Caring for parks and forests
Parks and forests protect Queensland's wonderful natural diversity and scenery. When you visit them, please help keep these places special by following these guidelines:
- Protect the wildlife. Remember, plants and animals are protected, so leave them undisturbed. Try not to trample plants when you are walking or erecting your tent. Do not feed or leave food for animals—human food can harm wildlife and cause some animals to become aggressive.
- Respect Indigenous culture. Rock art and other sites in parks and forests represent thousands of years of living culture with special significance to Indigenous people. These sites are easily damaged and are irreplaceable. Look at them, enjoy them, but please do not touch or damage them.
- Historic sites. Remains of many activities of the later European settlers are also scattered throughout national parks. Look at them, enjoy them, but please do not damage them.
- Be careful with fire. Preferably use a fuel stove for cooking, and use fireplaces, where provided, not an open fire. Put the fire out with water when you leave your campsite. Don't collect firewood in the park—bring your own clean, milled wood. Obey fire restrictions.
- Stop the spread of weeds and pathogens. New introductions can spread and displace resident species and alter the local ecology. Soil from your camping gear and boots can contain weed seeds and foreign plant pathogens, such as Phytophthora (root rot disease), or some fungal spores which kill frogs.
- Before you leave home, clean your walking boots and clothes.
- Clean camping spade and camping gear with a disinfectant wash.
- Brush soil and plant materials out of your tent before each pack up.
- For more information watch the stop the spread of weeds web clip.
- Leave no rubbish. Take your rubbish with you when you leave, don't bury it.
- Camp, walk and drive softly. Leave your campsite better than you found it. When walking, stay on the tracks—for more information see walk softly.
- Use toilets if provided. If toilets are not available, bury all faecal matter and toilet paper 15-20 cm deep at least 100 m from tracks, campsites and waterbodies. Take nappies and sanitary products home with you for disposal.
- Leave pets at home. Domestic animals are not permitted in national parks.
- Protect creeks and lakes. Detergents, soaps, sunscreen lotions, insect repellents and toothpastes pollute water and harm aquatic life. Wash yourself and your dishes 100 m away from watercourses and lakes. Apply sunscreen after your swim.
- Be considerate. People visit parks and forests to enjoy the sounds of nature, not noisy radios or generators.
Last updated: 29 April 2010