A Guide to Sundown National Park
After a recent trip out to Sundown National Park we thought we would share a short guide on what you need to know if planning a trip to this awesome part of South East Queensland. We show you how to get there, track conditions, camping options, things to do and see, and what to expect.
Really Two Separate Parks
Sundown National Park is really separated into two different areas. One half of Sundown National Park is 4WD access only and the other half is accessible by any vehicle. There are separate entrances to both areas of Sundown National Park, with the 4WD section entrance found on the Eastern side, and the other entrance found on the South Western side. Once entering Sundown National Park from either entrance, you cannot access the other area of the park. The tracks do not cross the entire National Park. If you wish to see both sides of Sundown National Park you will need to exit and drive around to the other entrance. In this post we are looking at the 4WD section of Sundown National Park.
Sundown National Park Location
Sundown National Park is located on the Queensland-New South Wales not far from Girraween National Park (west of Girraween). To access the 4WD section of Sundown National Park you enter from the eastern side approximately 30 kms from Stanthorpe. There is little signage when driving South down the New England Highway from Stanthorpe but the turn off is in the small town of Ballandean. You will follow a bitumen road and then drive through a cattle property called Ballandean Station. The bitumen will eventually end where we would recommend pulling over and dropping your tyre pressures. The gravel road is in good condition but once you enter the National Park you will need low tyre pressures to deal with the rocky and rough tracks. We chose to drop our tyres down between 25 and 28 PSI.
When driving through these private properties be aware of cattle as they can be near the road and are known to get startled when vehicles approach. Not long after driving down the gravel road you will find the entrance to the 4WD section of Sundown National Park when you approach a closed gate and the usual green National Parks sign. Remember to always shut the gate. There is a small camping permit area to purchase your camping permits if you have not already done so online. Always pay your camping permits as this money is reinvested back into maintaining our National Parks so that we can continue to enjoy them. Here is the Queensland National Parks online booking page where you can book your camping permits.
Rough & Rocky Tracks
Sundown National Park tracks are rough and extremely rocky. You can only enter this section of Sundown with a high clearance 4WD. Low range is going to be required so if you do not have a vehicle with low range now would be the time to turn back. The tracks in Sundown are not difficult, they are just slow going due to their steepness, loose sharp rocks, and rutted out sections. As a result of the conditions driving is slow with speeds usually around 10 km/h to 15 km/h. If you are driving any faster, you will run the risk of damaging your 4WD, your passengers, and potentially falling off the side of a steep ridge. The drive is slow going but the views in some sections are magnificent so we would recommend taking your time enjoying all Sundown National Park has to offer.
As you continue your journey from the entrance you will immediately see a signpost to the three different camping areas and their distances. These three camp spots in order of distance are Red Rock Gorge, Reedy, and Burrows. Red Rock Gorge is 7.4kms from the entrance and will take about 45 minutes to an hour. Reedy camping area will take approximately 2 hours and Burrows camping area 2 ½ hours. The start of the track is steep in places as you ascend to the top of the ridge. Depending on track conditions you may need to engage low range in some sections but most of the track to Red Rock Gorge is up hill and should be able to be done in 4WD high range. Whenever there are sections with large rocks that need to be driven over, pick your line and crawl slowly over them ensuring you protect your diff.
The tracks after Red Rock Gorge are a mix of steep inclines and declines as you drive along the peak of the ridge. In some sections, where you will have fantastic views of the region, there will be sharp drop offs on either side of the track. With the rock obstacles that need to be driven over, driving slowly in these sections will ensure you keep your 4WD on top of the ridge and not rolling down the side of the cliff. In most of these steep sections that are littered with large sharp loose rocks, you will be best driving in 1st or 2nd low range and using engine braking slowly descend these sections of the track. If you are lucky enough to have a fancy new 4WD with downhill descent, engage these electronics and let your 4WD do all the work.
Red Rock Gorge
Red Rock Gorge is the first point of interest in Sundown National Park and is a must stop to take in the breathtaking view of the Red Rock Gorge cliffs from the lookout point. Red Rock Gorge is well sign posted to the right off the main track. This section of the track is probably the least rough and can be driven with less caution.
Once you come into Red Rock Gorge you will find a parking area, long drop toilet and a few campsites near a small water catchment. Park your 4WD and take the 200-metre walking track to the Red Rock Gorge Lookout. When you come around the last little bend in the walking track and the canopy of the trees open, you will be mesmerised by what will be in front of you. Queensland National Parks have done a stellar job in building a fantastic lookout platform to let you enjoy the stunning view of Red Rock Gorge. We would recommend giving yourself a good half an hour or more to enjoy this area. We chose to make our lunch and have a nice cold beer before heading off to find camp at Burrows in the afternoon. Even better is enjoying the changing colours along the cliffs in the evening as the sun sets on the granite cliffs of Red Rock Gorge.
Red Rock Gorge was formed over hundreds of million of years from molten rock that cooled beneath the earth forming granite. Over time layers of ‘traprock’ slowly weathered away exposing this granite which you can now see at Red Rock Gorge. ‘Traprock’ is the local name used for the hardened rocks covering most of the Sundown area.
Red Rock Gorge Camping Area
The camping area at Red Rock Gorge is small with some spots being level. There is the one long drop toilet which is always clean and has a large supply of toilet paper. As you are in amongst the trees it can get dark quickly as the sun sets behind the cliffs. We did find we had one or two bars of 4G Telstra mobile reception if we needed to use our phones. Red Rock Gorge camping area would be our second pick after Burrows and is a great spot to camp on your last night if you want to make an early start, or your first night if you are arriving late. Other than the Gorge Lookout there is not much more to do in this area.
Old Abandoned Mines
Once leaving Red Rock Gorge and driving towards Reedy and Burrows camping areas you will pass a couple of old abandoned mines being Sundown and Beecroft Mines. There is a small parking area beside Beecroft Mine where you can stop and have a short walk around. As these abandoned mines have now been fenced off due to exposed mine shafts and dangerous arsenic levels there is no access down one of the tracks and there is not a great deal to see. Mining for tin, copper, arsenic, and molybdenum occurred sporadically in Sundown National Park from 1870 to 1927. Sundown and Beecroft Mines mined for arsenic until 1927.
Reedy Waterhole
After the remnants of the abandoned mines the drive here is stunning with amazing views of Sundown National Park. The track runs along the peak of the mountain with large loose rocks and steep declines. Not long after the mines the turn off to Reedy Waterhole camping area will be signposted on the right. The track down to Reedy Waterhole is the steepest track in Sundown National Park. You will need to drive down in 1st or 2nd low range due to the steepness and rockiness of this track. After 15 to 20 minutes, you will find Reedy Waterhole camping area. This camping area is a large open area with no facilities. This camping area is sloping with semi level spots in some places. Reedy Waterhole camping area would be our last resort when camping at Sundown National Park. You can however access the creek from Reedy which we would highly recommend exploring. Once you find the creek, take a walk up the creek and see what you can find. We had a great time exploring the creek and walked up it for 30 minutes to an hour finding lots of little swimming holes and tall steep rock faces. Enjoy exploring the creek but you will more than likely want to camp elsewhere. There is no mobile reception in this area.
Burrows Waterhole
Burrows Waterhole is located another 30 minutes or so past the Reedy Waterhole turn off. The track into Burrows has some steep and rocky sections not long after the Reedy turn off and will require slow low range driving in sections. Burrows Waterhole camping area will be sign posted with a short drive down to the Severn River and the best campsites at Sundown National Park. Burrows Waterhole camping area is a large area with many different camping options. Most campsites have firepits, some have camp tables, and are mostly located along the river. There are two long drop toilets with toilet paper which is always great in such a remote location. There are big trees all along the river providing more than enough shade. Be aware of the gumtrees in some sections as we always prefer to camp well away from these widow makers. When we last visited, we were lucky to see plenty of deer and kangaroos in this area. Burrows is by far the best camping spot in Sundown National Park and worth the long rough drive to get there. We found a great spot right on the river, once the swags had been setup we sat down with a beer and enjoyed the view across the river at the rock face glowing in the sunset.
Rats Castle 4WD Track
Sundown National Park has some fantastic 4WD tracks if that tickles your fancy. The drive to Rats Castle is one of them. You access the start of this track to the right when driving out of Burrows Waterhole camping area at the camp signpost. You will know when you have found the start of this track by the warning sign about the dangers of driving the track. There are three tracks here to get down to the bottom. Two of the tracks have large wombat holes and loose rocks with the third weaving through the trees with little room. The drive back out up the wombat holed tracks is great fun with wheel lifts galore. Once at the bottom of the start of the track you will continue through several water crossings and navigate over many large rocks. This is a great drive and a lot of fun with different obstacles along the way.
Red Rock Gorge “Shortcut” 4WD Track
When leaving Sundown National Park there is a real technical 4WD track not long after the abandoned mines on the left-hand side. If you like a fun challenge and are capable in your 4WD give this track a crack. On the track maps it looks like a “shortcut” to Red Rock Gorge but of course a shortcut in places like this are never really a shortcut. This track will take longer but it is great drive. There are deep washouts, large and steep rock steps, usually fallen trees to remove, and all sorts of tricky lines. Having a diff locks and a spotter in places will be required depending on the track conditions. We did smash our diff up a tough rock step that we needed to fill in as we moved slightly offline. No damage occurred but it highlights the type of track the Red Rock Gorge “shortcut” can be. Once complete you pop out just before Red Rock Gorge, so if you are leaving you will need to turn right to find the track back to the Sundown National Park entrance.
Remove All Rubbish
Please remember to remove all your rubbish if visiting Sundown National Park. There are no rubbish bins so if you bring it in, take it back out with you. Unfortunately, we had to pick up a few empty beer cans and other little bits of litter, but overall Sundown National Park was in pristine condition. Carrying a rear wheel bag is always a good option to help store your rubbish securely.
Sundown National Park Summary
In summary Sundown National Park is worth a visit if you have a high clearance 4WD. Be prepared for steep, rough, and rocky tracks that are slow going. Most steep track sections where there are lots of loose rocks will require low range to drive them safely. Take your time and drive to the track conditions, it is slow going and rushing will have terrible consequences. Red Rock Gorge is stunning and worth a visit. Reedy Waterhole camping area is the worst camp spot of the three but exploring and walking up the creek is recommended. Burrows Waterhole camping area is by far the best camping option in Sundown National Park. Remember that it will take you about 2 ½ hours to get to Burrows Waterhole camping area. We recommend driving the 4WD tracks to Rats Castle which will give you a good half a day or so of exploring. If you are an experienced driver then the shortcut to Red Rock Gorge is a great track to drive when leaving. There are toilet facilities at both Red Rock Gorge and Burrows Waterhole. Telstra 4G mobile reception at Red Rock Gorge and some of the highest points across Sundown National Park.
To view the Queensland National Parks Sundown National Park area map click here.
We hope you have enjoyed reading this post on Sundown National Park. If you have any questions or comments, please post them below. To keep up to date on future posts and what we have been up to join the 4WD Adventurer Community here.
Thanks for reading legends.
01/06/2022 @ 8:22 PM
Hey guys,
I stumbled across your website while looking for info on Sundown N.P
Read your post, great info really enjoyed it.
Wanted to ask would I be OK on a stock Prado getting to Burrows Waterhole?
Thanks,
Ty
01/06/2022 @ 8:53 PM
G’day Ty,
Thanks for reading and the message mate. Really appreciate it.
You won’t have any issues getting to Burrows. The rangers drive around there in Prados. In the steep sections just use low range and take it slow. It’s rocky but it’ll be more than manageable in the Prado. Also, drop your tyre pressures a bit at the NP entrance for better traction, it’ll make it much easier.
Hope that helps.
Cheers mate.
Peter
03/06/2022 @ 12:03 PM
Hey Peter,
Thanks for your reply, and the good news I will be OK. Many vidoes on youtube showing some gnarly condtions, so I wasn’t sure. Heading there next week.
Cheers,
Ty
16/08/2021 @ 1:45 PM
Great article thanks for taking the time to put this together. I have camped out at Red Rock Gorge a few times. How is the road from there to Burrows? It is very different in terms of difficulty? Heading out on adventure bikes this weekend. Also what camp site is better out of Burrows and Broadwater?
Thanks again
Peter
16/08/2021 @ 1:59 PM
G’day Peter,
No worries mate. Thanks for reading and your feedback, really appreciate the support.
The track from Red Rock to Burrows is similar to the road in from the entrance to Red Rock. Lots of loose shale rock with steep inclines and declines. It is definitely much steeper in places. Low range in the 4WD for the steep sections makes it fairly easy, just slow going. Not sure how the bikes go with the loose rocks and steepness of the tracks, I haven’t ever ridden one. I would tow a trailer with no problems if that helps.
I have never been to Broadwater, that is the easy access camp from the Western entrance of Sundown. From what I have seen though it is not our cup of tea. We prefer more secluded spots like Burrows. Burrows is a top spot down on the creek. Scenery is lovely, there are toilets, and lots of roos, wallabies and deer about as well. Definitely the best camp spot out of the others on the 4WD side of Sundown for sure. Plenty of spots as well, so if there are others around you can keep your distance but I don’t think it gets too busy.
Hope that helps, let me know if you have any other questions.
Cheers,
Peter
28/07/2021 @ 12:18 PM
Thanks for putting the rocks in that section of the red rock gorge shortcut it saved me a diff gash
29/07/2021 @ 9:51 AM
Hey Mate,
No worries. There were a few already in there when we did this, we did have to add a few more. Unfortunately I smacked my diff going through there though. The joys of having a mismatched wheel track in the 70 Series. Makes it difficult at times to get the rear wheels following the right line.
Hope you had a good trip mate. It is an awesome spot up there. Looking forward to getting back with the trailer.
Cheers,
Peter
21/08/2022 @ 7:52 PM
Gday Peter. Spoke to a bloke out there with a dual cab 79 on the red rock gorge track, he said he hates sundown since it’s so tight!
Those rocks were long gone, they got washed out again. I have diff guards on the disco and they get a work out. If you’re feeling gnarly next time you go, turn right at the picnic table and see if you can get back up! There’s a chicken track if you can’t manage.
That’s two years running I couldn’t get to rats. The water was nearly waist deep and freeeezing.
22/08/2022 @ 4:00 PM
G’day Mate,
Thanks for the message. I can understand that with the longer wheel base of the 79. I can only imagine what all the rain this year has done to the tracks and creeks up at Sundown. I am sure it is very different to when we were up there last. Sounds like I should head back up there soon. I have not seen it with that much water, so I am keen to go and check it out. I will definitely try the track you have mentioned and see how gnarly I am feeling, haha. Thanks for commenting and your feedback mate, appreciate it.
Cheers,
Peter