National park · Australia
Porcupine Gorge National Park
Go if you are already driving the Kennedy Development Road between Hughenden and the Gulf: entry is free, the Pyramid lookout is a 400 m walk, and the 2.4 km (1.5 mi) track to the gorge floor takes 1.5–2 h. It is a stopover on an Outback drive, not a side trip from Cairns.Go if you are already driving the Kennedy Development Road between Hughenden and the Gulf: entry is free, the Pyramid lookout is a 400 m walk, and the 1.5 mi (2.4 km) track to the gorge floor takes 1.5–2 h. It is a stopover on an Outback drive, not a side trip from Cairns.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
54 km² (21 sq mi)21 sq mi (54 km²)
approximate
Established
1986
Best months
May–Aug
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 7
- Oceania ↗Oceania's island states guard their farms and reefs at the border: tick 'yes' on the arrival card for any food, plant, animal product, soil or used outdoor gear, and let the officer decide.
- Oceania ↗Across the tropical South Pacific, cyclones are possible from November to April: choose insurance that covers weather delays and keep one spare night before a long-haul departure.
- Australia and New Zealand ↗Both countries drive on the left, with long distances between fuel stops in the outback and on New Zealand's back roads; fatigue causes more visitor crashes than speed.
- Australia ↗Almost every visitor needs a visa or an electronic authorisation (ETA or eVisitor, depending on passport) before boarding: apply only through the official Department of Home Affairs site or the official AustralianETA app, and check the rules for your passport.
- Australia ↗Declare all food, plant material, seeds, wood and animal products on your arrival declaration; undeclared items can bring on-the-spot fines or visa cancellation. When unsure, declare it.
- Australia ↗Drive on the left. An overseas licence in English (or with an official translation or International Driving Permit) is accepted for visitors; check the state rules and your rental contract.
- Australia ↗Swim between the red and yellow flags on patrolled beaches; rip currents cause most beach drownings.
At a glance
- Country
- Australia
- Area
- 54 km² (21 sq mi)21 sq mi (54 km²)
- The park follows Porcupine Creek for about 25 km and is only a few kilometres wide; the gazetted area figure varies by source (check).
- Established
- 1986
- Best months
- May–Aug
- Permits
- For some areas
Porcupine Gorge is a 25 km strip of national park in Outback Queensland where Porcupine Creek has cut roughly 120 m into sandstone, leaving the Pyramid — a single layered monolith that gives the park its postcard. It is not a resort park: there is one sealed road in, one lookout, one walking track to the floor, one camping area, and no water or fuel. The reason to come is the light on the gorge walls in the two hours after sunrise and before sunset, and the fact that you will often have the lookout to yourself on a weekday outside school holidays.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1986.
Size and age
54 km² (21 sq mi)21 sq mi (54 km²) · national park since 1986
The park follows Porcupine Creek for about 25 km and is only a few kilometres wide; the gazetted area figure varies by source (check).
Why go
- The Pyramid: a solitary sandstone monolith with visible colour bands, best seen from the lookout 400 m from the car park.
- A genuine gorge-floor walk — 2.4 km (1.5 mi) return down to the creek, with the cliff walls above you the whole way.A genuine gorge-floor walk — 1.5 mi (2.4 km) return down to the creek, with the cliff walls above you the whole way.
- Free entry and a campground inside the park, which makes it a cheap overnight stop on an Outback drive.
- Wildlife that survives on the waterholes: 80-plus bird species recorded, plus rock-wallabies and dingoes.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebAvoid
- MarAvoid
- AprCaution
- MayBest
- JunBest
- JulBest
- AugBest
- SepGo
- OctCaution
- NovCaution
- DecAvoid
- JanWet season; the road and creek can close
- FebWet season; high heat and humidity
- MarWet season; access uncertain
- AprWet season ends; check road status before driving
- MayDry, mild days; cool nights
- JunClear, dry, comfortable walking
- JulPeak season; cold mornings, busy school holidays
- AugDry and clear; warm afternoons
- SepHeating up but still dry
- OctHot; start walks at first light
- NovHot and humid; storm risk builds
- DecWet season; heat and possible road closures
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birds around the waterholes (80-plus species recorded in the park)May–Sep · Dry-season waterholes concentrate activity; dawn is the best window. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Rock-wallabies and kangaroos on the gorge slopesMay–Oct · Often seen from the lookout in the first and last hours of daylight. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| DingoesAll year · Present year-round and managed by the park; never feed them and keep food locked away. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Crocodiles in the creekNov–Apr · Freshwater crocodiles are not normally found this far inland; treat any waterhole as unsafe and check QPWS alerts before walking the creek (check). | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Hughenden
Drive 62 km (39 mi) north on the Kennedy Development Road (State Route 62) to the park turn-off, then follow signs to the Pyramid lookout and camping area.Drive 39 mi (62 km) north on the Kennedy Development Road (State Route 62) to the park turn-off, then follow signs to the Pyramid lookout and camping area.
50–60 min
From Townsville
Drive west via Charters Towers and the Kennedy Development Road; fuel at Hughenden before the final stretch.
5–6 h
From Cairns
Long drive via the Atherton Tablelands and the Kennedy Development Road; an overnight in Hughenden is realistic.
8–9 h
From Outback Queensland plan
Where this park fits with Hughenden, Winton and the dinosaur trail.
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Pyramid lookout and day-use area | Car park, short sealed walk to the lookout, picnic tables and toilets. | Open; no ticket. |
| Pyramid walking track | The 2.4 km (1.5 mi) return route down to the gorge floor and the creek.The 1.5 mi (2.4 km) return route down to the gorge floor and the creek. | Open; steep and unsealed, no water on the track. |
| Pyramid camping area | Campground with toilets and space for caravans and RVs, a short drive from the lookout. | Booked campers only. |
| Creek and gorge floor | Waterholes, sand, boulders and the base of the Pyramid. | Open on foot; no swimming or drinking without treatment. |
Sketch map
- 1Hughenden · Town≈-20.844, 144.199Nearest fuel, food and beds, 62 km (39 mi) south.Nearest fuel, food and beds, 39 mi (62 km) south.Map ↗
- 2Park turn-off (Kennedy Development Road) · Gate≈-20.412, 144.418Approximate; follow signs from the highway.Map ↗
- 3Pyramid lookout · Viewpoint≈-20.409, 144.437400 m walk from the car park.Map ↗
- 4Pyramid walking track start · Trail≈-20.409, 144.438Approximate; the descent to the gorge floor begins near the lookout car park.Map ↗
- 5Pyramid camping area · Sleep≈-20.346, 144.459Toilets and sites for tents, caravans and RVs.Map ↗
Take the points offline
5 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Coordinates are approximate, taken from the park's published location and the lookout and camping area entries; use them for orientation only.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry | Free | person | Queensland national parks do not charge entry; there is no gate or ticket booth (check current QPWS advice). |
| Pyramid camping area | AUD 25–30 (≈ US$17–20) | person per night | 2026 estimate; camping fees are booked online with Queensland Parks and vary by season and concession (check current rates). |
| Vehicle access | Free | vehicle | No road toll; the cost is fuel — Hughenden is the last fuel, 62 km away. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry no permit
Camping permit or guide
Drone use permit or guide
Park rules
- No swimming
- Waterholes are not swimming areas; crocodiles and water quality are both concerns.
- No drinking untreated water
- Creek water needs boiling, filtering or chemical treatment; carry your own supply.
- Stay on the track
- The gorge floor has no formed path; loose rock and flash-flood risk make shortcuts dangerous.
- Camp only in the camping area
- No bush camping along the creek or on the gorge floor.
- Fires
- Open fires are restricted; use a fuel stove and check current fire bans before you travel (check).
- Drones
- Recreational drones need a permit in Queensland national parks (check).
Where to stay
In the park
Pyramid camping area
The only place to sleep inside the park: toilets, defined sites, room for caravans and RVs; book ahead.
Near the park
Hughenden
Motels, caravan parks and fuel 62 km (39 mi) south; the practical base for a gorge visit.Motels, caravan parks and fuel 39 mi (62 km) south; the practical base for a gorge visit.
Safety
Heat on the climb out of the gorge high
Wet-season road and creek closures high
No phone signal and no fuel medium
Loose rock and falls on the descent medium
Wildlife and dingoes low
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- The lookout walk is short and formed, but the final section is unsealed and uneven; a companion may be needed for wheelchairs.
- The Pyramid walking track to the gorge floor is steep, loose and not suitable for limited mobility.
- The camping area has toilets but no accessible facilities listed; check with Queensland Parks before booking (check).
Visiting lightly
- Take all rubbish out; bins are limited and the park is remote.
- Use a fuel stove rather than collecting firewood from the creek.
- Keep to the track on the descent to limit erosion on the gorge slope.
- Do not handle wildlife or feed dingoes; the park manages them deliberately.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Porcupine Gorge National Park?
Nothing. Queensland national parks do not charge entry, so there is no gate fee for the lookout or the walking track. You pay only for camping if you stay overnight — a per-person nightly fee booked online with Queensland Parks (2026 estimate, check current rates).
What are the best hikes in Porcupine Gorge National Park?
Two walks cover it. The Pyramid lookout walk is about 400 m from the car park and takes 20–30 minutes return. The Pyramid walking track is 2.4 km return down to the gorge floor, steep and loose, taking 1.5–2 hours with the climb back out. There is no other formed trail in the park.
When is the best time to visit Porcupine Gorge National Park?
May to August. Days are dry and mild, nights are cold, and the access road is usually open. The wet season, roughly December to March, brings heat, humidity and possible road and creek closures. If you visit in October or November, walk at first light.
Can you swim at Porcupine Gorge?
No. The waterholes are not swimming areas and freshwater crocodiles are possible, especially in the wet season. Treat creek water before drinking it, or carry your own.
Do I need a 4WD to get to Porcupine Gorge?
No. The park is reached by a sealed road from Hughenden, about 62 km north on the Kennedy Development Road. The walking track itself is unsealed and steep, but the drive in is fine for a normal car.
Is there anywhere to stay near Porcupine Gorge?
Inside the park there is only the Pyramid camping area, which must be booked online. Otherwise base yourself in Hughenden, 62 km south, which has motels and a caravan park.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go