If you are looking for a remote holiday destination in Queensland, you likely will need a four wheel drive vehicle to get to your destination. This doesn’t just apply to remote locations in the Outback; there are several national parks in Queensland that you can only get to with a 4WD or all-terrain vehicle. Don’t worry though; you can get such a vehicle at Budget Trucks Queensland. You can choose from a number of different 4WD trucks and vehicles that will help you enjoy a rugged trip to one of the many Queensland parks with 4WD only access, like Sundown National Park, Deepwater National Park, Great Sandy National Park, Carnarvon National Park, and Cape Palmerston National Park. Here is a little bit about each park so you can choose which one is the best stop for your next four wheel drive trip in Queensland.

Sundown National Park

Sundown National Park is one of several Queensland Parks with 4WD Only Access
Sundown National Park Image Credit: nprsr.qld.gov.au

 

Sundown National Park Image Credit: nprsr.qld.gov.au

This park is located in the remote inland region of Queensland on the New South Wales border. It is about 200 km west of Brisbane. Sundown National Park is filled with off roading adventures and plenty of driving trails. Plus, there are watering holes, waterfalls, steep gorges, and mountains that makeup a beautiful scenic view for the bush walking trails you can take when you aren’t driving through the park. The park harbours unique plants and protected wildlife.

Deepwater National Park

Deepwater National Park Image Credit: nprsr.qld.gov.au

 

4WD Track at the Northern Entrance to Deepwater National Park Image Credit: (Wikipedia) By Myobatrachidae at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=22558733

Not all of the 4WD rugged parks are inland in the Outback. In fact, most of the parks we will cover today are actually coastal parks.  Deepwater National Park is a coastal park near Hervey Bay which is a little less than 400 km north of Brisbane. The park has a 70 metre high sand dune to test out your four wheel driving on as well as freshwater springs and forest land too. It is a great spot for camping, but you do need a permit at whichever campground you choose to stay at within the park. Things to do in Deepwater National Park include fishing, hiking, swimming at the beaches or the freshwater springs. There is quite a lot of wildlife in the park, so keep an eye out for animals and marine life big and small.

Great Sandy National Park

Cooloola Recreation Area in Great Sandy National Park Image Credit: nprsr.qld.gov.au

 

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Fraser Island in Great Sandy National Park Image Credit: nprsr.qld.gov.au

Great Sandy National Park is known throughout Queensland and even all of Australia for its excellent four wheel drive beach driving. Four wheel drive vehicles are allowed on Rainbow Beach and Fraser Island, both are located within the park. Each of these locations are in separate sections of Great Sandy National Park. The Cooloola section is 18,400 hectares and is where you will find Rainbow Beach. Fraser Island is the world’s largest sand island and covers 56,000 hectares. If you obtain a camping permit, you can camp in the park. Other things to do include driving over the large sand dunes or exploring the other parts of the park: heathlands, rainforest, mangroves, swamp, freshwater lakes, and creeks.

Carnarvon National Park

Carnarvon Gorge in Carnarvon National Park Image Credit: nprsr.qld.gov.au

 

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Carnarvon Creek in Carnarvon National Image Photo Credit: nprsr.qld.gov.au

Carnarvon National Park is located right in the heart of the Queensland Outback, west of hervey Bay and Bundaberg. The terrain in the park and the surrounds is remote and rugged. The Carnarvon Creek cuts through Queensland’s central highlands where you will find some spectacular landscape features like Carnavon Gorge, sandstone cliffs with brightly coloured walls and Aboriginal rock art, rock pools., caves, canyons, and amphitheatre. While in the park, take the walking trails to explore the unique landscape as well as the flora and fauna that call the park home.

Cape Palmerston National Park

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Cape Palmerston National Park Image Credit: nprsr.qld.gov.au
Mount Funnel in Cape Palmerston National Park Image Credit: nprsr.qld.gov.au

Cape Palmerston National Park is another coastal park adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef. It is situated between Brisbane and Mackay, so the various holiday options within this region are endless. There is plenty of rugged terrain throughout the park but there is also coastal woodlands, secluded beaches, lowland vegetation, and rocky headlands. One of the most recognisable features of the park is 344 metre Mount Funnel. Wildlife in the park includes kangaroos and wallabies and a fair amount of bird watching. Visitors to this park enjoy bush walking and beach activities plus, you can camp overnight in the park. The size of the park is 7,160 hectares which includes 60 km of coastline.