Visiting Diamantina safely

Getting there and getting around

• Parks of the Diamantina Catchment – park maps (PDF, 356.8KB)
• Diamantina National Park locality map (PDF, 1.1MB)
• Gum Hole camping area map – Diamantina National Park (PDF, 1.5MB)
• Hunters Gorge camping area map – Diamantina National Park (PDF, 1.9MB)

Diamantina National Park is part of the Diamantina catchment. To help you plan your visit to this remote area, download the Central West Queensland National Park visitor guide (PDF, 4.8MB) .

Diamantina National Park can be reached by heading south from Winton (306km) or south-east from Boulia (183km), north from Windorah (350km) or east from Bedourie (275km).

A 4WD vehicle with high clearance is recommended, as roads are gravel (unsealed) for 200–300km and road corrugations can be deep. Fill up with fuel before you leave town and carry extra for driving within the park. The drive to Diamantina is slow and dusty.

Even small amounts of rain can make outback roads impassable so always be prepared and have at least 2 weeks’ worth of extra supplies in case of stranding. Remember to:

• check Queensland Traffic or local council offices for current road conditions before your trip
• check Park alerts for Diamantina National Park for the latest information on access, closures and conditions
• check Bureau of Meteorology for current weather and warnings.

For protection of natural resources, entry to Diamantina National Park east of the Diamantina River Road is prohibited (PDF, 67.4KB) .

Wheelchair accessibility

There are no wheelchair accessible facilities in Diamantina National Park.

Staying safe

Before you leave

• Thoroughly check the condition of your vehicle and pack vehicle spares, recovery and repair equipment. Include 2 spare tyres, engine coolant and oil. Read 4WD with care for important information on 4WD safety and minimal impact driving.
• Choose your destination wisely! Make sure you are familiar with your equipment, vehicle and someone in your group has experience with remote area travel and inland Australian conditions. Ensure one person has sound mechanical knowledge of your vehicle.
• Expect rough, slow, dusty and/or boggy roads, far from help if something should go wrong. Check local road and weather conditions and extended weather forecasts for the locations you intend to visit.
• Plan to fuel up regularly. Calculate driving times and distances accurately and plan your refuelling points. Driving time on an unsealed road is much longer than on a bitumen road! Frequent low gear and 4WD travel will use more fuel too. Remember, national park bases and local properties are not service stations.
• Leave an itinerary with a friend or relative. Include travel routes and/or check-in points.
• Plan for emergencies. Pack reliable communication equipment, extra supplies and a list of local UHF radio channels and emergency contacts.
• Check current weather warnings for Queensland. Flood waters can flow down watercourses from hundreds of miles away, even if the has been no local rain.
• Pack for hot and cold conditions (plus flies and midges!). Outback Queensland can be very hot during the day, and very cold (to below freezing point) overnight. Check with the Australian Bureau of Meteorology for more information on average temperatures.
• Seek local advice. Contact relevant tourism information centres to help plan your trip.
• Book your camp site. To camp in a national park, you must plan well ahead and obtain a camping permit and pay your camping fee before you arrive. Remember, mobile phone coverage is very limited in Central West Queensland national parks. Visit bookings and fees for detailed information on camping bookings and fees.

While visiting

• Keep to designated roads and tracks, and drive with caution as road conditions can change quickly—particularly after rain. Watch out for animals, they can appear on roads at any time of day though are generally more active at dusk and dawn.
• Always stay with your vehicle if it breaks down and wait for help to arrive. A vehicle is much easier to find than a person.
• Always carry drinking water, whether driving or walking. Boil, filter or treat water from streams, rivers or waterholes before drinking.
• Never jump or dive into water. It may be shallow or hide submerged objects.
• Watch your step on escarpments. Edges can be unstable due to natural weathering, so stay away from the edge and take care where you walk. Heed all safety and warning advice.
• Wear protective clothing. Put on a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent and wear sturdy footwear, not thongs.
• Be aware of your surroundings at all times and be on the lookout for animals and insects that could scratch, sting or bite.

For more information, please read the guidelines on safety in parks and forests.

In an emergency

In an emergency, phone Triple Zero (000). You could also try contacting the park base on UHF 2 (duplex).

Mobile phone coverage is not available in the national park. Carry a satellite phone or UHF radio, a personal locator beacon (PLB) is advisable or another form of communication.

We highly recommend you visit the Triple Zero website before visiting a national park or forest. Download the Triple Zero emergency app to help identify your location. Important: if there is no mobile coverage on any network, you will not be able to reach the Emergency Call Service via a mobile phone.

Before you visit

Essentials to bring

• Sufficient water, food and emergency supplies. Carry at least 7 litres of water per person per day and enough emergency food and water for at least 2 weeks in case of stranding.
• Reliable camping gear in good working order.
• Sturdy rubbish bags and sealable animal-proof containers.
• A portable fuel stove (recommended) and/or clean milled firewood.
• Complete first-aid kit and medical supplies. Include sun and insect protection in your kit.
• Communication equipment and a list of emergency contacts. A UHF, satellite phone and/or a personal locator beacon (PLB).
• Detailed road maps showing travel routes. A GPS may be useful.
• Extra fuel, vehicle repair equipment and spares. Frequent low gear and four-wheel-drive travel will use fuel more quickly on park drives. You should also bring extra spare tyres, oil and engine coolant plus vehicle recovery gear.
• Suitable clothing to cope with warm days and cold nights!

Opening hours

Diamantina National Park is open all year however wet weather or management activities may cause temporary closures. Check park alerts for Diamantina National Park for information on park conditions, access and closures.

Permits and fees

Camping permits are required and fees apply.

• Before you visit the park, book your camp site online.
• If you cannot book online, see camping bookings for other options.

Other permits and fees

Various activities in national parks require a permit. Activities include commercial tours, social events (for example weddings or birthday parties), organised group visits, school excursions, scientific research, professional photography and the sale of photographs or vision of the park. Contact us for further information.

Pets

Domestic animals are not permitted in Diamantina National Park.

Climate and weather

Visiting is recommended from April to September as summer temperatures can reach up to 50°C during the day, and summer rains often cause flooding. Rain can fall at any time of year and flooding can occur up to two weeks after rain has fallen elsewhere in the catchment, resulting in unexpected creek rises and road closures.

Weather forecasts are available from the Bureau of Meteorology.

Fuel and supplies

The nearest fuel and supplies are at Boulia (183km), Winton (306km) or Windorah (350km).