Dawes National Park

Dawes National Park is a scenic four-wheel-drive destination located in Gladstone, Queensland.

The park consists of three sections, with the Glassford section being the main accessible area. It is home to a variety of endangered and vulnerable plant and animal species, including the spotted-tailed quoll, koala, black-breasted button quail, and glossy black-cockatoo.

The park features endangered regional ecosystems and significant plant communities, such as semi-evergreen vine thicket and gully vine forest. It also contains historic mining sites, including the well-preserved Glassford Creek Smelter site, which dates back to the early 1900s.

Visitors to Dawes National Park can explore the diverse plant communities and wildlife, as well as enjoy scenic drives, bushwalking, and four-wheel-driving. To protect the park, visitors are advised to follow guidelines such as not interfering with plants, animals, or heritage-listed structures, and properly disposing of waste.

The park is managed by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) under the Nature Conservation Act 1992. It is located 172km northwest of Bundaberg and 59km northeast of Monto, and can be accessed by car via the Burnett Highway or the Leichhardt Highway. There are no camping facilities in the park, and visitors should come with their own vehicles. For more information, visitors can contact the Gladstone Visitor Information Centre.