Visiting Idalia safely

Getting there and getting around

• Parks of the Cooper Creek Catchment—park maps (PDF, 1.4MB)
• Parks of Central West Queensland map (PDF, 1.2MB)

Idalia National Park is part of the Cooper Creek catchment. To help you plan your visit to this remote area, download the Central West Queensland National Parks visitor guide.

Idalia National Park is 102km south-west of Blackall in the Gowan Ranges, to access the park a 4WD vehicle is recommended. From Blackall, head west along the Isisford Road for 44km, then turn left onto Blackall-Emmet Road. After 25km turn left again at the Idalia National Park sign and follow the road for 33km to the entrance of the park. It is a further 26km to Monks Tank camping area.

Many outback roads are unsealed. Even small amounts of rain can make roads impassable, 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 Idalia National Park for the latest information on access, closures and conditions.
• Check Bureau of Meteorology for current weather and warnings.

Wheelchair accessibility

There is a wheelchair-accessible toilet (assistance may be required) at Monks Tank camping area.

Staying safe

Be sure to read essentials to bring and follow the guidelines below to help make your visit a safe and enjoyable one.

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 there 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.
• 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 qld.gov.au/camping 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. 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 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. Stay away from the edge and be mindful where you walk. Take heed of all safety advice and warnings.
• Wear protective clothing. Put on a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent and wear sturdy footwear, not thongs.
• Be aware of your surroundings at all times. 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 to make contact with people on UHF radio (try channel 24 or channel 6 duplex for other local radio traffic).

Mobile phone coverage is not available in the national park. Consider taking a satellite phone, personal locator beacon (PLB) 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

Idalia National Park is 102km from Blackall, and 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.
• A portable fuel stove (recommended) and/or clean milled firewood.
• Reliable camping gear in good working order.
• Sturdy rubbish bags and sealable animal-proof containers.
• 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 additional spare tyres, oil and engine coolant and vehicle recovery gear.

Opening hours

Idalia National Park is open all year round. The park may be closed at times due to wet weather, flooding or management operations. Check park alerts for Idalia National Park for the latest information on national park access, closures and conditions.

Permits and fees

Camping permits are required and fees apply.

• Book your campsite online.
• If you cannot book online, see camping bookings for other options.

Other permits and fees

Various activities in Queensland 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 Idalia National Park.

Climate and weather

Visiting is recommended from April to September as summer temperatures reach over 40°C during the day, and summer rain often causes flooding. Rain can fall at any time of year and flooding can occur up to 2 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 Blackall (102km), Isisford (approximately 150km) and Yaraka (approximately 126km)