Carnarvon Gorge - 4 Days
AustraliaCarnarvon Gorge

Carnarvon Gorge - 4 Days

4 Days
Moderate

Carnarvon Gorge - 4 Days

from $2,895 / person

Overview

This is the ultimate winter walking escape in the heart of the Queensland outback. Fabulous warm days and cool evenings set the scene for one of Australia's best-kept secrets, Carnarvon Gorge. Queensland's answer to the Kimberley, but with tracks far kinder underfoot, the gorge delivers towering cliff faces, endless views, prolific wildlife, and unsurpassed indigenous art sites as good as any walking destination in the world.

The walk begins in Roma, a short flight from Brisbane, with the gorge accessible only by road. The remoteness is part of the appeal, delivering a sense of seclusion that is increasingly rare.

Two experienced guides take care of every detail throughout, with pack-free walking and the option to shorten walks where preferred.

Highlights

  • Explore on foot Australia's fascinating gorge network in wild west Queensland
  • Superb views from Boolimba Bluff lookout, and at the waterfall at Moss Garden
  • An array of natural wildlife to look out for including kangaroos, goannas and platypus
  • Option to walk right to the gorge end at Big Bend
  • Multiple indigenous art sites and rock engravings
  • Included guided night walk and potential of spotting yellow-bellied gliders

Itinerary

Day 1

Roma to Carnarvon Gorge, Then Rock Pool Track Through to the Nature Trail Followed by Night Safari
5 km

The trip starts in Roma at 11:00 am with a pick up at the city/airport and a drive out to Carnarvon Gorge. We will arrive in the Carnarvon Gorge in the mid-afternoon and will head out to do our first walk. This is a leisurely walk-through fig and Casuarina trees to hopefully spot the elusive platypus or maybe a turtle or two. A Night Safari follows, to spotlight for yellow-bellied gliders, and then it’s back to our accommodation for dinner.

Accommodation

Luxury Safari Tent in Carnarvon Gorge

Meals

Lunch, Dinner

What's Included

Accommodation

Luxury Safari Tent (3 nights)

Meals

3 breakfasts, 4 lunches, and 3 dinners

Transfers

  • Private Vehicle Transfers

Guidance & Support

  • Itinerary & Walk Notes
  • 24/7 on-trip support

How We Rate This Walk

3

Auswalk Walking Grade

Moderate

Rated by our team — we walk every route before we recommend it.

Expect some hills and longer walking days. A reasonable level of fitness will help you enjoy the experience.

View Fitness Guide

4

Days on the trail

5-20 km

Daily distance range

Daily ascent range

6/10

Trail difficulty

Where You'll Stay

Situated right in the heart of the national park, the accommodation for all three nights sits in a tranquil bush setting with views up to the escarpment above. All rooms have en-suite facilities, and waking to wildlife at the door is a regular feature of staying this deep inside Carnarvon Gorge.

What You'll Eat

Meals are well covered on this walk, with three breakfasts, four lunches and three dinners included throughout. Breakfasts are either buffet or à la carte depending on the day's walking, and dinners include two à la carte meals alongside one roast dinner. Lunches are walker's affairs taken at some of the most remarkable locations in the gorge, with a high-protein salad, a roll or wrap, a muesli bar, something sweet, fresh fruit and trail mix making up the daily spread.

Note: Please advise us of any food allergies or intolerances at the time of booking. If you have severe allergies, bringing some of your own snacks is recommended, as specialist ingredients can be harder to source in more remote parts of this walk.

More About This Trip

The walk starts and finishes in Roma, in outback Queensland, Australia. Roma Airport (RMA) has regular domestic flights from Brisbane. A pick-up from the airport or town centre is included on the first day, with a transfer out to Carnarvon Gorge. At the end of the walk, a transfer back to Roma is included, from where onward flights to Brisbane and beyond are available.

Departure dates for this guided group walk are set for July, August and September, when conditions in the gorge are at their finest. Dry high-pressure systems dominate at this time of year, bringing little chance of rain and dazzling blue skies above the sandstone cliffs. Daytime temperatures are warm and sunny, around 25 to 27°C, though nights can drop close to zero, so warm layers are essential. September is particularly fine, with the gorge's native plants coming into flower. Start early on walking days to make the most of the cooler morning hours.

This walk is graded moderate. Daily walks average 14.7 kilometres with around 300 metres of ascent and descent, and a terrain difficulty rating of 6 out of 10. Most tracks are firm and well-maintained, though the terrain is uneven in places and good balance is essential. The walk involves rock hopping over Carnarvon Creek, with up to 36 creek crossings on longer days. Full-day walks can reach up to 21 kilometres for those who wish to push further, with shorter options also available.

Sturdy walking boots with reliable grip are essential, and balance and lower-body strength exercises are worthwhile preparation.

Two professional guides accompany the trip throughout.

You must hold adequate travel insurance for your trip, including cover for personal liability and accidental injury and illness. For all trips involving international travel, your policy must also include emergency medical treatment, evacuation and repatriation cover. We strongly recommend your policy also covers trip cancellation and curtailment, and loss of or damage to luggage.

A cancellation fee usually applies if you cancel after your booking is confirmed. Travel insurance with cancellation cover will generally cover this fee, so it's worth arranging your policy at the time of booking.

Full insurance requirements are set out in our booking terms and conditions.

A detailed information pack and itinerary will be sent to you around six weeks before departure, covering everything you need to know for a seamless experience. In the meantime, our team is always on hand to answer any questions.

Dates & Pricing

Choose Your Departure

Select a fixed group departure - places are limited

Prices shown are per person, twin/double share basis.

Carnarvon Gorge reviews

5.0
7 reviews
5 Star
7
4 Star
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3 Star
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1 Star
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Sylvia W
10 months ago

Great and knowledgeable guides. excellent accommodation and meal arrangements. Stunning location. Highly recommend.

Craig B
last year

Excellent hiking tour in a special part of Australia. Accommodation and food was very good. Two leaders allowed the option of some more challenging hikes to be undertaken.

Jane R
2 years ago

Guides Michelle and Christian were amazing, having local + detailed knowledge of the geography, plant and bird life, and aboriginal painting "stencils" etc. The bus was top notch super comfortable getting from Roma to the gorge, which was amazing and super peaceful- really high cliffs and gums but plenty of rainforest ferns and palms as well. I also enjoyed the basic accommodation (it looked just like a 4 bed cabin but with thick tented fabric) ,and just managed ok with no heating on a 2 degree night. The Breeze Holiday Park has just built better cabins with air con so maybe that's an option in future. It was super quiet after dark. Bring a decent torch or 2 or a headtorch . Food was excellent - eg hot porridge one morning, lots of fresh veggies, including chicken veg stir fry- yum! All in all is give this second spot out of 9 recent walking tours I've done.

Tracy W
4 years ago

Thank you Auswalk! What a gorge-ous experience we had. Blessed with magnificent weather and outstanding guides, this is an area you just have to experience. Tucked away and preserved so beautifully, there are stories to learn and incredible sights to see. Go!

Jack J
9 years ago

Woh!!! What an hidden treasure. Our trip to Carnarvon Gorge was equal to any we have done in the world. Our guides Kat and Merel were a wealth of knowledge and made sure we were safe and enjoying our trip at all times. Both were extremely professional and genuinely cared. Kat and Merel were called to assist an emergency at the caravan park along with one of our fellow walkers who was a nurse. It bought home to us all the importance of walking with a company who had medical procedures in place. The accomodation at all places was more than acceptable, the quality of food was fantastic and a surprise. So good to see a variety for lunch instead of the basic sandwich. I requested a slight change in diet and it was never an issue. Carnarvon is a long journey however the breaks and organisational skills to have that short walk after a day of driving was excellent. We would arrive at our destination, bags in our room, shower and dinner. Dividing the group into those who requested a shorter option was fantastic. The faster group were then able to move at a faster pace and cover more ground on some of the more challenging walks. This trip is well worth the journey. Thank you Auswalk. This is our first trip with your company and I am sure we will be lining up for more.

Susan R
9 years ago

Wonderful experience amongst Australian old forests ,wildlife ,good track walking, great food & excellent accommodation. Gorges spectacular, do do the helicopter flight at Carnarvon Gorge. Guides extremely knowledgeable, caring & fun. Wonderful way to spend 8 days but do train beforehand. Great holiday for singles.

Frequently Asked Questions

This is a pack-free walking holiday. Your luggage is transported and you carry only a light daypack on the trails each day.

A moderate level of fitness is recommended. The trip is graded easy to moderate, with daily walks ranging from 5 to 20km. Some uphill sections and light rock hopping are involved, and easier alternatives are available on the bigger days.

Comfortable, broken-in hiking footwear with good grip is essential. Pack layers for cool evenings and sun protection for warm days. A full gear list will be provided in your information pack approximately six weeks before departure.

Departures run during the optimal walking season. The Queensland outback is best visited in the cooler months — June through August offer warm days and cool evenings, ideal walking conditions.

Yes, and it's a condition of booking. Your policy should cover injury, cancellation, and loss of luggage.

Want to Know More?

The Carnarvon Gorge experience

Wonder
Walk through Carnarvon Gorge's ancient sandstone walls, towering 200 metres above the gorge floor
Discover one of Australia's most significant collections of First Nations rock art at the Art Gallery site
Explore hidden side gorges including Moss Garden, Amphitheatre, and Wards Canyon on guided walks
Wellness
Walking pace reveals the gorge's extraordinary biodiversity, including rare cycads and ancient ferns
Night walks in the gorge reveal a world of glowworms, owls, and possums rarely seen in daylight
The combination of natural history, Aboriginal culture, and quiet gorge walking is genuinely restorative
Nature
Ancient cycad palms, Livistona palms, and rare orchids fill the hidden gullies throughout the gorge
Wildlife includes rock wallabies, platypus in the creek, and an extraordinary variety of bird species
Wedge-tailed eagles, yellow-tailed black cockatoos, and azure kingfishers are regularly seen on the walk