Sundown National Park

The road

Sundown National Park sits on the Queensland-NSW border in the Granite Belt, and it is one of the least-visited national parks in the state. The 45-kilometre track network from the northeast entrance to Burrows Waterhole traverses granite gorge country that looks more like inland NSW than coastal Queensland - exposed rock faces, dry eucalypt woodland, wildflowers in spring and deep river pools in the gorge bottoms. Red Rock Gorge is the centrepiece. The gorge walls are red granite stained by iron oxide, rising vertically above the Severn River. The track descends into the gorge via a series of steep switchbacks on loose rocky surface - the kind of terrain where low range and careful wheel placement matter more than engine power. The river crossings at the bottom are shallow enough to walk in summer but deep enough after rain to require a snorkel on a standard 4WD. Burrows Waterhole at the end of the main track is a deep, permanent pool in the Severn River - one of the best bush swimming holes in southern Queensland. The water is clean, cold and deep enough to jump into from the rocks. The park has basic bush camping with no facilities - pit toilets and fire rings only. The isolation is the point. On a weekday in autumn you will have the entire gorge system to yourself. The wildflower display in September and October is exceptional - the granite country supports species found nowhere else in Queensland.

The region

The Granite Belt is Queensland's wine country - a cool-climate region around Stanthorpe at 800 metres elevation, 220 kilometres southwest of Brisbane. The granite geology produces distinctive soils that support both wineries and unique wildflower communities. Sundown National Park sits at the western edge of the region where the granite country drops into the Severn River gorge system. Stanthorpe is the main service town with accommodation, fuel and several cellar doors within 20 minutes of the park entrance.

Before you go

Fuel at Stanthorpe or Ballandean. No fuel or services in the park. The tracks become impassable after heavy rain - the clay sections turn to skating rinks and the river crossings rise fast. Check conditions with Queensland Parks before entering. Carry extra water - the park is dry and hot in summer. Bush camping only - book through Queensland Parks and Wildlife. No mobile coverage in the gorge sections. The nearest medical facility is Stanthorpe, 45 minutes by road. Best visited April to October - summer temperatures exceed 40 degrees in the gorge.

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