Outback Queensland flooding - will it be gone by June?

Submitted: Friday, Jan 16, 2026 at 12:41
ThreadID: 152100 Views:1177 Replies:5 FollowUps:0
I'm planning a trip from Mt Isa to Cameron Corner in June/July this year. I've never really paid much attention to the floods up that way because it hasn't been relevant. But if I look now lots of the roads are closed and there's some impressive looking flood flow videos.

Is it likely to have dried up by June/July so that I can drive "anywhere" (at least anywhere I'm allowed to) including minor back tracks?

My hoped for route is Mt Isa, Duchess, Kuridala, Boiulia, Old Cork Station/Lark Quarry, then down the Diamantina River to Beetoota, Haddon Corner, Innamincka, then Cameron Corner. There's lots of rivers!

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Reply By: Member - Mark (Tamworth NSW) - Friday, Jan 16, 2026 at 13:39

Friday, Jan 16, 2026 at 13:39
Try and get a response from the Ranger in charge at Diamantina Lakes NP for your run south from Boulia/Winton. They will have a very good idea. If you can't access the NP, talk to the NP regional office in Longreach.
Failing that private message Member Bob Y. at Winton

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Reply By: Member - Cuppa - Saturday, Jan 17, 2026 at 17:56

Saturday, Jan 17, 2026 at 17:56
Probably a terrible thing to say, but I am not up to date with what the flooding is like out that way currently
.If anything like the Channel country flooding last year it could easily be a couple of months before it's all open again.We waited in Tbooburra for a month before we could get across to Boulia & the Plenty Highway, but even then we couldn't go via our intended route via Windorah & Bedourie.Had to go up through Longreach & across to Winton. Even when we eventually reached Alice many roads in the Channel country were still closed. EDIT. I would think you would be ok by June/July though.
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Reply By: ExplorOz - David & Michelle - Monday, Jan 19, 2026 at 18:41

Monday, Jan 19, 2026 at 18:41
While major routes generally dry out and reopen by June/July, minor back tracks often require more time to be graded and cleared of debris. Floods in the Diamantina catchment can inundate grazing lands and tracks for months, and councils will not open them if they are boggy to prevent road damage.
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Reply By: Member - Peter C105 - Monday, Jan 19, 2026 at 21:56

Monday, Jan 19, 2026 at 21:56
Keeping an eye on Queensland road conditions here is helpful too.
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Reply By: Member - peter_mcc - Wednesday, Jan 21, 2026 at 16:49

Wednesday, Jan 21, 2026 at 16:49
Thanks everyone. I took the suggestion of emailing the ranger (done via the generic Parks website contact form) and they got back to me within a day or so:

I would say at this stage the roads should be dry and open by winter but the waterholes will still be full so a great time to visit. Feel free to contact me beforehand also if you would like for local conditions closer to your trip.

I'll continue my plannng and hopefully it will all work out!

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