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These national parks are on indigenous Country. I acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of these areas and their deep and ongoing connection to Country, and pay my respects to their Elders past and present.
Queensland’s long coastal stretch gets tons of visitors. And rightly so—it’s tropical and lush with white sand beaches and gorgeous turquoise waters. If you’re a beach bum, that’s exactly where I would head.
But I’m no beach bum.
I like wide, open spaces. I like mountains and rugged terrain, and red deserts.
And that’s exactly what the Australian Outback offers.
Having explored a massive chunk of Queensland’s interior over the years, the husband and I constantly debate our favourites while out on the trail.
What are our Top 5 national parks in Australia? Top 5 national parks in Queensland? Which ones are worth the trouble getting to? …
Our lists change but after thousands of kilometres, these nine parks always stand out in Outback Queensland. There is so much to discover…
TIPS FOR EXPLORING NATIONAL PARKS IN OUTBACK QUEENSLAND
All of these national parks require serious thought and preparation—some far more than others. Venturing out into the remote Queensland outback is an incredible experience but it is not a casual road trip.
Remote travel out here isn’t something you just wing, so here are a few essential things to consider before heading west.
PLANNING YOUR OUTBACK JOURNEY
- Know when to Travel: Travelling to the Queensland interior during the summer is a terrible idea. Not only do most sights close but accommodation providers and shops often shut down or run on heavily reduced hours due to the extreme heat. National parks also frequently close during summer due to fire danger or seasonal flooding. Stick to the cooler months between April and early October; peak season is usually June to August.
- Carry Sufficient Fuel: We have dual fuel tanks so we can carry around 160 litres of fuel (giving us a range of about 1,200km depending on the roads). Our one rule is to always fill up when we hit a town or roadhouse. With all our scenic driving in national parks and unexpected detours easily adding up to 300km, you want to be prepared.
- Road Conditions: This part of Queensland can get seriously impacted by rain and seasonal flooding. Most parks in this region require a high-clearance 4WD vehicle so check local council road reports, QLD Traffic and national park alerts before heading off.
- Pack plenty of Water: A lot of outback national parks have no water at all. Plan on at least 5–7L per person per day, plus extra for emergencies. Depending on our trip, we carry between 60–80 litres of water in heavy-duty jerry cans to ensure we are entirely self-sufficient.
- Leave Gates Alone: You will often be driving through private cattle properties on your way into these parks. The rule is simple: leave gates exactly as you find them.
- Be Ready for Freezing Nights: Winter in the desert means massive temperature swings. It can easily drop to 0ºC (or lower) overnight in places like the southwest, while northern spots like Boodjamulla stay quite warm. Bring clothes you can actually layer.
A few Outback Gear Essentials
THE OUTBACK QUEENSLAND NATIONAL PARKS LIST
This isn’t an exhaustive list of every national parks in Outback Queensland.
Instead, it’s a selection of national parks that we think are actually worth the journey—whether they offer great camping, spectacular scenery or a fascinating window into history. Or maybe all of it!
And because they’re so far from the coast, chances are you’ll meet far fewer people.
1. CARNARVON GORGE | CARNARVON NATIONAL PARK
CARNARVON GORGE AT A GLANCE
Carnarvon Gorge is simply stunning.
It is probably the best national park in Central Queensland if you actually love hiking. The gorge is at its most glorious in the early morning when the birdlife goes completely insane and the sun starts to gently warm the sandstone cliffs.
It’s an incredibly diverse landscape, packed with everything from lush dinosaur-age ferns and cabbage palms along the creek bed to massive rock formations and brilliantly preserved Aboriginal rock art.
A quick heads-up: If walking isn’t your thing and you prefer to hang out in a campsite, skip this one. You don’t come to Carnarvon Gorge for the camping; you come for the scenery beyond the campsite.
2. MOUNT MOFFATT | CARNARVON NATIONAL PARK
MOUNT MOFFATT AT A GLANCE
Mount Moffatt is technically adjacent to Carnarvon Gorge but getting from one to the other requires a few hours driving around the ranges. It’s entirely worth the effort though.
It has the same sandstone roots as Carnarvon Gorge, Mount Moffatt is beautiful but in a completely different way. It might not have the sheer grandeur of the main gorge but the Aboriginal rock art at The Tombs is second to none, and the sweeping views from the High Country Drive are incredible.
Unlike Carnarvon Gorge, the camping here is superb, and you could easily while away a few days just relaxing in your campsite.
Want to see more? Because this is a massive area with parks scattered all over the place, planning your route can get tricky. Check out my guide to the Sandstone Belt to help you sort out the logistics for the rest of the parks in the region.
3. PORCUPINE GORGE NATIONAL PARK
PORCUPINE GORGE AT A GLANCE
Compared to some massive national parks scattered across the Queensland Outback, Porcupine Gorge is positively tiny.
What it lacks in size, it more than makes up for it with beautiful swimming holes, the extremely photogenic Pyramid Rock, and sweeping vistas from the canyon lookouts.
You could literally spend hours down in the gorge exploring the rock formations, or just hang out in your campsite. While the camping area doesn’t offer much shade, it’s still a pretty pleasant spot to set up your tent for a couple of days.
4. BOODJAMULLA NATIONAL PARK (ABORIGINAL LAND)
BOODJAMULLA AT A GLANCE
Severely damaged in the 2023 floods but steadily recovering, Boodjamulla is an outback oasis.
The surrounding countryside is fairly flat and dry, and then you suddenly hit Lawn Hill Gorge and this vibrant, tropical wonderland opens up before you.
The husband had long wanted to explore Boodjamulla, having read about it back in the days when 4WD magazines were your only source of travel information.
To be honest, we were actually a little underwhelmed when we first arrived, perhaps expecting something as grand as Carnarvon Gorge. While the gorge itself is much smaller, Boodjamulla is a beautiful little slice of God’s earth that is well worth visiting for a few days.
5. BLADENSBURG NATIONAL PARK
BLADENSBURG AT A GLANCE
Bladensburg National Park is just outside Winton, so expect a few more people here than at more remote places like Welford or Diamantina.
There isn’t an overwhelming list of things to do here but the old homestead offers a interesting glimpse into bygone pastoral days. The scenic drive then takes you across varied landscapes right up to high escarpment views.
Because its so close to town, the camping area can get a bit busy but it’s quite a pleasant spot with campsites nestled along the banks of Surprise Creek.
6. DIAMANTINA NATIONAL PARK
DIAMANTINA AT A GLANCE
Camping at Diamantina National Park has probably felt the most isolating of any camping experience we’ve had yet. It truly is a long way from anywhere, with Boulia—the closest ‘town’—being around 180km away.
Birdwatching is big here and because both camping areas are situated right along waterholes, you don’t have to go far to see anything.
The scenic drives offer expansive views over the channel country but even a little rain will quickly dictate how much of the park you actually get to see.
7. WELFORD NATIONAL PARK
WELFORD AT A GLANCE
Welford National Park really feels like you’re on the edge of the desert. The red sand says it all, and the scenic Desert Drive does not disappoint.
There aren’t any actual walks here—other than to a lookout that doesn’t offer much of a view anyway—so exploring the national park in your 4WD is a must.
The salt pans and sand dunes make for particularly arresting scenery, and they really heighten that sense of isolation you only feel this far from the coast.
8. CURRAWINYA NATIONAL PARK
CURRAWINYA AT A GLANCE
Currawinya is Queensland’s largest national park, and doing a scenic drive across it really does take a whole day.
If you want a better understanding of what early sheep shearing days were once like, Currawinya should be on the top of your list. The sheer volume of pastoral relics left behind, including massive old woolsheds, is hard to fathom.
In years of heavy summer rains, you’ll find plenty of water and incredible birdlife here in the winter months. Just beware of the potential onslaught of mozzies—cover up and keep your insect repellent handy. I actually caught Ross River Fever here.
Planning a bigger outback trip? Driving through these remote regions takes serious preparation and the distances between parks are massive. Check out my Outback Queensland page for the itineraries and logistics you’ll need to map out your route.
9. THE ONE ON MY LIST: MUNGA-THIRRI (SIMPSON DESERT)
MUNGA-THIRRI AT A GLANCE
Full disclosure: Munga-Thirri is the only national park on this list I haven’t actually been to yet. But as Queensland’s largest protected area, sitting right out on the edge of the state, it’s the main one left for us to see.
But I feel like a list of impressive national parks in the Queensland outback wouldn’t be completed without at least mentioning the Simpson Desert and Munga-Thirri National Park.
Until we do that desert crossing that we’ve been talking about for years, the Birdsville Bakery will remain as close as I’ve come to the desert for now.
I’m sure we’ll get there one day. 🙂
READY TO HEAD OUTBACK?
Bar the last one since we haven’t actually made it there yet, we’ve thoroughly enjoyed these national parks in Outback Queensland.
They are all completely different but each has something special to offer—whether it’s deep gorges, vast plains, Aboriginal culture, early pastoral history or just an abundance of birdlife and glorious sunsets.
Because these remote ecosystems and cultural sites are so fragile—and there’s no one out there to clean up after you—looking after the country is a massive part of the trip. If you want to avoid being that tourist, have a quick look at my guide to responsible camping so you know how to handle your own rubbish and waste before you pack the car.
If you’ve been to any of these places or want to add them to your bucket list (not that I’m a big fan of bucket lists 🙂 ), let me know in the comments below.
Happy exploring,
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