ATTRACTION ROLLESTON

After a long days walk in the Carnarvon National Park nothing beats sitting back with wine or beer in hand and experiencing a Bandana Station Sunset. Relax as your hosts Bruce and Olivia take you back in time to the early pioneering days and bring you up to date with modern cattle grazing practices. Be fascinated with the story of the 'Kenniff Brothers' the last of Australia's Bush Rangers who made the Carnarvons their home. The backdrop to this experience is utterly breathtaking, the cliffs truly the showcase. Reflect upon the timelessness of the ranges whilst splashes of colour illuminate 30 kilometres of escarpment. Listening to instrumental guitar and original song by Bruce, this encounter is only enhanced by the mug of hot billy tea and damper to conclude the evening.

Hidden in the rugged ranges of Queensland's central highlands, Carnarvon Gorge features towering sandstone cliffs, vibrantly coloured side gorges, diverse flora and fauna and Aboriginal rock art. This spectacular gorge system, an oasis in the semi-arid heart of Central Queensland, is the central highlands' most popular attraction. Here, the boulder-strewn Carnarvon Creek winds through the gorge, through eucalypt and cabbage palm forests, which attract 170 bird species. Explore creeks, mossy gorges and cool rainforests on 21 kilometres of walking tracks. Walk to Mickey Creek Gorge and look for swamp wallabies or climb up the Boolimba Bluff walk to the top of the bluff, 200 metres above Carnarvon Creek. Be rewarded by the discovery of over 2,000 engravings, ochre stencils and freehand paintings adorning sandstone walls on the longer Art Gallery walk. Spot whiptail wallabies and fairy-wrens, and watch platypus in the creek in the early morning. Have a picnic on the large grassy picnic area near the entrance to the gorge. Enjoy camping in the visitor area during the Queensland school holidays: Easter, June to July and September to October. Bookings are essential. Year-round accommodation and camping is also available near the park, just five minutes from the gorge.

Lake Nuga Nuga (adjacent to Nuga Nuga National Park) is the largest natural water body within the Central Queensland Sandstone Belt. It provides a valuable habitat for waterbirds, and in the right season flowering waterlilies are a sight to behold. The lake can dry up in times of drought. Bird watchers will find the lake a haven for pelicans, swans and numerous water birds. Lake Nuga Nuga National Park contains Mount Warinilla (offering views over the lake and park) and protects remnants of dry rainforest scrub in a area that has been extensively cleared. A bush camping site, with no facilities, is located in the park on the banks of Lake Nuga Nuga. As this park is remote, be sure to bring adequate supplies of food, water and fuel.