Bladensburg National Park

Bladensburg National Park lies just 7 km south of Winton in western Queensland’s Channel Country:contentReference[oaicite:120]{index=120}. It protects 84,900 ha of Mitchell Grass Downs and Channel Country landscapes, including flat grassland plains, the braided channels of Surprise Creek, and weathered flat-topped mesas and buttes along the park’s southern boundary:contentReference[oaicite:121]{index=121}:contentReference[oaicite:122]{index=122}. Once Bladensburg was a vast sheep station (established in the late 19th century); it was turned into a national park in 1984 to conserve its natural and cultural heritage:contentReference[oaicite:123]{index=123}:contentReference[oaicite:124]{index=124}. The old Bladensburg Station homestead has been preserved and now serves as a park information center and museum, providing insight into the tough life of early graziers on this land:contentReference[oaicite:125]{index=125}.

The park’s access roads lead visitors to several points of interest. One highlight is Skull Hole (Mistake Creek), a waterhole beneath a mesa that is the site of a tragic 1870s conflict – local legend speaks of a massacre of Aboriginal people here:contentReference[oaicite:126]{index=126}. Another feature is Scrammy Gorge, a scenic gap in the tabletop range with red cliffs and ghost gums; a short walking trail here leads to Scrammy Lookout over the surrounding plains:contentReference[oaicite:127]{index=127} (best viewed in late afternoon light). Bladensburg’s network of dirt tracks forms the “Route of the River Gum” self-drive tour (~72 km):contentReference[oaicite:128]{index=128}, which takes in these sites and others like Sawpit Gorge and the scenic Flat Tire Gorge. Four-wheel-drive is recommended for some sections, especially after wet weather when blacksoil plains become boggy.

Camping is available at Bough Shed Hole, a peaceful riverside camp along Surprise Creek shaded by coolibah trees:contentReference[oaicite:129]{index=129}. This spot has basic facilities (pit toilet and fire rings) and no potable water:contentReference[oaicite:130]{index=130}. Campers often see kangaroos and emus coming to drink at dawn and dusk. Note that no water is provided in the park:contentReference[oaicite:131]{index=131}, so visitors must bring ample supplies. Also, dogs and fires are not permitted outside of designated areas. A visit to Bladensburg NP offers classic outback Queensland scenery – endless blue skies, golden grass swaying in the breeze, and at night, an unbeatable star display. It also provides a sense of history: from the restored homestead and its rusting old machinery, to the small cemetery where pioneers rest. Combined with nearby Lark Quarry (dinosaur trackways) and Winton’s museums, Bladensburg helps make the Winton area a rich destination for those interested in geology, wildlife, and heritage.