The opening of a new $1.8 million information centre at Carnarvon Gorge marks the culmination of five years of improvements … and is set to attract even more grey nomads to the central Queensland hotspot.
“Carnarvon Gorge is part of an iconic national park, recognised worldwide for its colourful, dramatic sandstone gorges and Indigenous art,” said Tamara O’Shea, Director-General of the Department of National Parks, Sport and Racing. “Visitor numbers continue to grow steadily – from a handful in the 1920s to about 1000 a year in the early 1960s and more than 50,000 a year now.”
As well as the upgraded visitor centre, recent work includes new interpretive signs at the art gallery, Cathedral Cave and Boolimba Bluff, and the redevelopment of the Baloon Cave walking track and rock-art viewing boardwalk, as well as upgrades to the car parks.
The redeveloped visitor centre was created over the structure of the existing building dating from 1979, reusing much of the original material.
“Inside the centre, visitors will learn about Carnarvon Gorge and its wonderful natural and cultural heritage,” said QPWS Senior Ranger, Robert Ashdown. “There’s a wealth of information to help identify and understand the park’s wildlife, including its iconic platypus.”
Indigenous people have lived in, and travelled through, the gorge for many thousands of years. The traditional custodians consider this entire area to be a living, cultural landscape and have given much advice and mentoring to QPWS staff to help develop the displays.
Unfortunately for grey nomads, camping in the Carnarvon Gorge visitor area is only available during the Easter, winter and spring Queensland school holidays. At all other times of the year this area is closed to camping. The maximum length of stay at this camping area is five nights. The park’s only other camping area is accessible by walking alone.
There are two excellent privately owned parks just outside the park. Just a short drive away. Beautiful park and well run.