Parks of Central West Queensland Outback Queensland

Photo credit: © Tourism and Events Queensland

About Central West Queensland

    Features of the parks

    The parks of Central West Queensland fall within two major river catchments—the Cooper Creek and Diamantina River catchments. Idalia, Forest Den, Lochern and Welford national parks are part of the Cooper Creek catchment. Bladensburg, Diamantina and Munga-Thirri national parks, along with Elizabeth Springs, Lark Quarry and Combo Waterhole conservation parks, all fall within the Diamantina River catchment.

    Maps

    Seven national parks and three conservation parks covering more than 2.1 million hectares help protect the natural and cultural heritage of semi-arid western Queensland.

    Craggy escarpments and deep gullies tell of a land that has been alternately shaped by, then starved of, water for eons. Cretaceous sea floors and lakebeds laid down 65 to 140 million years ago form the base of the landscape, preserving fossils from shellfish to dinosaurs.

    Drainage lines of the Mitchell grass plains are visible for kilometres, identified by coolibah and river red gums—strikingly tall trees in a land dominated by stunted vegetation.

    Each park has distinctive values. A secret to appreciating their diversity is to learn about their similarities and differences.

    Best time to visit

    The Outback of Central West Queensland is not an environment to take for granted. The parks are remote— you must be totally self-sufficient, come well prepared for all emergencies and take all sensible precautions to stay safe. Download the Central West Queensland national parks journey guide to help plan your visit. Refer to each park’s individual web page for detailed safety and ‘getting there and getting around’ information:

    Remember, many outback roads in Central West Queensland are unsealed and impassable after rain. Some parks, and areas within parks, are accessible by high clearance 4WD vehicles only.

    The best time to visit is in the cooler months generally (April and September) to avoid extreme summer daytime temperatures of over 45°C, and the risk of high rainfall and flooding.

    Rain can fall at any time of year and even a small amount of water can make outback roads impassable. Remember, flooding can occur suddenly or even weeks after rain has been received in catchments further upstream. Remember to:

    See the guidelines on stay safe and visit with care for more information about general safety in Queensland’s parks and forests.

    Central West parks are special

    The parks contain areas of fragile geology, high numbers of endemic, rare and threatened and species, waterways of significance, relics of pastoral activities and are living cultural landscapes for Traditional Owner groups. For the purpose of natural resource conservation, access is restricted to some areas, view Goneaway National Park restricted access area (PDF, 64.1KB) and Diamantina restricted access area (PDF, 67.4KB) .

    Read more about Central West Queensland’s nature, culture and history.

    Looking after the parks

    Everything in the national parks and conservation parks is protected including plants, animals, heritage sites and artifacts. Please stay safe, appreciate, respect and help care for these places of outstanding natural and cultural value and encourage others to do the same by following these guidelines.

    • Leave everything as you find it. Avoid disturbing animals and plants, historical ruins and cultural artefacts.
    • Don’t feed the wildlife or leave food or scraps around camp sites or day-use areas. Accidental or intentional feeding upsets the balance of nature and can make animals sick and/or aggressive.
    • Manage your waste. Secure rubbish in a sturdy rubbish bag in a sealable animal proof container for disposal at off-park waste disposal facilities. Rubbish bins are not provided. Never bury rubbish as animals will dig it up.
    • Use toilets where provided. Where toilets are not available—bury faecal matter (and paper) at least 15cm deep and 100m away from camp sites, tracks and watercourses. Bag all personal hygiene products including disposable nappies and wet wipes for disposal off-park. Never pour portable toilet waste into parks’ toilets, our toilets cannot cope with the waste or chemicals. Empty chemical toilets at approved toilet waste disposal facilities (see Tourism information links)
    • Stop the spread of weeds, insect pests and soil pathogens. New introductions can spread and displace resident species and alter the local ecology. Soil from your vehicle, camping gear and footwear can contain weed seeds, ants (and their eggs) and foreign plant pathogens. Before you arrive clean your vehicle (especially the tyres and undercarriage), all camping equipment and walking gear. If available, use a washdown facility provided in a local town to help prevent the spread of weeds in vehicle tyres. Follow the come clean, go clean guidelines.
    • Don’t use firearms, chainsaws or unregistered vehicles in protected areas.
    • Leave your pets at home. Domestic animals are not permitted in national parks or conservation parks. Please observe the before you visit guidelines for dog and pets.

    Practise low impact camping

    • Camping in parks. 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 parks. Visit qld.gov.au/camping for detailed information on camping bookings and fees.
    • Choose your camp site carefully. Camp only in the sites provided and take care to camp on park land (not private land).
    • Never tie ropes to trees or drape things over vegetation. Arid zone plants are slow to recover.
    • Set up camp away from animal nests and/or burrows to avoid disturbing them.
    • Be careful with fire. Use fireplaces (fire rings), where provided. Put the fire out with water when you leave your campsite. Bring your own clean firewood such as untreated, mill off-cuts—collecting firewood in the parks is not permitted. Obey fire prohibitions and fire bans. Preferably use a portable fuel stove for cooking.
    • Keep noise levels reasonable. Generators are prohibited, except for medical reasons (see Generator use).
    • Drones are prohibited in all camping areas, refer to drone safety and regulation.

    Practise low impact driving

    • Keep to designated tracks. Driving off-track damages vegetation, causes erosion and creates confusing new tracks. Arid landscapes are fragile, plants grow extremely slowly while tyre tracks will remain for decades. Read 4WD with care for important information on 4WD safety and minimal impact driving.
    • Be considerate—much of the land surrounding the parks is privately owned. Only cross private land on a designated track with the landowner’s permission. Leave all gates as you find them. Be mindful, some maps show roads that are private and not open to the public. Many locations marked on maps are station houses not towns—don’t expect fuel, supplies or Wi-Fi.
    • Never drive on rain-affected roads or tracks. Even if you make it through, your vehicle will damage the road surface and make it dangerous for other road users.
    • Use wash down facilities in local towns to remove seeds and soil from vehicles. Wheel tyres pick up weed seeds and soil pathogens during travel and disperse them into parks.
    • Drive according to local conditions, watch out for animals and avoid washouts and flooded crossings. Slow down and move off the road for trucks and semi-trailers.
    • Drive safely—travel with another vehicle and make sure someone reliable know your itinerary. If you break down, ALWAYS stay with your vehicle until help arrives. Remember to bring communication equipment, extra fuel, vehicle spares and repair equipment. Pack detailed road maps showing travel routes. A GPS may be useful.

    Protect watercourses

    • Minimise your use of soaps and detergents and wash at least 50m away from waterbodies.

    Practise responsible fishing

    Fishing is permitted at Welford, Lochern, Bladensburg and Diamantina national parks.

    • Do not use frogs or other live bait. Invasive species may escape and establish a pest population. Severe penalties apply for using invasive species as bait. Practise responsible fishing and check your bait.
    • Comply with size and bag limits. Only keep what you can eat on-site. Contact the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for more information about fishing regulations.

    See the guidelines on caring for parks for more information about protecting our environment and heritage in parks.

    Management of the parks

    Each protected area in Central West Queensland has unique attributes. They are managed to conserve their natural condition and protect their cultural resources and values. The department is responsible for parks in the area, however Winton Shire Council jointly manages Lark Quarry Conservation Park.

    Tourism information links

    Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame
    stockmanshalloffame.com.au
    Landsborough Highway, Longreach
    ph (07) 4658 2166
    email museum@stockmanshalloffame.com.au

    Blackall Visitor Information Centre
    www.btrc.qld.gov.au/contact-us (Blackall-Tambo Regional Council)
    108a Shamrock Street, Blackall
    ph (07) 4657 4637
    email binfo@btrc.qld.gov.au or bvic@btrc.qld.gov.au

    Diamantina Shire Council
    www.diamantina.qld.gov.au
    17 Herbert Street, Bedourie
    ph (07) 4746 1600
    email admin@diamantina.qld.gov.au

    Bedourie Outback Visitors Centre
    www.diamantina.qld.gov.au
    13 Herbert Street, Bedourie
    ph 1300 794 257
    email: visitors@diamantina.qld.gov.au

    Barcoo Shire Council
    www.barcoo.qld.gov.au or www.visitbarcoo.com.au
    6 Perkins Street, Jundah
    ph (07) 4658 6900
    email shire@barcoo.qld.gov.au or tourism@barcoo.qld.gov.au

    Jundah Visitor Information Centre
    www.visitbarcoo.com.au
    11 Dickson Street, Jundah
    ph (07) 4658 6930
    email jundahinfo@barcoo.qld.gov.au

    Longreach Regional Council
    www.longreach.qld.gov.au
    www.experiencelongreach.com.au
    96 Eagle Street, Longreach
    ph (07) 4658 4111
    email council@longreach.qld.gov.au

    The Longreach Explore Centre (Visitor Information)
    www.experiencelongreach.com.au
    99A Eagle Street, Longreach
    ph (07) 4658 4141 or (07) 4658 4142
    email experience@longreach.qld.gov.au

    Stonehenge Visitor Information Centre
    www.visitbarcoo.com.au
    Stratford Street, Stonehenge
    ph (07) 4651 8101
    email stonehengeinfo@barcoo.qld.gov.au

    Tambo Library & Visitor Information Centre
    www.btrc.qld.gov.au/contact-us (Blackall-Tambo Regional Council)
    9 Arthur Street, Tambo
    ph (07) 4654 6408
    email tambolibrary@btrc.qld.gov.au

    Wirrarri Visitor Information Centre
    www.thediamantina.com.au
    29 Burt Street, Birdsville
    ph (07) 4656 2000 or or 1300 794 257
    email info@diamantina.qld.gov.au

    Winton Shire Council
    www.experiencewinton.com.au or www.winton.qld.gov.au
    75 Vindex Street, Winton
    ph (07) 4657 2666
    email waltzing@matildacentre.com.au

    Waltzing Matilda Centre
    www.matildacentre.com.au
    www.dinosaurtrackways.com.au
    50 Elderslie Street, Winton
    ph (07) 4657 1466 or 1300 665 115
    email waltzing@matildacentre.com.au

    Windorah Visitor Information Centre
    www.visitbarcoo.com.au
    7 Maryborough Street, Windorah
    ph (07) 4656 3063
    email windorahinfo@barcoo.qld.gov.au

    For information on road conditions contact:
    Queensland Traffic
    Ph: 13 19 40

    For tourism information for all outback regions in Queensland see Outback Queensland.

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