Carnarvon Gorge Camping

This would have to be one of the most magical spots in Australia! You can get a real feel for the place just by looking at the National Parks and Wildlife website. This does take a wee while to come it, but the wait is very worthwhile as you are treated to 360 degree views of this spectacular gorge. Environment Minister Dean Wells said the park campground closed in October last year because of concerns waste management facilities could not cope with growing visitor numbers. This received a lot of press coverage and indeed there are pages devoted to it on the internet. So when the Environment Minister came on ABC talk back radio in Brisbane, Evon Anderson the President of the Brisbane Sunshine Wanderers chapter of the CMCA, put in her two bob's worth. The upshot of this was an invitation to discuss it with the Minister! Evon must have said all the right things, as it has been announced that Carnarvon Gorge camping ground will be reopened with a limited number of sites in time for the Easter holiday season. The site's carrying capacity has been reviewed and it will reopen on March 28 with 35 campsites and one group booking area for use by school groups, compared with 80 sites previously. Bookings will be taken from March 4th so you will have to be very quick indeed if you want to camp at Easter.

Never been to Carnarvon Gorge? There is another excellent site simply called Carnarvon Gorge National Park and apart from listing the history and highlights it goes on to show you how to best plan your walking excursions. The visitor information sheet sums up Carnarvon quite well.

"Spectacular Carnarvon Gorge lies hidden in the rugged ranges of Queensland’s Central Highlands.

Over millions of years, Carnarvon Creek has gouged soft sandstone from the vertical white cliffs of the Gorge. The creek flows all year, giving life to a luxuriant growth of ferns, palms, shrubs and trees.

Narrow side gorges are shaded for most of the day, providing moist havens for ancient remnant rainforests, ferns and mosses.

Aboriginal rock art adorns the walls of sandstone overhangs"

Makes you want to pack up and go straight away doesn't it? Don't forget that camping is allowed outside the park on two private leases. Visitors can book accommodation by contacting Takarakka Campground on (07) 4984 4535 or Oasis Lodge on (07) 4984 4503. Both are situated within five kilometres of Carnarvon Gorge. The Takarakka website is absolutely brilliant and well worth a visit even if you don't intend visiting right away. No dogs allowed sadly!