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Cania Gorge National Park

  • Nature, culture and history

    • Park alerts and park summary

    Getting there and getting around

    Cania Gorge National Park is about 225km west of Bundaberg, and can be reached via Cania Road which branches off the Burnett Highway 12km north of Monto (or 77km south of Biloela). Travel through Moonford for another 8km to the main picnic area.

    Wheelchair accessibility

    Wheelchair-accessible toilets and picnic tables are available at Three Moon Creek picnic area.

    Park features

    Cania Gorge preserves a valuable remnant of the Brigalow Belt natural region. More than 150 different types of plant community are found in this region, including brigalow forest, eucalypt woodland, cypress pine woodland, dry rainforest and grassland. More than 90 species of birds have been recorded in the park. Brush-tailed rock wallabies and common bent-wing bats are also seen.

    Aboriginal people have lived in Cania Gorge for at least 19,000 years. Freehand art on the sandstone walls is a reminder of their special way of life.

    Camping and accommodation

    Camping

    Camping is not permitted in Cania Gorge National Park, but there are commercially operated caravan and camping parks nearby in the gorge.

    Other accommodation

    Hotel, motel and caravan accommodation is available in Monto. For more information see the tourism information links below.

    Things to do

    Walking

    Choose from seven graded walking tracks to explore Cania Gorge National Park. If you intend to bushwalk away from the trails below, obtain a topographic map and ask for advice before setting off. Ensure you carry adequate drinking water.

    Allow 15–20 minutes to walk one kilometre. This time is calculated for people of average fitness and bushwalking experience and who are wearing correct footwear. If you are walking with young children or are an inexperienced bushwalker, allow more time to include rests and to return to your starting point.

    Key to track standards

    The classification system is based on Australian Standards. Please note that while each track is classified according to its most difficult section, other sections may be of an easier level.

    Class 2 track (Australian standards)

    Class 3 track (Australian standards)

    1. Picnic area circuit — 300m return (Allow about 20 minutes) Class 3

    This short walk can be started from either end of the picnic area. The track runs beside Three Moon Creek, allowing views of the sandstone cliffs and surrounding eucalypt woodland.

    2. Dripping Rock and The Overhang — 3.2km return (Allow about 2.5 hours) Class 3

    This pleasant walk starts at the southern end of the picnic area. After crossing the Three Moon Creek the track winds through eucalypt woodland and dry rainforest before leading to the base of Dripping Rock (2.2km return). The track continues on to The Overhang, where water has eroded the base of the sandstone cliff.

    3. Dragon Cave and Bloodwood cave — 2.6km return (Allow about 1 hour) Class 3

    Follow the Dripping Rock track for 400m before taking a right turn over the bridge across Russell Gully. A moderately steep track leads to the cliff face, where a sidetrack branches north to Dragon Cave (1.8km return). Here, the natural black mural of a "dragon" can be seen highlighted against the white sandstone wall. The southern branch of the track leads to Bloodwood Cave, so called because the roots of a bloodwood tree can be seen at the left-hand side of the cave.

    4. Two Storey Cave circuit — 1.3km return (Allow about 45 minutes) Class 3

    This scenic walk starts opposite the picnic area. Starting to the left, the circuit meanders upwards around isolated sandstone monoliths. A 20m sidetrack leads you to King Orchid Crevice, a parting of the cliff that has created an ideal haven for epiphytes. The top section of Two Storey Cave is important habitat for insectivorous bats. Please do not disturb these animals.

    5. Fern Tree Pool and Giant's Chair circuit — 5.6km return (Allow about 3 hours) Class 2

    The circuit begins from a carpark 900m south of the picnic area and is best walked in an anti-clockwise direction. Crossing Doctors Gully several times, the track passes Fern Tree Pool (2.5km) and continues at a moderate climb for another 2.2km up a sandstone escarpment to the Giant's Chair lookout. Return 900m to the car park down a steep track and steps. Please carry water on this walk, as the natural water is unsuitable for drinking.

    6. Big Foot walk — 1km return (Allow about 20 minutes) Class 3

    This short trail begins at the same car park and runs parallel to the bitumen road. It features a large brown image of a four-toed foot on the white sandstone cliff.

    7. Shamrock mine site — 1.4km return (Allow about 45 minutes) Class 3

    This walk begins from the northern car park, about 1km south of Lake Cania. The track meanders along a creek before passing into eucalypt woodland. At the former Shamrock gold mine site, you can follow a self-guided walk and learn about life on the Cania Goldfields. See remains of the old battery, mine shafts, processing sheds and mullock heaps along the way. Gold fossicking is not permitted.

    Picnic and day-use areas

    A picnic area with sheltered tables, barbecues, tank water and toilets are provided in the park's southern section adjacent to Three Moon Creek. Boil or chemically treat creek water. No bins are provided; visitors are asked to take their rubbish with them.

    Viewing wildlife

    Go wildlife watching and bring your camera and binoculars. You might see lace monitors, dollarbirds, king parrots, wompoo pigeons, regent bowerbirds or whiptail wallabies. Look for platypus in waterholes below the dam wall. See red kurrajong flowers in spring.

    See the description of the park's natural environment for more details about Cania Gorge's diverse wildlife.

    Other things to do

    Find out about the park's wildlife, vegetation and history at the display shelter in the main picnic area.

    SunWater manages a picturesque recreation and picnic area on the shore of Lake Cania, 11km north of the national park picnic area. The lake is popular for water sports — fishing, boating, canoeing and swimming.

    Things to know before you go

    Essentials to bring


    Opening hours

    Cania Gorge National Park is open 24 hours a day. For your safety, walk in daylight hours only.

    Pets

    Domestic animals are not permitted in Cania Gorge National Park.

    Climate and weather

    Cania Gorge has a hot, dry climate. The summers can be very hot, up to 42 degrees Celsius, while evenings can be a cool 11 degrees Celsius. Winters are dry and pleasantly warm, up to 30 degree Celsius in the daytime after very cold nights, as low as –3 degrees Celsius. Frosts are not uncommon in winter. Weather forecasts are available from the Bureau of Meteorology.

    Fuel and supplies

    The closest fuel and supplies are available from Monto. For more information see the tourism information links below.

    Staying safe

    To enjoy a safe visit to this area, please:

    In an emergency

    In case of accident or other emergency please:

    The nearest hospitals are at Monto. Mobile phone coverage is not reliable in Cania Gorge National Park.

    For more information, please read the guidelines on safety in parks and forests.

    Looking after the park

    You can help protect the park and forest by observing these guidelines:

    See the guidelines on caring for parks for more information about protecting our environment and heritage in parks.

    Park management

    Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) manages Cania Gorge National Park under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 to preserve and present its important natural and cultural values in perpetuity.

    A management plan for Cania Gorge National Park will be prepared in the future.

    Tourism information links

    Fraser Coast South Burnett Regional Tourism Board Ltd
    Gladstone Area Promotion and Development Ltd

    For tourism information for all regions in Queensland see www.queenslandholidays.com.au.

    Further information

    For detailed information on the national park, contact:

    QPWS Bundaberg
    • 46 Quay Street, Bundaberg
    • PO Box 1735, Bundaberg QLD 4670
    • ph (07) 4131 1600
    • fax (07) 4131 1620
    QPWS Cania Gorge National Park
    • PO Box 226, Monto QLD 4630
    • ph (07) 4167 8162
    • fax (07) 4167 8162
    EPA Customer Service Centre
    • 160 Ann Street, Brisbane
    • PO Box 15155, City East QLD 4002
    • ph (07) 3227 8185
    • fax (07) 3227 8749
    • email csc@epa.qld.gov.au
    Smart Service (for camping bookings)

    << Return to park summary

    Last updated: 04 June 2007