Off the Beaten Track: Exploring our National Parks

Explore nature’s playground boasting precariously balancing granite boulders, lush rainforest-clad mountain peaks, the world’s largest stand of ancient bunya pines, as well as a myriad of waterfalls and bush walks.

Taking scenery to new heights

Queensland is home to some of Australia’s most stunning natural wonders, including a number of must-see national parks. Zoom in on Southern Queensland Country to discover a naturally gifted region boasting a variety of well-loved locations.

The dramatic landscapes of Girraween National Park, located a short 35km drive south from Stanthorpe, attracts more than 120,000 visitors each year. Here, you’ll be awed by huge granite boulders towering above open forests, and delicate spring wildflowers adding splashes of colour to the landscape. There are 17km of walking tracks to explore, all offering spectacular views. Make the most of your visit and stay overnight at the Castle Rock and Bald Rock Creek camping areas.

Mount Basalt Reserve is another unique destination that’s a must-do on any hikers bucket list. Here, you’ll find striking volcanic formations across 10ha of scrubland. This one is best explored by following the walking track to two rocky peaks with lookouts boasting spectacular views. To get there, travel from Toowoomba along the Gore Highway to Millmerran, then drive 18km south on Kooroongarra Road to the reserve.

Sundown National Park, located on the QLD/NSW border, is a rugged wilderness featuring steep-sided gorges, sharp ridges, and peaks rising to over 1,000m. There are sectioned camping areas suitable for both casual and experienced adventurers. Check out the permanent waterhole by strolling 1km along a graded walk. For those with more experience, hike into a bush camp and explore the Severn River. Keep in mind that a 4WD is recommended with 20km of rough track.

Main Range National Park – Cunninghams Gap is a World Heritage-listed park that offers spectacular mountain scenery and a range of easy walking tracks. Located 116km south-west of Brisbane or 50km east of Warwick along the Cunningham Highway, it boasts breathtaking views and passes through rainforest, open eucalypt forest, and heath.

Connecting with Indigenous history

Discover the Bunya Mountains National Park, Queensland’s second oldest national park and what is thought to be the world’s largest remaining stand of bunya pine forest. With a strong Indigenous history–Aboriginal people gathered here from afar during bunya nut season for bunya festivals until the late 1800s; learn about the cultural connection to the park while enjoying walks (ranging from 500m to 12km in length) through bunya pine forest, eucalypt forest and rainforest. Discover mountain scenery and grassy ‘balds’ and have fun spotting an incredible variety of birds. Stay longer and relax at one of the camping areas or various accommodation venues where it’s blissfully cool in summer and a misty wonderland in winter. Cafés are located nearby.

Take a country drive 55km north-east of Dalby or 56km south-west of Kingaroy. Travelling from Brisbane?

Allow 3 hours. The access routes to the park are steep and winding. Not suited to caravans or trailers.

Wildlife wonders

Welcome to a nature lover’s paradise! The stunning landscapes and diverse ecosystems, make this region a must-visit destination for wildlife enthusiasts with several parks offering unique flora and fauna experiences.

Wildlife enthusiasts will be delighted by the abundance of fauna in Jimna State Forest. You’ll find Eastern Grey Kangaroos commonly seen lazing around under the gumtrees scattered across the camping area and platypuses in Yabba Creek, where you can camp on grassy banks or explore one of the three walking tracks. Jimna State Forest also has horse riding and mountain biking trails, and a horse paddock located beside Peach Trees camping area - a dedicated wheelchair friendly camp site.

Crows Nest National Park, located 55km north of Toowoomba via the New England Highway or 55km west of Esk via Esk-Hampton Road, is a hidden gem. It boasts spectacular creek scenery with views over the Valley of Diamonds from Koonin Lookout, granite outcrops, a picturesque waterfall and eucalypt forest remnants on the edge of the Great Dividing Range. Visitors can cool off in Bottlebrush Pool while watching for brush-tailed rock wallabies, small forest birds and cliff-nesting peregrine falcons.

Perfect for picnics

A picnic with a view? Say less! We don’t want to toot our own horn (beep, beep), but the Southern Queensland Country region has an abundance of breathtaking parks to choose from. Here are a few options that offer some of the most beautiful picnic spots around.

Lake Broadwater Conservation Park is a fantastic spot for avid bird watching, boating, and camping enthusiasts. This park is home to various waterbirds and wildlife and surrounded by cypress pine, eucalypt, and brigalow open woodland. Camp beside the lake, bird-watch from the hide, or picnic under a shady red gum. The park is situated 20km southwest of Dalby, accessible by turning off the Moonie Highway and driving another 10km. Permits are required for boating, so make sure to contact Lake Broadwater caretakers beforehand.

Seeking scenic views? Main Range National Park – Goomburra is an excellent option boasting creek-side campsites, picnic spots, and walks. From the top of the range, you can enjoy stunning views at the lookouts over the Fassifern Valley towards the Border Ranges in the south and across Mount Castle in the north. Explore walking tracks ranging from short easy circuits to longer tracks (5-12km), showcasing woodland, rainforest, creeks, waterfalls, and native Australian wildlife. Be mindful that the road may be closed after heavy rain due to the last 6km of road from the highway being unsealed.

Our advice? Do go chasing waterfalls! Queen Mary Falls at the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area in Main Range National Park is a sight to behold. You can take the Falls Drive tourist route from Boonah along the Boonah-Killarney Road to explore the short hikes leading to lookouts overlooking the breathtaking falls or take the 2km track down to the floor of the gorge.

All that’s left to do is source your perfect picnic!

In Ravensbourne National Park, visitors can see majestic Sydney blue gums, staghorns, elkhorns and twining rainforest vines while exploring a series of four short tracks, including a self-guided walk from Cedar Block picnic area. Panoramic views can be enjoyed from Gus Beutel lookout, and bird enthusiasts can keep an eye out for the regent bowerbird and wompoo pigeons, as well as listen for cat birds, noisy pittas, and paradise riflebirds. Ravensbourne National Park is located north of Toowoomba towards Crows Nest on the New England Highway until Hampton.

Home to more than 120 species of wildlife across a diverse range of ecosystems, Conondale National Park is a must-visit for nature lovers. With magnificent forests, deep gorges, boulder-strewn creeks, waterfalls and spectacular views, this national park offers a wide range of activities including walking tracks, scenic four-wheel drives and grassy camp sites near rainforests and mountain streams. Registered high clearance fourwheel drives are allowed on forest roads, and Sunday Creek Road from Jimna to Charlie Mooreland Campground near Kenilworth is a popular track. Visitors should check road conditions and park updates before heading out on the four-wheel drive tracks. Conondale National Park is located in the Somerset Region.

Discover a diverse range of plants and animals at the Lockyer Valley National Park. At this largely un-touched park, you’ll find the nearthreatened mountain guinea flower and vulnerable species such as the Helidon ironbark, brush-tailed rock-wallaby and black-breasted buttonquail. Featuring remote sandstone gorges surrounded by remnant eucalypt forest makes a popular location for recreational activities including remote bushwalking, motorbike and 4WD touring. Travel north of Gatton, 11km along Gatton-Esk Road, then turn left onto Millers Road to reach the entrance of the park. Check conditions prior to travel. Conventional, twowheel-drive (2WD) vehicles can access Seventeen Mile Road only.

Boondooma Dam

South Burnett

Boondooma Dam, 20ks north of Proston, is a peaceful destination for families, anglers, campers, birdwatchers, and water sports enthusiasts. Escape the stress for a weekend or longer, and choose a caravan, tent, or cabin. Fish to your heart’s content by launching your boat from the maintained ramp. Enjoy a new playground, camp kitchens, hot showers, toilets, and kiosk. Remember to get a fishing permit. Relax and rejuvenate at Boondooma Dam.

40 Bushcamp Rd, Okenden Via Proston QLD 4613

To book visit: lakeboondooma.com.au or call +61 7 4168 9694 Facebook: lakeboondooma