📍8 Best Must-Visit National Parks Near Gladstone Within 150km. (2025.)

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WANT TO KNOW WHICH NATIONAL PARKS NEAR GLADSTONE ARE WORTH VISITING?

Located on Central Queensland’s southern coastline, Gladstone often flies under the radar, as it is primarily a heavy industrial city with the state’s largest multi-commodity port and some of the country and world’s biggest plants, factories and refineries. But upon looking deeper into what it has to offer, I found that it is a place of sweeping juxtaposition, as it also features some breathtaking beauty that makes dropping by the region worth more than its weight in gold. And none so more is that true than in its national parks and conservation areas.

From the pristine beaches of Curtis Island, Eurimbula and Deepwater, to the rugged cliffs of Joseph Banks and the gorgeous azure blue reefs and lagoons of the Capricornia Cays, here are my favourite national parks near Gladstone that offer the most unforgettable scenery, hiking trails, opportunities to see wildlife and places to camp under the stars that’ll no doubt satisfy the most adventurous of spirits.

👉 My top 3 favourite National Parks Near Gladstone:

  • Within 50km: Curtis Island National Park.
  • Within 100km: Capricornia Cays National Park.
  • Within 150km: Joseph Banks Conservation Park & Mt Etna National Park.

Planning Your Trip? Use My Favourite Resources!

Tours/Experiences: I recommend Viator.
Accommodation: I recommend Booking.com.
Flights: I recommend Aviasales.
Car Rental: I recommend economybookings.

Best Bundaberg National Parks Within 50km.

1. Curtis Island National Park.

As the largest of Gladstone’s harbour islands, Curtis Island is one of the city’s best day trip destinations and weekend escapes. Much of that has to do with the national park and conservation reserve of the same name, which takes up a significant portion of the 676km2 km2 of real estate it occupies just off the coast.

The southern end below Graham Creek and the eastern coastline are where it’s all at. An extensive network of shared hiking and biking trails covering the expanse north of the township of South End will have you challenged for days that connect the 56 km of pathways across the two sections: Oceanview & Ship Hill.

However, if you only have time for one, I recommend the northern half of the Oceanview trail which runs along the island’s eastern side. It is breathtakingly scenic almost every step of the way, with the starting/finishing point, Connor Bluff Lookout, being the outstanding highlight, thanks to its gorgeous views looking across the 5km stretch of beach from the base of the headland to the township at the southernmost tip in one direction, AND of the rugged, rocky coastline as far as the eye can see in the other.

Then in the national park, lies three campgrounds. The two along the eastern coastline are 4WD accessible and offer great opportunities to enjoy the secluded beach scene while spending a night under the stars, especially at Turtle Street, where the sites are basically right on the beach and most have clear views of the sky. And if you come to either during Turtle nesting season between October & March, you may also see mothers coming ashore to lay their eggs in the dunes, or hatchlings making their way to the ocean in the cutest stampede ever!

Further up the coast is the boat-only accessible Yellow Patch campground, which offers even more seclusion on the peninsula’s inner coastline. Plus, it’s on the doorstep of the landmark of the same name, which is an exposed sand blow that offers exceptional opportunities to undertake scenic sandboarding, where you’ll get incredible views of a sheltered inlet as you speed down the steep slope!

Note: The Turtle Street campsites are very exposed, so bring a tarp or gazebo to set up under!

One half of the spectacular view from Connor Bluff Lookout makes this place a must visit.
It’ll also allow you to watch the sunrise over the beach.
Camping at Turtle Street is fantastic but a tent is highly advised especially during hotter months.
And get some gorgeous landscape photos.
  • Distance From Gladstone To Turtle Street Camping Area: 28km.
  • Minimum Time To Traverse: 1hr 50min.
  • Length Of Visit: 3 Days.
  • Where To Stay: Turtle Street Camping Area, Joey Lees Camping Area & Yellow Patch Camping Area.
  • Other Places To Visit En Route: Curtis Conservation Park.

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    Best National Parks Within 100km.

    2. Capricornia Cays National Park.

    The unequivocal, undisputed reigning king of national parks near Gladstone is Capricornia Cays National Park. And that’s because we’re talking about the Great Barrier Reef here, the planet’s largest and most biodiverse marine ecosystem that occupies a massive 348,700km 2 of ocean real estate off Queensland’s shoreline.

    Yup, that’s right, the state’s biggest multi-commodity port is also one of the southern gateways to one of the most famous UNESCO Heritage Sites in the world. And we’re not just talking about one island here but 11, with 5 of them commercially visitable and each offering an incredibly unique and unforgettable experience.

    Kicking it off with the most famous, Heron Island is Gladstone’s biggest drawcard, accumulating thousands of visitors to stay at its gorgeous eco-resort or transfer them across to the even more exclusive, luxurious and romantic glamping tents at the blissfully under-the-radar Wilson Island.

    Next up is the equally iconic Lady Musgrave Island, which has three options for visiting. From Bundaberg and 1770, a day trip is a great way to get a taste test of the pristine island wilderness lifestyle or stay aboard the floating pontoon for something truly one-of-a-kind with the Lady Musgrave Experience. Or, from both those places with the same company or Gladstone with Curtis Ferry Services, you can go remote camping on the spectacular coral cay, which is what I HIGHLY recommend doing.

    And last, but certainly not least are North West and Mast Head Island, which are as magnificently wild as these places come, because aside from a campground and some signs, there is literally nothing else. And because they are completely off-the-tourist-radar, they offer adventurers the most unforgettable and authentic way to experience the Great Barrier Reef and its magnificent coral cays.

    But no matter which one you pick, there’s one thing they all have in common: water so vividly blue that it defies belief, (especially Heron Island, which made my jaw drop because it looked like an AI rendering.) and an obscene abundance of animals that’ll make you feel like you’re in a National Geographic documentary!

    • Distance From Gladstone: Minimum 77km.
    • Minimum Time To Traverse: 2.5 hours – 9 hours.
    • Where To Stay: Heron Island, Wilson Island, Lady Musgrave Pontoon, Lady Musgrave Camping Area, North West Camping Area.
    • Length Of Visit: Minimum 2-7 days.
    • Other Places To Visit En Route: -.

    3. Kroombit Tops National Park.

    If you’re craving a remote hinterland adventure, Kroombit Tops National Park is the place to be. Sitting 88km southwest from Gladstone, this rugged mountaintop escape is home to a network of long and rugged 4WD trails crisscrossing the top of the plateau, making for a fun day out in the car.

    And bonus! Two of those 4 tracks lead to the trailhead of one of the region’s most fascinating and haunting historical sites—the crash site of Beautiful Betsy. This WWII Liberator bomber disappeared into the wilderness in 1945 and remained lost for nearly 50 years before being rediscovered in 1994, offering visitors one of the most unique and poignant walks in Central Queensland.

    However, you don’t need a hardcore rig to experience the beauty of Kroombit Tops. You can still reach the plateau driving cautiously in a conventional vehicle along the Tablelands Road via Calliope and visit Kroombit Tops Lookout which has one of the best views in Gladstone, showcasing the breathtakingly rugged beauty of the Boyne Valley countryside.

    And if you want to extend your stay and spend a night under the stars, then the 2WD accessible Griffith Creek Campground and the 4WD only Razorback Lookout are fantastic places to do so, although neither has toilets. And despite not being in a rainforest, the leech situation is crazy after rainfall! Yikes! I was getting them off me every few minutes!

    • Distance From Gladstone To Griffiths Creek Camping Area: 88km.
    • Minimum Time To Traverse: 1hr 40min.
    • Length Of Visit: 3 days.
    • Where To Stay: Griffiths Creek Camping Area, Razorback Camping Area.
    • Other Places To Visit En Route:

    Best Gladstone National Parks Within 150km.

    4. Joseph Banks Conversation Park.

    For the ultimate coastal scenery, head directly to Joseph Banks Conservation Park. Perched on the tip of the Bustard Head Peninsula separating the ocean from Round Hill Creek, this stunning coastal reserve is the epitome of outstanding beauty and is the magnificent highlight of the 1770 township, where every aspect of it is a photographer’s dream.

    This easily accessible destination is home to some of Queensland’s most breathtaking seascapes, thanks to it being jam-packed with spectacular rugged cliffs, gorgeous hidden coves and expansive ocean views, especially from places such as the Bustard Head Lookout and Wave Rock Lookout, and my favourite, the unnamed area behind the FV. Diane Memorial where an impressively huge slab of rock has fallen out of the cliff face.

    All these are also great for wildlife spotting, such as looking for sea eagles using the thermals to rise over the landscape, turtles and dolphins gliding through the turquoise waters and during winter, the humpback whales cruising past during their annual migration.

    Plus, thanks to the headland north-south-facing orientation, it is one of the few places in the state that has exception viewing for both the sunrise and the sunset, making it well worth staying here from dawn until dusk.

    Note: This place is also historically significant as the first place European explorer James Cook first landed on Queensland soil in, you guessed it, 1770. His memorial is at the conservation park’s southwestern carpark and where he is reported to have come ashore are lovely places to go for a dip.

    • Distance From Gladstone To The Top Car Park: 131km.
    • Minimum Time To Traverse: 1hr 40min.
    • Length Of Visit: 1-2 days.
    • Where To Stay:
    • Other Places To Visit En Route: 1770 & Agnes Water.

    5. Eurimbula National Park.

    If you’re craving unspoiled beaches and gorgeous winding creeks, the Gladstone region has them in spades, with Eurimbula National Park being the mainland’s top-tier destination. Stretching from the northern banks of Round Hill Creek, near the idyllic seaside town of 1770 up the coast to the gorgeous Middle Island, this wild and remote paradise is one of the best national parks near Gladstone to reconnect with nature.

    Although exploring most of the stunning coastal expanse is only possible with a high clearance 4WD or boat, conventional vehicles can reach Ganoonga Noonga Lookout driving cautiously to enjoy lovely views overlooking the coastal lowlands.

    However, if you do have a car with off-road capabilities, the campgrounds are some of the region’s best thanks to their beachside locations also being on the corner of stunning creeks, making them exceptional places to go swimming, paddling and spending the night under the stars.

    But it’s with a boat that this place shines the brightest. That is because with it, you can reach the most scenic and remote parts of this spectacular national park such as the upstream of its three gorgeous waterways and Middle Island, which has Queensland’s only still operating tourable lighthouse and some of the region’s best views overlooking the magnificent Pancake Creek and the entire coastline back to Bustard Head!

    The island is undisputedly the highlight of this national park. But even if you don’t have a boat, that doesn’t mean having to miss out. The iconic 1770 LARC! Paradise Tour is an unforgettable way to experience everything this incredible coastal landscape has to offer. The full-day adventure takes you across pristine beaches and bouncing through creeks in a quirky, hot pink amphibious vehicle formerly used to transport cargo in Vietnam, all the way to Bustard Head Lighthouse, where you’ll get a guided tour to learn about its history and those jaw-dropping views I mentioned earlier, offering one of the most unique day trips you can have in Gladstone.

    Note: This is the only company I’ve ever come across where they don’t have the full base cost listed as the main price you find on some third-party websites. Check the “What’s included” section where you usually find the optional extras for the mandatory fees that you’ll have to pay on arrival.

    I loved touring inside the Bustard Head LH as there are very few places you can do that.
    The LARC! Paradise tour was such a great way to see Eurimbula without a boat or 4WD.
    This is just a small part of the epic panoramic view from the hilltop on Middle Creek.
    If you have a 4WD, you can camp at this gorgeous campground.
    • Distance From Gladstone To Ganoonga Noonga Lookout: 120km.
    • Minimum Time To Traverse: 1hr 30min.
    • Length Of Visit: 1hr – 10 days.
    • Where To Stay: Eurimbula Creek Camping Ground, Middle Creek Camping Area, Rodds Peninsula Camping Ground, Bustard Head Camping Ground.
    • Other Places To Visit En Route: Agnes Water & 1770.

    6. Deep Water National Park.

    A little further down the coast, Deepwater National Park is the kind of place you escape to when all you want is sun, sand, and solitude. This coastal paradise is full of serene natural beauty, offering long stretches of pristine, untouched beaches and a peaceful bushland backdrop.

    Getting here to the Flat Rock Day Use Area requires a 4WD, but that only adds to the adventure, because once you arrive, you’ll be greeted by picture-perfect beaches, perfect for long walks along the coast with the wind in your hair and the sand between your toes.

    If you’re into camping, Deepwater is also home to a couple of rustic campgrounds located in the heavily forested dunes behind the beach, so you can wake up early and go for a short walk to watch the sunrise over the ocean.

    Middle Rock is exclusively 4WD only. However, although the website states Wreck Rock is reachable for conventional 2WDs from the southern, the actual loop road that goes around the campground isn’t, with the end part of it having too much soft sand and high tree branches crossing the single-lane pathway, so I ended up having to reverse back and go back out the way I came after getting briefly stuck.

    But it is still worth the visit, especially at night between October to December, when marine turtles return to these shores to nest in the soft sand and January to March when you might even get lucky enough to witness tiny hatchlings making their way down to the sea, which is a truly magical sight.

    Note: The turtle sightings here are more and other areas on the mainland than they are on the coral cays of the Great Barrier Reef, so if you want to SIGNIFICANTLY improve your chances of seeing them, plan a camping trip to Lady Musgrave or North West Island or stay in luxury accommodation at Heron or Wilson Island.

    • Distance From Gladstone To Wreck Rock Camping Area: 145km.
    • Minimum Time To Traverse: 1hr 50min.
    • Length Of Visit: 1 Day.
    • Where To Stay: Wreck Rock Camping Area & Middle Rock Camping Area.
    • Other Places To Visit En Route:

    7. Mt Archer National Park.

    Right on the doorstep of Gladstone’s neighbour, Rockhampton, lies Mount Archer National Park, where although small, packs a big punch, as it’s where you’ll find some of the region’s most unforgettably breathtaking views. As the highest peak in the area, it showcases the scenery in a spectacular panoramic, putting the Fitzroy River, the city of Rockhampton, and the sprawling landscapes beyond front and centre.

    The highlight of the park is the easily accessible Nurim Circuit, a 500m elevated boardwalk that stretches out from the mountaintop, giving you magnificent uninterrupted views of the city below. It’s especially magical at sunrise and sunset when the golden colours illuminate the landscapes, making it one of the best spots for engaging landscape photography or appreciating the picturesque terrain.

    • Distance From Gladstone: 108km.
    • Minimum Time To Traverse: 1hr 15min.
    • Length Of Visit: 1-2 Days.
    • Where To Stay:
    • Other Places To Visit En Route: Rockhampton.

    8. Mt Etna National Park & The Capricorn Caves.

    If you’re tired of being on Earth and looking to head underground for a while, the best national park near Gladstone to visit is Mt Etna National Park because it’s the only place within 150 km where you can do exactly that!  

    That’s because this rugged landscape, located 31km north of neighbouring Rockhampton is neighbours to the famous Capricorn Caves, an otherworldly network of ancient limestone caverns that leaves visitors in awe thanks to its incredible chambers and the magnificent geological formations that decorate its interior with its mesmerising and well-lit show caves.

    As for those who’d like to get themselves into tight situations, there are the adventure caves. These will push your claustrophobic fears to the limits by getting you to navigate through small gaps and passageways, sometimes on your hands and knees, into the Earth’s bowels for the ultimate physical and mental subterranean challenge that you will never forget.

    But that’s not all, because while the caves may be the main drawcard, the national park itself has even more to offer, as it has two short but beautiful walking trails that are great to explore if you’re craving some fresh air. The 2.4km return hike to Mt Etna is the highlight, with the expansive views of Limestone Ridge and the historic Pilkington Quarry making it a must-visit. Plus, if you come during January and December, you can take a ranger-guided tour up this mountain to see thousands of tiny bats flashing past you at dusk

    • Distance From Gladstone: 138km.
    • Minimum Time To Traverse: 1hr 45min.
    • Length Of Visit: 3 Days.
    • Where To Stay:
    • Other Places To Visit En Route: Rockhampton.

    Conclusion: Best Gladstone National Parks.

    With the rugged headlands of Joseph Banks and the abundantly rich reefs and lagoons of the Great Barrier Reef’s Capricornia Cats, along with the marvellous subterranean worlds of Mount Etna and mountaintop vistas from Kroombit Tops and Mt Acher, the national parks near Gladstone offer a huge variety of scenery, terrain and activities that’ll satisfy any nature lovers heart.