Is Cobbold Gorge Worth it? Review & Things to do?

If you’ve been researching hidden gems in Outback Queensland, you’ve probably come across Cobbold Gorge. Tucked away in the Gulf Savannah, it often leaves first-time visitors wondering, Is Cobbold Gorge really worth the effort to get there, and what tours are on offer?

The challenge is that Cobbold Gorge isn’t exactly on the main tourist trail. Its remote location means you’ll need to plan ahead for tours, accommodation and travel time. Many travellers hesitate because they aren’t sure if the journey will pay off or how much you can get done in just one day.

Having explored Cobbold Gorge myself, In this guide, I’ll walk you through my review, the Tour highlights you shouldn’t miss, and everything you need to know before visiting on a day trip or longer stay.

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Is Cobbold Gorge Worth Visiting & Review

Cobbold Gorge was only discovered by the land owners in the early 1990’s and visitation started soon after.

In a nutshell – Yes, I think Cobbold Gorge is worth visiting, as long as it’s taken for what it is. I found it one of the smallest gorges I have ever been too, but size didn’t devalue it’s beauty. However, because it’s on private property, it can be more expensive with tours & accommodation, with no options to explore on your own!

Just so you know, both Matt and I ended up staying two nights in Cobbold village, which means ONE full day to enjoy the gorge.

The whole day was definitely rushed, but we managed to fit everything in, with some casual drinks in the evening. However, I’m sure staying a few nights would have been much relaxing and well worth the experience.

But, any tour through the gorge is meditating, calming and peaceful, so I think you’re going to Love it! The most important information you need to know that access to the gorge is seasonal and only open from April to October each year (Dates dependant on weather patterns).

Pros & Cons to visiting!

To help you decide if Cobbold Gorge will be suitable for you, here’s a list of pros and cons:

✅ Pros

• Unique natural attraction – The gorge is one of the youngest in Queensland, with narrow sandstone walls and striking rock formations unlike anywhere else.
• Guided tours only – Keeps the area protected and ensures you learn about the geology, and local wildlife from knowledgeable guides.
• Glass-bottom boat experience – A highlight that lets you glide quietly through the gorge while spotting freshwater crocodiles.
• Adventure activities available – Options like stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, and scenic helicopter flights for a different perspective.
• Eco-friendly accommodation – Stay right at Cobbold Village, with cabins, camping, and a pool overlooking the outback.
• Remote outback experience – Offers the chance to disconnect, relax, and immerse yourself in Queensland’s wild landscapes.

❌ Cons

• Remote location – It’s not easy to get to, with a long drive on corrugated roads.
• Limited access – You can only explore the gorge on a guided tour (independent access is NOT allowed).
• Seasonal operation – Tours generally only run between April and October (closed during the wet season).
• Higher costs – Tour only access means activities can add up, and pricey compared to other outback experiences.
• Limited amenities nearby – The nearest towns is Forsayth, which is a 1 hour drive away along a dirt road.

Still need a little help deciding? Then watch my YouTube below for a visual aspect of all the activities!

Tours & Best Things to do at Cobbold Gorge

Cobbold Gorge is located in North Queensland, deep in the heart of the Gulf Savannah region, and turning off the Savannah way tourist drive.

It’s 3 hours away from the Undara Lava Tubes (Another Must-do spot) and 6 hours south-west from Cairns.

There are a few different options with tours and activities and I will go through some of these individually for you. However, know the Gorge is about 10-15 minutes drive away from the Village or Reception.

They provide bus transport, which will drive you in and out of the gorge.

1. Boat Tour

Depending on the day and how many people are booked, this Boat tour can run in a different order. As this is the most popular and easiest way to see the gorge, and it can be quite busy.

But essentially, it’s a 3 hour tour that includes :

• transport to and from the village ( 30 mins)
• Boat tour through the gorge (1 Hour)
• Land tour over the surrounding area ( 1 & 1/2 Hours including Glass bridge)
• Walking over the Glass Bridge.

As the gorge is very small, the size of the boat only just makes it through. It also has an electric motor at each end so there is no need to turn around. The boats fits roughly 14 people plus the Tour Leader, so not too crowded.

This is a very beautiful way to see the gorge and snap your happy shots, while listening to the Tour leaders intermittent commentary. It’s a quiet tour as you’re meandering through the gorge, hearing only the sounds of local wildlife and splashing of the water.

TIP – Take a good pair of walking shoes, plenty of water, sunscreen & a Hat. Also be on the lookout for Crocodiles, basking in the hot sun!

2. Circular Escarpment Walking Tour

Included in the 3 hour above, the tour leader will direct your group from the waters edge on a walk through the surrounding bushland.

This is a great way to learn about the native plants of Australia and what they are used for. Eventually, you’ll gradually climb the 19 metres to the top of the gorge and come to the Glass Bridge.

But, be advised there is a lacking of shade on this part, so be sure to wear sunscreen and a hat. 

3. Glass bottom Bridge Tour

Once again included in the 3 hour tour above, this was a new addition introduced to the tour in 2019.

This Glass bottom bridge not only allows you to see clearly straight out each side of the gorge, but also looking straight down at your feet through the bridge. You will need to take your shoes off for this one (only wearing socks), which helps to preserve the glass from scratches.

There is only about 10 minutes to enjoy this section of the gorge. However, If your afraid of heights, you might need some guided help to cross.

If there is no way you can get across then probably best to talk to your guide and skip the walking tour. 

Do you need help planning your trip to Queensland? Book a one-on-one consultation call with me, to get your questions answered & personalised help!

4. Stand Up Paddle Boarding Tour (SUP)

Now I thought this was a really great addition and a very different way to enjoy Cobbold Gorge.

The Stand Up Paddleboard tours tend to run first thing in the morning or late in the afternoon (we did the morning tour). Both Matt and I have been on paddle boards a few times but these boards were a bit smaller and meant they were harder to stay steady.

I was very glad I did this tour, although my feet were a little numb after 45 minutes standing in the one spot.

Any movement of your feet could mean falling over, so tried my hardest for that not to happen. Even better, there was only 6 people on our tour and not sure they take many more than this.

Yes, there are Crocodiles around and you might be re-thinking the whole paddle board idea. However, these are fresh water Crocodiles and more likely to swim away from humans, than attack.

Although if provoked, they can retaliate, so stay away from them and they will stay away from you. 

In the end, you’ll mostly see them in the middle of the day on the boat tours, trying to warm up in the sun. Be quick with the photo’s too, or they will jump straight into the water.

5. Helicopter Ride

There wasn’t a lot of options for timing on this one, and we pretty much got told when I was flying and that was it. I guess the flights are organised throughout the day around the normal schedule used for the cattle farm. 

The scenic Helicopter flight itself was a short 15 minutes and not sure I needed much more. The views were amazing, but if your doing this to see the gorge, then I might re-think.

The gorge is very small to see from the air and the tour is mainly on the surrounding area. However, you can see the Glass Bridge.

Options are available for 30 minute tours and I think a sunset champagne run, which does sound rather nice. The best thing is, this is only a 3 seater Helicopter which means everyone gets a window seat – YAY.

The window seat is a prerequisite for me when booking as I like a good view for photo’s and video. It would have also been great if you could get an option for doors off, as it limits glass reflection, but sadly, not an option on this one.

6. Restaurant and Bar

If your treating yourself on your visit, then you might want to check out their Meal Deals available. From what I could see the meals looked really nice and a nice selection for being such an isolated spot.

However, it is advised to ensure you book in for meal times, since the busy season can be very full and accommodates all visitors from the Cabins and Camping sites.

If you have brought along your own meals, then the bar is a great place to have a couple of quiet drinks and meet some of the fellow visitors.

Wi-Fi and Data service is limited and only available near the reception office and sometimes around the restaurant and bar areas. This is intermittent and due to the isolated location, it can’t be relied on

Note: There is no Wi-Fi or Data Service in the fixed accommodations, camping areas or at the Gorge itself.

7. Infinity Pool Swimming

What more could you want after a long hot day exploring, than hanging out in the swimming pool.

The Infinity pool overlooks a small Billabong, which was a bit dry on our visit.

In August, the pool was a little cold too, so didn’t spend too long in there. But, I can imagine it would be awesome and a lot busier in warmer weather. 

8. Campfire Nights

Every night around dusk the camp fire is lit right near the restaurant and pool. This is a great chance to grab a drink and sit beside the fire swapping travel story’s with your fellow visitors.

The temperate does drop in the evening and also a great place to warm up. 

9. Extra Activities

If you’re lucky enough to stay a few nights, then you could find the time for some of these things:

• Bush walking
• Mountain Biking(own bike)
• Fossicking
• Bird Watching
• Sunsets and Sunrise
• Fresh water Billabong with Aqua Golf and Kayaking
• Shopping for Souvenirs or Groceries at Corbett’s Store

How Much does it Cost?

With so many options available, here’s a quick breakdown of the Cobbold Gorge Tour & Accommodation costs and what’s included for day visitors:

• 3-Hour Gorge Tour – Adults $125 (Escarpment walk + Glass Bridge + Silent electric boat cruise),
• Stand-Up Paddleboard (SUP) Tour – Adults $70 (1-hour guided tour, includes all gear and instruction)
• Scenic Helicopter Flights – $213pp for a 15 minutes ride with 2 or 3 people (From above views of the gorge & surrounding landscape)

Note: Variations to these costs include transfers from Forsythe, Child & Family Tickets

As for the the accommodation and camping:

• Ensuite Cabins & Huts: Starting from approximately $170 per night
• Powered Campsites: From $50 per night.
• Unpowered Sites: About $20 per night

Where to stay?

Fixed Accommodation

On this occasion we stayed 2 nights in what they call a “Rouseabout” room. This was a basic cabin with 3 person set up, containing 3 single beds or 2 singles joined together with another single.

This was just the bare essentials with beds, bathroom, fridge, desk and air conditioner. However, there was no cooking allowed, but provided tea and coffee with kettle.

These rooms were very comfortable and the cheapest we saw online. Although without the cooking facilties, you either bring your own, or dine in at the restaurant.

As we had already been road tripping and finding other things to do in Outback Queensland, so we stocked up on food supplies in Innisfail before driving inland. This helped keep the costs down for the entire detour, before travelling onto Winton after that.

Other Accommodation options would be:

• Boundary Stand alone Huts – 2 person (Couple Accommodation with King Beds)
• Station Suites – Family Suited ( Self Contained with Microwave & Sink)
• Assessable Ringers Rest – 2 person (Wheel Chair and Mobility impaired accommodation)

Camping

If your bringing your own place to sleep then there are a few options available at a cheaper cost.

Prices currently range from $20AUD to $70AUD per night for 2 Adults. Variations to this depend on extra adults and kids and ensuite needs. 

Options are:

• Powered sites
• Powered Sites with En-suites
• Bush Camping (unpowered).

Facilities that are included with the camping are:

• Washing Machines
• Amenity Blocks for campers
• Gas & wood fire BBQ’s
• Camp fire
• Camp kitchen

NOTE: Know that the road coming into Cobbold gorge is corrugated and a little hectic for towing a caravan. It can be done, but might be slower and you might want to consider dust/rock protection to your vehicle/caravan beforehand.

How to get there?

While Cobbold Gorge feels remote, getting there is all part of the experience. Most travellers begin their journey from the east coast, with popular starting points including Cairns, Townsville, or the Whitsundays.

From Cairns, the drive is around 6–7 hours inland via the Atherton Tablelands (we stopped at the Waterfall Circuit on the way there) and Georgetown. From Townsville, it’s a similar journey, about 5–6 hours, heading west through Charters Towers.

This starts along the Savannah Way highway, which is a road 3700 kilometres long stretching from one side of Australia in Cairns, to the other side in Broome. Its known and promoted as a self drive tourist route and so many different locations can be discovered along this way.

Cobbold Gorge is a short via off this tourist drive!

The roads to Cobbold Gorge are a mix of sealed highways, unsealed gravel sections, two-way/single lane roads and corrugated roads. The main highways are generally well-maintained and suitable for standard vehicles, but once you turn off towards Cobbold Village, you’ll encounter around 40–50 km of unsealed road.

This is not a drive I would recommend at night, since there are many risks driving at this time in the outback.

In fact, any road trip in Queensland inherits certain considerations and I have some driving tips and things to know to help you plan beforehand. With that said, if you take it slow, you’ll be treated to some classic outback scenery.

From the Atherton Tablelands rainforests to wide-open plains dotted with termite mounds, and the changing landscapes. You may also spot kangaroos, emus, and wedge-tailed eagles along the roadside.

Passing through small country towns like Georgetown and Forsayth, you’ll get a glimpse of Queensland’s gold rush history and welcoming outback hospitality before finally arriving at the gorge.

Wrap up!

Cobbold Gorge is one of those rare outback destinations that truly lives up to the hype. Even if you only have time for a day trip, the gorge delivers plenty of activities with a perfect balance of adventure, relaxation, and stunning scenery, that captures the essence of Outback Queensland.

Thanks for reading my review, but, if you’re looking for more inspiration. Be sure to check out my other Outback Queensland blog posts where I share more guides, tips, and experiences to help you plan the ultimate trip.

• How to Get to Rainbow Falls in the Blackdown Tablelands National Park
• Best Things to do in Windorah QLD
• Is Porcupine Gorge National Park worth Visiting
• Best Things to do in Birdsville QLD
• Carnarvon Gorge Walks & Sites in the National Park
• Best Things to do in Longreach!
• Things to do in Winton that are worth visiting!