Central Queensland Highlands

Central Queensland Highlands Welcome to the official tourism page of the Central Queensland Highlands! TOP 10 THINGS TO DO
1.

From Carnarvon Gorge to Emerald, Blackdown Tableland, and the Sapphire Gemfields – adventure is calling. 🌿✨ Explore walks and 4WD tracks and discover wildlife and indigenous rock art in Carnarvon Gorge National Park, a spectacular natural wonder.
2. Catch Gem Fever by following the Sapphire Gemfields Interpretive Trail through Rubyvale, Sapphire, Willows and Anakie.
3. Rising abruptly

above the flat plains of the Bowen Basin, Blackdown Tableland National Park is characterised by rugged cliffs, spectacular views, diverse wildlife, waterfalls and swimming holes.
4. The 42-hectare Emerald Botanic Gardens on the banks of the Nogoa River include a rose garden, maze, bush chapel, sculptures, rainforest and playground.
5. Call into Blackwater to explore its world-class International Coal Centre and book a fascinating guided tour of the area’s mine.
6. Explore More of the region’s agricultural and pastoral history at the Capella Pioneer Village, with its centrepiece 1869 “Peak Downs” Homestead.
7. The Old Rainworth Fort complex near Springsure includes an original fort building constructed to store food and resist attack.
8. Enjoy a picnic, bird watch, swim, fishing or try water skiing at Lake Maraboon.
9. Take a short stroll along Emerald’s Egerton Street to view the town’s magnificent public art then return at night to see the CBD sparkle with thousands of fairy-lit trees.
10. Take in the views from the spectacular lookouts in Minerva Hills National Park, discovering wildlife along the bushwalking tracks.

82.4 carats. Never to be cut. Never to be sold.In 1976, the Bennett family were fossicking at Tomahawk Creek when they p...
28/05/2026

82.4 carats. Never to be cut. Never to be sold.

In 1976, the Bennett family were fossicking at Tomahawk Creek when they pulled something from the wash that would stop them in their tracks - one of the most remarkable sapphires ever found in the Sapphire Gemfields. 💎

Known as the Tomahawk Tiger, this extraordinary gemstone is a rare example of a "dogs tooth" sapphire - a complete natural crystal. At 82.4 carats, its striking bands of golden yellow and deep green give it a tiger-like appearance.

Valued at over a million dollars, it remains in the Richardson Mining family's hands - and Ray Richardson is clear: it will never be cut, and it will never leave the family. 🐯

You can see it in person at Miners Heritage, Rubyvale during the school holidays.

Its full story is one of many brought to life along the freshly updated Sapphire Gemfields Geo-Interpretive Trail, a self-drive trail where interpretive signage shares the region's local characters, booms and busts, and significant gemstone discoveries. 🗺️

Explore More 👉 bit.ly/explorecqh-gemmies

Queensland Country Great Inland Way Drive Queensland

2 days at Blackdown Tableland NP - here's how to do it right 📍Day 1Say hi to the cows on the way in. They're basically t...
26/05/2026

2 days at Blackdown Tableland NP - here's how to do it right 📍

Day 1

Say hi to the cows on the way in. They're basically the welcoming committee. 🐄

First stop: Yaddamen Dhina lookout, right at the park entrance. Those escarpment views will fix any end-of-week feelings. 😮

Drive 16km through the park to the Rainbow Falls carpark. From there, it's a 4km return walk to Gudda Gumoo. 240 steps take you down into a cool sandstone gorge, ferns closing in as you go, with a waterfall spilling over sandstone ledges. Get the light right and you might just catch a rainbow. 🌈

Settle into Munall campground for the night. Massive sites, well-spaced, zero light pollution and more stars than you can count. 🌟

Day 2

Drag yourself out of the swag for Mook Mook lookout at sunrise. 🌄 Only 1.2km, so you don't need to get up ridiculously early. The tableland lights up orange as the mist slowly lifts from the valley below. Truly something.

Back to camp for brekkie, then the Goon Goon Dhina culture circuit. A short loop right next door with ancient Ghungalu rock art.

Pack up, say bye to the cows and hit the road. You’ll already be planning your next trip back before you hit the highway.

Save this for later 👇 Start planning → bit.ly/cqh-blackdown

📷 instagram.com/photobohemian

Queensland Country Drive Queensland Queensland National Parks

You've heard of Carnarvon Gorge. But have you found Mount Moffatt yet? 🦘Part of the same national park, but a completely...
24/05/2026

You've heard of Carnarvon Gorge. But have you found Mount Moffatt yet? 🦘

Part of the same national park, but a completely different experience. This is ancient country - rugged, unhurried, and genuinely remote.

The Tombs alone is worth the drive. Over 400 stencilled images on a single sandstone shelter - a rare window into thousands of years of life on this country.

Then there's Marlong Arch, Cathedral Rock, The Chimneys, and the panoramic High Country Drive that makes you realise just how far from everywhere you really are.

This is one of Queensland's great national parks. Waiting for you to find it.

Adventure Essentials: 💧 Water ⛽ Fuel 🚙 High-clearance 4WD

Peter from 4WD Adventurer has put together the ultimate guide 👉 bit.ly/MtMoffattGuide

📷 4WD Adventurer

Queensland Country Great Inland Way Drive Queensland Queensland National Parks

Showbags ✅Things you definitely don't need but are absolutely buying ✅Dagwood dogs ✅Pretending the rides aren't terrifyi...
21/05/2026

Showbags ✅
Things you definitely don't need but are absolutely buying ✅
Dagwood dogs ✅
Pretending the rides aren't terrifying ✅

Show season is HERE 🎡🐮🎆

📌 Capella & District Show Society 22 May
📌 Clermont Show 26–28 May
📌 Springsure Show Society 29–30 May
📌 Emerald Show Society 2–3 June

From ring events and the pavilions to showbags, entertainment and twisty potatoes - there’s nothing quite like the local show.

📷 Emerald Show Society Sarah Duguid

Queensland Country Drive Queensland Great Inland Way

Found: the coolest spot in Carnarvon Gorge (literally)The Moss Garden sits inside a sheltered side gorge where an entire...
19/05/2026

Found: the coolest spot in Carnarvon Gorge (literally)

The Moss Garden sits inside a sheltered side gorge where an entire sandstone wall is draped in thick, dripping moss - keeping it cool and green year round. Nature's own aircon!

Here's what you need to know:

🌿 Water trickles through sandstone cracks feeding a lush carpet of moss, ferns and a pretty sweet little waterfall.

🌿 Boardwalk and seating on arrival - perfect lunch spot.

🌿 Sit quietly for five minutes. Between the dripping water, birdsong and cool air, this hidden pocket is best soaked in - not rushed through.

🌿 Wildflowers line the track in season.

🌿 Early morning or later afternoon = softer light and better photos of the moss.

🌿 2.8km from the visitor centre, then 650m up to the garden. The final climb has some stairs - worth every one.

🌿 Combine with the Amphitheatre and Art Gallery for a cracking full day (14km return).

📏 7km return | ⏱️ 2.5–3 hrs | 🥾 Grade 3

More Carnarvon Gorge coming 👇 Follow us so you don't miss it.

📷 Tourism and Events Queensland

Queensland Country Drive Queensland Great Inland Way Queensland National Parks

🏆 Big congratulations to our Central Queensland Highlands legends recognised in the Best of Queensland Experiences 2026!...
17/05/2026

🏆 Big congratulations to our Central Queensland Highlands legends recognised in the Best of Queensland Experiences 2026!

From the ancient gorges of Carnarvon to the glittering Sapphire Gemfields, these operators pour their hearts into every visitor experience - and it shows.

🏨 Abode37 Motel
⛺ BIG4 Carnarvon Gorge Holiday Park
🚐 BIG4 Lake Maraboon Holiday Village
🦎 Carnarvon Gorge Eco Tours (Australian Nature Guides ) (Silver)
🏡 Carnarvon Gorge Wilderness Lodge
🍺 Dooley's Hotel Capella
🍺 Dooleys Tavern & Motel Springsure
🏨 Emerald Inn Motel
🏨 Midlander Motor Inn
⛏️ Miners Heritage, Rubyvale
💎 Pats Sapphire Central
🏨 Route 66 Motor Inn 1
🏨 Rubyvale Motel and Holiday Units
🚐 Sandstone Park Carnarvon Gorge (Gold)
🚐 Sapphire Caravan & Cabin Park
🏨 The Mayfair Emerald

And a special shoutout to Jebs Gems Tag A Long Tours - a Queensland Tourism Industry Council - QTIC Top Tour Guide finalist! 🌟

These aren't just businesses... they're the reason people fall in love with our region and keep coming back. 💙

📷 Jesse Lindemann, Tourism & Events Queensland, Sarah Duguid

Queensland Country Great Inland Way Drive Queensland

5 ways to stay at Carnarvon Gorge — which one is calling you? 🏕️With cooler mornings and clear skies settling in, now is...
12/05/2026

5 ways to stay at Carnarvon Gorge — which one is calling you? 🏕️

With cooler mornings and clear skies settling in, now is one of the best times to explore this ancient Queensland wonder. And with every accommodation provider running deals this season, there's never been a better time to book.

Here's what's waiting for you:
1. Carnarvon Gorge Wilderness Lodge (3.3km from the Visitor Area)
Where comfort meets the wild. Spacious safari tents, cloud-like beds, a lovely restaurant and wildlife on your doorstep. This is the sweet spot between immersive and indulgent.
🏷️ Stay 3, Pay 2 — limited time only

2. BIG4 Carnarvon Gorge Holiday Park (5.9km from the Visitor Area)
Where the social side of the trip is part of the fun. Camp kitchen, restaurant, bar, communal campfires and wallabies wandering through your site. Everything you need is right here.
🏷️ Stay 4+ nights - 20% off cabins & Taka Tents | 25% off campsites

3. Sandstone Park Carnarvon Gorge (7.1km from the Visitor Area)
Where the gorge is your backdrop and the fire ring is all yours. Spacious drive-through sites, pet friendly and room to breathe. This is camping on your own terms.
🏷️ Stay 4, Pay 3 — book direct

4. Wallaroo Outback Retreat (92km away - a little further out, worth every kilometre)
Beautifully appointed glamping tents on a working cattle station. Evening fires under the stars and Aboriginal rock art hidden nearby - a trip within a trip.
🏷️ Stay 4, Pay 3 — May, June & July

5. Queensland National Parks Camping
Where it's just you and the gorge. Limited sites, no frills and it books out fast. Available during Queensland school holidays (excluding Christmas holidays).

Could you imagine waking up here? 😍

📷 Tourism & Events Queensland, Tourism Australia, Grant Hunt Photography

Queensland Country Great Inland Way Drive Queensland

What kind of CQH adventurer are you? 🧭 👍 The Gorge Gazer Up before sunrise, boots laced, losing yourself in ancient gorg...
10/05/2026

What kind of CQH adventurer are you? 🧭

👍 The Gorge Gazer
Up before sunrise, boots laced, losing yourself in ancient gorges and Indigenous rock art. Carnarvon Gorge is your happy place. 🌿

❤️ The Gemmie
Fossicking licence in hand, eyes on the ground. You won't leave until you've found something sparkly - and honestly, same. 💎

😮 The Tableland Chaser
Rainbow Falls, sandstone plateaus and sweeping views that stretch forever. You were already packing the car before you finished reading this. 🏔️

😄 The History Hunter
Reading every interpretive sign, photographing every heritage building and genuinely loving it. The Central Queensland Highlands' stories are your kind of souvenir. 🪖

React below with your adventurer type! 👇

Ready to plan your escape? bit.ly/explorecqh

📷 Tourism & Events Queensland and instagram.com/photobohemian

Queensland Country Great Inland Way Queensland Country

Before you go: 10 must-know fossicking tips for the Sapphire Gemfields 💎1. Start at a fossicking park. You'll learn the ...
07/05/2026

Before you go: 10 must-know fossicking tips for the Sapphire Gemfields 💎

1. Start at a fossicking park. You'll learn the basics: how to wash, sieve and spot a sapphire. If you're short on time, this is genuinely your best option. ⏱️

2. Ready to go further? Jump on a tag-along tour. A local miner will take you out to the 'fields, show you where sapphires hide and probably tell you a yarn or two while they're at it.

3. Ready to go rogue? Grab a fossicking licence online (yes, it's cheap, yes it's easy), pack some basic gear and head for the designated fossicking areas. Out here they'll tell you: you don't find sapphires. You earn them. 💪

4. Raw sapphires look nothing like the ones in jewellery stores - dull, waxy, easily mistaken for rocks. Many have been tossed aside. Hold any suspect stone up to the sun before you do the same. ☀️

5. Fossick in the morning. The sun is bright white before midday - that's your best friend for catching a glint in the wash.

6. It's not a one-stone show. Blues, greens, yellows, parti sapphires, zircons, quartz - the Sapphire Gemfields has range.

7. Had rain recently? Get out and 'speck'. Gems wash to the surface and the ground practically does the work for you.

8. When in doubt, ask a local. Gemmies love nothing more than talking stones. You might get a tip, a story, or an invitation for a cuppa. ☕

9. Winter is peak season, but summer fossickers know something the crowds don't. Just start early, drink more water than you think you need and pace yourself.

10. The fun doesn't have to stop when you leave... you can buy bags of wash to take home.

Fair warning: fossicking is addictive. Don't be surprised if you find yourself back here next year. 😅

Save this for later 📌 Start planning → bit.ly/explorecqh-gemmies

📷 Sarah Duguid

Queensland Country Great Inland Way Drive Queensland

Before you go: 10 must know Blackdown Tableland tips 🙌1. Day trip or overnight? You can tick off the highlights in a day...
05/05/2026

Before you go: 10 must know Blackdown Tableland tips 🙌

1. Day trip or overnight? You can tick off the highlights in a day, but staying at Munall campground means you get to do it all, including that sunrise.

2. There are 4 walks ranging from 2.4km to 4km return. None are overly long, but together they pack a serious punch.

3. Two standout lookouts: Yaddamen Dhina facing northwest and Mook Mook facing southeast. Both are worth it. Do both.

4. The Mook Mook walk is best done at sunrise 🌄 It's only 1.2km so you don't need to get up ridiculously early. As the morning dawns, the far side of the tableland lights up orange and the mist slowly disappears from the valley below. Truly stunning.

5. Rainbow Falls runs year-round (fed by a spring), but after rain it really comes to life. Catch it on a dry stretch and it may be more of a trickle. Still worth the walk. The steps back up? Less so 😅 And yes, the water can be cold.

6. Facilities are limited to three spots: Yaddamen Dhina, Munall campground, and Rainbow Falls carpark. Plan your stops accordingly.

7. Watch your food 🐦 The birds here are absolutely shameless.

8. Munall campground is one of the best bush camps. Massive sites, well spaced, and waking up here is something else.

9. Keep an eye out for a lace monitor around camp 👀 Munall is actually the Ghungalu word for black goanna. Fitting.

10. The 6km drive from the base of the tableland into the park is narrow, winding and steep. Not suitable for caravans or heavy trailers. Once you're in, keep in mind that it's another 16km one way from Yaddamen Dhina to Rainbow Falls. The internal roads have recently been graded and are in good shape.

Save this for later 📍 Start planning → bit.ly/cqh-blackdown

📷 Tourism and Events Queensland

Queensland Country Drive Queensland Queensland National Parks

Address

Emerald, QLD

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 9am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 9am - 4:30pm
Thursday 9am - 4:30pm
Friday 9am - 4:30pm
Saturday 9am - 1pm
Sunday 9am - 1pm

Telephone

+61749824142

Website

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