Things to do
Sunset above Boolimba Bluff, from the visitor area.
Photo credit: Michael O'Connor © Queensland Government
Camping and accommodation
Camping
Camping in the national park visitor area is available during the Easter, June-July and September-October Queensland school holidays. Big Bend camping area, reached by a 19.4km return walk, is open all year.
For all camping within the park, camping permits are required and fees apply.
Commercial Tour Operators and Education Groups cannot book any campsite within the Carnarvon Gorge visitor area. Other accommodation is available just outside the national park.
- Find out more about camping areas.
- Book your camp site online.
- If you cannot book online, see camping bookings for other options.
- There is Wi-Fi available at the Carnarvon National Park Visitor Information Centre though all camp bookings need to be made well in advance and prior to arriving on-site due to limited sites available.
Other accommodation
Holiday accommodation (including cabins, guesthouses and private camping areas) are available near the Carnarvon Gorge section of Carnarvon National Park.
For more information see the tourism information links.
If you are a Commercial Tour Operator or an Education Group and are wanting to experience what the Gorge has to offer, a Commercial Activity Permit or Organised Event Permit is required. Application and further information on permits can be found below:
The main walking track crosses Carnarvon Creek many times.
Photo credit: Adam Creed © Queensland Government
Walking
Take a walk at Carnarvon Gorge and explore the natural beauty of this rugged wilderness. A minimum of three days is recommended to walk the tracks, explore side gorges and visit Aboriginal art sites. All tracks are fully signposted and lead either from the main access road to the park visitor centre, or from the main walking track that starts in the Carnarvon Gorge visitor area. To make the most of your time and to help plan your walking adventure simply download the Carnarvon Gorge walking track map and Carnarvon Gorge Walk Planner .
View the walking track summary to select a walk that suits you.
Remote walking
Carnarvon National Park offers some spectacular and challenging remote walking. The sandstone wilderness can be hazardous for inexperienced or poorly prepared walkers. Accidents have happened, even to experienced bushwalkers, a high level of physical fitness and navigational skills are essential. Nature can be unpredictable—storms, fires and floods can happen in a flash. Plan to walk safely and be responsible.
Walkers should familiarise themselves with the area before attempting an extended walk and check the Park alerts section of this website for current information on tracks and conditions.
Remote walking is only advised in the cooler weather, usually March to October. Walking during summer can be very hazardous due to high temperatures and lack of surface water.
Complete a bushwalking advice form to help with your remote walking preparations. Give a copy of this form to a responsible person and make sure that they know your exact route and when you expect to return. If you change your plans, tell them. Contact them when you return. Have an emergency plan in place if you fail to contact them by an agreed time. If you are overdue or potentially lost, your nominated contact should report this to the Queensland Police Service (phone Triple Zero 000). The police will organise rescue procedures.
Carnarvon Gorge offers a rich mosaic of natural beauty and cultural mystique. To help protect this unique landscape remote area walking groups must be no larger than 6 people. All bushwalkers are expected to walk softly and follow the minimal impact bushwalking and bush camping practices.
Contact us for assistance with route advice and other detailed information. It is recommended that you contact the rangers at Carnarvon Gorge at least 10 days prior to your walk to let them know your plans and to check on current conditions. Permits are required for all remote overnight camping.
Refer to staying safe for more information on safe walking in the gorge.
The Carnarvon Great Walk is an 87km remote circuit walk that leads up and out of Carnarvon Gorge and across the rugged plateaus and valleys of the Consuelo Tableland and the Mount Moffatt section of Carnarvon National Park. Permits and campsite bookings are required. The Great Walk is only seasonally available from 1 March through to and including 31 October every year.
Picnic and day-use areas
At the entrance to Carnarvon Gorge main walking track system, a large, grassy picnic area is set among towering eucalypts and fan palms. Wheelchair-accessible tables and gas barbecues are available. Tap-water is also available (treat all drinking water before consumption). Parking is provided for buses, cars and includes allocated wheelchair-accessible spaces.
Explore the Carnarvon Gorge Visitor Information Centre, open from 8am to 4pm seven days a week. You will find answers to all your questions about visiting the gorge and learn about its landscapes, plants, animals and cultural history.
Viewing wildlife
Opportunities for birdwatching are plentiful, with over 173 bird species inhabiting or visiting the park. A night walk with a torch can reveal gliders, possums and bush stone-curlews.
Catch a glimpse of platypus and other creek life on an early morning or twilight stroll along the 1km Nature Trail. See the description of the park's natural environment for more details about Carnarvon Gorge's diverse wildlife.
Other things to do
Visitors can swim at the Rock Pool only. Please supervise children and do not dive or jump into the water. To protect the Carnarvon Creek's delicate aquatic ecology, swimming is not permitted in other sections of the creek. Sunscreens, deodorants and insect repellents can degrade water quality, affecting sensitive habitat for turtles, frogs and platypus.
- Wards Canyon closure due to flood damage 19 December 2023 to 31 August 2024