Carnarvon Gorge Walk - 5 Days

5-Day Carnarvon Gorge Walk – A Pack Free Guided Walking Tour by Life’s An Adventure

Life’s An Adventure invites you to explore the breathtaking beauty of Carnarvon Gorge on a 5-day Pack Free guided walking tour. Situated 750 km from Brisbane in the heart of Queensland, Carnarvon Gorge is one of the state’s most spectacular natural wonders, known for its deep water-carved gorges, towering sandstone cliffs, and rich cultural heritage. This special hike allows you to experience the stunning landscapes and ancient cultural sites while enjoying the peace and adventure that comes with being in a truly remote wilderness.

The tour takes you on a journey through Carnarvon Gorge’s diverse landscapes, including lush dry rainforest, spectacular sandstone escarpments, and secluded valleys. Walk among the towering fronds of the world’s largest ferns, listen to the chorus of hundreds of bird species, and explore the ancient Aboriginal art galleries that hold immense ceremonial and spiritual significance. The park’s cultural heritage is brought to life by the intricate rock art, which provides a glimpse into the traditions and stories of the First Nations peoples who have inhabited the area for thousands of years.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Roma

Today make your way to Roma to start your experience. Roma can be reached by air (Qantas 1 hour & 15 mins), bus or train. Today is at leisure to relax and enjoy this outback Queensland town. Check in to your accommodation at the Best Western Bungil Creek Motel, a modern and sleek property featuring an outdoor pool & cocktail lounge. Just down the road are quintessential and proud outback museums, dedicated to petroleum mining and the beat-up old cars that are synonymous with outback roads. A 20-minute walk will also bring you to the biggest bottle tree around. Roma is a roughly 70-minute flight from Brisbane and, though small, has a very colourful history for those keen to explore the town. Tonight, meet your guides at BC’s restaurant at 6pm for a delicious dinner.

Day 2: Roma - Carnarvon Gorge

TRAIL NOTES: 4km of walking, 1.5 hours.

TERRAIN: Flat walking. Excellent dirt track but some sections of uneven, rocky or unmodified terrain.

WALK ITINERARY: After a good outback brekkie, we drive through the rugged backcountry to Carnarvon Gorge. Our walking experience today takes us to the Nature Trail, a quiet and beautiful walk where you can notice the small things and let the sounds of nature trickle over you. We’ll keep an open mind and an open eye out too for any wildlife, especially any sleek platypus returning to their water’s-edge burrows after a night of feeding. After this, we’ll stroll to the Rock Pools, the only area where swimming is permissible in the gorge and we will take to the water, paddling around pondering turtles and darting fish. Once we’ve finished our hike, we make our way to our accommodation for the next three nights. Here, we can unpack, unwind, and enjoy the facilities at Carnarvon Gorge Wilderness Lodge. Tonight, we enjoy a dinner paired with Australian wines.

Day 3: Boolimba Bluff and Moss Garden Walks

TRAIL NOTES: Approximately 11km of walking.

TERRAIN: Overall this is a clear and well defined trail, with only a few sections of uneven, rocky or unmodified terrain. There is a steep climb but with well-formed stone steps and short ladders and its only about 300m long with about 200m in elevation gain from the gorge floor. Otherwise, the terrain is just lightly undulating.

WALKING ITINERARY: With a healthy and hearty breakfast finished and fuelling us for the day, we will set off up the gorge’s main trail, before veering right up the sandstone walls to Boolimba Bluff.  A 200 metre climb will bring us to the top of the escarpment and from here we get amazing views out over the landscape. As the sun rises and the heat with it, we will descend back down into Carnarvon Gorge and continue on our trek to the amazingly cool and secluded Moss Garden. This green treasure, refreshed by waters that have taken thousands of years to percolate through the sandstone strata, is one of the most peaceful and serene grottos you are likely to see across all of outback Australia. Heading back to your creek-side accommodation, you will be able to relax in the late afternoon warmth before we regroup for dinner served with wine and a visual guided tour of the stars which shine ever so brightly in the Aussie Outback.

Day 4: Main Gorge Walk to Big Bend

TRAIL NOTES: Approximately 20km of walking. Easier 10km walking option available.

TERRAIN: Flat walking with some small inclines. Excellent dirt track but some sections of uneven, rocky or unmodified terrain and many creek crossings using stepping stones and boulders.

WALK ITINERARY: Today enjoy breakfast before setting out and getting a taste of what is known as the Carnarvon Great Walk, a 90 kilometre circuit of the rugged area completed by only the hardiest of hikers. While we are not doing the full loop we will still be seeing the best that huge walk has to offer on our way to Big Bend, a large elbow carved out by millions of years of flowing water. Heading directly up the gorge, we are flanked on either side by its towering walls and will get many chances to rock hop, skip, jump, or wade over the many semi-permanent waterways that are home to and creator of the gorge. On our way up the gorge we will veer off on many gorgeous side trips, from refuges for ancient king fern gardens to daunting acoustic amphitheatres but, most importantly, a singular Aboriginal art gallery dating back almost 4000 years, a visual testament to the (at least) 20 000 years of human occupation in this area. Something not to be missed and treasured in memory. While it is a long walk, the main gorge has it all, and is the highlight of any visit to Carnarvon Gorge. Something to reflect on this night, over a delicious dinner served with Australia wines.

*Please note, easier options for walking are available on this day. 

Day 5: Mickeys Creek Walk - Roma

TRAIL NOTES: 5km of walking, 3 hours.

TERRAIN: Lightly undulating with sections of uneven, rocky, or unmodified terrain.

WALK ITINERARY: After the exertions of yesterday, this morning you’ve earned a little sleep-in. Once you are rested, our walking experience today will lead us to Mickeys Creek and Warrumbah Gorge, two amazing walks right near the main gorge mouth. Mickeys Creek is a cool, pristine pocket of serenity, providing refuge for ferns and mosses that evolved long before the scorching heat of the outback descended on Australia. Warrumbah Gorge, whilst likewise a refuge, is awe-inspiring to boot. It is a narrow cleft, dominated on either side by soaring walls, making it the quintessential slot canyon. Alacritous hikers can continue to explore up into the gorge, where the path ends and true off-trail clambering begins. Afterwards, we head south, making our way back to the town of Roma to end our walking adventure.

OPTIONAL: You have the option to extend your tour by a few days and join our 7-day Carnarvon Gorge & Bunya Mountains walk, which allows you to explore Bunya Mountains and includes return transfers from Brisbane.

Click 'Go to Bookings Site' for more information on itinerary & inclusions.