Danbulla National Park and State Forest Tropical North Queensland

Lake Tinaroo is the heart of Danbulla National Park and State Forest. Photo credit: Karl Seelig © Tourism and Events Queensland

Be inspired: ‘Slow camping’ at Danbulla where families enjoy the ‘little things in life’

‘Because one day you will look back and realise they were big things’. Writer Kurt Vonnegut was so right. Time is fleeting and we wish we could ‘bonsai’ our kids, but before we know it, they’ve grown and flown. Photo credit: Maxime Coquard © Queensland Government

Be inspired: Chasing volcanoes (and waterfalls) in the tropical north

They say ‘don’t go chasing waterfalls’ but we suggest you do, and volcanoes too! Photo credit: Steven Nowakowski © Queensland Government

Be inspired: Legendary fish, aquatic adrenaline and waterfront vistas—Danbulla offers all this and more!

Does the smell of sunscreen and insect spray evoke childhood memories of dangling a fishing line with Dad, bucket-washing the dishes with Mum and building a camp fire with your siblings? Photo credit: Karl Seelig © Tourism and Events Queensland

Be inspired: Queensland National Parks’ best-loved camping areas

We are truly a nation of coast dwellers, so when it comes to camping holidays, where do we head? To the water, of course! Photo credit: © Tourism and Events Queensland

About Danbulla

    Park features

    Danbulla Road

    At least half a day should be set aside to explore the Danbulla area. Each site is unique, catering for the needs of a wide range of visitors. Choose a secluded camp site at School Point camping area or let the kids kick a football around the grassed area at The Chimneys day use area. Enjoy a short walk through the upland rainforest to Mobo Creek Crater or take time to marvel at the size of the cathedral fig tree.

    Danbulla forest

    The Danbulla forest is a spectacular part of the Atherton Tableland, covering 12,000ha between the Tinaroo and Lamb ranges, and bordering Lake Tinaroo. It includes eucalypt and acacia forests, pine plantations and Wet Tropics World Heritage rainforest.

    Lake Tinaroo

    Created by damming the Barron River, Lake Tinaroo was completed in 1958. It was the first large dam in Queensland built primarily for irrigation. Its construction opened up new areas to farming and allowed different crops to be trialled. It is now a multi-purpose storage dam providing water to tableland towns, power generation, crop irrigation, stock watering and recreation.

    Looking after the park

    • Everything in the park, living or dead, is protected. Leave everything as you found it.
    • Camp only in designated camping areas.
    • Lighting of fires is prohibited outside designated areas.
    • Do not feed wildlife as it can affect their health and alter the natural population balance.
    • Stay on formed roads—vehicles are not permitted off-road, including on walking tracks or on internal roads and tracks that are closed for management purposes.

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

    Park management

    The Danbulla National Park and State Forest are managed on a day-to-day basis by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS). Parts of the park and forest are within the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. Management of the World Heritage Area is coordinated through a partnership between the Commonwealth and Queensland Governments, the Traditional Owners and the wider community.

    The Danbulla area is sustainably managed to provide a balance between conservation, recreation and other resource use through the cooperation and contributions of community and government.

    Tourism information links

    Atherton Tableland Information Centre
    Corner Main Street and Silo Road, Atherton QLD 4883
    ph 1300 366 361
    email athinfocentre@trc.qld.gov.au

    Malanda Falls Visitor Centre
    www.trc.qld.gov.au/explore/visitor-centres
    132 Malanda-Atherton Road, Malanda QLD 4885
    ph (07) 4089 2583
    email malandafallsvic@trc.qld.gov.au

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