The second largest state of Australia, Queensland has the highest number of national parks – 237 national parks as at 2020. Unfortunately, Queensland has the least amount of area as a percentage that is protected (when you include other areas like nature reserves and conservation parks). Unlike most other other states, there is no entry fee for any national parks – but you need to make a Camping Booking and pay a fee for most campsites and get a Vehicle Access Permit for Bribie Island, K’gari (Fraser Island), Mulgumpin (Moreton Island), Cooloola and Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island) recreation areas.
- National Parks and State Forests are managed by the Queensland Government Department of Environment and Science – Parks and Forests, who look after 305 parks and forests.
- There are over 27,000 reserves and trust land which have been set aside for public or community purposes.Â
Featuring sweeping vista and spectacular rock pools, Blackdown Tableland National Park is on the edge of the central Queensland sandstone belt. The park has five short bushwalks and a large camping area.
- When was park established: 1991
- Size of park: 79074 acres
- Number of hiking trails: 5
- https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/blackdown-tableland/
- Features: Rainforest, Rock formations, Swimming, Views, Waterfall, Waterhole
This small national park was once the stage for one of Australia's longest-running environmental conflicts. Mount Etna Caves National Park protects limestones caves, home to colonies of little bent-wing bats.
- When was park established: 1975
- Size of park: 1435 acres
- Number of hiking trails: 2
- https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/mount-etna-caves/
- Features: Caves, Rock formations, Views
Located within easy reach of Brisbane and the Gold Coast, Springbrook National Park offers a range of short to full-day walking trails and some spectacular lookouts and waterfalls. The national park is part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia.
- When was park established: 1966
- Size of park: 15310 acres
- Number of hiking trails: 10
- https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/springbrook
- Features: Rainforest, Swimming, Views, Waterfall, Waterhole
Consisting of seven separate sections, Carnarvon National Park in central Queensland offers spectacular sandstone gorges and incredible Aboriginal rock art sites. This guide covers all the bushwalks and major attractions of Carnarvon Gorge & Mout Moffat.
- When was park established: 1932
- Size of park: 736374 acres
- Number of hiking trails: 12
- https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/carnarvon-gorge/
- Features: Aboriginal heritage, Rainforest, Rock formations, Swimming, Views, Waterhole
A tiny national park in Central Queensland, Capricorn Coast National Park, which consists of four separate reserves. There are four short bushwalks you can do in the park at Double Head and Bluff Point.
- When was park established: 1994
- Size of park: 281.7 acres
- Number of hiking trails: 4
- https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/capricorn-coast
- Features: Rock formations, Swimming, Views
Although none of Great Keppel Island (Woppa) is designated as a national park, most of the island is untouched bushland. The island has 26km of bushwalking trails and 17 pristine beaches, fringed by the Great Barrier Reef.
- Size of park: 3232 acres
- Number of hiking trails: 8
- https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/keppel-bay-islands
- Features: Beaches, Peaks, Swimming, Views