Visiting Elizabeth Springs Conservation Park safely

Getting there and getting around

To help you plan your visit to this remote area, download the Central West Queensland National Parks visitor guide (PDF, 4.8MB) .

All roads to the conservation park are unsealed (dirt). Elizabeth Springs Conservation Park can be reached by heading southeast from Boulia. Travel east along the Kennedy Development Road for 33km and turn south onto Springvale Road. Drive for 70km along Springvale Road until you see the signed turnoff to the conservation park.

Alternatively, if you are travelling north to Boulia from the Diamantina Base (Diamantina Homestead), follow  Springvale Road for approximately 85km until you see a signed turnoff to the conservation park.

From the turnoff, drive 300 meters along a dirt track to the conservation park fence, here you will find a parking area and the pedestrian entrance gate. There is no vehicle access within the conservation park. Please ensure you close the entrance gate, it is critical to keep cattle and pigs out of the fragile and unique spring environment.

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

Before you visit, remember to check:

• Queensland Traffic and the Diamantina Shire Council for current road conditions to the conservation park.
• Park alerts for Elizabeth Springs Conservation Park for the latest information on access, closures and conditions.
• Bureau of Meteorology for current weather and warnings

Wheelchair accessibility

There are no wheelchair-accessible facilities in Elizabeth Springs Conservation Park.

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. For more remote parks, 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 warning 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 tourist information centres to help plan your trip.

While visiting

• Keep to designated roads and tracks, and drive with caution as road conditions can change quickly. Watch out for animals, they can appear on roads at any time of day though are generally more active at dusk and dawn.
• Stay with your vehicle if it breaks down. A vehicle is much easier to find than a person.
• Carry drinking water, whether driving or walking. Boil, filter or treat water from streams, rivers or waterholes before drinking.
• Wear protective clothing. Put on a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent and wear sturdy footwear, not thongs. Carry a first-aid kit and communication equipment.
• 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 attempt to contact people via UHF radio. Activate duplex button and attempt to call on all repeater channels 1–9; you may also try channel 40 simplex or scan for other local radio traffic.

Mobile phone coverage is not available in the conservation 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

Elizabeth Springs Conservation Park is very isolated—you must be totally self-sufficient and prepared for all emergencies.

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.
• Sturdy rubbish bags and sealable animal-proof containers.
• A portable fuel stove, fires are not permitted in Elizabeth Springs Conservation Park.
• Complete first-aid kit and medical supplies. Include sun and insect protection in your kit.
• Communication equipment and a list of emergency contacts. 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.

Opening hours

Elizabeth Springs Conservation Park is open all year. The conservation park may be closed at times due to wet conditions or management activities. Check park alerts for Elizabeth Springs Conservation Park for information on park conditions, access and closures.

Permits and fees

Various activities in Queensland’s parks and forests require a permit. Activities include commercial tours, social events, 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 Elizabeth Springs Conservation Park.

Climate and weather

Visiting is recommended from April to September as summer temperatures reach over 40°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 (103km).