Permanent Waterhole is an easy walk upstream from the Broadwater camping area in Sundown National Park. As its name suggests, this waterhole on the Severn River is permanent even in the driest of times and is ideal for bird watching in early morning or late afternoon. See ducks, herons, cormorants and tiny azure kingfishers along the river. Watch eastern grey kangaroos browsing on the grassy flats around The Broadwater and camping area.
Total distance: 1765 m
Max elevation: 416 m
Min elevation: 403 m
Total climbing: 36 m
Total descent: -35 m
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Permanent Waterhole Track.gpx
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Permanent Waterhole track is in Sundown National Park, 250km (3–4hrs drive) south-west of Brisbane via Stanthorpe, and 70km north-west of Tenterfield. The track begins at The Broadwater camping area at the southern end of the park. Access roads to The Broadwater camping area are suitable for conventional vehicles. From Stanthorpe drive along 76km of bitumen road via Texas Road (62km) and Glenlyon Dam Road (14km), followed by 4km of good gravel road (Permanents Road) to the park entrance. From Tenterfield in New South Wales, travel north 5km along the New England Highway then west along the Bruxner Highway 52km to Mingoola. Turn right and travel 12km to the park turn-off. From the park entrance, drive about 1.5km to The Broadwater camping area.
It’s a good idea to let someone know where you’re going. Fill in a trip intention form to send important details about your trip to your emergency contact. If you are lost or require help and have phone reception, call 000 and ask for police. The international standard emergency number is 112, if you dial this number in Australia you will be treated exactly the same as a 000 call. If you believe your life is at risk, activate your personal locator beacon (PLB), then make your position visible to rescue teams and keep warm and dry.
Sundown National Park, is a rugged wilderness area with spectacular steep-sided gorges, sharp ridges and peaks of over 1,000m that rise above the Severn River. The vegetation is mainly woodland consisting of box, ironbark and cypress trees, river red gums and river oaks along the river, stringybark and yellow box trees dominate forest in some high eastern areas and pockets of dry vine scrub are found in sheltered gorges. More than 150 species of birds have been recorded in the park, making it the perfect location for birdwatching enthusiasts.
The Sundown area has a history of early selection and subdivision in the late 1800s, followed by extensive clearing for grazing and fine wool production. Tin, copper and arsenic were also mined in the area from the 1870s. Pastoral relics and old surface diggings remain.
Sundown is a great place to get away from it all. Visitors must be self-sufficient as few facilities are provided.
Find out more here.
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