With a whopping 237 national parks—more than any other Australian state—Queensland serves up endless options for adventurers. Famous for its golden beaches and Great Barrier Reef, you’d be forgiven for staying coastal when camping in the Sunshine State, but there’s plenty to explore inland too. Mountainous hinterlands, vast swathes of tropical rainforest, and Outback desert await intrepid road-trippers, and you’ll never be short of a place to pitch your tent or park your campervan. Queensland summers are scorching, so stick to the seaside and save inland explorations for the cooler winter season (May through October).
Brisbane & the Sunshine Coast
With the Sunshine Coast to the north, the Gold Coast to the south, and a band of forested Hinterlands, Queensland’s south coast is bursting with natural wonders, many of them contained within the region’s national parks. For coastal camping, snag a spot at one of the 4WD-only campgrounds at Moreton Island National Park or Bribie Island National Park, or head inland to discover waterfalls and glowworm caves at Springbrook National Park, Lamington National Park, and Tamborine National Park.
Central Coast
From Tweed Heads up to Airlie and lined with tropical beaches, Queensland’s Central Coast is the gateway to the islands of the southern Great Barrier Reef. Beachfront camping doesn’t get much better than Fraser Island, part of the Great Sandy National Park, but the beachside bush campsites at Curtis Island National Park come a close second. Wildlife enthusiasts should head to Eungella National Park, where the riverside campgrounds are renowned for platypus sightings.
Northern Queensland
Townsville is the launchpad for trips into Queensland’s tropical north, where the Daintree National Park is one of the state’s most popular, blanketed with UNESCO-listed rainforest. Heading north, the spectacular waterfalls and swimming holes of Girringun National Park make a worthy detour, while the boat-in campgrounds on Hinchinbrook Island National Park will tempt you out to sea. Along the Cape York Peninsula in the far north, Jardine River National Park is Australia’s northernmost national park.
Outback Queensland
If your mission is to escape the crowds, you can’t go wrong in Queensland’s central region, but make sure you stock up on supplies (and gas) before you venture out into the outback. Hike through coloured-rock gorges in Carnarvon Gorge National Park, discover the 4WD trails and wild rivers of Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) National Park, or camp out under the desert stars at Munga-Thirri National Park, the most remote of all Queensland national parks.
National Parks in Queensland.
Hinterland mountains, tropical rainforest, and postcard beaches—Queensland’s national parks have it all.
With a whopping 237 national parks—more than any other Australian state—Queensland serves up endless options for adventurers. Famous for its golden beaches and Great Barrier Reef, you’d be forgiven for staying coastal when camping in the Sunshine State, but there’s plenty to explore inland too. Mountainous hinterlands, vast swathes of tropical rainforest, and
Read more...With a whopping 237 national parks—more than any other Australian state—Queensland serves up endless options for adventurers. Famous for its golden beaches and Great Barrier Reef, you’d be forgiven for staying coastal when camping in the Sunshine State, but there’s plenty to explore inland too. Mountainous hinterlands, vast swathes of tropical rainforest, and Outback desert await intrepid road-trippers, and you’ll never be short of a place to pitch your tent or park your campervan. Queensland summers are scorching, so stick to the seaside and save inland explorations for the cooler winter season (May through October).
Brisbane & the Sunshine Coast
With the Sunshine Coast to the north, the Gold Coast to the south, and a band of forested Hinterlands, Queensland’s south coast is bursting with natural wonders, many of them contained within the region’s national parks. For coastal camping, snag a spot at one of the 4WD-only campgrounds at Moreton Island National Park or Bribie Island National Park, or head inland to discover waterfalls and glowworm caves at Springbrook National Park, Lamington National Park, and Tamborine National Park.
Central Coast
From Tweed Heads up to Airlie and lined with tropical beaches, Queensland’s Central Coast is the gateway to the islands of the southern Great Barrier Reef. Beachfront camping doesn’t get much better than Fraser Island, part of the Great Sandy National Park, but the beachside bush campsites at Curtis Island National Park come a close second. Wildlife enthusiasts should head to Eungella National Park, where the riverside campgrounds are renowned for platypus sightings.
Northern Queensland
Townsville is the launchpad for trips into Queensland’s tropical north, where the Daintree National Park is one of the state’s most popular, blanketed with UNESCO-listed rainforest. Heading north, the spectacular waterfalls and swimming holes of Girringun National Park make a worthy detour, while the boat-in campgrounds on Hinchinbrook Island National Park will tempt you out to sea. Along the Cape York Peninsula in the far north, Jardine River National Park is Australia’s northernmost national park.
Outback Queensland
If your mission is to escape the crowds, you can’t go wrong in Queensland’s central region, but make sure you stock up on supplies (and gas) before you venture out into the outback. Hike through coloured-rock gorges in Carnarvon Gorge National Park, discover the 4WD trails and wild rivers of Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) National Park, or camp out under the desert stars at Munga-Thirri National Park, the most remote of all Queensland national parks.