Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service publishes a live list of park alerts, and as at 26 August 2026 there were 56 current alerts across Tropical North Queensland. Most are administrative. A handful will genuinely change your plans. Here are the ones that matter if you are visiting.
This is a snapshot, not a live feed. Always check the official alerts page before you drive somewhere remote.
Josephine Falls: a big closure is coming
Josephine Falls is one of the best swimming spots in the Far North and it is about to get harder to enjoy. QPWS has flagged critical maintenance to the viewing platforms and amenities starting Monday 2 November 2026.
During the works, the walking track and swimming areas may be partially closed at times, including access to the bottom pool, the middle creek viewing platform and the top viewing platform. QPWS says at least one viewing platform will stay open throughout, but expects an anticipated two-week full closure of the swimming area at some point. Portable toilets will be provided.
One caveat worth knowing: the alert gives two different end dates on the same page, 1 February 2027 in the body and 28 February 2027 in the summary field. Treat the whole of November to February as affected and check before you go.
Right now, before November, Josephine Falls is open. The only current niggle is that the day-use area barbecue is out of service.
Mission Beach walking tracks
Two of the area’s best walks are compromised.
Bicton Hill track in Clump Mountain National Park is closed until 30 September 2026 after a major landslip, with the surrounding hillside unstable.
Musgravea track in Djiru National Park has reopened but you cannot complete the full circuit. A damaged causeway 300 metres from the Licuala day-use area entrance means you have to turn around. Two out-and-back options work: 8.2km return from the El Arish to Mission Beach Road trailhead, or a short 600m return from Licuala day-use area.
Bartle Frere
If you were planning Queensland’s highest peak, check which approach you are using. The western trailhead access road is closed until 11 September 2026 for machinery repairs. QPWS suggests parking at the Windin Falls carpark off Gourka Road and walking in.
Looking further ahead, the eastern approach from Josephine Falls closes for a long stretch in 2027, along with the Big Rock and Eastern Summit camping areas. Dates on that alert also disagree with each other, so verify closer to the time.
Atherton Tablelands: Danbulla and Lake Tinaroo
Mount Edith Road is closed until 1 September 2026 with heavy machinery repairing cyclone damage. Kauri Creek Road and Tinaroo Creek Road remain closed until 30 October 2026, still from ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper.
Danbulla camping areas are still reachable via Danbulla Road, but Downfall Creek, Kauri Creek and Fong-On Bay have reduced capacity because the usual camping space is underwater from Tinaroo Dam levels.
At Lake Eacham the ladies change shelter is closed, but the lake and day-use area are otherwise fine.
Goldsborough Valley: bring your own water
Three things stack up here. There is no tap water at the day-use area or either camping area until October, the emergency public phone at the camping area is out of order, and the day-use area toilet is closed with an alternative at the Bora Ground camping area. Worth knowing before you commit to a night.
Planned burns
Burn season is running, which mostly means smoke rather than closures. Two current ones close tracks: Davies Creek Mountain Bike Park is fully closed 25 to 27 August, and Robson’s Track in Little Mulgrave National Park is closed 27 to 28 August with smoke and traffic control on the Gillies Range Road.
Burns around Kuranda National Park, Bare Hill and Emerald Creek Falls are running to 29 August but all tracks and roads stay open. There is also a month-long burn window in Barron Gorge National Park to 20 September, with possible smoke along the McDonald walking track. The Barron Falls lookouts are not listed as closed.
What is not affected
Nothing in the current list affects Mossman Gorge, the Daintree, Cape Tribulation, the Marrdja boardwalk, Alexandra Lookout, Lake Barrine or Dunk Island.
One important gap though. Several of the region’s best-known swimming spots are not QPWS-managed and will never appear on this list. Crystal Cascades, Behana Gorge and Babinda Boulders are Cairns Regional Council, and Millaa Millaa Falls is Tablelands Regional Council, where a major precinct upgrade is currently running. Mossman Gorge access is run by the Mossman Gorge Centre. Check those separately.
Source: Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service park alerts, read 26 August 2026. Alerts change daily, so this is a point-in-time snapshot. Always check the official page before travelling.
Header photo: Rob and Stephanie Levy via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0. Pictured is Josephine Falls, Wooroonooran National Park.
Closures aside, our guide to where it is safe to swim in Far North Queensland covers the standing hazards at these sites.
