Sundown National Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sundown National Park Queensland
IUCN Category II (National Park)
Walkers in the park
Sundown National Park Location in Queensland
Established	1977
Area	160 km2 (61.8 sq mi)
Managing authorities	Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service
Website	Sundown National Park
See also	Protected areas of Queensland

Sundown National Park is a special natural area in Queensland, Australia. It is about 198 kilometers (123 miles) southwest of Brisbane. This park is famous for its amazing gorges and tall mountains. Some of its peaks are even higher than 1,000 meters (3,280 feet)! It's a great place to explore nature and see unique wildlife.

Exploring the Landforms of Sundown

Sundown National Park is where the Severn River begins. This river is the starting point for the much larger Darling River. It's important to know that this Severn River is different from another river with the same name in New South Wales.

Deep Gorges and Waterfalls

The Severn River has carved a long, deep gorge through very hard rock. This gorge is about 10 kilometers (6 miles) long! Some smaller rivers that flow into the Severn have also made their own gorges. You can even find beautiful waterfalls in these areas.

Rocks, Fossils, and Old Mines

The land in Sundown National Park has a very interesting past. Long ago, people mined here for different metals. They looked for things like molybdenite, arsenic, tungsten, copper, gold, and tin. Today, these old mine areas are closed off for safety.

You can find amazing clues about the past in the park. For example, on top of Mount Donaldson, which is 1,038 meters (3,406 feet) high, you can find shellfish fossils! This shows that the area was once very different. Most of the park sits on a type of rock called trap rock. Inside this rock, there are also areas of granite. These different rocks have caused cracks and breaks in the land over time.

Amazing Plants and Animals

Sundown National Park is home to many different kinds of plants and animals. It's a great place to see Australia's unique wildlife.

Trees and Plants of the Park

In the northern parts of the park, you will mostly see certain types of Eucalyptus trees. These include stringybark, yellow box, brown box, and Tenterfield woollybutt.

Closer to the river, the plants change. Here, you'll find red river gum trees and river oak. You might also spot tea-tree and bottlebrush plants with their bright, brush-like flowers. In the past, some areas of the park were used for grazing animals like sheep to produce wool.

Wildlife You Might See

Sundown National Park is a paradise for birds. More than 150 different types of birds have been seen here! This includes the superb lyrebird, which is known for its amazing ability to copy sounds. This park is the most northern place where you can find these special birds.

The park is also one of the most northern homes for wombats. You can find them here and in the nearby Girraween National Park. If you are very lucky, you might also spot other shy animals like tiger quolls or a platypus swimming in the river.

Visiting Sundown National Park

If you want to stay overnight, there are places to camp in Sundown National Park.

Camping and Walking Tracks

The main camping area is called Broadwater campground, located in the southeast part of the park. You can also do "bush camping," which means camping in more remote areas. For both types of camping, you need to get a permit and pay a fee.

The park has many different walking tracks. Some are short and easy, perfect for a quick stroll. Others are longer and more challenging, great for a full day of hiking and exploring.

Accessing the Western Section

The western part of the park is the easiest to reach and has the most facilities. If you are coming from New South Wales, you can turn off the Bruxner Highway at Mingoola School onto Mingoola Station Road. Then, turn right onto Glenyon Dam Road, and another right onto Permanents Road, which leads right into the park.

At the Broadwater Camping Area in this section, you'll find useful facilities. There are toilets, and even showers where you can heat your own water. You'll also find short walking tracks, sheltered tables for picnics, and taps with river and rainwater near the ranger station. This part of the park is easy to get to, even for regular cars (2WD) and smaller motorhomes or caravans.

See also

In Spanish: Parque nacional Sundown para niños