About Welford

Welford National Park's popular Desert Drive.

Photo credit: John Augusteyn © Queensland Government

Park features

Welford is a land of contrasts—wide coolibah-lined waters and grey alluvial channels of the Barcoo River slice a brown and green swathe through Mitchell grass plains and arid mulga woodlands. Golden-green spinifex and white-barked ghost gums grow atop a vivid backdrop of red sand dunes.

Majestic river red gums line the Barcoo River, the southern boundary of the 124,000ha park. Varied habitats create vital refuges for wildlife, including mulga parrots and the vulnerable yellow-footed rock-wallaby.

First Nations people of the area have a long and ongoing connection to the land and waterways of the Barcoo River—the park contains places of significant cultural heritage. A former grazing property, the unique pisé (rammed earth) homestead built in 1882, is a feature in the park. The homestead is not open to the public.

Read more about the nature, culture and history of the parks of Central West Queensland

Looking after the park

Everything in Welford National Park is protected, including plants, animals and heritage sites and artefacts. Please appreciate, respect and help care for Welford’s outstanding natural and cultural values by leaving things as you find them, and encouraging others to do the same.

• Keep food away from wildlife. Accidental or intentional feeding upsets the balance of nature and can make animals sick and/or aggressive.
• Manage your waste. Take rubbish with you as no bins are provided. Pack food away immediately after meals and secure rubbish in strong sealed containers to avoid attracting insects and larger animals. Do not bury rubbish. Dingoes or other animals will dig it up.
• Use toilets where provided. Do not throw rubbish or contents of chemical toilet tanks into pit toilets. Where toilets are not available—bury toilet waste (and paper) at least 15cm deep and 100m away from camp sites, tracks and watercourses.
• Collecting firewood in the national park is not permitted. Use a portable stove, or your own clean, weed-free firewood. Use the fire rings provided.
• Stop the spread of weeds and pathogens. New introductions can spread and displace resident species and alter the local ecology. Soil from your camping gear and boots can contain weed seeds and foreign plant pathogens. Before you arrive clean all vehicles (especially the tyres and undercarriage), all camping equipment and walking gear.
• Domestic animals are not permitted in the parks. Please observe the before you visit guidelines for dog and pets.

Please read looking after parks in Central West Queensland.

Park management

Each park in Central West Queensland has unique attributes. They are managed to conserve their natural condition and protect their cultural resources and values. See the Welford National Park Management Plan 2011 (PDF, 708.8KB) for more details about the national park's management.

Tourism information links

Barcoo Shire Council
www.barcoo.qld.gov.au or www.visitbarcoo.com.au
6 Perkins Street, Jundah
ph (07) 4658 6900
email shire@barcoo.qld.gov.au or tourism@barcoo.qld.gov.au

Jundah Visitor Information Centre
www.barcoo.qld.gov.au or www.visitbarcoo.com.au
11 Dickson Street, Jundah
ph (07) 4658 6930
email jundahinfo@barcoo.qld.gov.au

Windorah Visitor Information Centre
www.barcoo.qld.gov.au or www.visitbarcoo.com.au
Maryborough Street, Windorah
ph (07) 4656 3063
email windorahinfo@barcoo.qld.gov.au

Longreach Regional Council
www.longreach.qld.gov.au
www.experiencelongreach.com.au
96a Eagle Street, Longreach
ph (07) 4658 4111
email assist@longreach.qld.gov.au or experience@longreach.qld.gov.au

For information on road conditions see Queensland Traffic.
Phone 13 19 40 for 24-hour road reports.

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