A Guide to Byfield National Park
In this post we thought we would do a simple guide to Byfield National Park in Central Queensland. How to get there, the different camping options, and what there is to see and do. This is not a comprehensive guide on Byfield National Park but a summary to help you plan your trip and what to expect.
Byfield National Park is stunning, as you would expect in our awesome State of Queensland. There are so many different things to do and see. You can experience fun and tough four-wheel driving tracks, breathtaking views from the headland, beautiful beaches, amazing walks, freshwater creeks, sand blows and great campsites. There is something for everyone, an awesome place to visit if you ever get the opportunity.
Check out the National Parks area map of Byfield National Park here.Â
Getting to Byfield National Park
Byfield National Park is about an hour’s drive from Rockhampton and 30 minutes from Yeppoon. Byfield has both a National Park and State Forest. You will go through Byfield State Forest when driving to Byfield National Park. Getting there from the South requires you to go through Rockhampton and towards Yeppoon. You can bypass Yeppoon, but it is not a bad idea to stop in here and have a look if you have not ever been to Yeppoon. The drive from Yeppoon to Byfield is a far more scenic drive along the coastline and then through the forest. While driving towards Byfield township you will find yourself on Byfield Road. If you are travelling from a fair distance and you are arriving late afternoon or evening, it is a good idea to camp in Byfield State Forest at either Red Rock camping area, Upper Stony Creek or Water Park Creek. This will give you the chance to head out to Byfield National Park nice and early the following morning. Upper Stony Creek is the more popular camping spot in the State Forest and is the place to camp if you plan on staying for a couple of days. If you are just after a camp for the night and not too worried about what there is to do, Red Rock camping area is a great option. Water Park Creek would be our last resort if we had no other option. All these camping areas come off Byfield Road.
On your way to Byfield National Park you will take Water Park Road that takes you past Water Park Creek camping area and out of the State Forest and into Byfield National Park. Water Park Road is sealed and eventually becomes Stockyard Point Track which is a gravel road. This is a corrugated and pot holed road so let your tyre pressures down and drive slowly. After 15 minutes or so you will enter Byfield National Park which will be clearly displayed by the big green timber sign. You will continue down this road for 5 to 10 minutes until you approach Tyre Pressure Bay at the bottom of Big Sandy. Here or the few parking areas before this are all great spots to stop and let your tyre pressures down further before tackling the infamous Big Sandy.
Big Sandy Sand Dune
Drop Your Tyre Pressures
Big Sandy is a one-kilometre sand dune that you will have to conquer to enjoy all that Byfield National Park has to offer. It acts as the barrier to those not capable requiring some level of sand driving experience to conquer it. You will need a high clearance 4WD with low range to navigate up Big Sandy. The sand is extremely thick in places and requires very low tyre pressures to get to the top. We would highly recommend dropping your tyre pressures to 15 PSI maximum, you could even go lower if you wanted to be on the safe side. This track is even harder in summer in the middle of the day. The track up Big Sandy is one lane in most places, so you need to have a UHF to ensure that there is no one coming in the opposite direction. There is a sign at the bottom of Tyre Pressure Bay that tells you to use channel 40 to determine if there is anyone else driving up or down Big Sandy. Switch over to channel 40 while letting your tyre pressures down and before commencing your ascent, radio up and see if there is anyone else driving down.
Low Range Required
You will then need to be in low range second gear and leave it there. Then head off up the track and keep your momentum going. You do not need to be driving fast, just keeping your RPM above 2,000 to 2,500 depending on your 4WD. There will be occasions when you will need to push those RPMs when dealing with the thicker sections, but keep it moving and you will be fine. Tyre pressures are key, so do not think you will get away without dropping them. You will be reversing back down and starting again. If you do find that someone else is coming down who is not using a UHF, unfortunately you will need to reverse back down. Be very aware of the track in front of you as there is the chance someone will not be on channel 40 and could be coming in the opposite direction. This has happened to us before. In the event you completely lose momentum, and you can feel that you are going to get bogged, stop straight away. If you do not stop you will likely get seriously bogged and need to dig yourself out. Just stop and take the hit to your ego, reverse back down, and start again. When going up there are sections where the track splits in two lanes. Try and keep to the left even though the right hand side track will look a lot easier.
Maintain Momentum Not Speed
The first section of Big Sandy is easy as it is only a small incline and is just one track. The second half becomes a bit more challenging. Here you will need to take the left hand side track which can be difficult to get to due to the ruts which can slow your momentum down. The track also starts to get steep and the sand much thicker. Here you will need a bit more right foot to continue with your momentum. If driving an automatic this will be a whole lot easier than a manual. Once you get to the top of Big Sandy you can tick that obstacle off the list and know you will be fine the next time. We would say it is pretty similar to Ngkala Rocks at Fraser Island however it is longer and the sections that require you to take the left hand side track make it more difficult in our opinion. If Big Sandy were the one track and you did not have to cross over any ruts, it would be on par with Ngkala Rocks.
Stockyard Point
Once you have tackled Big Sandy, there is a track on the righthand side called the Southern Access Track. The Southern Access Track will take you directly to Nine Mile Beach. You can also access Nine Mile Beach from Stockyard Point. We would recommend continuing straight to Stockyard Point and when you leave come back along the Southern Access Track. As you continue along Stockyard Point Track remember to drive to the conditions and take your time. There is the one track so be aware of any potential vehicles coming in the opposite direction.
After about 15 to 20 minutes, you should approach Stockyard Point Township. Drive through the little collection of small beach houses following the signs to Stockyard Point Lookout. This is one of the best parts of Byfield National Park. As you drive past the last couple of houses you will be provided a majestic view of Stockyard Point headland and the ocean straight in front of you. To the left you will see the iconic Five Rocks and to your right Nine Mile Beach. Take a few minutes to let it all sink in, then drive along this narrow track to Stockyard Point where you can park your 4WD and take it all in for a bit longer. There is a beautiful walk to the end of Stockyard Point headland, and it is worth the short stroll. On a calm day you should be able to see all sorts of sea life in the ocean below. It is quite hard to put it all in words so just have a look at the pictures below to see what an amazing spot this is.
Big Sandy to Stockyard Point
The drive from the bottom of Big Sandy to Stockyard Point is 6.6 kms and takes approximately 31 minutes without getting bogged. The steepest ascent is 126 metres to the top of Big Sandy. Our average speed while moving was 16.7 km/h.
Once you have taken in the view at Stockyard Point there are many more places to visit which we will discuss below in no order.
Five Rocks
While at Stockyard Point you would have taken in the amazing view of Five Rocks. There is a 4WD free beach (Little Five Rocks) on the Southern side of Five Rocks with a 4WD beach on the Northern side.
Little Five Rocks Beach
The beach on the Southern side is known as Little Five Rocks Beach and is not accessible by 4WD. You access Little Five Rocks Beach from two walking tracks. One track starts from the Five Rocks visitor area beside Five Rocks Campgrounds. If staying in Five Rocks Campgrounds, there are two access tracks that join this track down to Little Five Rocks Beach. The other access track is from the Findlays Creek carpark. This is located on the road to Death Valley Track and Five Rocks Beach.
The walk down to Little Five Rocks beach is easy and takes about 15 minutes or so. It is steep in places but it is Australia so there are steps in most sections where they are needed. The walk up requires a bit more effort. This walk is absolutely stunning with breathtaking views of Five Rocks and Stockyard Point headland. It is worth the walk, and we would recommend taking your time. There is a beautiful little stream that comes from Findlays Creek that flows down the rocks as a small waterfall. Once you have taken in the amazing views, you will continue down until you reach the beach. At high tide there will be little beach due to the 4 metre tides that occur in Byfield National Park. Low tide is a great option here as you can walk all the way down to Five Rocks which we would highly recommend doing. Little Five Rocks is a great beach especially if you have small kids and do not want to worry about any 4WDs. This beach is also a great spot if you are camping at the Five Rocks campgrounds due to its easy access.
Five Rocks Campgrounds is located near Stockyard Point township and is the only camping option in Byfield National Park that offers facilities with toilets and outdoor showers. All campsites are individually numbered and vary in size and parking options. Most campsites are separated by bollards meaning that in most instances you will need to park your 4WD on one side of the bollard with your tent setup on the other. If you rely heavily on your 4WD setup while camping, you need to ensure you chose the best site for your setup. You are allowed campfires with firepits provided at each campsite. We have done a detailed post on Five Rocks Campgrounds which you can read here if you want more information.
Five Rocks Beach
Five Rocks Beach is accessible to 4WDs. The track onto the beach is narrow but easy on the way down. It is far more challenging when leaving Five Rocks Beach due to the steepness of the track, thick sand, and sharp turns. As we recommended with Big Sandy, make sure your tyre pressures are still low, you will need to be in low range, and give it everything you have got. When entering the beach make sure you go right towards Five Rocks, you are unable to go left due to the army training facility that is in the area. Five Rocks beach is only accessible 2 to 3 hours either side of low tide. Byfield National Park has 4 metre tides which means at high tide expect the sea to be breaking against the sides of the dunes. At low tide, the beach is enormous as it can drop 3 metres. Compare this to Fraser Island which has 2 metre tides. As a result, make sure you have checked the tides while you have mobile reception to ensure you do not find yourself in trouble. As with Little Five Rocks Beach at low tide you can walk out to Five Rocks.
Death Valley Track
Death Valley Track is one track that you should drive it is well worth it. This track starts from the top of the Five Rocks Beach access track and eventually meets up with the Stockyard Point Track. 4WD high range is more than suitable while driving along this track. You will find that it is extremely bumpy in sections due to people towing boats, so be prepared to drive slowly in most sections. It is worth driving slowly anyway as the views along this track are amazing. You can see the sand track snaking into the distance with views of The Peaks even further beyond. We would highly recommend taking a drive along this track and looping back around on either the Stockyard Point Track or the Southern Access Track down to Nine Mile Beach depending on where you are staying.
Nine Mile Beach in our opinion is the best spot at Byfield National Park. Here you will find the best camping options in the area with four beach camping spots along the beach. Access to Nine Mile Beach is either from Stockyard Point along the Nine Mile Access Track or from the top of Big Sandy along the Southern Access Track. As we have mentioned previously, due to the 4 metre tides Nine Mile Beach is only accessible 2 to 3 hours either side of low tide. When accessing Nine Mile Beach from Stockyard Point, as you come on to the beach going right will take you towards the camping areas. As you drive along the beach you will cross Freshwater Creek as it flows back into the sea. Freshwater Creek is a great spot to park and have a refreshing dip in the cool freshwater. Further along the beach you will see a sign for Orange Bowl, a big sand blow. Here there is a walking track if you want to take a short stroll to have a look at this sand blow. Continuing along the beach you will pass the Southern Access Track entry and then eventually come across the four different camping areas.
Freshwater Creek
Freshwater Creek is a flowing freshwater creek as the name suggests. We would highly recommend parking your 4WD in the parking area behind the dunes and spending a bit of time here. Freshwater Creek is shallow and up to knee height in some places. The water is cool and is perfect to freshen up on a warm humid day and rinse off any saltwater. You can walk up the creek and if you have a tube, jump in and float back down the creek. If you do not have anything that floats just lie back and slowly let the creek send you back down to your 4WD. The creek is lined on both sides by small trees providing you plenty of shade on a hot Central Queensland day.
Orange Bowl
Orange Bowl is a sand blow and can be accessed from a walking track that starts at Nine Mile Beach. The walking track is a 1.5 km return trip with great views from the top of the sand blow. We would not recommend walking up here in the heat of the day, rather go earlier in the morning or late afternoon.
Nine Mile Beach has the only beach camping spots in Byfield National Park. There are four camping areas to choose from. These are Myrtella, Melaleuca, Pandanus, and Casuarina. These four camping areas are all slightly different, with some offering shade and protection from the wind, and others more exposed. Both Melaleuca and Pandanus share the same entrance. All entrances to these camping spots are sign posted and have timber sleepers up the sand dunes making them easy to access. We have done a detailed post on the Nine Mile Beach camping spots so have a read of it here if you would like more information.
Southern Access Track
The Southern Access Track is the more direct and fastest route to Nine Mile Beach as it bypasses Stockyard Point. This track starts at the top of Big Sandy and can be seen on the right-hand side. The drive from the start of the Southern Access Track at Nine Mile Beach to the bottom of Big Sandy is 7.8 kms and takes approximately 34 minutes. The elevation change is 201 metres. Our average speed while moving was 15.9 km/h. This of course will take longer if there is a bit of traffic and you have any issues at Big Sandy. See our track stats below from Hema Maps.
Other Tips & Advice
Mobile Reception
You will only be able to get mobile reception at Stockyard Point. We had full Telstra 4G service while we stopped to take in the views from Stockyard Point. There is no mobile reception anywhere else in Byfield National Park.
Remove Your Rubbish
As we like to highlight in all our posts, make sure that everything you bring in you take back out again. There are no rubbish bins in Byfield National Park, it is your responsibility to leave Byfield better than you found it. If you want to explore the amazing places that Australia has to offer, you need to ensure that you respect our Country. It is not hard to remove your rubbish, so do not be a muppet, leave no trace. There are great gear solutions that make storing your rubbish so easy these days. Buy a rear wheel bag that allows you to easily store your rubbish outside of your vehicle allowing you to keep our National Parks clean and open to the public.
Use the Toilet Correctly
No one likes to talk about using the toilet but unfortunately now days we really must. If you are camping and there are no facilities, make sure that you use the toilet correctly. Always carry a shovel with you as this makes this process a whole lot easier. Dig a hole around 30cms deep and then do your business. Make sure that you burn your toilet paper before you fill the hole. Toilet paper can take 1 to 3 years to breakdown depending on what type you use. When lighting your toilet paper make sure that there are no fire bans and watch the paper until it has fully burned. Once it has burned you can then fill up your hole. This ensures the toilet paper breaks down faster. We never want to tell ladies what to do, but in this instance, we are going to. Ladies when doing a pee, please do not leave your toilet paper on the ground. Dispose of it in your rubbish bag or throw it in the fire. Unfortunately, campsites these days are littered with toilet paper and faeces which is disgusting. Please do the right thing by the bush and your fellow adventurers.
Byfield National Park is Amazing
Overall Byfield National Park is stunning and an amazing place to visit and explore. The fun and challenging Big Sandy is a great obstacle to overcome. Views from Stockyard Point are just magical. The inland tracks are slow going but provide fantastic views of the area. Camping along Nine Mile Beach is by far the best option. Like everywhere now days, campsites and National Parks seem to be constantly busy. So, if you can visit mid-week and outside of holidays then this would be by far the best option. If you do not mind crowds then visit anytime. You will be in Central Queensland so expect the mosquitoes, sandflies, and other insects to be a nuisance. Pack Bushman repellent and you will be fine. Byfield National Park is worth the drive and challenge of Big Sandy. Be a 4WD Adventurer and explore this awesome part of Queensland.
To read our other posts on Byfield National Park, click here. If you would like to read any of our other adventure stories you can check them out here. To keep up to date on our future posts join up to the 4WD Adventurer Community here. For more regular updates follow us on social media. If you have any questions or comments please comment below.
Thanks for reading legends.
The thoughts of Peter.