Expediton National Park Trip - Easter Long Weekend
19th April - 22nd April 2019 (Easter)
Trip grading. Medium to Hard/ Difficult.
Location: Expedition National Park, Robinson Gorge (Eastern)section which is accessed via the town of Taroom which is about 500km north west of Brisbane)
Camping: Camping at Starkvale camping area. Fees Apply and you must book online via QPWS. $6.55 per person per night or $26.20 per family per night
Camping in Expedition National Park
Expedition National Park is remote and undeveloped. Visitors must be well prepared and self-sufficient. Bring at least 7 litres of water per person per day for drinking, cooking and washing as streams are seasonal and water quality cannot be relied upon. Bring a fuel stove and rubbish bags to take your rubbish away with you. Rubbish bins are not provided in the national park.
Camping permits are required and fees apply. A camping tag with your booking number must be displayed at your camp site.
Starkvale bush camping area
Location: located 4 km south-east of Robinson Gorge lookout, Starkvale camping area can be accessed from the main entry to the park from Taroom.
Camping area features: in a forest setting, close to walking tracks.
Map: Robinson Gorge map (PDF, 206K)
Access: the camping area can be reached only by 4WD vehicles and high clearance off-road camper trailers. It is not accessible for caravans or buses.
Number of sites: 8 sites (separate but not individually numbered). Max 40 people.
Camp sites are suitable for: tent camping beside your car; walk-in camping; high clearance off-road camper trailers.
Camp site surface: grass.
Facilities: pit toilets and rainwater tank. Tank water is unreliable so bring your own drinking water. Treat tank water before use.
Open fires: allowed (except when fire bans apply) in fire rings only. Bring your own clean-milled firewood. Do not bring in or collect bush wood.
Generators: prohibited.
Essentials to bring: at least 7 litres of water per person per day (for drinking, cooking and washing), insect repellent, gas stove and fuel, and sealable containers for rubbish. Read more about things to know before you go.
Bookings: book online or learn about our camping booking options.
Mobile phone coverage: not available.
Trip Leader: Glen Wallis email: walrover@gmail.com or text 0427639719
Meeting Point: Either at the Starkvale camping area on Good Friday or at Taroom on the Thursday afternoon/evening as Kristy and myself are currently planing to head up to free camp by the river near town on the Thursday.(I will have the UHF on Channel 17)
No Dogs permitted on this trip.
Robinson Gorge section
Robinson Gorge is 90km or two hours north-west of Taroom along a gravel road. The last 16km is suitable for 4WD vehicles only.
After rain when the creeks rise it is best to travel north from Taroom on the Leichhardt Highway for 18km and turn left onto the Fitzroy Development Road. Travel approximately 2km then turn left onto the Glenhaughton Road heading towards Glenhaughton and Reedy Creek. Travel a further 86km on the Glenhaughton Road until you reach the signposted entrance turnoff to Expedition National Park on your left. From here the park is accessible by 4WD vehicle only. Travel a further 4.7 km and turn right at the T-intersection then follow this track a further 9.9km to Starkvale camping area.
Alternatively, if Robinson Creek is passable, access can be gained by heading north from Taroom on the Leichhardt Highway for 10km and turn left onto Broadmere Road. Continue for 24km and turn right onto Robinson Creek Road. Travel a further 1.5km and turn left at a T-intersection onto Glenhaughton Road. Follow Glenhaughton Road for approximately 40km then turn left at the signposted entrance to Expedition National Park.From here the park is accessible by 4WD only. Follow the track to a T-intersection, turn right and follow the road to Starkvale camping area.
From the north, turn off the Dawson Highway 1km east of Bauhinia Downs and follow the Mapala-Fairfield Road for 93km. Turn right at Oil Bore Road and continue 7km before turning left and driving a further 16km along a 4WD sign-posted track.
Roads to the Robinson Gorge section are impassable in wet weather. Weather forecasts are available from the Bureau of Meteorology. When you are in the area, listen to ABC radio on AM747 for the weather forecast for the 'Central Highlands and Coalfields' district. If rain is forecast, leave the park before the rain starts or remain in the park after rain until the roads dry out. For your safety, it is strongly advised that you do not attempt to drive on park management roads during or following rain.
Park features
Expedition National Park is part of the Central Queensland Sandstone Belt. Most of the park is covered by dry eucalypt forest, the mature spotted gum forest being the only intact forest of this type. Mount Cannondale in the Amphitheatre contains one of the largest intact softwood scrub remnants in the central highlands. Patches of dry rainforest scrub grow in narrow side gorges and wildflowers flourish along the cliff tops.
For thousands of years, Aboriginal people lived in this area, leaving behind stencil art and other sacred sites. The explorer Ludwig Leichhardt passed through in 1844 during his journey to Port Essington near Darwin.
Robinson Gorge section
Scenic Robinson Gorge is one of the main features of Expedition National Park, located on the Expedition Range between Taroom and Rolleston. The gorge winds 14km between sheer sandstone cliffs up to 100m high. It begins as a broad shallow basin in the north and narrows to a deep pool and narrow gorge towards its southern end.
Lined with cabbage palms (a relic from the era of dinosaurs), bottlebrushes and wattles, this section of park is home to several rare plant species including Eucalyptus rubiginosa and Leucopogon grandiflorus.
Walking
Walking tracks are provided in Robinson Gorge section of Expedition National Park. There are no walking tracks at Lonesome or Beilba sections.
Expedition National Park's walking tracks have been classified to help you select a walk that matches your bushwalking experience and fitness. Take time to read the track grades before walking in the park. If you intend to bushwalk away from the tracks described below, obtain a topographic map, compass and GPS, and ask for advice before setting off. Ensure you carry adequate drinking water.
Maps: Robinson Gorge walking tracks map (PDF, 135K)
Please contact me if you have any questions via Email
