfall. The park is an open forest of towering bloodwoods and stringybark trees, and is part of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. Toilets, a shelter shed, picnic tables, wood barbecues and tank water are provided. Camping is not allowed in the park. For more information about this park, please CLICK HERE.


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MALANDA FALLS CONSERVATION PARK

Have a picnic by the river that runs through this small rainforest remnant. If you're there around dusk, you may be lucky enough to see platypus in the river, or scrub-turkeys and orange-footed scrubfowl building mounds in the rainforest. There is a 'rainforest circuit' walking track, and an environmental centre next to the park where you can learn more about the history, geology, vegetation and wildlife. Toilets, a shelter shed, water, wood barbecues and picnic tables are provided. Camping is not allowed. For more information about this park, please CLICK HERE.
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MOUNT HYPIPAMEE NATIONAL PARK

The park is centred around a deep, cylindrical volcanic pipe with a lake at the bottom. A platform at the end of a 400 metre walking track through the rainforest provides an uninterrupted view of the remaining crater. The crater is less than 70m across with sheer granite walls (the surface rock through which the gas exploded). Fifty-eight metres below the rim is a lake about 82m deep covered with a green layer of native waterweed. There are a couple of other interestiing walks. Picnic tables and toilets are provided. Camping is not allowed. For more information about this park, please CLICK HERE.

FORTY MILE SCRUB NATIONAL PARK

This is one of the few inland dry rainforest remnants in north Queensland. Camping is not permitted, but it's a pleasant spot for a picnic or a short walk. Toilet facilities and sheltered picnic tables are provided in the day use area beside the Kennedy Highway. For more information about this park, please CLICK HERE.

UNDARA VOLCANIC NATIONAL PARK

The Undara Volcano is just one of over 160 volcanos, vents and cones within the McBride volcanic province. Undara is significant because of the huge lava flow that formed the largest and longest lava tube system on the planet. The lava field extends 90 kilometres to the north and 160 kilometres to the north-west of the crater! Guided tours of the caves are available, and accommodation is in the nearby Lava Lodge, your choice of luxuriously renovated vintage railway carriages, on-site tents, or campsites. For more information about this park, please CLICK HERE.
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KINRARA NATIONAL PARK

Kinrara National Park is adjacent to Undara Volcanic National Park, on the eastern side of Highway 63. This park is listed as 'historic' and public acces is unavailable at the time of writing.

WOOROONOORAN NATIONAL PARK

Wooroonooran National Park is a huge park - almost 800 square kilometres- that encompasses Josephine Falls and Mount Bartle Frere, the highest mountain in Queensland at an elevation of 1622 metres. The climb up to the peak is quite treacherous, largely due to unpredictable weather, and over the years there have been a number of tourist who have not returned from their climb. The park is divided into three different areas; the Palmerston section, the Josephine Falls section, and the Mount Bartle Frere section. There are campsites in various areas of the park, and popular walking tracks. For more information about this park, please CLICK HERE.
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KIRRAMA CONSERVATION PARK

Kirrama Conservation Park is home to an exceptional array of plants and animals. Rose gums, paperbarks, northern silky oaks, Queensland walnuts and kauri pines are just some of the trees growing on park. These plants entice a myriad of animal species including gliders, possums, honeyeaters, cassowaries, king parrots and musky rat-kangaroos. The drive to the park is quite stunning, with lookouts and views over the Kennedy Valley and Hinchinbrook and Goold islands. There are no facilities at the park, and camping is not permitted. For more information about this park, please CLICK HERE.

MURRAY UPPER STATE FOREST

Murray Falls is a picturesque place where tropical rainforest meets open forest. It is characterized by water-sculpted boulders, cascades and clear mountain rockpools. Visitors can camp or picnic at Murray Falls. Toilets, picnic tables, a cold shower, bins, and a gas barbecue are provided. The camping area's grassy sites in an open forest setting are suitable for tents, caravans and motorhomes. For more information about this park, please CLICK HERE.

GIRRINGUN NATIONAL PARK

Girringun National Park is home to the highest sheer drop waterfall in Australia, Wallaman Falls. The creeks and rivers are home to platypus, eastern water dragons and saw-shelled turtles. If you are lucky, you might catch a glimpse of the reclusive musky rat-kangaroo or the endangered southern cassowary. Wallaman Falls campground is located adjacent to Stony Creek. Gas barbecues, picnic tables, shelter sheds, water and a shower are provided. As the Gateway to the 'Wet Tropics Great Walk', there are over 100 kilometres of walking tracks to choose from. CLICK HERE for more information about the Wet Tropics Great Walk, or for more information about this park, please CLICK HERE.
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ABERGOWRIE STATE FOREST

Abergowrie State Forest is a mix of tropical rainforest, open eucalypt forest and exotic pine plantations. There are two short walking tracks, and a shelter shed, gas and wood barbecues, picnic tables and toilets are provided on the banks of Broadwater Creek. You can camp in a grassy open forest setting near the creek. The camping area has secluded tent sites, caravan and motorhome sites, toilets, shelter sheds, picnic tables, fireplaces, firewood, drinking water and cold showers. A separate group camping area with large barbecues, tables, a group fire ring and bus parking is available by prior arrangement. For more information about this park, please CLICK HERE.

DALRYMPLE NATIONAL PARK

Dalrymple National Park is remote and undeveloped. Rough trails follow the Burdekin River and Fletcher Creek, and there are longer hikes for experienced bushwalkers. Vehicle-based bush camping is permitted along the south-western bank of the Burdekin River at several cleared sites under the gum trees. No facilities are provided and campers must be self-sufficient. There is also a free-of-charge camping area at the entrance to the park on Fletcher Creek. Tent and caravan sites are available and facilities include picnic shelters, tables, toilets, cold showers and wood barbecues. For more information about this park, please CLICK HERE.

WHITE MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK

This rugged wilderness park of white sandstone bluffs and gorges is one of inland Queensland's most botanically diverse parks. This is an undeveloped park. No walking tracks are provided. Some camping is allowed, but access is by four wheel drive only, and may be closed during the wet season when heavy rains transform the usually arid landscape. For more information about this park, please CLICK HERE.






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PORCUPINE GORGE NATIONAL PARK

Much of Porcupine Gorge National Park is undeveloped, but there is a 1 1/2 hour walk to the bottom of the gorge, and impressive hike which reveals strata of sedimentary rocks spanning hundreds of millions of years. The eroding action of the creek has also created an isolated pyramid-shaped monolith of multicoloured sandstone rising from the floor of the gorge. There is a campground with basic facilities provided. For more information about this park, please CLICK HERE.
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CAMOOWEAL CAVES NATIONAL PARK

A network of caverns linked by vertical shafts up to 75 metres deep. The Caves are closed to the public until further notice. Waterhole camping area is located 14km from the park entrance. Bush camping facilities include a pit toilet, picnic tables and a shelter shed. Drinking water is not provided. There are no designated walking tracks. For more information about this park, please CLICK HERE.

LAWN HILL NATIONAL PARK

Towering sandstone cliffs line the gorge, and its emerald waters and lush vegetation make it not only a visual splendour, but an oasis for the wildlife of the region. The Riversleigh section of the park is one of Australia's most renowned fossil sites. There are a range of walks in the park, from easy one hour strolls to a 7 kilometre Gorge Walk, graded 'difficult'. It is possible to canoe through Lawn Hill Gorge, a distance of up to 6km return. Private canoes are welcome, but canoes can be hired on an hourly basis from the east end of the campsite. Fishing is not permitted in Lawn Hill Creek. Bag and size limits apply for other rivers and creeks. A camping area with toilets and showers is provided close to Lawn Hill Gorge. Camping is also available at Miyumba bush camp, adjacent to the Gregory River, approximately 55km south-east of Lawn Hill Gorge campground. For more information about this park, please CLICK HERE.
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STAATEN RIVER NATIONAL PARK

This park is listed as 'historic' and public acces is unavailable at the time of writing.

BULLERINGA NATIONAL PARK

This park is listed as 'historic' and public acces is unavailable at the time of writing.

CHILLAGOE-MUNGANA CAVES NATIONAL PARK

This park is rich in natural and cultural heritage, featuring spectacular limestone caves, small galleries of Aboriginal rock art, jagged limestone outcrops and historically significant mining sites. There are walking tracks, caves that you can explore (bring your torch) and guided tours through some of the larger caves. Camping is not permitted. For more information about this park, please CLICK HERE.

GREAT BASALT WALL NATIONAL PARK

There is currently no access to this park. The park is divided into two sections the Red Falls section in the east covering some 5000ha can be visited by day trippers. The larger western section (volcano section) is rugged and mostly inaccessible to visitors. Access is by 4WD only there are no visitor facilities within either section of the park.

FINUCANE ISLAND NATIONAL PARK

This park is listed as 'historic' and public acces is unavailable at the time of writing.

MOORINYA NATIONAL PARK

Moorrinya National Park was initially established as a sheep grazing property in the heart of the Desert Uplands. Much of the original farm infrastructure remains. This remote park has dry, flat plains of grassland and woodland, criss-crossed by watercourses. It is undeveloped, and there are no walking tracks, but bush camping is allowed near the old shearers quarters. For more information about this park, please CLICK HERE.

• PARKS NORTH OF CAIRNS
• PARKS AROUND CAIRNS
• PARKS SOUTH OF CAIRNS
• OUTBACK PARKS