Blackdown Tableland National Park, QLD, A Unique Delight

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If you’re looking for somewhere unusual, Blackdown Tableland National Park should probably be on your list. Why? Well as you’ll see, this park really is quite different.

Have you ever been to a National Park where there’s no grazing animals? No? Neither had we. More on this soon.

But first, where is Blackdown Tableland National Park and what’s special about it?


Rising Out of the Plains

Travelling West towards Blackwater on the Capricorn Highway in Central Queensland, you’ll see the Dawson Ranges to your left in the distance. The country around here is flat, so the ranges stand out like a sore thumb.

Approaching Blackdown Tableland National Park.
Once you turn left off the Capricorn Highway, you cross a wide plain to the base of Dawson Range. From there on, it’s up, up, up!

For an exact location of Blackdown Tableland National Park, go to the map at the end of this article.

And up there somewhere in the ranges, is the National Park.




Turning left off the highway, you’ll cross a wide plain, cattle country. Then you swing around and drive straight towards the mountains. Abruptly you start to climb.

Note: This was filmed using a Go Pro Hero Black. Camera House have a large range of GoPro cameras and accessories.

Up and up you go, hugging the side of a steep mountain. This road was built by the Forestry Department in 1971. They were after the tall straight stringybark trees growing on the tableland.

This road is full of false peaks. Just when you think you can’t possibly go any higher, you’ll round a bend and the road keeps going up. Fortunately it’s tarred to the top.

Climbing up into Blackdown Tableland National Park.
Climbing up the escarpment.

You reach the information booth and from here on the roadโ€™s dirt. It’s pretty rough in places, so take your time.

As you climb ever higher, the climate changes. Youโ€™re off the hot, dusty plains and into a cooler, gentler climate. Huge stringybarks provide shade from the heat and a cooling breeze filters through the trees. Palms and ferns find refuge in the more protected gullies and fresh, running water is a welcome sight.

Interpretive signage at Blackdown Tableland National Park.
Excellent interpretive signage at the Information Booth continues all through the park. Co-managed by the Ghungalu people, the signage explains various aspects of the park from both contemporary and traditional perspectives.
A beautiful drive into Blackdown Tableland National Park.
A stark contrast to the surrounding plains country.


Camping at Blackdown Tableland

Munall campground is excellent. Sites are private and some are really quite enormous. Each has its own firepit, almost a necessity when the sun goes down.

Munall campground at Blackdown Tableland National Park.
Our enormous campsite at Munall campground.

Make sure you book online before you get there. Queensland National Parksโ€™ ridiculous online booking system means you canโ€™t just turn up and pay. Itโ€™s a long drive back out if you forget to book.

Thereโ€™s drop toilets, but no other facilities. Youโ€™ll need to be self-sufficient, including water.





What Can You Do There?

Blackdown Tableland NP has three exceptional good walks (or four if you count the short walk to the lookout, opposite the Information Booth). They are:

Of course, relaxing around the campground is another alternative. The bird life is prolific. The kingfishers are hilarious. They stand on the road, gazing down at the ground with their heads cocked to one side. Then suddenly theyโ€™ll attack the ground, using their beaks like jackhammers. Most times they triumphantly swallow a witchety grub, a reward for their efforts.

Kingfisher getting lunch at Blackdown Tableland National Park.
Kingfisher doing its best jackhammer impersonation!

Watch out for the currawongs. Theyโ€™re fairly tame, clearly people feed them despite the warning signs not to. If you leave any food out, theyโ€™ll swoop down and take it before youโ€™ve had a chance to react.

There’s also a 4WD loop road you can take. We didn’t do this trip… we’ll save that one for our next visit!





Where are the Grazing Animals?

Since the tableland was first discovered by settlers, many people have tried to graze cattle here. The country appears to be perfectly suited for this. Thereโ€™s plentiful native grasses and the climate is perfect for cattle.

However, all of these efforts failed. The cattle would lose condition and often develop rickets. This is caused by them eating a particular type of palm and is a horrible illness where the cattle lose control of their hind quarter.

It turns out the tableland soil has severe nutrient deficiencies, rendering the grasses unsuitable for grazing animals.

After a while, you really notice the absence of any grazing animals. Thereโ€™s no kangaroos or wallabies. And after dark when youโ€™d normally hear roos scruffling around or snorting at one other, itโ€™s completely silent. Itโ€™s really quite strange.

So Blackdown Tableland is the domain of birds and reptiles.

Campfire at Blackdown Tableland National Park.
Don’t forget the firewood. You’ll need it… the nights can be cold.


In Summary

Blackdown Tableland National Park is little-known and off the radar of most travellers. However the contrast between the tableland country and the surrounding plains is stark.

Take all three walks to soak in the beauty of this place. I guarantee you wonโ€™t want to leave.

Blackdown Tableland is on Ghungalu Country.



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