Hughenden

Hughenden sits on the Flinders River on the Flinders Highway between Townsville and Mount Isa, on Yirandali Country. It is a pastoral town with a strong fossil story and dramatic basalt country to the north.

Things to do

Flinders Discovery Centre. Fossils, local history and a replica Muttaburrasaurus — "Hughie" — that makes it a key stop on the dinosaur trail with Winton and Richmond.

Porcupine Gorge National Park. A deep, colourful gorge carved into sandstone, with a lookout and a walk down to the Pyramid rock formation. Camping is available by booking.

Mount Walker lookout. Views over the plains and the town, best at sunset.

Kooroorinya Falls. A seasonal waterfall and swimming hole south of town.

History and Country

The Yirandali people are the Traditional Owners of the Hughenden district. In 1862 the explorer William Landsborough passed through the area during his search for the missing Burke and Wills expedition, and pastoralist Ernest Henry took up Hughenden Station soon afterwards, naming it after an ancestral home in England. A township grew on the Flinders River as a service centre and stopping place on the route from the coast to the Gulf.

The railway from Townsville reached Hughenden in 1887, cementing its role as a rail and pastoral hub. Sheep and cattle stations on the surrounding Mitchell grass downs have sustained the town ever since. Hughenden is the administrative centre of the Flinders Shire.

The district also lies over sediments of the Cretaceous Eromanga Sea and its shorelines, which is why fossils — both marine reptiles and dinosaurs — have been found across the region.

The fossil story

The Flinders Discovery Centre combines the visitor information centre with fossil displays and local history. Its best-known exhibit is a full-size replica skeleton of Muttaburrasaurus langdoni, a large plant-eating ornithopod dinosaur. The original fossil was found near Muttaburra, south-east of Hughenden, in the 1960s, and it remains one of Australia's most complete dinosaur skeletons. The centre also shows marine fossils found in the district.

Hughenden forms one corner of Queensland's dinosaur trail, with Richmond to the west and Winton to the south. A "Dinosaur Trail" pass has been offered in some years covering the three main museums; ask at any of them.

Porcupine Gorge in detail

Porcupine Gorge National Park, north of town on the Kennedy Developmental Road, is often called Australia's "little Grand Canyon". Porcupine Creek has cut down through layers of sandstone and basalt to create a gorge with colourful, banded walls.

• Lookout: a short walk from the road leads to a viewpoint over the gorge.
• Pyramid track: from the Pyramid camping area, a walking track descends to the gorge floor and the Pyramid, a distinctive sandstone formation. The return climb is steep; carry water and start early in warm weather.
• Camping: the Pyramid camping area must be booked through Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service. Facilities are basic.

Rock pools in the creek may hold water for much of the year, but conditions vary. Check the park page for current alerts and closures.

A two-day itinerary

Day 1: Flinders Discovery Centre and the Muttaburrasaurus, a walk along the Flinders River, then sunset from Mount Walker lookout south of town.

Day 2: Drive to Porcupine Gorge early, walk to the Pyramid, picnic, and return via the basalt country. Alternatively, head south to Kooroorinya Falls after rain, or west to Richmond's Kronosaurus Korner.

Seasons

Hughenden has a hot semi-arid climate with a summer wet season. The cooler, drier months from about April to September are best for walking in Porcupine Gorge. Summer heat can make the gorge walk dangerous, and storms can close unsealed roads.

Getting there

• By road: on the Flinders Highway, about 380 km west of Townsville and 500 km east of Mount Isa. Sealed.
• By rail: Queensland Rail's Inlander between Townsville and Mount Isa stops at Hughenden; check the current timetable.

Where to stay and eat

The town has motels, hotels and a caravan park, plus camping at Porcupine Gorge. There are pubs, a café or two and a supermarket. Fuel is available in town; fill up before heading north to the gorge, as there are no services there.

Events and community

Hughenden hosts race meetings, rodeos and campdrafts in the cooler months, and the Flinders Shire has staged community festivals celebrating the district's dinosaur heritage and pastoral life. Dates vary each year; check with the Flinders Discovery Centre or the Flinders Shire Council before you go.

Basalt country and lava tubes

North of Hughenden, the landscape changes to dark basalt plains and ridges. These are remnants of volcanic activity in north Queensland, part of the wider McBride and Nulla volcanic provinces further north and east. Further afield, the Undara Volcanic National Park near Mount Surprise protects some of the longest lava tubes in the world, accessible only on guided tours. Undara makes a rewarding extension for travellers heading from Hughenden towards the Atherton Tablelands via the Kennedy Developmental Road.

Kooroorinya Falls

South of Hughenden, Kooroorinya Falls Nature Reserve has a waterfall that flows after good rain and a waterhole that attracts birdlife. There is a bush camping area run by a local community group. Access is by unsealed road; check conditions before going.

Historic town walk

A self-guided walk through the town centre passes heritage buildings from Hughenden's railway and pastoral eras, as well as the Comet windmill, a large historic windmill in Robert Gray Memorial Park. Ask the visitor centre for a map.

Driving tips

The Flinders Highway is sealed but narrow in places, with road trains, wandering cattle and kangaroos. The Kennedy Developmental Road north to Porcupine Gorge is sealed for much of the way to the gorge, with unsealed sections beyond. Avoid driving at dawn, dusk and night, carry extra water and fuel, and check the QLDTraffic website for conditions.

Accessibility and families

The Flinders Discovery Centre is accessible and suits all ages. The Porcupine Gorge lookout is a short walk, while the walk to the gorge floor is steep and better suited to fit walkers.

Free camping and roads

Free camping. Visit Hughenden lists a free RV camp in town for fully self-contained vehicles only, with a maximum stay of seven nights. It has water, bins and a dump point, and you register on site. Check the current rules on arrival. Hughenden also has caravan parks and motels.

Winton to Hughenden. Visit Hughenden says the Kennedy Developmental Road between Winton and Hughenden is sealed. It can be narrow in places, and rain may close it at creek crossings, so check current conditions with QLDTraffic before you set out.

Porcupine Gorge. Queensland Parks says the Gorge lookout is about 60 km north of Hughenden, and the Pyramid camping and day-use area is a further 11 km. The park is accessible by conventional vehicle. See our Porcupine Gorge guide.

Practical information

Hughenden has fuel, a hospital, shops and accommodation, and is a stop on the Inlander train. See the dinosaur trail guide.

Nearby: Porcupine Gorge National Park.