Visiting Currawinya safely

Roads to and within Currawinya are long and dusty; drive safely and keep watch for wildlife.

Photo credit: Robert Ashdown © Queensland Government

Careful preparation is essential for a safe and enjoyable visit to this remote park.

Photo credit: © Queensland Government

Getting there and getting around

Currawinya’s southern boundary lies adjacent to the township of Hungerford on the Queensland/New South Wales border.

All roads are unsealed and may become impassable when wet. Travel by four-wheel-drive vehicle is recommended.

To reach the park office from the north, travel approximately 170km south-west of Cunnamulla, turning towards Hungerford 4km west of Eulo. If travelling from the south, enter the park via Hungerford, 217km north-west of Bourke. The park office is 4km north of the Ten-Mile Bore or 20km north of Hungerford.

Access to the park is via working pastoral properties. Take care to avoid stock on unfenced roads and leave gates as you find them. Please respect the rights of property owners.

After good rains (whether in the local area or far upstream), flooding isolates the park from nearby townships for long periods and can submerge camp sites along the Paroo River. The road to the lakes is often closed after rain events.

Check park alerts for information on park conditions and closures.

Remember to carry extra fuel and water when driving within the park.

Maps:

• Currawinya National Park map (PDF, 519.9KB)
• View Google map

Wheelchair accessibility

There are no wheelchair-accessible tracks or facilities at Currawinya.

Staying safe

Samphire Halosarcia pergranulata survives harsh conditions along the shoreline at Lake Wyara.

Photo credit: Robert Ashdown © Queensland Government

Be sure to read all essentials to bring and follow the guidelines below to help make sure your visit is a safe and enjoyable one.

Before you leave

• Thoroughly check the condition of your vehicle and pack vehicle spares and equipment, including two spare tyres, engine coolant and oil.
• Check with the Department of Transport and Main Roads (13 19 40) for current road conditions and the Bureau of Meteorology for weather conditions and extended forecasts.
• Check the Park Alerts section of this website for current information on tracks and conditions.
• Leave an itinerary with a friend or relative. Include travel routes and/or check-in points.
• Pack reliable communication equipment and a list of local UHF radio channels and emergency contacts.
• Pack for hot and cold conditions. Outback Queensland can be very hot during the day, and very cold (to below freezing point) overnight.
• Contact us or relevant tourist information centres to help you plan your trip.

While visiting

Please take care. It is very easy to get lost. If your vehicle breaks down, stay with it! A vehicle is much easier to find than people.

• Inform a responsible person of your itinerary.
• Carry adequate supplies of food, water, fuel, vehicle spares and medical supplies.
• Prepare for an extra four or five days in case you become stranded due to flooding. It is possible to be stranded away from your camp site, especially if visiting the lakes.
• Keep to designated roads and tracks and drive below 40 km/h on the park's narrow, unsealed roads.
• Always wear seat belts and look out for kangaroos, emus and other wildlife on roads.
• Always carry drinking water, whether driving or walking.
• Wear protective clothing. Wear a hat, long-sleeved shirt and sturdy footwear.
• Be aware of your surroundings at all times and be on the lookout for animals and insects that could scratch, sting or bite.

In an emergency

In case of accident or other emergency call Triple Zero (000).

Mobile phone coverage is available at the Ranger station located in Currawinya National Park.

Satellite phones can be used at Currawinya National Park. Consider taking an Personal Locator Beacon (PLB). If you have an PLB, it should only be activated in a serious emergency situation, when there is no alternative way to raise assistance.

You could also contact the local Hungerford police station on (07) 4655 4088. Or the Eulo police Station on 46 554 838, Rangers and other visitors may be contactable on UHF radio Channel 2 (duplex).

The Royal Flying Doctor Service operates in this area. For more information that will help you enjoy a safe visit to this area, please read the guidelines Safety in parks and forests.

Before you visit

Currawinya National Park is remote and you must be self-sufficient and prepared for emergencies.

Essentials to bring

• Adequate water, food and emergency supplies. Carry at least 7 litres of water per person per day and enough emergency food and water for at least seven days in case of breakdowns or stranding.
• Fuel stove or gas stove for cooking.
• Complete first-aid kit. Include sun and insect protection in your kit.
• UHF, satellite phone and/or Personal Locator Beacon (PLB). Mobile phone coverage is poor or not available in most areas.
• Extra fuel and vehicle repairs. Frequent low gear and four-wheel-drive travel will use fuel more quickly on park drives. Fuel and supplies may not be available nearby. Use maps to plan refueling points and calculate how much extra fuel to carry. You should also bring vehicle repair tools, spare tyres, oil and engine coolant.
• Pack warm clothing and camping gear as winter nights can reach -5°C.
• Sturdy rubbish bags. Rubbish bins are not provided, please take all recyclables and rubbish with you.
• A camera and binoculars for viewing wildlife.

Essentials to know

Currawinya National Park has areas of fragile geology, high numbers of endemic, rare and threatened species, wetlands of international significance and numerous relics of pastoral activities. The entire park is a living cultural landscape for Traditional Owners, the Budjiti peoples. For these reasons some activities are not permitted in the park.

• Motorised boats and jet-skis are not permitted on the lakes, waterholes or Paroo River.
• A minimum 1500ft above ground flying height must be maintained over the Currawinya Ramsar site.
• Climbing of the Granites is not allowed.
• Fishing is only permitted along sections of the Paroo River.
• Boorara Woolshed contains rotten timber, loose iron, rusty wire and nails. For public safety visitors must remain within the boundaries of the Boorara Woolshed viewing area. For this reason the Boorara Woolshed is a restricted access area (PDF, 187.7KB) .

Opening hours

Currawinya National Park is open all year and 24 hours a day, however wet weather may cause temporary closures. Check park alerts for information on park conditions and closures.

Permits and fees

Camping permits are required and fees apply. A camping tag with your booking number must be displayed at your camp site.

• Find out more about camping at Currawinya.

Pets

Domestic animals are not permitted in Currawinya National Park.

Climate and weather

In summer, daytime temperatures can exceed 40°C. The cooler months of the year, from April to September, are the best times to visit.

During July, the average maximum temperature is 19°C, while overnight temperatures can fall to a frosty -5°C. Clear winter nights ensure magnificent starry skies.

Currawinya is in the semi-arid rangelands and has a low, variable rainfall and a high rate of evaporation. More than half the average annual rainfall of 295mm falls during summer.

For more information see the tourism information links.

Fuel and supplies

Fuel and supplies are available at Cunnamulla, Eulo, Thargomindah and Bourke. Meals, diesel, unleaded fuel and limited groceries are available at the Royal Mail Hotel at Hungerford. For more information see the tourism information links.