Camping at Cania Gorge – One of QLD’s best-kept secrets
Camping at Cania Gorge in Outback Queensland ticks a lot of boxes, with a major plus being that you don’t actually have to drive ”all the way” to the outback to reach it. Located 12km north of Monto, Cania Gorge is reached via bitumen roads 500km northwest of Brisbane or 230km west of Bundaberg.
A camping trip to Cania Gorge is the closest to the coast you can experience the rugged sandstone of Central Queensland. It’s uncrowded, beautiful, and absolutely one of QLD’s best-kept secrets. Featuring great family-friendly hikes with towering cliffs, ancient caves and sheltered gorges, it’s a top spot to get the kids outdoors.
In fact, six of the eight walks within Cania Gorge itself are under 3.5km, which makes them particularly suitable for families. Best of all, most of the things to do here are nature based so they don’t cost a cent!
Things to do when camping at Cania Gorge
Let’s start with the short hikes around Cania Gorge, shall we?
The short hikes through the gorge are a highlight of camping at Cania Gorge so you should attempt at least one of them. Many of the walks depart from the Three Moon Creek picnic area in the southern section of Cania Gorge National park. There are sheltered picnic tables, electric barbecues and toilets. It’s great to head out for a walk in the morning and finish with morning tea or lunch at the picnic area.
First Nations peoples have lived in the area for at least 19,000 years and it’s not uncommon to see their freehand art on the sandstone walls. Unfortunately, some people have not respected this and carved their initials right beside them.
Big Foot Walk
Big Foot Walk is an easy 1km return stroll from the picnic area. However, if you are camping at the Cania Gorge Tourist Retreat for your Cania Gorge getaway, (which I highly recommend you do) it’s only a short 50m walk from the entrance. The walk is fairly flat with a short uphill section to view the large brown image of a four-toed foot on the white sandstone cliff.
Picnic Area Circuit
The picnic area circuit is the easiest walk of all at 300m return. Stroll along beside Three Moon Creek with views of the towering sandstone cliffs and eucalypt woodlands that cover the slopes.
Dripping Rock and The Overhang
At 3.2km return, this is one of my two favourite walks when camping at Cania Gorge. Leaving the picnic area and crossing Moon Creek, the tracks winds through eucalypt woodland and a dry vine forest before arriving at Dripping Rock. To be honest, the kids called Dripping Rock ”Lame Rock”. It was ok, but nothing too WOW.
Continuing on to The Overhang you will be more impressed. The Overhang is a sandstone cliff with an eroded base of a pretty yellow and red overhanging section. There was a little water when we visited in winter and lots of jumping rocks to occupy the kids. The rocks are large enough to sit on for a drink and snack break.
Two Storey Cave Circuit
This track is short at 1.3km return but traverses upwards around sandstone monoliths. The top section of Two Storey Cave contains insectivorous bats and there is also a 20m sidetrack to King Orchid Crevice, a kind of parting in the cliff.
Shamrock Mine Site
This is the only walk that leaves from the northern car park, 10km from the Three Moon Creek picnic area. The walk takes you to the former Shamrock gold mine site. At 1.4km return, the walk is for the most part, uphill there and downhill back.
Walk through eucalypt woodland and follow a self-guided path that showcases the remains of the old battery, mine shaft, processing shed and mullock heaps. Sadly, gold fossicking is not permitted here.
Fern Tree Pool and Giants Chair Circuit
This is my other favourite walk to do when camping at Cania Gorge. It’s the second-longest walk at 5.6km return. We accidentally did it in reverse, reaching Giants Chair lookout before Fern Tree Pool but were really glad we did because we got the uphill climb out of the way first!
At 5 and 7 years, the kids did the entire walk themselves, although they were stuffed at the end. It had enough features to keep them interested and I personally thought the walk was really pretty.
Dragon and Bloodwood Caves
This walk is 2.6km return and is quite a nice walk. However, the two caves themselves are a little bit of a letdown after reaching them. They can’t all be WOW!
Dragon Cave has a natural black mural of a ‘dragon” that can be seen highlighted against the white sandstone wall. Bloodwood Cave is apparently called so because the roots of a bloodwood tree can be seen on the left-hand side of the cave. There wasn’t much evidence of this when we were there.
There is a cool side-track up to Gorge lookout from this walk. It’s quite steep but has a great view and marks the entrance to the much longer 22km return Castle Mountain walk.
Other things to do when camping at Cania Gorge
Visit Cania Dam
Cania Dam is a popular spot for fishing and boating, well stocked with Bass, Saratoga, Yellow Belly, Silver and Spangled Perch, Snub Nosed Gar and Jewfish. Although, make sure to get a fishing permit before you cast your line.
If you’re not into fishing, it’s still a top spot to visit on your Cania Gorge camping trip. Featuring beautiful lawns and a picnic area, it’s surrounded by rocky cliffs. The nearby Cania Dam lookout gives great views across the dam wall and rocky cliffs in the distance.
The construction of the dam on Three Moon Creek was completed in 1982 and the dam covers the abandoned gold mining town of Cania. Tombstones were removed and relocated to the lookout.
Feed the beautiful birds
If you’re camping at Cania Gorge Tourist Retreat, you will be able to feed the colourful King Parrots and Rainbow Lorikeets every afternoon at 4 pm on the dot.
The birds gather around a drinking station and will eat sunflower seeds provided by staff at the Cania Gorge Tourist Retreat camping grounds out of your hand. There are picnic tables and a large grassy area for kids to ride their bikes or run around on.
4WD adventure out to Kroombit Tops National Park
Kroombit Tops National Park is 4WD only and although we visited on a day trip when camping at Cania Gorge for some fun 4WDing, the park offers visitors the chance to get back to nature and camp without facilities, away from phones and technology.
The highlight for us was finding ”Beauty Betsy”, the WWII Liberator bomber that crashed here in 1945 and lay undiscovered for nearly 50 years. The site is now a heritage site and all parts of the wreck are protected. Finding it is an off-road adventure!
Watch Our YouTube Clip on Kroombit Tops National Park
Explore Monal Goldfields
The first gold was found in Monal in 1891 and as a result, a town sprung up around Monal Creek. Long since abandoned, visitors can find the old cemetery and mining equipment which has been abandoned beside the creek.
On the creek bank, you will find the old stamper and boiler as well as other various bits of equipment. Fossicking families who are camping at Cania Gorge might like to visit on a day trip!
Find fun in the Creeks
There are numerous opportunities to pull up beside a creek in the surrounding Cania area. Let the kids do things that you would have done as a kid, such as skim stones, collect rocks or make a rock stack.
Check out Monto
Monto is a nice little town with a small-town mouth-watering bakery and cafe on the main street. The town has shopping essentials such as a butcher (two), a chemist, groceries, clothes shops and boutique gifts. This is where you’ll head to stock up on supplies when camping at Cania Gorge.
Make sure you visit the Monto Historical Complex and find the brightly painted cows scattered around town. You can’t miss them!
The Monto Historical Complex has a wide range of historic artifacts including an old train carriage and a gold stamper. It wasn’t open when we visited unfortunately but you can wander around the outside exhibits which are easily accessible.
Where to camp at Cania Gorge
Where to Stay at Cania Gorge National Park
We highly recommend camping at the Cania Gorge Tourist Retreat for its great location at the entrance to Cania Gorge National Park. We loved the quiet location, clean facilities and afternoon bird feeding.
There is also camping at the BIG4 Breeze Holiday Park – Cania Gorge further down the road.
More Information
Pssst: If you love the look of Cania Gorge, you’re going to LOVE Carnarvon Gorge!
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