Boodjamulla, also known as Lawn Hill, is one of the most striking places in Queensland and one of the most remote. Spring fed gorges and green water in the middle of dry country, several hours of unsealed road from the nearest sizeable town. Worth every kilometre and not a trip to take casually.
Getting there
Access is via long unsealed roads from the Gulf or from the Mount Isa direction, and conditions vary considerably with weather. Roads can be closed after rain and the drive is well beyond mobile coverage for most of it. Check current road conditions with Queensland Parks and the relevant council before leaving, carry recovery gear, and carry communications that work without a mobile network.
Camping and permits
Camping requires a Queensland Parks permit booked in advance. This is genuinely remote country, so arriving without a booking is a long way to drive to be turned around.
Corrugations and your mounts
Rough road works fasteners loose, and this is the one piece of maintenance that actually matters out here. Re-torque the mounting bolts on your rack, tub rack or canopy before you leave, check them after the first day of dirt, and check them again every few days. An On The Horizon rooftop tent weighs between 80kg and 120kg depending on the model, and that weight is working on the mounting every kilometre of corrugation.
Dust
A hard shell earns its money on roads like these. The canvas travels folded inside a closed aluminium lid rather than strapped under a cover collecting dust, so the tent you open at the end of the day is the tent you closed that morning.
Sleeping in the heat
Out here ventilation matters more than insulation. Open both ends, keep air moving, and park to catch whatever breeze there is rather than tucking into still air. Every On The Horizon tent has a moisture barrier through the base and an anti-condensation pad under the mattress, which keeps air moving underneath rather than damp collecting there.
Common questions
Do you need a 4WD for Boodjamulla Lawn Hill?
The access roads are long and unsealed and conditions vary with weather. A capable vehicle, recovery gear and current road information from Queensland Parks are all sensible before committing to the drive.
Do you need to book camping at Lawn Hill?
Yes. Camping requires a Queensland Parks permit booked in advance, and the park is a long way from anywhere to arrive without one.
Is there phone reception at Boodjamulla?
Assume not, for most of the drive and at the park. Carry communications that do not rely on mobile coverage and tell someone your route and expected return.
Related guides
Boodjamulla Lawn Hill Rooftop Tent Touring Guide
Boodjamulla, also known as Lawn Hill, is one of the most striking places in Queensland and one of the most remote. Spring fed gorges and green water in the middle of dry country, several hours of unsealed road from the nearest sizeable town. Worth every kilometre and not a trip to take casually.
Getting there
Access is via long unsealed roads from the Gulf or from the Mount Isa direction, and conditions vary considerably with weather. Roads can be closed after rain and the drive is well beyond mobile coverage for most of it. Check current road conditions with Queensland Parks and the relevant council before leaving, carry recovery gear, and carry communications that work without a mobile network.
Camping and permits
Camping requires a Queensland Parks permit booked in advance. This is genuinely remote country, so arriving without a booking is a long way to drive to be turned around.
Corrugations and your mounts
Rough road works fasteners loose, and this is the one piece of maintenance that actually matters out here. Re-torque the mounting bolts on your rack, tub rack or canopy before you leave, check them after the first day of dirt, and check them again every few days. An On The Horizon rooftop tent weighs between 80kg and 120kg depending on the model, and that weight is working on the mounting every kilometre of corrugation.
Dust
A hard shell earns its money on roads like these. The canvas travels folded inside a closed aluminium lid rather than strapped under a cover collecting dust, so the tent you open at the end of the day is the tent you closed that morning.
Sleeping in the heat
Out here ventilation matters more than insulation. Open both ends, keep air moving, and park to catch whatever breeze there is rather than tucking into still air. Every On The Horizon tent has a moisture barrier through the base and an anti-condensation pad under the mattress, which keeps air moving underneath rather than damp collecting there.
Common questions
Do you need a 4WD for Boodjamulla Lawn Hill?
The access roads are long and unsealed and conditions vary with weather. A capable vehicle, recovery gear and current road information from Queensland Parks are all sensible before committing to the drive.
Do you need to book camping at Lawn Hill?
Yes. Camping requires a Queensland Parks permit booked in advance, and the park is a long way from anywhere to arrive without one.
Is there phone reception at Boodjamulla?
Assume not, for most of the drive and at the park. Carry communications that do not rely on mobile coverage and tell someone your route and expected return.
Related guides