Bunya Mountains National Park Southern Queensland Country

Dandabah camping area is the perfect spot for a family getaway. Photo credit: Robert Ashdown © Queensland Government

Bunya Mountains National Park is a haven the whole family will enjoy. Photo credit: © Tourism and Events Queensland

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The Bunya Mountains are like an island, surrounded by a sea of plains. They are a refuge of biodiversity, harbouring the world’s largest stand of bunya pines. Photo credit: Michael O'Connor © Queensland Government

Dandabah camping area

Get the family back to nature in this popular well-developed camping area with views of bunya pines emerging over the surrounding rainforest.

Accessible by

  • Conventional vehicle
  • Bicycle

Camping area facilities

  • Electric/fuel barbecue (free of charge)
  • Picnic tables (some sheltered)
  • Telephone (pay phone)
  • Toilets (flush)
  • Waste transfer station
  • Wheelchair access (may require assistance)
  • Wifi
  • Tent camping
  • Caravan camping
  • Camper trailer camping
  • Campervan camping
  • Motor home camping
  • Hot showers (free of charge)
  • Tent camping beside car
  • Walking
  • Cultural and historic sites

The self-service kiosk at this park has been decommissioned.

Visitors need to book their camping permit before they visit. Book online, at an over-the-counter booking office or by phone.

Set up camp in this popular spacious camping area. Let the kids play football or frisbee on the large, open grassy area while you relax and take in the spectacular views.

Explore the surrounding forest on some of the many walking tracks in the eastern side of the park, ranging from short strolls to half-day hikes. Don’t miss the park’s most popular walk—the Scenic circuit.

After dusk, spotlight for the common ringtail possum and, during the warmer months, watch thousands of tiny chocolate-wattled bats roost in the old timber school house at the edge of the Dandabah picnic area.

Getting there and getting around

The Dandabah camping area is in the Bunya Mountains National Park, 200km north-west of Brisbane and 125km north-west of Toowoomba in the South Burnett region.

  • The camping area is near the park's south-east entrance.
  • Turn off Bunya Mountains Road onto Bunya Avenue and drive 1km to the camping area.

Several steep, narrow and winding routes, signposted as the Great Bunya Drive, lead to the park. The Bunya Mountains Road passes through the park from the south-east to the north.

From Brisbane via Toowoomba

  • Drive 138km west along the Ipswich Motorway and Warrego Highway to Toowoomba.
  • Continue 44km along the Warrego Highway to Jondaryan and turn right towards the Bunya Mountains.
  • Travel 34km to Maclagan, turn left and follow the signs for about 31km to the park; 2km of this road is gravel.

From Brisbane via Yarraman

  • Travel up the Brisbane Valley through Esk, or the D'Aguilar Highway through Kilcoy.
  • Drive to Yarraman then turn left onto the New England Highway towards Toowoomba and travel 20km.
  • Turn right to Maidenwell on Kingaroy-Cooyar Road, then turn left to the Bunya Mountains; about 3.8km of the road is gravel.

From Nanango

  • Drive 30km to Maidenwell on Nanango-Tarong Road and turn right to the Bunya Mountains. This 55km route has about 4km of gravel road.

From Kingaroy

  • Drive via Kumbia on the Bunya Highway and turn left onto Bunya Mountains Road and drive to the northern park entrance. This 56km route is sealed road.

From Dalby

  • Travel 25km along Dalby-Cooyar Road to Kaimkillenbun, then drive 30km via Yamsion to Bunya Mountains Road and through to the south-eastern park entrance. These roads are sealed.

Before you visit

Opening hours

Dandabah camping area is open 24 hours a day. Check-in to your camp after 2pm and check-out by 11am on the day of departure.

Check park alerts for the latest information on access, closures and conditions.

Dandabah camping area is centrally located and close to walking tracks and other facilities.

Photo credit: M. O'Connor, Queensland Government

Campground features: Large, open grassy area with vehicle access to sites. This is a popular, well-developed area close to private facilities; including a restaurant, cafes, small general store and holiday accommodation. A public phone is available nearby.

Location: Near the QPWS information centre at the southern entrance to the park.

Access: The camping area can be reached by conventional vehicle. The open campsites are available to trailers, caravans and buses. All roads to the Bunya Mountains are steep, narrow and winding. The Department of Transport and Main Roads advises that all access roads are unsuitable for travel by long and/or heavy vehicles. Discretion is urged with respect to caravans, large motorhomes and large buses.

Number of sites: Open area without separately defined sites for up to 70 people.

Camp sites are suitable for: tent camping beside your car, walk-in camping, camper trailers and large groups.

Camp site surface: Grass.

Facilities: Picnic tables, shelter sheds, rubbish bins, flushing toilets, hot showers, water (treat before drinking), and electric barbecues. Information is available from the QPWS information centre and staff on-site. There are walking tracks, self-guided walks and lookouts nearby.

Open fires: Prohibited.

Generators: Not permitted.

Essentials to bring: Rubbish bags and insect repellent. Fuel or gas stoves are recommended. Read more about before you visit.

Bookings: Book online or learn about our camping booking options.

Mobile phone coverage: Poor.

Upcoming camping area availability

Visiting safely

For more safety information see Visiting Bunya Mountains safely and camp with care.