Things to do

Camping and accommodation

Camping

Camping is permitted at Bough Shed Waterhole camping area.

Camping permits are required and fees apply.

• Find out more about camping in Bladensburg National Park.
• Book your camp site online. If you cannot book online, you can purchase camping permits at an over-the-counter booking office or by phone.

See more general information about camping in national parks.

Other accommodation

There is a range of accommodation available in and around Winton. Refer to tourism information links for further information.

Walking

Take the time to explore some of Bladensburg’s natural and historical attractions on foot.

Bladensburg homestead walk (allow 30–45mins)

Grade 2

Explore the restored homestead and its original complex, consisting of staff quarters, meat house and store. Learn about station life from a time when 11 miles to Winton was a long way. Absorb yourself in Koa people’s storyboard display which weaves together their culture, history, values and association with Bladensburg and the broader landscape.

Driving

Take a scenic drive through grasslands and channels then climb the jump-up to Scrammy Gorge for spectacular views.

Scrammy drive—40km return (allow 2–4hrs)

Find out who Scrammy was and share his view over spectacular Bladensburg National Park. Starting at Bladensburg Homestead, Scrammy Drive takes you over black soil plains, through spectacular jump-up country to a short walk to Scrammy Lookout. Watch your step at the lookout! Stay away from the escarpment edge and do not climb on rocks or boulders—they are unstable. Heed all warning signs.

Please note! Scrammy drive can only be accessed by high clearance vehicles, a 4WD vehicle is recommended.

Remember to wear sun protection and sturdy shoes, carry plenty of water, and follow other safety advice when walking.

Route of the River Gum—72km return to Winton (allow half a day)

Starting at the Waltzing Matilda Centre in Winton, the Route of the River Gum passes 15 places of interest in Winton Shire and through Bladensburg National Park. Pick up a self-guided drive brochure from the Waltzing Matilda Centre in Winton before you head off.

Please practise low impact driving in Bladensburg National Park and never drive on claypans. Remember to carry extra fuel if undertaking this drive.

You can also download the Central West Queensland National Park visitor guide (PDF, 4.8MB) to help plan your outback adventure in Bladensburg National Park.

Viewing wildlife

Animals

Bladensburg is home to a wonderful diversity of birds, including emus, Australian bustards, Hall’s babblers, spotted bowerbirds and singing bushlarks.

Although more typically found in greater numbers further to the north and west, you may still see painted firetails and rufous-crowned emu-wrens among the spinifex and rufous-throated honeyeaters along creek lines.

Look for red kangaroos on the open Mitchell grasslands, eastern grey kangaroos in the lower creeks and wallaroos around mesa areas. During the day, dunnarts and planigales (native marsupial mice) will shelter from the sun in the clay soils’ deep cracks, but are active at night in the Mitchell grasslands.

Plants

The flat tops of mesas and plateaus support open woodlands of western bloodwood and mulga. The distinctive mineritchie or red mulga, with its characteristic curly red bark, lines some dry creek beds.

Lancewood covers the steep slopes of sandstone ranges and escarpments, while spinifex and Normanton box are found in the broad valleys. Bladensburg forms the south-eastern boundary of soft spinifex’s (Triodia pungens) range.

Much of the park’s northern half consists of vast cracking clay soils covered by Mitchell grass and scattered with small areas of gidgee woodlands.

Request a Species list.