Blackdown Tableland National Park

Blackdown Tableland National Park
Queensland
IUCN category II (national park)

View from the top of Blackdown Tableland
Location in Queensland
Blackdown Tableland National Park
Nearest town or city Dingo
Coordinates 23°43′25″S 149°03′37″E / 23.72361°S 149.06028°E / -23.72361; 149.06028Coordinates: 23°43′25″S 149°03′37″E / 23.72361°S 149.06028°E / -23.72361; 149.06028
Established 1991
Area 320 km2 (123.6 sq mi)
Managing authorities Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service
Website Blackdown Tableland National Park
See also Protected areas of Queensland

Blackdown Tableland is a national park in Central Queensland (Australia), 576 km (358 mi) northwest of Brisbane. The mountainous terrain of the tablelands provides a unique landscape featuring gorges, waterfalls and diverse vegetation.

It is the traditional home of the Ghungalu people, whose rock art can be found in the park.[1]

Landforms

The Blackdown Tableland is a 900 m (3,000 ft) sandstone plateau rising abruptly from the plains below. Many creeks on the Tableland have developed gorges and waterfalls along their courses, the most notable of which drains in to the spectacular Rainbow Falls (Gudda Gumoo) over a 40 m (130 ft) drop. Some of the creeks on the Tableland are catchment fed by rain and often dry up, and some are spring fed and always flow even just a small amount. The national park is located in the north east of the central Queensland sandstone belt.[1]

The tablelands are positioned at the junction of the Shotover, Expedition and Dawson Ranges.[2] Evidence of folding is shown in the rises and depressions amongst the ranges.

Camping is available on Mimosa Creek in the Tableland, camping fees apply.

Climate

The plateau has a more temperate, local climate than the surrounding plains, supporting open forests, heath, ferns, and a variety of plants and animals, several of which are not found anywhere else. Parts of the eastern tablelands have an average rainfall of 1,500 mm (59 in) per year.[2] Dense fog may shroud the plateau.[1]

Facilities

Camping is permitted at Munall campground.[1] There are walking tracks leading to lookouts, heritage sites and creeks. Picnic facilities are available at Yaddamen Dhina lookout.[1]

Access

Access to the area was very limited until a road was constructed in 1969 by the Queensland Forest Department.[2] Entrance to the park is via a turn-off 11 km (6.8 mi) west of Dingo along the Capricorn Highway.[1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "About Blackdown Tableland". Department of National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing. 7 June 2011. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 Shilton, Peter (2005). Natural Areas of Queensland. Mount Gravatt, Queensland: Goldpress. pp. 229–232. ISBN 0-9758275-0-2.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Monday, April 04, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.