carnarvon gorge
including cania gorge & the bunya mountains

Guided group walking holiday 8 day itinerary

highlights

• Explore Carnarvon's intriguing canyon system, an outback oasis

• Ancient Aboriginal art sites with over a thousand stencils and rock engravings

• Hike beneath huge bunya pines and sample the unique nuts

• A wildlife oasis in Queensland's outback with wallabies, bettongs, goannas, echidnas & colourful native parrots

The view from the rim of Carnarvon Gorge

What an amazing place Carnarvon Gorge is! It's a magnificent outback oasis teeming with wildlife. Pretty-faced wallabies, kangaroos, goannas, echidnas and platypus are amongst the creatures likely to be seen and the bird life is prolific as well. Carnarvon Creek carves its tortuous route through the spectacular sandstone gorge, its permanent water nurturing stands of cabbage palms and pockets of remnant rainforest with rare King Ferns with 5 metre fronds.

The steep overhanging walls of Carnarvon Gorge house some of the most vivid aboriginal art sites anywhere in the country, with animals, humans, weapons and tools all clearly depicted in rich ochre patterns and rock engravings. At places like the Art Gallery and Cathedral Cave you'll see thousands of such images.You'll walk the length of the gorge, crisscrossing the river on stepping-stones 22 times. There are fascinating side gorges to explore. Climb into the Amphitheatre and follow Warrumbah Gorge till it narrows to just a metre wide. You'll also be challenged on a hike to a dramatic lookout on top of the gorge rim.

During this holiday we also visit the rainforest-clad Bunya Mountains where bunya pines and hoop pines tower overhead and the forest is cloaked in ferns, mosses and vines. The bunya nuts are yummy too and you'll get to try those along with other indigenous foods. The chef will explain how she uses native foods to enhance flavours in her cooking. The walks here are totally different to Carnarvon Gorge with numerous waterfalls and dense rainforest cloaked in ferns and mosses.

We'll also walk at Cania Gorge, a little known and very isolated National Park with eucalypt forest, rugged rock formations and lots of wildlife. We’ll even guarantee you’ll see cute bettongs! The wildlife here is amazing and you'll get to enjoy local wine tasting and sitting around a campfire for a couple of nights.

Three distinctly different areas make this a holiday with lots of variety.

Cania Gorge - a lush oasis in the outback

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location
Starts and finishes at Brisbane airport.

travel
Air conditioned mini bus. Total travel distance 1725km.

grading
You should be in reasonable shape, but there’s certainly no need to be a triathlete! On some days we’ll do a full day walk and on other days there may be several shorter walks. Our full day walks generally involve 4-6 hours on the track at a moderate pace, though this might be broken into two or three separate sections. We have designed this itinerary so that nearly every day, one guide can offer a faster, longer or harder walk, while the other will guide people on the standard itinerary.  So, most people should find options that suit their fitness level.

Tracks in the Bunya Mountains are mostly quite gentle and easy underfoot, mostly in rainforest. At Cania Gorge the terrain is rougher underfoot. At Carnarvon Gorge the main gorge track is flat and easy all the way - there are many sidetrips into minor canyons and these all involve some climbing or rough terrain, but they are optional. We will also offer a hard and a medium walk that climb up to the rim of the gorge. In general, this trip caters well for those who like challenging hikes as well as those who prefer easier, shorter walks. For more detailed information including daily walk breakdowns, see our Fact Sheet.

Carnarvon Gorge Wilderness Lodge - main building

accommodation
We want you to enjoy every aspect of our walking holidays. So, in addition to finding great walks, we have also made an effort to find interesting and comfortable accommodation for you. At the Bunya Mountains we’ll stay in spacious self contained chalets. At Cania Gorge the best accommodation available is simple cabins with ensuites – but they are clean, modern and quiet and the setting is delightful. At Carnarvon Gorge we’ll stay in safari-style cabins at Carnarvon Gorge Wilderness Lodge. This eco retreat is located at one end of the gorge and is surrounded by zamia palms and open lawns. It features an excellent restaurant and Oasis Bar. Our final night will be spent in a motel in Roma. For more detailed information including images, see our Fact Sheet.

regional food & wine highlights
Try the unique bunya nut in the Bunya Mountains and wash it down with some wine from the many boutique wineries in the district.

Aboriginal rock art sites at Carnarvon Gorge
 

what's included
Accommodation, most meals (7 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 7 dinners), 2 guides, all transport from Brisbane airport, national park fees, information booklets, insulated lunch bag, map case, notes, maps.

not included
Alcohol, meals not listed in itinerary, drinks with meals (except tea/coffee and juice with breakfast).

departure dates
Please see our Departure Dates section of the website

prices
Please see our Prices section of the website

Refreshing Moss Garden at Carnarvon

itinerary guide - 8 days
(includes 7 nights accommodation)

Day 1: Departs Brisbane airport at 10.00am. Travel via Woodford and Yarraman. We’ll arrive at the Bunya Mountains about mid-afternoon and enjoy a 2-3 hour circuit walk in the rainforest. Our accommodation here will be in modern self-contained chalets and we stay for two nights. Dinner will be in a local restaurant where you can try the local delicacy – bunya pine. Accommodation: Bunya Mountains. Estimated driving distance: 260km

Day 2: Today will be a full day walk taking in most of the highlights of the Bunya Mountains including delightful streams, cascading waterfalls, stunning lookouts, dense rainforest and, of course, a lesson about bunya pines! Accommodation: Bunya Mountains. Estimated driving distance: 10km

Day 3: A fair bit of driving today as we head north to Cania Gorge. Most of this countryside is pastoral, with pockets of extensive cropping. Our driving route crosses many huge rivers – most will be dry at this time of year but it’s easy to imagine just how much rain does fall in this part of the world at certain times of the year. We’ll stop in the typical rural town of Mundubbera for lunch, then arrive at Cania about mid-afternoon. Our first walk at Cania Gorge takes us to a high vantage point overlooking the rocky gorge walls. For the next two nights we’ll stay in simple but clean, modern and quiet cabins and enjoy a BBQ dinner with the local wildlife. Accommodation: Cania Gorge. Estimated driving distance: 400km

Day 4: A full day of hiking at Cania Gorge, visiting some evocatively named features – Bloodwood Cave, Dragon Cave, The Overhang, Dripping Rock and Two Storey Cave. There's a choice of an afternoon walk to a high vantage point or enjoying some time canoeing on the lake (extra cost). Accommodation: Cania Gorge. Estimated driving distance: 10km
 

Day 5: On the road again heading for Carnarvon Gorge, travelling through the outback towns of Monto, Banana and Biloela (bet you can’t pronounce that one!)  On arrival we'll explore two fascinating gorges - Mickey Creek and Warrumbah Gorge. There will be an opportunity for agile walkers to explore the upper reaches of these gorges. We’ll unpack the bags at Carnarvon Gorge Wilderness Lodge and settle in for a two night stay. Accommodation: Carnarvon Gorge Lodge. Estimated driving distance: 440km

Day 6: An early start today, with an opportunity of walking right to the end of the Gorge at Big Bend – a distance of 20km return.  There are many side walks to do on the way back, such as Boowinda Creek, Cathedral Cave, Art Gallery, Ward’s Canyon, Ampitheatre, Hellhole Gorge & Moss Garden.  If this sounds a bit much, there are numerous fascinating gorges to visit with our second guide who will be offering a less demanding walk. Accommodation: Carnarvon Gorge Lodge. Estimated driving distance: 10km

Pretty Carnarvon Creek snakes through the gorge 

Day 7: This morning’s walk is one of the best the national park has to offer, so we’ll all walk to Boolimba Bluff for absolutely ripper views. Then there's a choice of an easy stroll along Carnarvon Creek back to the lodge or a challenging ascent of the Devil's Signpost. Then on the road again for the country town of Injune. Accommodation: Roma. Estimated driving distance: 235km

Day 8: A travelling day today as we head back to Brisbane through the rural towns of Miles, Dalby and Toowoomba.  We estimate arriving in Brisbane at around 5.00pm. Estimated driving distance: 350km

fact sheet
Would you like more detailed information about this trip?
 
Download our Carnarvon Gorge Group Guided Walking Holiday Fact Sheet. It contains a detailed itinerary with walking times and distances and more information on accommodations including photos of places you will stay at.
 
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