HEAVEN IN HELL

HELL HOLE GORGE MIGHT SOUND LIKE THE LAST PLACE YOU’D WANT TO VISIT BUT THIS OUTBACK QUEENSLAND PARK IS LIKE HEAVEN FOR THOSE AFTER SOME PEACE AND QUIET.

- KEVIN SMITH

When the name Hell Hole Gorge popped up on my radar some time ago, it certainly sparked my interest. Only opened to the general public in 2015 it’s one of the most isolated national parks that you can imagine. Like many in outback Queensland, the park was a grazing property until the early 1990s before it was declared a National Park. Apparently, across its 12,000ha, there are plant species that are part of this area’s mulga bioregion that need to be preserved and are significant to the western region of Queensland.

Hell Hole Gorge has only one road in and one road out, via Adavale (1050km west of Brisbane) where you need to register at the local pub and then deregister on your way out, for emergency reasons and your own safety due to the park’s extreme remoteness. The publican can give you a rundown on the area while you have a coldie and a look around the quirky hotel.

Queensland Parks opened the park to campers in 2018 but you need to be totally self-sufficient with food, water, communications and a comprehensive first aid kit. The last stop for supplies before heading into the gorge is Quilpie, 120km away. The roads out here are generally a stunning red-dirt type with mulga, red gums and gidyea trees lining the road with low saltbush intermixing around their bases.

HELL HOLE GORGE HAS ONLY ONE ROAD IN AND ONE ROAD OUT, VIA ADAVALE WHERE YOU NEED TO REGISTER AT THE LOCAL PUB AND THEN DEREGISTER ON YOUR WAY OUT