About Blackdown Tableland

Park features

Rising abruptly above the surrounding dry plains, Blackdown Tableland protects spectacular sandstone scenery with deep gorges, springs and waterfalls. It lies at the north-east edge of the central Queensland sandstone belt.

The park supports diverse plant communities including heathlands, dry eucalypt forests and moist pockets of ferns, mosses and orchids. Being elevated, the tableland is often cooler and moister than nearby plains. Its isolation means plants and animals that are found nowhere else thrive here. These include the Blackdown stringybark, a macrozamia, red bottlebrush, the Blackdown “monster” (a type of underground cricket) and a Christmas beetle.

This is the traditional home of the Ghungalu people, who have visited Blackdown Tableland for thousands of years. The park’s cultural sites are vivid and visual reminders of their continued connection to this country.

Looking after the park

Parks and forests protect Queensland's wonderful natural diversity and scenery. Please help keep these places special during your stay.

Respect First Nation peoples' culture

Cultural sites represent thousands of years of connection to this landscape for the Ghungalu people. Cultural sites and places of special significance are irreplaceable and easily damaged. Look and learn, but please do not enter or touch.

Please camp and walk softly

• Remember, plants and animals (dead or alive) are protected.
• Keep wildlife wild—never feed native animals. Our food scraps affect their health and may cause them to harass visitors and other animals.
• Leave everything as you find it.
• Fires are permitted only in designated fireplaces. Douse all fires completely with water. Embers in fire rings stay extremely hot for hours and can cause serious burns or start a wildfire.
• Collecting wood in the park is prohibited.
• Keep noise levels reasonable and be considerate of other visitors.
• Flying drones in the park can affect visitors’ experience and peoples’ privacy, disturb wildlife (particularly birds and mammals) and impact First Nations peoples’ cultural heritage. For these reasons the use of drones is discouraged in the national park. Please follow drone-safety rules.

Come in clean and keep it clean

• Limit the spread of weeds and soil pathogens. Ensure your shoes, tyres and all camping equipment is clean and free of seeds, soil and insects (including ants and their eggs) before arriving.
• Avoid contaminating water with detergents, soaps or shampoos. Wash yourself and your cooking utensils at least 50m away from waterways.
• Bring your own clean, milled timber off-cuts for use as firewood—bush wood brought into protected areas can introduce weeds and pests.
• Take in only what is permitted. Leave pets, firearms, generators and chainsaws at home.
• Do not leave or bury your rubbish—take it with you when you leave. Rubbish bins are not provided.
• Please secure your food and rubbish in containers to avoid attracting animals to your camp.

Please follow the caring for parks and forests guidelines.

Park management

The department manages Blackdown Tableland National Park for the enjoyment of visitors and the conservation of our natural and cultural heritage.

Tourism information links

Central Highlands Visitor Information Centre
www.visitcapricorn.com.au
3 Clermont St, Emerald
ph (07) 4982 4142
email emerald@chdc.com.au

Explore Rockhampton Visitor Information Centre
www.explorerockhampton.com.au
176 Gladstone Road, Rockhampton Qld 4700
ph: (07) 4936 8000
email: tourism@rrc.qld.gov.au

For tourism information for all regions in Queensland see Queensland Holidays.