About Blackbraes

Park features

Within Blackbraes National Park are two resources reserves—Moonstone Hill and Kennedy Road Gravel. The park and two reserves cover about 52,000ha, and straddle two bioregions—the Einasleigh Uplands and Gulf Plains. Undulating hills and ranges surround basalt outcrops, black soil plains and seasonal swamps. The park and reserves are above 850m elevation providing a wetter and generally cooler climate compared with the surrounding country.

Moonstone Hill Resources Reserve—a volcanic vent—is popular for fossicking gem-quality feldspar called moonstone. Moonstone emits a silvery-white to blue colour when turned in certain directions. Fossicking in the reserve requires a licence.

Looking after the park

• Be considerate—much of the land surrounding the park 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.
• Leave everything as you find it. Everything, living and dead is protected including ruins and artefacts.
• Domestic animals are not permitted in national parks. Leave your pets at home.
• Manage your waste. Take rubbish with you as no bins are provided. Pack food away immediately after meals and secure rubbish in strong sealed containers to avoid attracting insects and larger animals. Do not bury rubbish. Dingoes or other animals will dig it up.
• Toilets are not provided. Bury human waste and toilet paper at least 15cm deep and 100m from camping areas, fire trails and any water bodies to guard against pollution and the spread of disease.
• Limit the spread of weeds and pathogens. New introductions can spread and displace resident species and alter the local ecology. Soil from your camping gear, boots and bicycles can contain weed seeds and foreign plant pathogens. Before you arrive clean all vehicles (especially the tyres and undercarriage), all camping equipment and walking gear. If available, use a washdown facility provided in a local town.
• Keep to designated tracks as shown on map (PDF, 81.4KB) . Driving off-track damages vegetation, causes erosion and creates confusing new tracks.
• Don’t get bogged! Avoiding driving on unsealed roads during and after heavy rains. Unsealed roads and tracks may be overgrown with grasses and too wet to drive on.

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

Park management

Formerly Blackbraes Pastoral Holding, Blackbraes National Park and the associated resources reserves—Moonstone Hill and Kennedy Road Gravel—were gazetted in 1998. Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) manages the protected area to conserve its natural, cultural and historic values.

Tourism information links

Flinders Discovery Centre
www.visithughenden.com.au
37 Gray Street, Hughenden QLD 4821
Phone: (07) 4741 2970
Email: info@flinders.qld.gov.au

'At the Creek' Julia Creek Visitor Information Centre
www.atthecreek.com.au
34 Burke Street, Julia Creek QLD 4823
Phone: (07) 4746 7690
Email: tourism@mckinlay.qld.gov.au

Kronosaurus Korner Information Centre
www.kronosauruskorner.com.au
91–93 Goldring Street, Richmond QLD 4822
Phone: 1300 576 665 or (07) 4719 3390
Email: enquiries@kronosauruskorner.com.au

For tourism information for all regions in Queensland, see Queensland Holidays.