Visiting Wiliyan-ngurru safely

Picnic beside Nowranie Waterhole.

Photo credit: Gary Featonby © Queensland Government.

Getting there and getting around

Public entry inside the caves is not allowed. A safe viewing area is located at Great Nowranie cave.

At Camooweal, turn south at the Post Office Hotel, onto Urandangi Road, Travel for 15km, following the signs, to the park turn-off on the left. From here, the Nowranie Waterhole day-use area is 6km and the Nowranie Caves car park is 8km.

Access by conventional vehicle is possible in dry weather, difficulties may be experienced at creek crossings or on rocky sections of the road. The road is not suitable for conventional vehicles towing caravans. Four-wheel-drive vehicles are recommended.

Do not attempt to access the park during or after wet weather as the road can be impassable. Contact the Department of Transport and Main Roads to find out about local road conditions and the Bureau of Meteorology for weather reports and forecasts.

Wheelchair accessibility

There are no wheelchair-accessible tracks or facilities in the park.

Staying safe

• 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 well clear of cattle.
• 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.
• Never jump or dive into water. It may be shallow or hide submerged objects.
• Stay away from the edges of the sinkholes and supervise your children closely—the sinkhole entrances are unstable.
• Watch your step on cliffs and escarpments. They are unstable due to natural weathering, stay away from the edge and take care where you walk. Heed 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. Lookout for animals and insects that could scratch, sting or bite.
• Carry at least one form of communication equipment. Satellite phones and Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) are the most effective in this area. Mobile phone coverage is unreliable.

For more information, please read the guidelines on safety in parks and forests.

In an emergency

For all emergencies call Triple Zero (000).

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

Essentials to bring

To enjoy your time at Wiliyan-ngurru National Park remember to bring:

• a first-aid kit and communication equipment
• fresh water for drinking
• a hat, sunscreen and sunglasses
• rubbish bags.

Opening hours

Wiliyan-ngurru National Park is open 24 hours a day (camping is not permitted). The park may be closed at times due to extreme weather or management operations, check park alerts for the latest information on national park access, closures and conditions.

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. See Permits and fees for further information.

Pets

Domestic animals are not permitted in Wiliyan-ngurru National Park.

Climate and weather

This area has distinct wet and dry seasons, with unpredictable monsoonal rains falling between October and April. From May to September it is cooler and drier, making this the best time to visit the park. South-easterly winds at this time of the year help to make conditions more hospitable. Temperatures can be extremely high for the rest of the year, regularly exceeding 40 °C in the summer. Weather forecasts are available from the Bureau of Meteorology. For more information, see the tourism information links.

Fuel and supplies

Fuel and supplies can be purchased 15km north of the park at Camooweal or 189km south-east at Mount Isa. For more information, see the tourism information links.