Family Fun Attractions Attractions Hughenden - Holiday Gold Coast

FAMILY FUN ATTRACTIONS HUGHENDEN

Basalt Byways Logo and Images

Basalt Byways

37 Gray Street, Hughenden QLD 4821

The Basalt Byway is a four wheel drive track winding between the landscapes north of Hughenden. This track takes you on a journey through some amazing country, featuring rolling walls of basalt, creating deep meandering valleys. Excellent lookouts show the depth and length of many of the valleys you will wind through. One lookout in particular is over an open downs area with the township of Hughenden in the distance. These track travels through many grazing properties. These properties used to be mainly sheep stations but they've since changed to cattle grazing. History tells stories of pioneering families who lost everything in the great floods that swept through these valley areas many years ago.

Porcupine Gorge National Park Logo and Images

Porcupine Gorge National Park

Kennedy Developmental Road, Hughenden QLD 4821

In this park, towering sandstone cliffs and lush vine-forest fringing Porcupine Creek provide a striking contrast with surrounding flat plains. Porcupine Gorge is an impressive canyon that has been carved into the landscape by the eroding action of Porcupine Creek, revealing strata of sedimentary rocks spanning hundreds of millions of years. In the wider section of the gorge the creek has also created the Pyramid, an isolated monolith of multicoloured sandstone rising from the floor of the gorge, shaped as its name suggests. The gorge is a great place for viewing wildlife, especially birds. Take the 2.4 kilometre return walk along the track to the base of the gorge, to explore the sculpted sandstone and deep pools of the gorge floor. Enjoy the bird calls and look for wallaroos and red kangaroos. Take an easy walk through sparse open woodland to the Pyramid lookout for scenic views over the gorge. Set up camp in the camping area and enjoy the solitude of the outback.

Pyramid Track, Porcupine Gorge National Park Logo and Images

Pyramid Track, Porcupine Gorge National Park

Porcupine Gorge National Park, Hughenden QLD 4821

Covering an area of 5410 hectares, Porcupine Gorge National Park extends for more than 25 kilometres along Porcupine Creek and includes surrounding open woodland and grassland. The creek has carved an impressive canyon that reveals strata of sedimentary rocks spanning hundreds of millions of years. In the wider section of the gorge the eroding action of the creek has also created the Pyramid, an isolated monolith of multicoloured sandstone rising from the floor of the gorge, shaped as its name suggests. Starting from the camping area, a gradually descending walking track leads to the bottom of the gorge, allowing exploration of the gorge floor. The return journey to the camping area, back along the same track, requires a moderate level of fitness as the track is relatively steep. Keep to the walking tracks at all times and heed safety signs.ou may encounter cattle. Do not startle or approach these animals. Never block their path. Grade: moderate. Distance: 2.4 kilometres return. Time: allow 1.5 hrs walking time.

Moorrinya National Park Logo and Images

Moorrinya National Park

Aramac Road, 85 kilometres south of Torrens Creek, Hughenden QLD 4821

This remote park has dry, flat plains criss-crossed by watercourses and covered in open eucalypt, paperbark and acacia woodlands and grasslands. Moorrinya is a wildlife refuge, protecting Australian icons such as kangaroos, koalas, emus and dingoes, as well as rare and threatened species such as the square-tailed kite, squatter pigeon and Julia Creek dunnart. Located in the heart of the Desert Uplands, Moorrinya National Park, initially established as the sheep grazing property, Shirley Station, today protects 18 land types in the Lake Eyre Basin, one of Australia's most important catchments. Set up camp near the old Shirley shearing shed. Much of the sheep station infrastructure, dating back to the late 1940s, remains as a reminder of the spirit and hard work of the people who lived in this remote part of Queensland. Take a short stroll on the Bullock Creek walk from the camping area to the creek and look for native fish and waterbirds. Enjoy birdwatching and wildlife spotting. Ride mountain bikes and trail bikes and drive four-wheel-drives on Moorinya's internal roads and firebreaks.

Historic Coolabah Tree Logo and Images

Historic Coolabah Tree

Stansfield Street, Hughenden QLD 4821

The Historic Coolabah Tree is situated past the causeway on the right as you head to the Hughenden Showgrounds. It is of immense historical importance as it is linked to two relief expeditions searching for the Burke and Wills Expedition. Both expeditions blazed the tree on the banks of what is now Station Creek. In 1861 Fredrick Walker led a team from Rockhampton to the Gulf searching in vain for the missing explorers. The following year Landsborough's search party passed through from the Gulf. These relief expeditions led people to become aware of the fertility and wealth of the plains adjacent to the Flinders River. Truly this tree should be preserved as a memorial to the brave explorers of this land. Two plaques have been erected near the tree as a tribute to them.

Flinders Discovery Centre Logo and Images

Flinders Discovery Centre

37 Gray Street, Hughenden QLD 4821
This huge display area houses an amazing exhibition of fossils from around the world, as well as an extensive and growing display of fossils from the local area. 'Hughie" is the star attraction; a life size skeletal replica of a Muttaburrasaurus. Come and witness the amazing light and sound show that takes you back over 500 million years to the beginning of the formation of Porcupine Gorge. The Bioregions display give concise information about the four different bioregions in the Shire, explaining land types, flora and fauna unique to these areas. "Shearing the Stragglers" tells the story of the demise of the sheep industry throughout the Flinders Shire. Tales of hardship and change are told through stories of men who lived this gruelling life from 1865 to present day times. While wandering around the Centre, enjoy the video on Hughenden and District, telling the story of how Hughenden came to be. The Flinders Discovery Centre stocks a large range of souvenirs, information on local and regional holiday destinations.
Kooroorinya Falls Nature Reserve Logo and Images

Kooroorinya Falls Nature Reserve

Prairie - Muttaburra Road, 65 kilometres south of Prairie, Hughenden QLD 4821
Kooroorinya Falls is a natural waterhole surrounded by high rock walls on one side and sandy, shaded banks on the other. Visitors can go swimming, fishing, birdwatching or just take a walk. There is a creek with plenty of water and spectacular falls during the wetter months. The Kooroorinya site offers camping grounds, cold showers and toilet facilities. The Kooroorinya Races are held each year. The meeting is run over three days and is a great family occasion. In years gone by, this prestigious event was by invitation only, with Fashions Of The Field, dancing and country cooking. Now the invitation to the Kooroorinya Races extends to everyone, run by the Oakley Amateur Picnic Race Club. It is important to check road conditions before travelling during wet weather and to always carry plenty of water.
Chudleigh Park Gem Fields Logo and Images

Chudleigh Park Gem Fields

Hughenden - The Lynd Road, 155 kilometres north of Hughenden, Hughenden QLD 4821
Gem quality peridot occurs on the property of Chudleigh Park, approximately 155 kilometres north of Hughenden. Gemstones were first worked in the area in the 1920s. In accordance with the Fossicking Act, the landowner of Chudleigh Park has given a 'general permission' for fossicking and camping to continue at the peridot locality by holders of Fossickers Licenses issued by the Department of Mines and Energy. Individual written permission is not required to visit this site but certain strict conditions apply.
White Mountains National Park Logo and Images

White Mountains National Park

Flinders Highway, 80 kilometres north-east of Hughenden, Hughenden QLD 4821
Spectacular white sandstone bluffs and gorges, brilliant wildflowers and exceptionally diverse habitats, ranging from lancewood forests to spinifex grasslands and sandy dunes, make this outback park truly unique. The park is a vast arid landscape for most of the year, but comes alive in winter with a colourful display of wildflowers. The spectacled hare-wallaby and eastern pebble-mound mouse are found in this park. Stop for a picnic at the Burra Range lookout on the Flinders Highway, where it crosses the Great Dividing Range and enjoy views of steep gorges, lancewood forests and white sandstone shelves and peaks. Bushwalk in this remote area to discover the park's many different plants and animals. Look for a variety of honeyeaters and lorikeets feeding on nectar or for reptiles sunning themselves on the rocks. Set up camp at Canns Camp Creek camping area for an outback experience. Four-wheel-drive, or ride your mountain bike or trail bike along the access road from the Flinders Highway to Sawpit Gorge lookout, or to Poison Valley. Enjoy colourful wildflower displays as wattles, ironbarks, acacias and grevilleas bloom from May to September.

Hughenden

Hughenden, Hughenden QLD 4821
Visit 'Hughie', the seven-metre Muttaburrasaurus and an impressive fossil collection at the Flinders Discovery Centre. While you are there, relive the glory days of sheep production and its subsequent demise in the 'Shearing Straggler' exhibit. A small entry fee applies. Follow the windmill blades through the streets of Hughenden, exploring the Outback history and art features of the town. Meet 'Mutt', a full-bodied Muttaburrasaurus replica along the way. Just outside Hughenden, Mount Walker rises out of the flat back soil plains, proving a great location for grazing across town and around the district. Further afield, Porcupine Gorge National Park is a spectacular gorge often referred to as Australia's 'Little Grand Canyon'. The first lookout gives you and indication of the depth and magnitude of the gorge and is a 'must see' for all visitors. Camping grounds are located at the Pyramid Lookout; campers should take their own water and be full self-sufficient. Contact Parks and Wildlife for permits. The Basalt Byway is a scenic drive plotted through the picturesque volcanic basalt countryside, boasting excellent lookouts and an abundance of flora and fauna. For the four wheel driving enthusiasts, the Eromanga Sea Byway traces the edge of the prehistoric inland sea and is a fossil fossicker's delight! Make the sandy crossing on the Flinders River Byway and reward yourself with a cold drink at the pub. Fossicking enthusiasts will delight in the Chudleigh Park Gemfields. Peridot, rare sapphires and black spinel are generally found in this area. Whilst general permission for fossicking and camping has been given to holders of fossicking licences, please check at the Flinders Discovery Centre prior to arrival. Hughenden is located half-way between Townsville and Mount Isa on the Flinders Highway, North West Queensland. Hughenden is situated on the banks of Queensland's longest river, the Flinders. The town is located above the Great Artesian Basin....
Australian Dinosaur Trail Logo and Images

Australian Dinosaur Trail

37 Gray Street, Hughenden QLD 4821
Follow in the footsteps of the prehistoric creatures that once roamed this ancient land. Australia's Dinosaur Trail encompasses the towns of Winton, Hughenden and Richmond which all have their own unique dinosaur stories to tell. A journey along the Dinosaur Trail offers visitors a range of unique experiences not available anywhere else in the world, let alone Australia. In Winton visit Lark Quarry Dinosaur Trackways which is set in an amazing landscape of red earth, Spinifex and jump-up country. See the dinosaur footprints which inspired the dinosaur stampede in Stephen Spielberg's movie 'Jurassic Park'. Head to the Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum to see the world's largest collection of Australian Dinosaur fossils. In Hughenden, meet Hughie a skeletal Muttaburrasaurus at The Flinders Discovery Centre. Travel north from Hughenden to Porcupine Gorge National Park to see 500 million years of layers of rock formations in this deep gorge system, known as Australia's 'Little Grand Canyon'. In Richmond, visit Kronosaurus Korner which is primarily dedicated to displaying marine reptiles. However, Kronosaurus Korner is also home to Australia's best-preserved dinosaur skeleton....
Porcupine Gorge National Park Logo and Images

Porcupine Gorge National Park

Kennedy Developmental Road, Hughenden QLD 4821
Towering sandstone cliffs and lush vine-forest fringing Porcupine Creek provide a striking contrast with surrounding flat plains. Porcupine Gorge is an impressive canyon that has been carved into the landscape by the eroding action of Porcupine Creek, revealing strata of sedimentary rocks spanning hundreds of millions of years. In the wider section of the gorge the creek has also created the Pyramid, an isolated monolith of multi-coloured sandstone rising from the floor of the gorge, shaped as its name suggests. The gorge is a great place for viewing wildlife, especially birds. Explore the sculptured sandstone and deep pools of the gorge floor along the 2.4 kilometre (return) Pyramid track. Enjoy the bird calls and look for wallaroos and red kangaroos. The short walk to the Pyramid lookout is well worth the scenic views over the gorge. Set up camp in the camping area and enjoy the solitude of the outback....
Hughenden Logo and Images

Hughenden

43865 - Hughenden QLD 4821
Visit 'Hughie', the seven-metre Muttaburrasaurus and an impressive fossil collection at the Flinders Discovery Centre. While you are there, relive the glory days of sheep production and its subsequent demise in the 'Shearing Straggler' exhibit. A small entry fee applies. Follow the windmill blades through the streets of Hughenden, exploring the Outback history and art features of the town. Meet 'Mutt', a full-bodied Muttaburrasaurus replica along the way. Just outside Hughenden, Mount Walker rises out of the flat back soil plains, proving a great location for grazing across town and around the district. Further afield, Porcupine Gorge National Park is a spectacular gorge often referred to as Australia's 'Little Grand Canyon'. The first lookout gives you and indication of the depth and magnitude of the gorge and is a 'must see' for all visitors. Camping grounds are located at the Pyramid Lookout; campers should take their own water and be full self-sufficient. Contact Parks and Wildlife for permits. The Basalt Byway is a scenic drive plotted through the picturesque volcanic basalt countryside, boasting excellent lookouts and an abundance of flora and fauna. For the four wheel driving enthusiasts, the Eromanga Sea Byway traces the edge of the prehistoric inland sea and is a fossil fossicker's delight! Make the sandy crossing on the Flinders River Byway and reward yourself with a cold drink at the pub. Hughenden is located half-way between Townsville and Mount Isa on the Flinders Highway, North West Queensland. Hughenden is situated on the banks of Queensland's longest river, the Flinders. The town is located above the Great Artesian Basin....
Kooroorinya Falls Nature Reserve Logo and Images

Kooroorinya Falls Nature Reserve

Prairie - Muttaburra Road, Hughenden QLD 4821
Kooroorinya Falls is a natural waterhole surrounded by high rock walls on one side and sandy, shaded banks on the other. Visitors can go swimming, fishing, birdwatching or just take a walk. There is a creek with plenty of water and spectacular falls during the wetter months. It is important to check road conditions before travelling during wet weather and to always carry plenty of water. Kooroorinya Campground is CLOSED until further notice. ...
Flinders Discovery Centre Logo and Images

Flinders Discovery Centre

37 Gray Street, Hughenden QLD 4821
This huge display area houses an amazing exhibition of fossils from around the world, as well as an extensive and growing display of fossils from the local area. 'Hughie" is the star attraction; a life size skeletal replica of a Muttaburrasaurus. Come and witness the amazing light and sound show that takes you back over 500 million years to the beginning of the formation of Porcupine Gorge. The Bioregions display give concise information about the four different bioregions in the Shire, explaining land types, flora and fauna unique to these areas. "Shearing the Stragglers" tells the story of the demise of the sheep industry throughout the Flinders Shire. Tales of hardship and change are told through stories of men who lived this gruelling life from 1865 to present day times. While wandering around the Centre, enjoy the video on Hughenden and District, telling the story of how Hughenden came to be. The Flinders Discovery Centre stocks a large range of souvenirs, information on local and regional holiday destinations. ...
Historic Coolabah Tree Logo and Images

Historic Coolabah Tree

Stansfield Street, Hughenden QLD 4821
The Historic Coolabah Tree is situated past the causeway on the right as you head to the Hughenden Showgrounds. It is of immense historical importance as it is linked to two relief expeditions searching for the Burke and Wills Expedition. Both expeditions blazed the tree on the banks of what is now Station Creek. In 1861 Fredrick Walker led a team from Rockhampton to the Gulf searching in vain for the missing explorers. The following year Landsborough's search party passed through from the Gulf. These relief expeditions led people to become aware of the fertility and wealth of the plains adjacent to the Flinders River. Truly this tree should be preserved as a memorial to the brave explorers of this land. Two plaques have been erected near the tree as a tribute to them....
Moorrinya National Park Logo and Images

Moorrinya National Park

Aramac Road, Hughenden QLD 4821
This remote park has dry, flat plains criss-crossed by watercourses and covered in open eucalypt, paperbark and acacia woodlands and grasslands. Moorrinya is a wildlife refuge, protecting Australian icons such as kangaroos, koalas, emus and dingoes, as well as rare and threatened species such as the square-tailed kite, squatter pigeon and Julia Creek dunnart. Located in the heart of the Desert Uplands, Moorrinya National Park, initially established as the sheep grazing property, Shirley Station, today protects 18 land types in the Lake Eyre Basin, one of Australia's most important catchments. Set up camp near the old Shirley shearing shed. Much of the sheep station infrastructure, dating back to the late 1940s, remains as a reminder of the spirit and hard work of the people who lived in this remote part of Queensland. Take a short stroll on the Bullock Creek walk from the camping area to the creek and look for native fish and waterbirds. Enjoy birdwatching and wildlife spotting. Ride mountain bikes and trail bikes and drive four-wheel-drives on Moorinya's internal roads and firebreaks. ...