Mount Moffatt: Queensland’s Remote Wonderland in Carnarvon National Park
We have split this Mount Moffatt guide into two sections. The first being a quick guide summarising the main things you need to know about visiting Mount Moffatt. The second section being a detailed guide on everything there is to see and do, plus more information on the campsites.
Quick Summary: Key Information for Visiting Mount Moffatt
Location:
Mount Moffatt is part of Carnarvon National Park in Central Queensland, Australia. It’s remote and requires planning.
Access:
- From Injune: ~160 km (allow at least 3 hours)
- From Mitchell: ~220 km (allow at least 3½ hours)
- Roads are partly bitumen, then gravel/dirt. The first dirt section is rough and slow; the second is graded and easier.
- 4WD essential for most tracks. After rain, roads can become impassable.
Fuel & Supplies:
- Fill up and stock up in Injune or Mitchell.
- Bring all food, water, and camping gear.
Camping:
Four designated camping areas:
- Dargonelly Rock Hole: Largest, near Marlong Creek, shaded spots.
- West Branch: Semi-open, near Maranoa River, start of Carnarvon Great Walk.
- Top Moffatt: Quiet bush setting, 28 km from entrance.
- Rotary Shelter Shed: Small, stunning views, steep access, best for tents/swags.
All sites have pit toilets. No showers. Fires allowed in designated rings (check fire bans).
Walks & Attractions:
- The Tombs: Aboriginal rock art & burial site (4.2 km return).
- The Chimneys: Three sandstone pillars (1.4 km return).
- The Looking Glass: Natural sandstone window (1.9 km return).
- Cathedral Rock, Marlong Arch, Lot’s Wife, Kookaburra Cave: Short walks to unique formations.
- High Country Drive: 42 km return to Head of Carnarvon Creek (dry weather only).
Best Time to Visit:
- Dry season (April–September). Summer storms can make roads impassable.
- Stay Duration: Minimum 2 nights recommended, 3-4 nights would be ideal.
Important Tips:
- Respect Aboriginal sites – look, learn, but never touch.
- Carry plenty of water and emergency supplies.
- No mobile coverage – consider a Starlink, or other sat communications device.
- Check road conditions before you go.
And always remember, respect our land. Whatever goes in with you, must come back out with you. Leave no trace!
Detailed Guide to Mount Moffatt in Carnarvon National Park
Mount Moffatt is one of those places that stays with you long after you leave. Remote, rugged, and rich in history, it’s a destination that rewards those willing to venture off the beaten track. We call this an incomplete guide because, despite covering 95% of the park, there’s still more to see, and that’s the beauty of Mount Moffatt. It gives you every reason to return.
Getting There: The Journey Is Part of the Adventure
Mount Moffatt is remote and reaching it is an adventure in itself. From Injune, allow at least 3 hours. The first half of the road is bitumen, but the second half is gravel and dirt. The first section of dirt is extremely bumpy and slow going, with plenty of holes and dips, take care, especially if towing. The second half improved significantly for us thanks to recent grading (this will obviously be dependent on when you visit) but it still takes about 1.5 hours on the gravel roads, longer if conditions are poor.
From Mitchell, allow at least 3½ hours. The bitumen road from Mitchell is much better than the Injune route, but your choice will depend on where you’re coming from.
Once inside the park, a high clearance 4WD is essential to reach many features. After rain, some tracks become impassable, so always check conditions before you go.
First Stop: Slab Hut
Your first point of interest is the Slab Hut, a rustic reminder of early European settlement. From here, it’s about a 30–45 minute drive to some of the park’s most iconic formations: Cathedral Rock, The Chimneys, Looking Glass, and The Tombs.
- Airing Down Tyres
- Slab Hut at Mount Moffatt Entrance
- Signage at Mount Moffatt
Why Mount Moffatt Is One of Queensland’s Best National Parks
A Landscape Steeped in History
The signage throughout the park is exceptional. At every major point of interest, you’ll find well-written, informative panels that bring the landscape to life. From geological marvels to cultural heritage, Mount Moffatt educates as much as it inspires.
Aboriginal Rock Art That Speaks to the Soul
The Aboriginal rock art here is fantastic, with the best display at The Tombs. We highly recommend doing the 6km loop walk, it will take at least 1½ hours, including time to stop and look at everything. The Tombs was one of our favourites, not only for the amazing display of rock art but also for the detailed information provided on Aboriginal history. Queensland Parks has done a stellar job here, offering a real history lesson that gives tremendous insight into Aboriginal culture. We wish more parks provided this level of interpretation.
Sandstone Sculptures by Nature
The sandstone rock formations are breathtaking and all worth a look. Towering cliffs, weathered arches, and dramatic escarpments make every drive and walk feel like a journey through a natural sculpture gallery. The colours shift with the light, and the silence out here is something else.
Camping at Mount Moffatt: Four Unique Sites
All camping areas have toilets, and each offers something special.
Dargonelly Rock Hole Camping Area
- Best for: Families, camper trailers, off-road caravans
- Features: Largest camping area, semi-shaded woodland next to Marlong Creek
- Access: 4WD recommended
- Vibe: One of the best due to location and waterholes, perfect for cooling off
- Camp Setup at Dragonelly Camping Area
- Waterhole at Dragonelly Camp Area
- Drop Toilets at Dragonelly Camping Area
West Branch Camping Area
- Best for: Larger setups and groups
- Features: Semi-open area near the west branch of the Maranoa River
- Access: High-clearance 4WD only
- Extra: Alternative starting point for the 87km Carnarvon Great Walk
- Easy to Find Everything at Mount Moffatt
- West Branch Camping Area
- Drop Toilets at West Branch Camping Area
Top Moffatt Camping Area
- Best for: Tent campers and compact setups
- Features: Quiet bush setting, 28km from the park entrance
- Access: 4WD only
Rotary Shelter Shed
- Best for: Swag and tent campers
- Features: Stunning views, only about 3 spots to camp, not very level
- Access: Steep in sections, 4WD essential, not possible in wet conditions
- Tip: Compact camper trailers can fit, but big setups will struggle
- Drive Time: Allow at least 1 hour from the first camping area
- Views: Incredible, some of the best in the park
- Breathtaking Views at Rotary Shelter Shed Campsite
- Small Level Areas at Rotary Shelter Shed Camping Area
- Rotary Shelter Shed Camping Area With Drop Toilets
Walks and Drives
Mount Moffatt offers walks for every level plus a few drives:
- Cathedral Rock – 380m return (15 mins): See unusual rectangular patterns on weathered sandstone.
- The Chimneys – 1.4km return (30 mins): Admire three rock pillars sculpted by erosion.
- The Looking Glass – 1.9km return (40 mins): A natural window carved through sandstone.
- The Tombs – 4 km return (1-2 hrs): Boardwalk access to over 400 stencilled images and burial chambers.
- Marlong Arch – 200m return (5 min): A graceful sandstone arch.
- Lot’s Wife – A solitary pillar, the last remnant of a once-extensive bluff.
- Kookaburra Cave – 1.7km return (30 mins): Spot the hand stencil of a bird.
- Marlong Plain – Walk to the edge of Queensland bluegrass plains for sunset views – not really a walk as you can drive to this.
- High Country Drive – 42km return (3 hr): Climb to the Head of Carnarvon Creek via Mahogany Forest, Top Shelter Shed and Pewaddy Gorge Lookout.
- Main Track Inside Mount Moffatt
- Parked Near Marlong Arch
- Marlong Plain
- Track to Rotary Shelter Shed Camping Area
- Driving to Pewaddy Gorge Lookout
- Track to Pewaddy Gorge Lookout
Cathedral Rock, The Chimneys, The Looking Glass, and The Tombs are all located from the same carpark and information area. We would recommend doing the circuit walk that is just under 6 kms total, this will take you past all these points of interest, except Cathedral Rock which is located on the opposite side of the carpark area. This took us two and a half hours in total with plenty of time to stop and take everything in.
Aboriginal Heritage: Rock Art and Burial Traditions
The Tombs - Rock Art Site
- Over 400 images decorate the sandstone overhang, making it one of the most significant rock art sites in the Central Highlands.
- The art reflects the rich social and ritual life of Aboriginal people.
- Rock art is extremely fragile: dust, touching, or brushing can cause permanent damage (under the Nature Conservation Act 1992, touching or damaging Aboriginal rock art can result in significant fines).
Techniques and Meanings
- Stencilling was the most common technique, created by blowing ochre and water over objects (like hands) pressed against the rock.
- Paintings were made with wet pigment applied by fingers, brushes, or chewed sticks.
- Grids or net motifs may relate to burial rituals, though their exact meaning is unknown.
- Stencils often depict tools, weapons, ornaments, and sometimes objects that cannot be identified.
- Excavations revealed occupation dating back 9,400 years, with charcoal from ancient campfires beneath the shelter floor.
The Tombs – Sacred Burial Ground
- The sandstone bluff known as The Tombs is a special creation site for Aboriginal people.
- Believed to be a place where ancestral beings created the landscape: a powerful spiritual site for thousands of years.
- It was also a burial site, where bodies were placed in tunnels within the sandstone.
- Originally, bark burial cylinders were used, but unfortunately these were stolen in the early 1900s.
- Visitors are asked to approach with quiet respect, avoiding anger or negativity.
Budgeroo – A Special Tree
- Budgeroo (Lysicarpus angustifolius) trees have loose, fibrous bark used by Aboriginal people for burial practices.
- After preparation, bodies were placed inside bark cylinders made from Budgeroo bark.
- Cylinders were bound with marsupial skins and decorated with red or yellow lines.
- They were then placed in natural sandstone tunnels.
Geological Wonders: Sandstone Formations of Mount Moffatt
The sandstone rock formations are breathtaking and all worth a look. Each tells a story of millions of years of erosion and weathering.
The Looking Glass
- Once a solid bluff of Precipice Sandstone (a hard, pale sedimentary rock formed about 190 million years ago), now a natural window carved by millions of years of wind and water erosion.
- Rainwater seeped into cracks, dissolving minerals and weakening the rock.
- Over time, softer sandstone eroded away, leaving a hole framed by hardened crust.
- Today, it’s a striking arch, a perfect example of nature’s slow artistry.
- Approximately 15 minute walk to this from the carpark and information area.
The Chimneys
- Tall sandstone pillars formed about 190 million years ago during the Jurassic period.
- Created by erosion along vertical fractures in a sandstone bluff (a steep cliff of sandstone shaped by erosion).
- Over time, fractures widened, isolating pillars of stone.
- A harder cap rock formed on top of each pillar, protecting them from collapse.
- Though they look solid, these formations are constantly being sculpted by wind and water.
Other Iconic Formations
- Cathedral Rock – A towering sandstone monolith (a single massive block of stone) with unusual rectangular patterns.
- Lot’s Wife – A solitary pillar standing like a sentinel on the plains.
- Marlong Arch – A graceful sandstone arch formed by centuries of erosion.
- The Tombs – More than a geological wonder, this is a sacred site with deep cultural significance.
- Taking in Marlong Arch
- Lots Wife
- Walking the Circuit at The Tombs
- Cathedral Rock
- Standing at the Bottom of Cathedral Rock
- Hand Stencils at Kookaburra Cave
How Long to Stay?
We spent two nights, but honestly, another night or two would have been perfect. One full day felt rushed, we managed to see and do a lot, but Mount Moffatt deserves time. Another full day would have allowed us to explore more walks and enjoy the serenity. Mount Moffatt is one of the top National Parks in Queensland we have visited.
Key Tips
- Allow 3–3½ hours to get there (from Injune or Mitchell).
- 4WD essential for most areas.
- Bring everything you need, this is remote country.
- Respect the rock art; look, learn, but never touch.
And please always remember, respect our land! Whatever goes in with you, must come back out. Leave no trace!
Thanks for reading and if you would like to see more adventure stories and guides you can find them all here. For more outback adventure stories, you can find these here.
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The thoughts of Peter.
Glossary of Terms
- Precipice Sandstone: A type of sedimentary rock formed during the Jurassic period, made of compacted sand grains cemented by minerals like silica or iron oxide.
- Sandstone Bluff: A steep cliff or high bank composed mainly of sandstone, formed by erosion over millions of years.
- Monolith: A single, massive block or column of stone that stands alone, often formed by erosion removing surrounding material.
