Things to do

The Broadwater on the Severn River has a campground nearby.

Photo credit: Brett Roberts, Queensland Government

Nundubbermere Falls after good rain.

Photo credit: Queensland Government

Camping and accommodation

Camping

Camping and walking are best between May and September when you can expect cold nights, frosty mornings and warm, clear days. Summer can be hot and humid. A range of camping experiences are available. Camping areas at The Broadwater and Nundubbermere Falls can be accessed by conventional vehicles, while a rough 4WD track leads to camping areas at Red Rock Gorge, Reedy Waterhole and Burrows Waterhole. All camping areas, except Red Rock Gorge, are on the Severn River.

Bush camping is permitted in all areas of the park. For safety reasons, walkers should provide the rangers with their route details.

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

• Find out more about camping in Sundown National Park.
• Book your campsite online.
• If you cannot book online, see camping bookings for other options.

Other accommodation

A range of holiday accommodation is available in and around Stanthorpe, Texas and Tenterfield. For more information see the tourism information links.

Walking

• Girraween and Sundown National Parks discovery guide (PDF, 3.0MB)

Sundown offers a variety of walks ranging from formed and maintained tracks which need basic fitness and footwear, to more remote walks which require a high level of fitness, sound navigation skills and self-reliance. The walks listed here are just a few of what you are able to experience while at Sundown. The best time for walking is during the cooler months from April to September when you can expect cold nights, frosty mornings and warm, clear days. Summers can be hot and humid with temperatures occasionally reaching 40°C.

View the journeys information for more details.

Driving

Depending on how you drive, you can be a welcome visitor or someone who causes careless damage to roads and wildlife. Follow these tips for minimum impact driving.

• Wash your vehicle thoroughly before and after trips to prevent the spread of weeds and pathogens.
• Leave gates as you find them.
• Due to steep, narrow and rough roads the towing of trailers and campervans is not recommended.
• Stay on designated roads and tracks and please obey signs.
• If an obstruction blocks your path, don’t drive into the roadside drain to pass it—shortcutting leads to erosion and you may get stuck.
• Do not attempt to remove the obstruction; go back the way you came.
• If, in an emergency, you choose to remove the obstruction, do so to a point where you can pass and immediately report this to the ranger.
• Never push obstructions into drains.
• If you get stuck, try not to use trees for winching. If you have no choice, use tree protectors.
• Give way to animals—parks and forests are for their protection.

For information on how to be safe and minimise your impact when four-wheel-driving, please read the guidelines on Four-wheel-driving.

Viewing wildlife

Sundown offers excellent opportunities for birdwatching with over 150 species recorded in the park, including some seasonal visitors. Birdwatching is best early in the morning or late afternoon. See woodland birds among the eucalypts and ducks, herons, cormorants and tiny azure kingfishers along the river.

Watch eastern grey kangaroos browsing on gentle slopes and the grassy flats around The Broadwater late in the afternoon or early in the morning. Red-necked wallabies, swamp wallabies and wallaroos also live in the park. The once common brush-tailed rock-wallaby now survives only in the northern end of the park.

See the description of the park’s natural environment for more detail about Sundown’s diverse wildlife.

Fishing, swimming and canoeing

Line fishing is permitted in the Severn River and people can swim and canoe in the larger waterholes of the river.