Blackdown Tablelands National Park is on Ghungalu Country. I acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of this area and their connection to Country, and pay my respects to their Elders past and present.
Blackdown Tableland National Park is an unexpected delight.
Located some 180km west of Rockhampton and just over 100km east of Emerald, you’d expect Blackdown Tableland to be hot above all else. You’re getting into seriously hot spots in Queensland after all.
Blackdown Tableland offers something surprisingly different though: High up on a plateau, you are presented with rainforest gullies, waterfalls, rock pools, indigenous rock art and oh-so-many fan palms.
With all that lush vegetation, you can expect your camping experience to be a wet, muddy and misty one in winter, and more of a wet and steamy one in summer.
CAMPING AT BLACKDOWN TABLELAND
While it is a relatively small national park, you’d still want two or three days to explore Blackdown Tableland. A 2WD will generally get you to the one and only camping area—Munall Camping Area—unless it’s been particularly wet. Then the campground road might be a bit soggy.
Towing not advised: Though sealed, the road up to the plateau is narrow, steep and windy. Towing anything but especially a large caravan or camper trailer is not recommended due to the tight switchbacks.
In July, camping here was a fairly wet experience with fog swirling around us so thick at times that you could barely make out two steps in front of you. Finding the toilets turned into a bit of fun!
MUNALL CAMPING AREA
Munall Camping Area At a Glance
Pros: Vehicle-based camping; able to book a specific site; convenient base for doing some of the walks; clean compost toilets; some sites afford privacy.
Cons: No picnic tables; no water (so make sure you bring sufficient provisions); fairly wet and muddy during winter; bush setting with no views at all; even in winter, a few mozzies to bother the husband.
Costs: $7.50 pp/pn (2026); Pre-booking required via the QNP Booking Service
Unlike other spots we’ve explored in Central Queensland, Munall Camping Area isn’t particularly picturesque. It’s surrounded by tall trees and giant fan palms, and while you get a lot of kookaburras, the camping area ends up being a functional base for sleeping and eating rather than a scenic destination in itself.
That said, its proximity to a couple of the walking tracks makes it an incredibly convenient base for exploring the national park.
The camping area is split into two loops but only the first one accessible for conventional cars. Both loops have drop toilets but there is no water at all so make sure you’re completely self-sufficient and bring enough for your stay (5-7L per person per day).
When we camped there, the second loop was much muddier and bumpier. While QPWS has laid boards down across the worst sections—and you might manage fine in drier weather—I wouldn’t want to rely on getting a 2WD in and out in wetter weather.
CAMPSITE SPECIFICS
At Blackdown Tableland, you can choose and book a specific spot from 16 available sites. Keep in mind that some are strictly for tent-based camping and won’t accommodate even a smaller camper trailer.
We stayed in site #10, which worked out beautifully. It sits a bit off to the side, meaning you have no immediate neighbours.
I also really liked the look of site #8 for its privacy, though it comes with the disadvantage of traffic as all cars need to go past that site. #8 is located directly at the entrance of Loop 1.
Our least favourite sites were #1-4, which seemed either too slopey, too open or too close to other sites. I also wasn’t very keen on #15 and #16, though they might work well if you’re travelling in a group and want to camp next to each other.
As with all camping in Queensland national parks, you’ll need to pre-book your site.
Note that there are no picnic tables here, though most sites have a fire pit. If you do light a fire, just make sure you’re practising campfire safety.
WRAPPING UP
Camping at Blackdown Tableland is much more about convenience than an amazing camp spot. The sheer beauty of the plateau itself though makes up for the lack of scenic appeal of the camping area. Before you head out, read my full guide to exploring Blackdown Tableland with info on the best walks and lookouts, as well as the 4WD scenic loop drive.
If you prefer more amenities, there’s a caravan park in Dingo about 30km away, and further afield in Emerald.
Keen for more Sandstone Belt camping? If you want to stretch your trip into other parts of the Sandstone Belt, you can head further inland to experience the remote wilderness of Expedition National Park at the Starkvale camping area. Alternatively, head into the high country at Mount Moffatt or read my guide to camping at Carnarvon Gorge if you want to tackle the main gorge tracks.
Happy camping,
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