Takarakka Bush Resort

Takarakka Bush Resort

Takarakka Bush Resort is THE place to stay when visiting beautiful Carnarvon Gorge NP in Central Queensland.

On its doorstep, the tranquil bush setting provides a friendly base for exploring the park’s rainforest and woodland tracks, sandstone canyons, rock art sites, and of course, its famous gorges.

After a long walk, reward burning muscles with a gentle stroll to the caravan park’s platypus pool, where, if you’re quiet, you may spot its shy residents frolicking in Carnarvon Creek.

CAMPGROUNDS FOR ALL

I had heard the Takarakka Bush Resort was unsealed, but it’s all sealed and good and open year-round. Takarakka’s far from the nearest town, so you need to book ahead and get fuel at either Injune to the south, or Rolleston to the north on your way in. You may need it on the way out!

When we pulled into the Takarakka Bush Resort I was impressed by its natural beauty. It was clearly carefully maintained and the check-in procedure was painless. We quickly settled into a very spacious, shady flat site with power and water.

We saw many clean, modern amenities blocks, including the new dump point, to accommodate the crowds.

Takarakka has different ‘camping areas’ suitable for tents, camper trailers, caravans and large rigs with drive-through sites available.

TAKARAKKA BUSH RESORT LODGINGS

Onsite accommodation includes raised, safari-style tents with timber floors, offering three or six bed layouts and optional ensuites.

For private cooking facilities and air-conditioning, there’s The Explorer Cabins for two and The Cottage for three. The two-person Kookaburra Suites are also air-conditioned, and have access to an exclusive barbecue area.

Private ensuite plus tea- and coffee-making facilities in the air-conditioned Kookaburra Suites.

HAPPY HOURS

Takarakka Bush Resort staff, and guests, are extremely friendly. At four o’clock on the deck, soon-to-be-friends exchange travel wisdom and ‘Gorge’ experiences over Happy Hour. Patrons can cook and eat together in the fantastic camp kitchens, and wind down by a big open fire.

The resort hosts a fabulous roast dinner a couple of nights a week, but be sure to book ahead. We caught a movie on the deck after dinner and thoroughly enjoyed the open-air experience with fellow travellers.

TOURING CARNARVON

Takarakka Bush Resort offers guided tours of Carnarvon Gorge as well as an Astronomy Tour presented by a genuine astronomer.

Carnarvon Gorge, courtesy of Tourism & Events Queensland

But you’ll also find many epic self-directed trails leading into the national park from Takarakka Bush Resort, with some suitable for beginners.

From Takarakka, find Aboriginal art stencilled into sandstone on the wheel-chair friendly Baloon Cave track in less than an hour. Then, pass tree ferns for rapids at Mickey’s Creek or slip through towering rock at Warrumbah Gorge in similar time.

Combine this with the native flora and fauna, such as kangaroos, wallabies, echidnas, lots of birds and even platypus, and you will soon realise that you haven’t allowed enough days for your Takarakka experience.

• Words and images Fireman Ron and Di Sinclair 2018, adapted for the web