Camooweal Caves National Park

Useful Information

Location:	20 km from Camooweal. (-20.0511666, 138.1848479)
Open:	only in dry season. [2026]
Fee:	free. [2026]
Classification:	Karst Cave Cambrian dolomite (500 Ma).
Light:	bring torch
Dimension:
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Camooweal Caves National Park, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, 2nd Floor, Mount Isa House, Cnr of Camooweal and Mary Streets, PO Box 2316, Mount Isa Qld 4825, Tel: +61-7-4743-2055.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1860s	arrival of the European settlers.
1988	park established.

Description

The Camooweal Caves National Park is located 20 km from Camooweal in the dry Barkly Tableland. Some years ago, in 2021, it was renamed Wiliyan-ngurru National Park which is the traditional indigenous name of the site. We normally rename sites and the url of the page, in this case we did not. It’s simply the fact that we always try to use the most common name, which is important for tourists to search for the site. As we have the impression that this site is still mostly listed and known under its former name, we decided to mention the new name, but do not rename the site. This may change in the future if the new name establishes.

The landscape of the park is dotted by sinkhole openings, a sign of the caves below. Extensive caverns are linked by vertical shafts up to 75 meters deep. The caves are still growing during the wet season, but in the rest of the year the water table recedes deep into the shafts, leaving the caves dry and dusty. These caves do not show many speleothems, as they are subject to extremes of temperature and sudden flooding. The growth of speleothems is continually disturbed and existing dripstones destroyed.

The best cave to explore is Great Nowranie. This cave has the largest sinkhole, 290 m long and 70 m deep, which makes it worth a visit even if you do not enter. The cave can only be entered by descending an 18-metre drop, so climbing gear is necessary. However, as this is the main cave related site and an official viewpoint, it is the location we have given. There are educational signs and trails, and it’s possible to visit several horizontal cave entrances without any difficulties except a short walk. Access inside the caves is generally not allowed, in other words you may visit the entrance but not the cave behind.

The same reason why there are no speleothems, the sudden flooding during wet season is the reason why the caves should only be visited during dry season. The caves fill with water and become a deadly trap. Only experienced cavers with appropriate equipment should explore the caves. They have to notify the local police or Ranger on their arrival and departure times at the caves. If you are not a caver, please be careful, turn around where the climbing begins or the trail ends. The Ranger at Mount Isa is also a good source for more information.