Visiting Wiliyan-ngurru safely

Picnic beside Nowranie Waterhole.

Photo credit: Gary Featonby, Queensland Government.

Getting there and getting around

Public entry inside the caves is not allowed. A safe viewing area is located at Great Nowranie cave.

At Camooweal, turn south at the Post Office Hotel, onto Urandangi Road, Travel for 15km, following the signs, to the park turn-off on the left. From here, the Nowranie Waterhole day-use area is 6km and the Nowranie Caves car park is 8km.

Access by conventional vehicle is possible in dry weather, difficulties may be experienced at creek crossings or on rocky sections of the road. The road is not suitable for conventional vehicles towing caravans. Four-wheel-drive vehicles are recommended.

Do not attempt to access the park during or after wet weather as the road can be impassable. Contact the Department of Transport and Main Roads to find out about local road conditions and the Bureau of Meteorology for weather reports and forecasts.

Wheelchair accessibility

There are no wheelchair-accessible tracks or facilities in the park.

Staying safe

• Always carry sufficient water, wear a hat and sturdy footwear, and recreate in the cooler part of the day.
• Stay away from the edges of the sinkholes and supervise your children closely—the sinkhole entrances are unstable and some have steep cliff edges.
• Carry at least one form of communication equipment. Satellite phones and Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) are the most effective in this area. Mobile phone coverage is unreliable.
• Stay well clear of cattle.
• Wear appropriate safety gear and be realistic about your cycling and riding abilities.
• Obey speed limits, heed all safety and advisory advice.
• Ride and drive to the conditions.

For more information, please read the guidelines on safety in parks and forests.

In an emergency

For all emergencies call Triple Zero (000).

We highly recommend you visit the Triple Zero website before visiting the national park. You can also download the free emergency+ app before you leave home, the GPS functionality can provide critical location details to emergency services.

Before you visit

Essentials to bring

To enjoy your time at Wiliyan-ngurru National Park remember to bring:

• a first-aid kit and communication equipment
• fresh water for drinking
• a hat, sunscreen and sunglasses
• rubbish bags.

Opening hours

Wiliyan-ngurru National Park is open 24 hours a day (camping is not permitted). The park may be closed at times due to extreme weather or management operations, check park alerts for the latest information on national park access, closures and conditions.

Permits and fees

Permits are required for commercial or organised group activities, see permits and fees for further information.

Pets

Domestic animals are not permitted in Wiliyan-ngurru National Park.

Climate and weather

This area has distinct wet and dry seasons, with unpredictable monsoonal rains falling between October and April. From May to September it is cooler and drier, making this the best time to visit the park. South-easterly winds at this time of the year help to make conditions more hospitable. Temperatures can be extremely high for the rest of the year, regularly exceeding 40 °C in the summer. Weather forecasts are available from the Bureau of Meteorology. For more information, see the tourism information links.

Fuel and supplies

Fuel and supplies can be purchased 15km north of the park at Camooweal or 189km south-east at Mount Isa. For more information, see the tourism information links.