Blackdown Tablelands - Charlevue Lookout and Sandstone Sculptures

Charlevue Lookout or Mitha Boongulla (means black tall timber) is one of the best lookouts across the escarpment from the north eastern side of Blackdown. In 1971 Forestry built a depot along this track and the majority of tall stringybarks that grew in this area were logged. The surviving ecosystem still has not recovered as the trees of the past are no longer present.

Along the route there are many examples of various shapes eroded by time in the sandstone cliffs. The spectacular shapes provide entertainment along the route and keep the hiker imagining hiw the wind and water combination created the shapes therein.

The hike is a one-way hike starting from the 2wd road in (Charlevue road) and initially follows the road into the old forestry base. The track is nearly all fire trial width. There is evidence of some quarrying operation also within the forrstry base.

The initial track follows on from the forestry base cross through the stringybark terrain to eventually hit the north east corner of the park where Charlevue lookout is. There are fenced of areas to stop the visitor from varying too close to the cliffs.

From here the trail precedes South following apothca that leads through various sculptured areas of sandstone. The initial section you see sandstone rock pillars and later on you see rounded shapes. Just before you proceed down the fire trail back to the cultural track you will reach an area of giant sandstone rocks. Feel dwarfed by the immense size of the rocks here.

The conclusion of the hike follows a fire trail that comes off the main 4WD track and heads back to the cultural track which surrounds the area around the main campsite. The cultural track concludes at the campsite.

Be careful around the Charlevue lookout as there are steep edges and the rock face is coming away from the side of the cliffs. Also watch out for four-wheel drive traffic which may be coming along the road from the south into the lookout.

All up a beautiful hike with only one hill in the area just before climbing up to the track to Charlevue lookout. Adding this hike to your trip to Blackdown Tablelands well at least give you a little bit of distance.