West Branch to Consuelo

Starting from the West Branch campsite in Carnarvon Park, this walk takes you to the Consuelo campground via the fourth section of the 87 km Carnarvon Great Walk, exploring the Consuelo Tableland and the Mahogany Forest along the way. This section of the trail is actually the longest one, and it is relatively green due to the environmental conditions. You’ll be getting great looks at Mount Moffatt along with the mountain ranges to the west. The aforementioned Mahogany Forest is made up almost exclusively of silver top stringybark trees. You can also come across Macrozamia along the track. Some of them grow up to be an impressive 6 metres tall. Get ready to hike on the ‘Roof of Queensland’, the highest part of the Central Queensland Sandstone Belt. Keep in mind that you’ll need a permit to access Carnarvon Park and the said campsites. This walk is closed from the 1st of November to the last day of February. Bring some insect repellent to protect yourself from the mozzies(Australian slang for mosquitoes). Let us begin by acknowledging the Bidjara & Karingbal people, Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.

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Warning
This journey requires significant bushwalking experience, specialised equipment and navigation skills.
Please ensure you and your group well prepared and equiped for this journey.

Safer Bushwalks Tips on staying safe on track
Before you start any bushwalk ensure you;
• Tell someone you trust where you are going and what to do if you are overdue
• Have adequate equipment, supplies, skills & knowledge for the whole journey
• Consider the impact of weather forecasts, park/track closures & fire dangers
• Can respond to emergencies & call for help at any point
• Are healthy and fit enough for this journey
If not, change plans and stay safe. It is okay to delay and ask people for help.

Getting There Transport options and directions

Segment	This is part of longer journey and can not be completed on it is own.
Full Journey	Carnarvon Great Walk
Start	(-24.973205,148.012219)
Finish	(-24.9415648,148.1172347)
Mode (end)

Track Notes Turn by turn instructions & maps

Getting started
From West Branch campsite, head north along the dirt track as you keep the creek to your right. After about 135 metres veer right and cross the creek, then make a perpendicular left turn at the 3-way intersection to continue along West Branch to Consuelo Track.....

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start. West Branch camping area (about 60 m back from the start). W:parks.des.qld.gov.au There is a fee to use this campsite. There is a toilet (about 40 m back from the start).
	After another 175 m veer right. After another 125 m cross the ford.
	After another 15 m turn left. After another 780 m veer left.
	After another 8.3 km continue straight, to head along Carnarvon Great Walk.
	After another 680 m veer left, to head along Carnarvon Great Walk.
	After another 6 km come to "Consuelo camping zone". W:parks.des.qld.gov.au There is a fee to use this campsite. The end.

Terrain Know the Hills, grading & facilities

West Branch to Consuelo

Grading

	Class 5/6 Very challenging
Length	16.1 km
Time	5 h 30 min to 7 h 30 min

Quality of track	Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)
Gradient	Very steep and difficult rock scrambles (5/6)
Signage	Directional signs along the way (3/6)
Infrastructure	Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6)
Experience Required	Moderate level of bushwalking experience recommended (4/6)
Weather	Storms may impact on navigation and safety (3/6)

Some facilities on route

Camp site: There are 2 on route, on average they are 5.5 km apart with the largest gap of 16.3 km.

Toilet: There is one -40 m back from the start.

Order of key facilities on route

Item	From Start	Name & link to notes
Camp site	-59 m	West Branch camping area
Toilet	-40 m	[toilet]
Camp site	16.3 km	Consuelo camping zone

Weather & Alerts Check forecasts & closures
Weather Forecast
- Rolleston Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
  
  Saturday 19 April
  
  Partly cloudy.
  
  Partly cloudy. Light winds.
  
  Sunday 20 April
  
  18°C → 30°C
  Partly cloudy.
  30% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. Light winds. Overnight temperatures falling to between 15 and 20 with daytime temperatures reaching around 30.
  
  Fire Danger Rating: Moderate
  
  UV Alert: Sun protection 8:50am to 3:20pm, UV Index predicted to reach 9 [Very High]
  
  Monday 21 April
  
  17°C → 32°C
  Possible shower.
  40% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely from the late morning. Light winds. Overnight temperatures falling to between 16 and 19 with daytime temperatures reaching around 30.
  
  Tuesday 22 April
  
  15°C → 27°C
  Sunny.
  10% chance of rain
  
  Mostly sunny. Slight chance of a shower in the northeast in the morning. Near zero chance of rain elsewhere. Light winds becoming southerly 15 to 20 km/h during the morning then becoming light during the evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between 12 and 20 with daytime temperatures reaching 25 to 31.
  
  Wednesday 23 April
  
  12°C → 28°C
  Sunny.
  5% chance of rain
  
  Sunny. Light winds. Overnight temperatures falling to between 10 and 15 with daytime temperatures reaching the mid to high 20s.
  
  Thursday 24 April
  
  13°C → 29°C
  Partly cloudy.
  10% chance of rain
  
  Partly cloudy.
  
  Friday 25 April
  
  15°C → 29°C
  Mostly sunny.
  10% chance of rain
  
  Mostly sunny.
  
  Saturday 26 April
  
  16°C → 29°C
  Partly cloudy.
  10% chance of rain
  
  Partly cloudy.
  
  Forecast data thanks to © Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Alerts
- Carnarvon National Park alerts
  Big Bend camping area closed due to works underway (update 26 Mar)
  Big Bend camping area (including the Great Walk site) is closed due to unplanned structural repairs needing to be undertaken on the toilet block. Affected parks: Carnarvon Great Walk; Carnarvon Gorge, Carnarvon National Park
  Planned works for Kookaburra Cave (update)
  Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) will be conducting a planned maintenance program at Mount Moffatt, Carnarvon National Park from 10 March 2025-7 April 2025 (weather permitting). Affected parks: Mount Moffatt, Carnarvon National Park
  Carnarvon Great Walk - closure in March and June due to planned burn (update 14 Feb)
  Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) will be conducting planned burns (weather permitting) along the Carnarvon Great Walk during March and possibly June, as part of the fire management program for Carnarvon National Park. Affected parks: Mount Moffatt, Carnarvon National Park; Carnarvon Great Walk; Carnarvon Gorge, Carnarvon National Park
  
  Alert kindly provided by © Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service
- Mount Moffatt alerts
  Planned works for Kookaburra Cave (update)
  Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) will be conducting a planned maintenance program at Mount Moffatt, Carnarvon National Park from 10 March 2025-7 April 2025 (weather permitting). Affected parks: Mount Moffatt, Carnarvon National Park
  Carnarvon Great Walk - closure in March and June due to planned burn (update 14 Feb)
  Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) will be conducting planned burns (weather permitting) along the Carnarvon Great Walk during March and possibly June, as part of the fire management program for Carnarvon National Park. Affected parks: Mount Moffatt, Carnarvon National Park; Carnarvon Great Walk; Carnarvon Gorge, Carnarvon National Park
  
  Alert kindly provided by © Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service

Weather Forecast

Alerts