Main Range National Park guide

Toowoomba

Laidley

Gatton

Killarney

Allora

Boonah

Queen

Mary

Falls

Warwick

Glen Rock

State Forest

Main Range

National Park

New South Wales

Aratula

Ipswich

20km

Scale

Explore a living ark

Step out of your car and onto a track winding through

towering forests. Pause by a mountain stream or waterfall;

climb a peak. Snap a picture-postcard scene, picnic, camp,

birdwatch or simply escape into a precious World Heritage

Area within a short drive of Brisbane.

Scenic, rugged and brimming with life, the 34,689ha

Main Range National Park straddles the Great Dividing Range

section of the Scenic Rim—a spectacular arc of mountains

stretching from Mount Mistake to Springbrook.

This is the northern tip of the Gondwana

Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area—

recognised for its ongoing geological processes,

evolutionary history and as one of the most biologically

diverse and interesting areas in the world. Gondwana

Rainforests of Australia is one of the top ten biodiversity

hotspots in Australia, and few places on Earth contain

so many plants and animals so closely related to

their ancestors.

Be captivated by this remarkable and stunningly

beautiful living ark.

Further information

qld.gov.au/NationalParks

qld.gov.au/Camping

qld.gov.au/ParkAlerts

(access, closures and conditions)

qldnationalparks

@QldParks; #QldParks

Check road conditions before you visit at

qldtrafﬁc.qld.gov.au or phone 13 19 40.

This brochure is also available online

at qld.gov.au/ParkBrochures

Scan to check

park alerts

Welcome to

Main Range

National Park

A skyline of impressive peaks, escarpments

and ridges beckons in the distance. Let the

breathtaking views, hidden valleys and timeless

forests sheltering seldom-seen and rare creatures

lure you into this ancient mountain range.

Wild yet accessible is how I think of Main Range,

from some of the highest mountains in

Queensland to crystal clear streams, there’s

something for everyone! Main Range offers

a place to discover, rest, contemplate, exert,

connect and energise for young and old alike.

Ranger Steve

Photo: © Glenn Leiper (ﬂower)

Photos: © J Asche (left);

Maxime Coquard © Qld Govt (middle);

Photos: Harry Hines © Qld Govt; Maxime Coquard © Qld Govt (background)

Photo: © Sarah Haskmann

Bolwarra is a primitive ﬂowering plant

that evolved some 66 million years ago

and is pollinated exclusively by tiny weevils.

Be mesmerised in cooler months by the ﬂuid,

mimicking calls of elusive Albert’s lyrebirds (middle

inset);Southern angle-headed dragon; Satin bowerbird.

Hear the throaty “ok-ok-ok-ok-ok-ok” call of Fleay’s barred frogs

after rain. This frog species is in danger of becoming extinct.

Ways to visit

Pull up for a quick break, or stay for a day or week to relish

a memorable mountain escape amid ancient peaks,

dramatic escarpments and forest-cloaked slopes and

valleys. A different experience awaits at each of the

park’s distinct sections: Cunninghams Gap, Spicers Gap,

Queen Mary Falls or Goomburra.

Day visits

Relax in a tranquil bird-ﬁlled opening in the forest, watch

water plummet over a waterfall or while away the hours by

a burbling stream. Lace up your boots and get to know the

park and its wildlife on a leisurely forest stroll or exhilarating

hike. Visit heritage sites and reﬂect on days gone by.

Places to camp

Sleep outdoors in a wild place not far from the city.

Shady camp sites, open grassy areas for caravans, and

remote walk-in tent sites all deliver camping-adventures

to remember.

Book your camp site well in advance at qld.gov.au/Camping,

especially for stays during school holidays and

long weekends.

How to get there

Cunninghams Gap is a mountain pass on the busy

Cunningham Highway 116km south-west of Brisbane and

50km east of Warwick. Stop for a picnic or take off on a walk.

Most walks begin at the Crest car park, near a monument to

Allan Cunningham—the ﬁrst European to locate the gap in 1828.

Spicers Gap was the main route used in the late 1800s for

travel between the Darling Downs and Brisbane. Turn off

the Cunningham Highway 5km west of Aratula onto Lake

Moogerah Road, then take the sealed/unsealed Spicers Gap

Road (not suitable for small city cars) up the range past the

camping area to Governors Chair. Vehicle access from the

west leaves the Cunningham Highway 1.5km west of the

QPWS ofﬁce at Cunninghams Gap, and ends 1.6km west of

Governors Chair. From there you must walk, ride a bicycle

or horse along the historic section of Old Spicers Gap Road

towards Governors Chair. The western access road requires

a high clearance 4WD and is closed in wet weather.

Queen Mary Falls is a scenic picnic area 11km east of Killarney

via Spring Creek Road (or 64km south-west of Boonah via

The Head Road over Teviot Range). The winding mountain roads

offer spectacular views, but are not suitable for caravans.

Goomburra is nestled into the western foothills of Main

Range. Situated 175km south-west of Brisbane, it is a

tranquil creek-side base from which to explore deep into

valleys and densely forested ranges. From Toowoomba or

Warwick, turn off the New England Highway 3km south of

Allora onto Goomburra Road (which becomes Inverramsay

Road), and follow the narrow winding road for 35km.

From Brisbane, turn north off the Cunningham Highway

at Gladﬁeld (25km west of Cunninghams Gap) and travel

8km to join Inverramsay Road and continue to the park.

Goomburra can be reached by car in dry conditions,

but the last 6km of the road is unsealed, can be slippery

when wet and has many creek crossings. You need a 4WD

or high clearance 2WD to drive up the range to lookouts.

Roads can be closed after heavy rain.

Day-use areas at a glance Facilities Description

Kurrajong picnic area

(Goomburra)

Unwind beside Dalrymple Creek then take off to discover lookouts and

forest trails at the head of the Goomburra Valley. Toilets, information

and camping areas nearby.

West Gap Creek picnic area

(Cunninghams Gap)

Detour off the busy highway to relax at this bird-ﬁlled, creek-side haven

in the forest.

The Crest

(Cunninghams Gap)

Step out of your car and onto a track winding through lush rainforest,

to a lookout, up a mountain peak or alongside a trickling stream.

Pioneer picnic area

(Spicers Gap)

The dappled shade of eucalypts, abundant birdlife and pioneering

heritage make for a refreshing change of pace.

Spicers Gap

Bump along a narrow unsealed track to the crest of what was once

the only trafﬁcable route from the Darling Downs to Moreton Bay.

Queen Mary Falls

Chattering parrots and the sounds of running water greet you at

this idyllic, sun-drenched opening in fragrant eucalypt forest.

Camping at a glance Facilities Description

Poplar Flat

(Goomburra)

Fall asleep to Dalrymple Creek gurgling in the background.

Wake to forest birds and bell miners chiming in the tree-tops.

Manna Gum

(Goomburra)

Discover nature at this peaceful creek-side clearing. Warm your ﬁngers

by the campﬁre listening to the calls of Fleay’s barred frogs and the

screeches of possums, gliders and owls.

Spicers Gap

Spot a snoozing koala or rummaging bandicoot from your camp

amid eucalypts and she-oaks at the eastern gateway to historical

Spicers Gap Road.

Remote walk-in

bush camps

If you are an experienced off-track walker with specialist equipment

and well-developed navigation skills, there’s a secluded camp site

without facilities just for you. Visit qld.gov.au/MainRange for options

and bushwalking tips.

Gondwana beginnings

Spectacular landforms and a diversity of plants and animals

tell us about the shaping of life on our planet.

The break-up of the supercontinent of Gondwana and the

uplift along Australia’s east coast, about 120–180 million

years ago, formed the Great Diving Range. Then, as Australia

drifted over a volcanic hotspot, the Main Range shield

volcano spewed forth lava extending from Ipswich and

Boonah west to Warwick. In the 23 million years since,

water gushing down steep slopes has eroded peaks

and sheer cliff lines on the eastern side of the range and

exposed plugs and dykes across the Fassifern Valley.

To the west behind the escarpment, gentler ridges give

way to valleys and plains beyond.

Precious remnants of the vast ancient forests that once

covered Gondwana grow in sheltered, isolated pockets

of moist, fertile soils. See survivors of prehistoric times—

such as mosses, liverworts, ancient ferns, primeval pines

(such as hoop pines) and primitive ﬂowering plants

(including bolwarra). They reveal insights into the evolutionary

stages of our amazing ﬂora before eucalypts, acacias and

other ﬁre and drought-adapted plants swept aside most of

the rainforests as Australia moved north and became drier.

Treasured for all time

Aboriginal place names for many prominent peaks reﬂect

the ongoing connection Aboriginal people have with the

forests, steams and landforms of Main Range. Barguggan

(Spicers Peak), Jirramun (Wilsons Peak) and Mount Roberts

were smoke signal stations used for communication—long

before Europeans found the ways to cross these ranges, log

the forests, and come to value the land’s natural wonders.

Mountain magic

The magic of Main Range is its mosaic of different habitats—

depending on aspect, soil type and elevation.

Ramble along rugged escarpments with giant spear lilies

clinging to cliffs below. Subtropical rainforest hugs moist

gullies while the sunny slopes burst with eucalypts,

grasstrees, wattles and casuarinas. Be delighted by the

intricate and brightly-coloured ﬂowers of low-growing

heath plants rooted in shallow soils on rocky outcrops

and exposed peaks.

Discover species you’ve never seen before. Main Range is

home to more than 478 animal species, including 252 birds.

Long-nosed potoroos, Hastings River mouse, brush-tailed

rock-wallabies, eastern bristlebirds and the Border Ranges leaf-

tailed gecko are just some of the vulnerable species living here.

Witness wedge-tailed eagles soaring overhead, treecreepers

scurrying up tree trunks on sunny mountain-sides and

honeyeaters sipping nectar from blossoms. Spot Cunningham’s

skinks lazing on rocks, koalas snoozing in eucalypts by day,

or greater gliders and yellow-bellied gliders moving through

tree-tops at night.

Feel refreshed in the cool shaded rainforest surrounded by

age-old forest giants, towering strangler ﬁgs, tangled vines,

epiphytes, buttress roots, palms, mosses and tree ferns.

This is the secret world of some of the world’s most ancient

songbirds—the Albert’s lyrebird, rufous scrub-bird and satin

bowerbird. Keep an eye out for logrunners, green catbirds,

noisy pittas, rainforest slugs, snails and the beautiful

(but endangered), Richmond birdwing butterﬂy.

Spot spiny crays, mountain galaxias

and frogs in and around clear

mountain streams.

Show you care

• Leave pets at home—domestic animals are not permitted.

• Let wildlife be wild. Never feed birds, wallabies or other

wildlife as this upsets the balance of nature and harms

them in the long term. Animals can also become aggressive.

• Bring it in, take it out! Take all rubbish (including food

scraps, cigarette butts and sanitary items) away with you.

• Bring sealable containers for your food and rubbish

so that wildlife cannot get into it.

• Use a fuel stove. Bring your own ﬁrewood (such as

untreated mill off-cuts) to use in barbecues where

provided. Elevated barbecues or braziers are welcome

provided the ground underneath them is protected.

• Open ﬁres are prohibited at all remote walk-in camp sites.

• Generators are not permitted in camping areas.

Do frogs and the forest a favour

• Stay out of creeks, keep to tracks and never disturb, handle

or remove tadpoles, shift rocks or trample vegetation.

• Clean your boots, clothes and equipment of soil and seeds

before and after your visit and help stop the spread

of weeds and harmful organisms (such as root fungus).

• Keep waterways free of soap, detergents, shampoo

and sunscreen. Bathe or wash equipment at least

100m from creeks or streams.

• Use toilets at picnic and camping areas. If you must ‘go’

in the bush, bury human waste and toilet paper at least

15cm deep and 100m away from waterways.

Explore safely

Main Range has many natural hazards, so be careful and don’t

take risks. Your safety is our concern but your responsibility.

• Stay on the tracks and supervise children closely.

• Take care near cliff edges, at lookouts, near waterfalls,

creeks and slippery rocks.

• Wear protection: sturdy walking shoes, a hat, long

sleeves and long trousers. Pack warm clothing and

a raincoat as the weather can change quickly in

the mountains.

• Use insect repellent for ticks and leeches.

• Avoid contact with wildlife and with the leaves of

stinging trees, stinging nettles and other prickly shrubs.

• Carry sufﬁcient drinking water. Water from all sources

(including taps) must be boiled or treated before drinking.

• Never walk alone. Always tell someone where you are

going and when you expect to return.

• Avoid visiting in extreme weather. Take extra care in

rainy, windy or foggy conditions. Falling trees and limbs,

ﬂash ﬂooding and landslips occur at any time. In dry

conditions wildﬁres can sweep quickly up mountain-sides.

• Check conditions and stay informed. Visit qld.gov.au/

ParkAlerts for park closures, bom.gov.au for weather

conditions and qfes.qld.gov.au for ﬁre danger warnings

and ﬁre bans. Check road conditions before you visit at

qldtrafﬁc.qld.gov.au or phone 13 19 40.

In an emergency

Call Triple Zero (000) or use the Emergency

app

(emergencyapp.triplezero.gov.au)

Mobile coverage is unreliable, but you can often get

a signal at higher locations that have a view to the east

of the dividing range.

Photos: © Sarah Haskmann;

View of Main Range National

Park from Mount Cordeaux track

Photos: © Bruce Thomson (middle inset);

permitted

Main Range

National Park

©State of Queensland 2019.

Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service,

Department of Environment and Science.

BP2260 May 2019.

Printed on eco-friendly paper to save energy and resources.

Photos: © J Asche (front cover); © Gareth McGuigan (back cover)

Queensland National Parks

Toowoomba

Laidley

Gatton

Killarney

Allora

Boonah

Queen

Mary

Falls

Warwick

Glen Rock

State Forest

Main Range

National Park

New South Wales

Aratula

Ipswich

20km

Scale

Explore a living ark

Step out of your car and onto a track winding through

towering forests. Pause by a mountain stream or waterfall;

climb a peak. Snap a picture-postcard scene, picnic, camp,

birdwatch or simply escape into a precious World Heritage

Area within a short drive of Brisbane.

Scenic, rugged and brimming with life, the 34,689ha

Main Range National Park straddles the Great Dividing Range

section of the Scenic Rim—a spectacular arc of mountains

stretching from Mount Mistake to Springbrook.

This is the northern tip of the Gondwana

Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area—

recognised for its ongoing geological processes,

evolutionary history and as one of the most biologically

diverse and interesting areas in the world. Gondwana

Rainforests of Australia is one of the top ten biodiversity

hotspots in Australia, and few places on Earth contain

so many plants and animals so closely related to

their ancestors.

Be captivated by this remarkable and stunningly

beautiful living ark.

Further information

qld.gov.au/NationalParks

qld.gov.au/Camping

qld.gov.au/ParkAlerts

(access, closures and conditions)

qldnationalparks

@QldParks; #QldParks

Check road conditions before you visit at

qldtrafﬁc.qld.gov.au or phone 13 19 40.

This brochure is also available online

at qld.gov.au/ParkBrochures

Scan to check

park alerts

Welcome to

Main Range

National Park

A skyline of impressive peaks, escarpments

and ridges beckons in the distance. Let the

breathtaking views, hidden valleys and timeless

forests sheltering seldom-seen and rare creatures

lure you into this ancient mountain range.

Wild yet accessible is how I think of Main Range,

from some of the highest mountains in

Queensland to crystal clear streams, there’s

something for everyone! Main Range offers

a place to discover, rest, contemplate, exert,

connect and energise for young and old alike.

Ranger Steve

Photo: © Glenn Leiper (ﬂower)

Photos: © J Asche (left);

Maxime Coquard © Qld Govt (middle);

Photos: Harry Hines © Qld Govt; Maxime Coquard © Qld Govt (background)

Photo: © Sarah Haskmann

Bolwarra is a primitive ﬂowering plant

that evolved some 66 million years ago

and is pollinated exclusively by tiny weevils.

Be mesmerised in cooler months by the ﬂuid,

mimicking calls of elusive Albert’s lyrebirds (middle

inset);Southern angle-headed dragon; Satin bowerbird.

Hear the throaty “ok-ok-ok-ok-ok-ok” call of Fleay’s barred frogs

after rain. This frog species is in danger of becoming extinct.

Ways to visit

Pull up for a quick break, or stay for a day or week to relish

a memorable mountain escape amid ancient peaks,

dramatic escarpments and forest-cloaked slopes and

valleys. A different experience awaits at each of the

park’s distinct sections: Cunninghams Gap, Spicers Gap,

Queen Mary Falls or Goomburra.

Day visits

Relax in a tranquil bird-ﬁlled opening in the forest, watch

water plummet over a waterfall or while away the hours by

a burbling stream. Lace up your boots and get to know the

park and its wildlife on a leisurely forest stroll or exhilarating

hike. Visit heritage sites and reﬂect on days gone by.

Places to camp

Sleep outdoors in a wild place not far from the city.

Shady camp sites, open grassy areas for caravans, and

remote walk-in tent sites all deliver camping-adventures

to remember.

Book your camp site well in advance at qld.gov.au/Camping,

especially for stays during school holidays and

long weekends.

How to get there

Cunninghams Gap is a mountain pass on the busy

Cunningham Highway 116km south-west of Brisbane and

50km east of Warwick. Stop for a picnic or take off on a walk.

Most walks begin at the Crest car park, near a monument to

Allan Cunningham—the ﬁrst European to locate the gap in 1828.

Spicers Gap was the main route used in the late 1800s for

travel between the Darling Downs and Brisbane. Turn off

the Cunningham Highway 5km west of Aratula onto Lake

Moogerah Road, then take the sealed/unsealed Spicers Gap

Road (not suitable for small city cars) up the range past the

camping area to Governors Chair. Vehicle access from the

west leaves the Cunningham Highway 1.5km west of the

QPWS ofﬁce at Cunninghams Gap, and ends 1.6km west of

Governors Chair. From there you must walk, ride a bicycle

or horse along the historic section of Old Spicers Gap Road

towards Governors Chair. The western access road requires

a high clearance 4WD and is closed in wet weather.

Queen Mary Falls is a scenic picnic area 11km east of Killarney

via Spring Creek Road (or 64km south-west of Boonah via

The Head Road over Teviot Range). The winding mountain roads

offer spectacular views, but are not suitable for caravans.

Goomburra is nestled into the western foothills of Main

Range. Situated 175km south-west of Brisbane, it is a

tranquil creek-side base from which to explore deep into

valleys and densely forested ranges. From Toowoomba or

Warwick, turn off the New England Highway 3km south of

Allora onto Goomburra Road (which becomes Inverramsay

Road), and follow the narrow winding road for 35km.

From Brisbane, turn north off the Cunningham Highway

at Gladﬁeld (25km west of Cunninghams Gap) and travel

8km to join Inverramsay Road and continue to the park.

Goomburra can be reached by car in dry conditions,

but the last 6km of the road is unsealed, can be slippery

when wet and has many creek crossings. You need a 4WD

or high clearance 2WD to drive up the range to lookouts.

Roads can be closed after heavy rain.

Day-use areas at a glance Facilities Description

Kurrajong picnic area

(Goomburra)

Unwind beside Dalrymple Creek then take off to discover lookouts and

forest trails at the head of the Goomburra Valley. Toilets, information

and camping areas nearby.

West Gap Creek picnic area

(Cunninghams Gap)

Detour off the busy highway to relax at this bird-ﬁlled, creek-side haven

in the forest.

The Crest

(Cunninghams Gap)

Step out of your car and onto a track winding through lush rainforest,

to a lookout, up a mountain peak or alongside a trickling stream.

Pioneer picnic area

(Spicers Gap)

The dappled shade of eucalypts, abundant birdlife and pioneering

heritage make for a refreshing change of pace.

Spicers Gap

Bump along a narrow unsealed track to the crest of what was once

the only trafﬁcable route from the Darling Downs to Moreton Bay.

Queen Mary Falls

Chattering parrots and the sounds of running water greet you at

this idyllic, sun-drenched opening in fragrant eucalypt forest.

Camping at a glance Facilities Description

Poplar Flat

(Goomburra)

Fall asleep to Dalrymple Creek gurgling in the background.

Wake to forest birds and bell miners chiming in the tree-tops.

Manna Gum

(Goomburra)

Discover nature at this peaceful creek-side clearing. Warm your ﬁngers

by the campﬁre listening to the calls of Fleay’s barred frogs and the

screeches of possums, gliders and owls.

Spicers Gap

Spot a snoozing koala or rummaging bandicoot from your camp

amid eucalypts and she-oaks at the eastern gateway to historical

Spicers Gap Road.

Remote walk-in

bush camps

If you are an experienced off-track walker with specialist equipment

and well-developed navigation skills, there’s a secluded camp site

without facilities just for you. Visit qld.gov.au/MainRange for options

and bushwalking tips.

Gondwana beginnings

Spectacular landforms and a diversity of plants and animals

tell us about the shaping of life on our planet.

The break-up of the supercontinent of Gondwana and the

uplift along Australia’s east coast, about 120–180 million

years ago, formed the Great Diving Range. Then, as Australia

drifted over a volcanic hotspot, the Main Range shield

volcano spewed forth lava extending from Ipswich and

Boonah west to Warwick. In the 23 million years since,

water gushing down steep slopes has eroded peaks

and sheer cliff lines on the eastern side of the range and

exposed plugs and dykes across the Fassifern Valley.

To the west behind the escarpment, gentler ridges give

way to valleys and plains beyond.

Precious remnants of the vast ancient forests that once

covered Gondwana grow in sheltered, isolated pockets

of moist, fertile soils. See survivors of prehistoric times—

such as mosses, liverworts, ancient ferns, primeval pines

(such as hoop pines) and primitive ﬂowering plants

(including bolwarra). They reveal insights into the evolutionary

stages of our amazing ﬂora before eucalypts, acacias and

other ﬁre and drought-adapted plants swept aside most of

the rainforests as Australia moved north and became drier.

Treasured for all time

Aboriginal place names for many prominent peaks reﬂect

the ongoing connection Aboriginal people have with the

forests, steams and landforms of Main Range. Barguggan

(Spicers Peak), Jirramun (Wilsons Peak) and Mount Roberts

were smoke signal stations used for communication—long

before Europeans found the ways to cross these ranges, log

the forests, and come to value the land’s natural wonders.

Mountain magic

The magic of Main Range is its mosaic of different habitats—

depending on aspect, soil type and elevation.

Ramble along rugged escarpments with giant spear lilies

clinging to cliffs below. Subtropical rainforest hugs moist

gullies while the sunny slopes burst with eucalypts,

grasstrees, wattles and casuarinas. Be delighted by the

intricate and brightly-coloured ﬂowers of low-growing

heath plants rooted in shallow soils on rocky outcrops

and exposed peaks.

Discover species you’ve never seen before. Main Range is

home to more than 478 animal species, including 252 birds.

Long-nosed potoroos, Hastings River mouse, brush-tailed

rock-wallabies, eastern bristlebirds and the Border Ranges leaf-

tailed gecko are just some of the vulnerable species living here.

Witness wedge-tailed eagles soaring overhead, treecreepers

scurrying up tree trunks on sunny mountain-sides and

honeyeaters sipping nectar from blossoms. Spot Cunningham’s

skinks lazing on rocks, koalas snoozing in eucalypts by day,

or greater gliders and yellow-bellied gliders moving through

tree-tops at night.

Feel refreshed in the cool shaded rainforest surrounded by

age-old forest giants, towering strangler ﬁgs, tangled vines,

epiphytes, buttress roots, palms, mosses and tree ferns.

This is the secret world of some of the world’s most ancient

songbirds—the Albert’s lyrebird, rufous scrub-bird and satin

bowerbird. Keep an eye out for logrunners, green catbirds,

noisy pittas, rainforest slugs, snails and the beautiful

(but endangered), Richmond birdwing butterﬂy.

Spot spiny crays, mountain galaxias

and frogs in and around clear

mountain streams.

Show you care

• Leave pets at home—domestic animals are not permitted.

• Let wildlife be wild. Never feed birds, wallabies or other

wildlife as this upsets the balance of nature and harms

them in the long term. Animals can also become aggressive.

• Bring it in, take it out! Take all rubbish (including food

scraps, cigarette butts and sanitary items) away with you.

• Bring sealable containers for your food and rubbish

so that wildlife cannot get into it.

• Use a fuel stove. Bring your own ﬁrewood (such as

untreated mill off-cuts) to use in barbecues where

provided. Elevated barbecues or braziers are welcome

provided the ground underneath them is protected.

• Open ﬁres are prohibited at all remote walk-in camp sites.

• Generators are not permitted in camping areas.

Do frogs and the forest a favour

• Stay out of creeks, keep to tracks and never disturb, handle

or remove tadpoles, shift rocks or trample vegetation.

• Clean your boots, clothes and equipment of soil and seeds

before and after your visit and help stop the spread

of weeds and harmful organisms (such as root fungus).

• Keep waterways free of soap, detergents, shampoo

and sunscreen. Bathe or wash equipment at least

100m from creeks or streams.

• Use toilets at picnic and camping areas. If you must ‘go’

in the bush, bury human waste and toilet paper at least

15cm deep and 100m away from waterways.

Explore safely

Main Range has many natural hazards, so be careful and don’t

take risks. Your safety is our concern but your responsibility.

• Stay on the tracks and supervise children closely.

• Take care near cliff edges, at lookouts, near waterfalls,

creeks and slippery rocks.

• Wear protection: sturdy walking shoes, a hat, long

sleeves and long trousers. Pack warm clothing and

a raincoat as the weather can change quickly in

the mountains.

• Use insect repellent for ticks and leeches.

• Avoid contact with wildlife and with the leaves of

stinging trees, stinging nettles and other prickly shrubs.

• Carry sufﬁcient drinking water. Water from all sources

(including taps) must be boiled or treated before drinking.

• Never walk alone. Always tell someone where you are

going and when you expect to return.

• Avoid visiting in extreme weather. Take extra care in

rainy, windy or foggy conditions. Falling trees and limbs,

ﬂash ﬂooding and landslips occur at any time. In dry

conditions wildﬁres can sweep quickly up mountain-sides.

• Check conditions and stay informed. Visit qld.gov.au/

ParkAlerts for park closures, bom.gov.au for weather

conditions and qfes.qld.gov.au for ﬁre danger warnings

and ﬁre bans. Check road conditions before you visit at

qldtrafﬁc.qld.gov.au or phone 13 19 40.

In an emergency

Call Triple Zero (000) or use the Emergency

app

(emergencyapp.triplezero.gov.au)

Mobile coverage is unreliable, but you can often get

a signal at higher locations that have a view to the east

of the dividing range.

Photos: © Sarah Haskmann;

View of Main Range National

Park from Mount Cordeaux track

Photos: © Bruce Thomson (middle inset);

permitted

Main Range

National Park

©State of Queensland 2019.

Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service,

Department of Environment and Science.

BP2260 May 2019.

Printed on eco-friendly paper to save energy and resources.

Photos: © J Asche (front cover); © Gareth McGuigan (back cover)

Queensland National Parks

Toowoomba

Laidley

Gatton

Killarney

Allora

Boonah

Queen

Mary

Falls

Warwick

Glen Rock

State Forest

Main Range

National Park

New South Wales

Aratula

Ipswich

20km

Scale

Explore a living ark

Step out of your car and onto a track winding through

towering forests. Pause by a mountain stream or waterfall;

climb a peak. Snap a picture-postcard scene, picnic, camp,

birdwatch or simply escape into a precious World Heritage

Area within a short drive of Brisbane.

Scenic, rugged and brimming with life, the 34,689ha

Main Range National Park straddles the Great Dividing Range

section of the Scenic Rim—a spectacular arc of mountains

stretching from Mount Mistake to Springbrook.

This is the northern tip of the Gondwana

Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area—

recognised for its ongoing geological processes,

evolutionary history and as one of the most biologically

diverse and interesting areas in the world. Gondwana

Rainforests of Australia is one of the top ten biodiversity

hotspots in Australia, and few places on Earth contain

so many plants and animals so closely related to

their ancestors.

Be captivated by this remarkable and stunningly

beautiful living ark.

Further information

qld.gov.au/NationalParks

qld.gov.au/Camping

qld.gov.au/ParkAlerts

(access, closures and conditions)

qldnationalparks

@QldParks; #QldParks

Check road conditions before you visit at

qldtrafﬁc.qld.gov.au or phone 13 19 40.

This brochure is also available online

at qld.gov.au/ParkBrochures

Scan to check

park alerts

Welcome to

Main Range

National Park

A skyline of impressive peaks, escarpments

and ridges beckons in the distance. Let the

breathtaking views, hidden valleys and timeless

forests sheltering seldom-seen and rare creatures

lure you into this ancient mountain range.

Wild yet accessible is how I think of Main Range,

from some of the highest mountains in

Queensland to crystal clear streams, there’s

something for everyone! Main Range offers

a place to discover, rest, contemplate, exert,

connect and energise for young and old alike.

Ranger Steve

Photo: © Glenn Leiper (ﬂower)

Photos: © J Asche (left);

Maxime Coquard © Qld Govt (middle);

Photos: Harry Hines © Qld Govt; Maxime Coquard © Qld Govt (background)

Photo: © Sarah Haskmann

Bolwarra is a primitive ﬂowering plant

that evolved some 66 million years ago

and is pollinated exclusively by tiny weevils.

Be mesmerised in cooler months by the ﬂuid,

mimicking calls of elusive Albert’s lyrebirds (middle

inset);Southern angle-headed dragon; Satin bowerbird.

Hear the throaty “ok-ok-ok-ok-ok-ok” call of Fleay’s barred frogs

after rain. This frog species is in danger of becoming extinct.

Ways to visit

Pull up for a quick break, or stay for a day or week to relish

a memorable mountain escape amid ancient peaks,

dramatic escarpments and forest-cloaked slopes and

valleys. A different experience awaits at each of the

park’s distinct sections: Cunninghams Gap, Spicers Gap,

Queen Mary Falls or Goomburra.

Day visits

Relax in a tranquil bird-ﬁlled opening in the forest, watch

water plummet over a waterfall or while away the hours by

a burbling stream. Lace up your boots and get to know the

park and its wildlife on a leisurely forest stroll or exhilarating

hike. Visit heritage sites and reﬂect on days gone by.

Places to camp

Sleep outdoors in a wild place not far from the city.

Shady camp sites, open grassy areas for caravans, and

remote walk-in tent sites all deliver camping-adventures

to remember.

Book your camp site well in advance at qld.gov.au/Camping,

especially for stays during school holidays and

long weekends.

How to get there

Cunninghams Gap is a mountain pass on the busy

Cunningham Highway 116km south-west of Brisbane and

50km east of Warwick. Stop for a picnic or take off on a walk.

Most walks begin at the Crest car park, near a monument to

Allan Cunningham—the ﬁrst European to locate the gap in 1828.

Spicers Gap was the main route used in the late 1800s for

travel between the Darling Downs and Brisbane. Turn off

the Cunningham Highway 5km west of Aratula onto Lake

Moogerah Road, then take the sealed/unsealed Spicers Gap

Road (not suitable for small city cars) up the range past the

camping area to Governors Chair. Vehicle access from the

west leaves the Cunningham Highway 1.5km west of the

QPWS ofﬁce at Cunninghams Gap, and ends 1.6km west of

Governors Chair. From there you must walk, ride a bicycle

or horse along the historic section of Old Spicers Gap Road

towards Governors Chair. The western access road requires

a high clearance 4WD and is closed in wet weather.

Queen Mary Falls is a scenic picnic area 11km east of Killarney

via Spring Creek Road (or 64km south-west of Boonah via

The Head Road over Teviot Range). The winding mountain roads

offer spectacular views, but are not suitable for caravans.

Goomburra is nestled into the western foothills of Main

Range. Situated 175km south-west of Brisbane, it is a

tranquil creek-side base from which to explore deep into

valleys and densely forested ranges. From Toowoomba or

Warwick, turn off the New England Highway 3km south of

Allora onto Goomburra Road (which becomes Inverramsay

Road), and follow the narrow winding road for 35km.

From Brisbane, turn north off the Cunningham Highway

at Gladﬁeld (25km west of Cunninghams Gap) and travel

8km to join Inverramsay Road and continue to the park.

Goomburra can be reached by car in dry conditions,

but the last 6km of the road is unsealed, can be slippery

when wet and has many creek crossings. You need a 4WD

or high clearance 2WD to drive up the range to lookouts.

Roads can be closed after heavy rain.

Day-use areas at a glance Facilities Description

Kurrajong picnic area

(Goomburra)

Unwind beside Dalrymple Creek then take off to discover lookouts and

forest trails at the head of the Goomburra Valley. Toilets, information

and camping areas nearby.

West Gap Creek picnic area

(Cunninghams Gap)

Detour off the busy highway to relax at this bird-ﬁlled, creek-side haven

in the forest.

The Crest

(Cunninghams Gap)

Step out of your car and onto a track winding through lush rainforest,

to a lookout, up a mountain peak or alongside a trickling stream.

Pioneer picnic area

(Spicers Gap)

The dappled shade of eucalypts, abundant birdlife and pioneering

heritage make for a refreshing change of pace.

Spicers Gap

Bump along a narrow unsealed track to the crest of what was once

the only trafﬁcable route from the Darling Downs to Moreton Bay.

Queen Mary Falls

Chattering parrots and the sounds of running water greet you at

this idyllic, sun-drenched opening in fragrant eucalypt forest.

Camping at a glance Facilities Description

Poplar Flat

(Goomburra)

Fall asleep to Dalrymple Creek gurgling in the background.

Wake to forest birds and bell miners chiming in the tree-tops.

Manna Gum

(Goomburra)

Discover nature at this peaceful creek-side clearing. Warm your ﬁngers

by the campﬁre listening to the calls of Fleay’s barred frogs and the

screeches of possums, gliders and owls.

Spicers Gap

Spot a snoozing koala or rummaging bandicoot from your camp

amid eucalypts and she-oaks at the eastern gateway to historical

Spicers Gap Road.

Remote walk-in

bush camps

If you are an experienced off-track walker with specialist equipment

and well-developed navigation skills, there’s a secluded camp site

without facilities just for you. Visit qld.gov.au/MainRange for options

and bushwalking tips.

Gondwana beginnings

Spectacular landforms and a diversity of plants and animals

tell us about the shaping of life on our planet.

The break-up of the supercontinent of Gondwana and the

uplift along Australia’s east coast, about 120–180 million

years ago, formed the Great Diving Range. Then, as Australia

drifted over a volcanic hotspot, the Main Range shield

volcano spewed forth lava extending from Ipswich and

Boonah west to Warwick. In the 23 million years since,

water gushing down steep slopes has eroded peaks

and sheer cliff lines on the eastern side of the range and

exposed plugs and dykes across the Fassifern Valley.

To the west behind the escarpment, gentler ridges give

way to valleys and plains beyond.

Precious remnants of the vast ancient forests that once

covered Gondwana grow in sheltered, isolated pockets

of moist, fertile soils. See survivors of prehistoric times—

such as mosses, liverworts, ancient ferns, primeval pines

(such as hoop pines) and primitive ﬂowering plants

(including bolwarra). They reveal insights into the evolutionary

stages of our amazing ﬂora before eucalypts, acacias and

other ﬁre and drought-adapted plants swept aside most of

the rainforests as Australia moved north and became drier.

Treasured for all time

Aboriginal place names for many prominent peaks reﬂect

the ongoing connection Aboriginal people have with the

forests, steams and landforms of Main Range. Barguggan

(Spicers Peak), Jirramun (Wilsons Peak) and Mount Roberts

were smoke signal stations used for communication—long

before Europeans found the ways to cross these ranges, log

the forests, and come to value the land’s natural wonders.

Mountain magic

The magic of Main Range is its mosaic of different habitats—

depending on aspect, soil type and elevation.

Ramble along rugged escarpments with giant spear lilies

clinging to cliffs below. Subtropical rainforest hugs moist

gullies while the sunny slopes burst with eucalypts,

grasstrees, wattles and casuarinas. Be delighted by the

intricate and brightly-coloured ﬂowers of low-growing

heath plants rooted in shallow soils on rocky outcrops

and exposed peaks.

Discover species you’ve never seen before. Main Range is

home to more than 478 animal species, including 252 birds.

Long-nosed potoroos, Hastings River mouse, brush-tailed

rock-wallabies, eastern bristlebirds and the Border Ranges leaf-

tailed gecko are just some of the vulnerable species living here.

Witness wedge-tailed eagles soaring overhead, treecreepers

scurrying up tree trunks on sunny mountain-sides and

honeyeaters sipping nectar from blossoms. Spot Cunningham’s

skinks lazing on rocks, koalas snoozing in eucalypts by day,

or greater gliders and yellow-bellied gliders moving through

tree-tops at night.

Feel refreshed in the cool shaded rainforest surrounded by

age-old forest giants, towering strangler ﬁgs, tangled vines,

epiphytes, buttress roots, palms, mosses and tree ferns.

This is the secret world of some of the world’s most ancient

songbirds—the Albert’s lyrebird, rufous scrub-bird and satin

bowerbird. Keep an eye out for logrunners, green catbirds,

noisy pittas, rainforest slugs, snails and the beautiful

(but endangered), Richmond birdwing butterﬂy.

Spot spiny crays, mountain galaxias

and frogs in and around clear

mountain streams.

Show you care

• Leave pets at home—domestic animals are not permitted.

• Let wildlife be wild. Never feed birds, wallabies or other

wildlife as this upsets the balance of nature and harms

them in the long term. Animals can also become aggressive.

• Bring it in, take it out! Take all rubbish (including food

scraps, cigarette butts and sanitary items) away with you.

• Bring sealable containers for your food and rubbish

so that wildlife cannot get into it.

• Use a fuel stove. Bring your own ﬁrewood (such as

untreated mill off-cuts) to use in barbecues where

provided. Elevated barbecues or braziers are welcome

provided the ground underneath them is protected.

• Open ﬁres are prohibited at all remote walk-in camp sites.

• Generators are not permitted in camping areas.

Do frogs and the forest a favour

• Stay out of creeks, keep to tracks and never disturb, handle

or remove tadpoles, shift rocks or trample vegetation.

• Clean your boots, clothes and equipment of soil and seeds

before and after your visit and help stop the spread

of weeds and harmful organisms (such as root fungus).

• Keep waterways free of soap, detergents, shampoo

and sunscreen. Bathe or wash equipment at least

100m from creeks or streams.

• Use toilets at picnic and camping areas. If you must ‘go’

in the bush, bury human waste and toilet paper at least

15cm deep and 100m away from waterways.

Explore safely

Main Range has many natural hazards, so be careful and don’t

take risks. Your safety is our concern but your responsibility.

• Stay on the tracks and supervise children closely.

• Take care near cliff edges, at lookouts, near waterfalls,

creeks and slippery rocks.

• Wear protection: sturdy walking shoes, a hat, long

sleeves and long trousers. Pack warm clothing and

a raincoat as the weather can change quickly in

the mountains.

• Use insect repellent for ticks and leeches.

• Avoid contact with wildlife and with the leaves of

stinging trees, stinging nettles and other prickly shrubs.

• Carry sufﬁcient drinking water. Water from all sources

(including taps) must be boiled or treated before drinking.

• Never walk alone. Always tell someone where you are

going and when you expect to return.

• Avoid visiting in extreme weather. Take extra care in

rainy, windy or foggy conditions. Falling trees and limbs,

ﬂash ﬂooding and landslips occur at any time. In dry

conditions wildﬁres can sweep quickly up mountain-sides.

• Check conditions and stay informed. Visit qld.gov.au/

ParkAlerts for park closures, bom.gov.au for weather

conditions and qfes.qld.gov.au for ﬁre danger warnings

and ﬁre bans. Check road conditions before you visit at

qldtrafﬁc.qld.gov.au or phone 13 19 40.

In an emergency

Call Triple Zero (000) or use the Emergency

app

(emergencyapp.triplezero.gov.au)

Mobile coverage is unreliable, but you can often get

a signal at higher locations that have a view to the east

of the dividing range.

Photos: © Sarah Haskmann;

View of Main Range National

Park from Mount Cordeaux track

Photos: © Bruce Thomson (middle inset);

permitted

Main Range

National Park

©State of Queensland 2019.

Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service,

Department of Environment and Science.

BP2260 May 2019.

Printed on eco-friendly paper to save energy and resources.

Photos: © J Asche (front cover); © Gareth McGuigan (back cover)

Queensland National Parks

Toowoomba

Laidley

Gatton

Killarney

Allora

Boonah

Queen

Mary

Falls

Warwick

Glen Rock

State Forest

Main Range

National Park

New South Wales

Aratula

Ipswich

20km

Scale

Explore a living ark

Step out of your car and onto a track winding through

towering forests. Pause by a mountain stream or waterfall;

climb a peak. Snap a picture-postcard scene, picnic, camp,

birdwatch or simply escape into a precious World Heritage

Area within a short drive of Brisbane.

Scenic, rugged and brimming with life, the 34,689ha

Main Range National Park straddles the Great Dividing Range

section of the Scenic Rim—a spectacular arc of mountains

stretching from Mount Mistake to Springbrook.

This is the northern tip of the Gondwana

Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area—

recognised for its ongoing geological processes,

evolutionary history and as one of the most biologically

diverse and interesting areas in the world. Gondwana

Rainforests of Australia is one of the top ten biodiversity

hotspots in Australia, and few places on Earth contain

so many plants and animals so closely related to

their ancestors.

Be captivated by this remarkable and stunningly

beautiful living ark.

Further information

qld.gov.au/NationalParks

qld.gov.au/Camping

qld.gov.au/ParkAlerts

(access, closures and conditions)

qldnationalparks

@QldParks; #QldParks

Check road conditions before you visit at

qldtrafﬁc.qld.gov.au or phone 13 19 40.

This brochure is also available online

at qld.gov.au/ParkBrochures

Scan to check

park alerts

Welcome to

Main Range

National Park

A skyline of impressive peaks, escarpments

and ridges beckons in the distance. Let the

breathtaking views, hidden valleys and timeless

forests sheltering seldom-seen and rare creatures

lure you into this ancient mountain range.

Wild yet accessible is how I think of Main Range,

from some of the highest mountains in

Queensland to crystal clear streams, there’s

something for everyone! Main Range offers

a place to discover, rest, contemplate, exert,

connect and energise for young and old alike.

Ranger Steve

Photo: © Glenn Leiper (ﬂower)

Photos: © J Asche (left);

Maxime Coquard © Qld Govt (middle);

Photos: Harry Hines © Qld Govt; Maxime Coquard © Qld Govt (background)

Photo: © Sarah Haskmann

Bolwarra is a primitive ﬂowering plant

that evolved some 66 million years ago

and is pollinated exclusively by tiny weevils.

Be mesmerised in cooler months by the ﬂuid,

mimicking calls of elusive Albert’s lyrebirds (middle

inset);Southern angle-headed dragon; Satin bowerbird.

Hear the throaty “ok-ok-ok-ok-ok-ok” call of Fleay’s barred frogs

after rain. This frog species is in danger of becoming extinct.

Ways to visit

Pull up for a quick break, or stay for a day or week to relish

a memorable mountain escape amid ancient peaks,

dramatic escarpments and forest-cloaked slopes and

valleys. A different experience awaits at each of the

park’s distinct sections: Cunninghams Gap, Spicers Gap,

Queen Mary Falls or Goomburra.

Day visits

Relax in a tranquil bird-ﬁlled opening in the forest, watch

water plummet over a waterfall or while away the hours by

a burbling stream. Lace up your boots and get to know the

park and its wildlife on a leisurely forest stroll or exhilarating

hike. Visit heritage sites and reﬂect on days gone by.

Places to camp

Sleep outdoors in a wild place not far from the city.

Shady camp sites, open grassy areas for caravans, and

remote walk-in tent sites all deliver camping-adventures

to remember.

Book your camp site well in advance at qld.gov.au/Camping,

especially for stays during school holidays and

long weekends.

How to get there

Cunninghams Gap is a mountain pass on the busy

Cunningham Highway 116km south-west of Brisbane and

50km east of Warwick. Stop for a picnic or take off on a walk.

Most walks begin at the Crest car park, near a monument to

Allan Cunningham—the ﬁrst European to locate the gap in 1828.

Spicers Gap was the main route used in the late 1800s for

travel between the Darling Downs and Brisbane. Turn off

the Cunningham Highway 5km west of Aratula onto Lake

Moogerah Road, then take the sealed/unsealed Spicers Gap

Road (not suitable for small city cars) up the range past the

camping area to Governors Chair. Vehicle access from the

west leaves the Cunningham Highway 1.5km west of the

QPWS ofﬁce at Cunninghams Gap, and ends 1.6km west of

Governors Chair. From there you must walk, ride a bicycle

or horse along the historic section of Old Spicers Gap Road

towards Governors Chair. The western access road requires

a high clearance 4WD and is closed in wet weather.

Queen Mary Falls is a scenic picnic area 11km east of Killarney

via Spring Creek Road (or 64km south-west of Boonah via

The Head Road over Teviot Range). The winding mountain roads

offer spectacular views, but are not suitable for caravans.

Goomburra is nestled into the western foothills of Main

Range. Situated 175km south-west of Brisbane, it is a

tranquil creek-side base from which to explore deep into

valleys and densely forested ranges. From Toowoomba or

Warwick, turn off the New England Highway 3km south of

Allora onto Goomburra Road (which becomes Inverramsay

Road), and follow the narrow winding road for 35km.

From Brisbane, turn north off the Cunningham Highway

at Gladﬁeld (25km west of Cunninghams Gap) and travel

8km to join Inverramsay Road and continue to the park.

Goomburra can be reached by car in dry conditions,

but the last 6km of the road is unsealed, can be slippery

when wet and has many creek crossings. You need a 4WD

or high clearance 2WD to drive up the range to lookouts.

Roads can be closed after heavy rain.

Day-use areas at a glance Facilities Description

Kurrajong picnic area

(Goomburra)

Unwind beside Dalrymple Creek then take off to discover lookouts and

forest trails at the head of the Goomburra Valley. Toilets, information

and camping areas nearby.

West Gap Creek picnic area

(Cunninghams Gap)

Detour off the busy highway to relax at this bird-ﬁlled, creek-side haven

in the forest.

The Crest

(Cunninghams Gap)

Step out of your car and onto a track winding through lush rainforest,

to a lookout, up a mountain peak or alongside a trickling stream.

Pioneer picnic area

(Spicers Gap)

The dappled shade of eucalypts, abundant birdlife and pioneering

heritage make for a refreshing change of pace.

Spicers Gap

Bump along a narrow unsealed track to the crest of what was once

the only trafﬁcable route from the Darling Downs to Moreton Bay.

Queen Mary Falls

Chattering parrots and the sounds of running water greet you at

this idyllic, sun-drenched opening in fragrant eucalypt forest.

Camping at a glance Facilities Description

Poplar Flat

(Goomburra)

Fall asleep to Dalrymple Creek gurgling in the background.

Wake to forest birds and bell miners chiming in the tree-tops.

Manna Gum

(Goomburra)

Discover nature at this peaceful creek-side clearing. Warm your ﬁngers

by the campﬁre listening to the calls of Fleay’s barred frogs and the

screeches of possums, gliders and owls.

Spicers Gap

Spot a snoozing koala or rummaging bandicoot from your camp

amid eucalypts and she-oaks at the eastern gateway to historical

Spicers Gap Road.

Remote walk-in

bush camps

If you are an experienced off-track walker with specialist equipment

and well-developed navigation skills, there’s a secluded camp site

without facilities just for you. Visit qld.gov.au/MainRange for options

and bushwalking tips.

Gondwana beginnings

Spectacular landforms and a diversity of plants and animals

tell us about the shaping of life on our planet.

The break-up of the supercontinent of Gondwana and the

uplift along Australia’s east coast, about 120–180 million

years ago, formed the Great Diving Range. Then, as Australia

drifted over a volcanic hotspot, the Main Range shield

volcano spewed forth lava extending from Ipswich and

Boonah west to Warwick. In the 23 million years since,

water gushing down steep slopes has eroded peaks

and sheer cliff lines on the eastern side of the range and

exposed plugs and dykes across the Fassifern Valley.

To the west behind the escarpment, gentler ridges give

way to valleys and plains beyond.

Precious remnants of the vast ancient forests that once

covered Gondwana grow in sheltered, isolated pockets

of moist, fertile soils. See survivors of prehistoric times—

such as mosses, liverworts, ancient ferns, primeval pines

(such as hoop pines) and primitive ﬂowering plants

(including bolwarra). They reveal insights into the evolutionary

stages of our amazing ﬂora before eucalypts, acacias and

other ﬁre and drought-adapted plants swept aside most of

the rainforests as Australia moved north and became drier.

Treasured for all time

Aboriginal place names for many prominent peaks reﬂect

the ongoing connection Aboriginal people have with the

forests, steams and landforms of Main Range. Barguggan

(Spicers Peak), Jirramun (Wilsons Peak) and Mount Roberts

were smoke signal stations used for communication—long

before Europeans found the ways to cross these ranges, log

the forests, and come to value the land’s natural wonders.

Mountain magic

The magic of Main Range is its mosaic of different habitats—

depending on aspect, soil type and elevation.

Ramble along rugged escarpments with giant spear lilies

clinging to cliffs below. Subtropical rainforest hugs moist

gullies while the sunny slopes burst with eucalypts,

grasstrees, wattles and casuarinas. Be delighted by the

intricate and brightly-coloured ﬂowers of low-growing

heath plants rooted in shallow soils on rocky outcrops

and exposed peaks.

Discover species you’ve never seen before. Main Range is

home to more than 478 animal species, including 252 birds.

Long-nosed potoroos, Hastings River mouse, brush-tailed

rock-wallabies, eastern bristlebirds and the Border Ranges leaf-

tailed gecko are just some of the vulnerable species living here.

Witness wedge-tailed eagles soaring overhead, treecreepers

scurrying up tree trunks on sunny mountain-sides and

honeyeaters sipping nectar from blossoms. Spot Cunningham’s

skinks lazing on rocks, koalas snoozing in eucalypts by day,

or greater gliders and yellow-bellied gliders moving through

tree-tops at night.

Feel refreshed in the cool shaded rainforest surrounded by

age-old forest giants, towering strangler ﬁgs, tangled vines,

epiphytes, buttress roots, palms, mosses and tree ferns.

This is the secret world of some of the world’s most ancient

songbirds—the Albert’s lyrebird, rufous scrub-bird and satin

bowerbird. Keep an eye out for logrunners, green catbirds,

noisy pittas, rainforest slugs, snails and the beautiful

(but endangered), Richmond birdwing butterﬂy.

Spot spiny crays, mountain galaxias

and frogs in and around clear

mountain streams.

Show you care

• Leave pets at home—domestic animals are not permitted.

• Let wildlife be wild. Never feed birds, wallabies or other

wildlife as this upsets the balance of nature and harms

them in the long term. Animals can also become aggressive.

• Bring it in, take it out! Take all rubbish (including food

scraps, cigarette butts and sanitary items) away with you.

• Bring sealable containers for your food and rubbish

so that wildlife cannot get into it.

• Use a fuel stove. Bring your own ﬁrewood (such as

untreated mill off-cuts) to use in barbecues where

provided. Elevated barbecues or braziers are welcome

provided the ground underneath them is protected.

• Open ﬁres are prohibited at all remote walk-in camp sites.

• Generators are not permitted in camping areas.

Do frogs and the forest a favour

• Stay out of creeks, keep to tracks and never disturb, handle

or remove tadpoles, shift rocks or trample vegetation.

• Clean your boots, clothes and equipment of soil and seeds

before and after your visit and help stop the spread

of weeds and harmful organisms (such as root fungus).

• Keep waterways free of soap, detergents, shampoo

and sunscreen. Bathe or wash equipment at least

100m from creeks or streams.

• Use toilets at picnic and camping areas. If you must ‘go’

in the bush, bury human waste and toilet paper at least

15cm deep and 100m away from waterways.

Explore safely

Main Range has many natural hazards, so be careful and don’t

take risks. Your safety is our concern but your responsibility.

• Stay on the tracks and supervise children closely.

• Take care near cliff edges, at lookouts, near waterfalls,

creeks and slippery rocks.

• Wear protection: sturdy walking shoes, a hat, long

sleeves and long trousers. Pack warm clothing and

a raincoat as the weather can change quickly in

the mountains.

• Use insect repellent for ticks and leeches.

• Avoid contact with wildlife and with the leaves of

stinging trees, stinging nettles and other prickly shrubs.

• Carry sufﬁcient drinking water. Water from all sources

(including taps) must be boiled or treated before drinking.

• Never walk alone. Always tell someone where you are

going and when you expect to return.

• Avoid visiting in extreme weather. Take extra care in

rainy, windy or foggy conditions. Falling trees and limbs,

ﬂash ﬂooding and landslips occur at any time. In dry

conditions wildﬁres can sweep quickly up mountain-sides.

• Check conditions and stay informed. Visit qld.gov.au/

ParkAlerts for park closures, bom.gov.au for weather

conditions and qfes.qld.gov.au for ﬁre danger warnings

and ﬁre bans. Check road conditions before you visit at

qldtrafﬁc.qld.gov.au or phone 13 19 40.

In an emergency

Call Triple Zero (000) or use the Emergency

app

(emergencyapp.triplezero.gov.au)

Mobile coverage is unreliable, but you can often get

a signal at higher locations that have a view to the east

of the dividing range.

Photos: © Sarah Haskmann;

View of Main Range National

Park from Mount Cordeaux track

Photos: © Bruce Thomson (middle inset);

permitted

Main Range

National Park

©State of Queensland 2019.

Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service,

Department of Environment and Science.

BP2260 May 2019.

Printed on eco-friendly paper to save energy and resources.

Photos: © J Asche (front cover); © Gareth McGuigan (back cover)

Queensland National Parks

Mount Cordeaux

Niamboyoo (1144m)

Kurrajong

picnic area

Poplar Flat

camping area

permitted

Manna Gum

camping area

Bare Rock

(1168m)

Mount Mitchell

Cooyinnirra

(1175m)

Main Range

National Park

Fassifern

Valley lookout

West Gap Creek

picnic area

The Crest

Pioneer picnic area and graves

Moss’s Well

Governors Chair

Spicers Gap

camping area

West

Peak

East Peak

Mount

Mathieson

Mount

Alphen

Sylvesters

lookout

Mount Castle

lookout

To Queen

Mary Falls

To Warwick and

Toowoomba

To Allora

To Brisbane

To the

Winder

1 2km

Scale

Legend

National park

Restricted access area

Waterways

Sealed road

Unsealed road

4WD road

Walking track

Cliff line

Gate

Information

Ranger station

Parking

Toilets

Wheelchair

accessible facilities

Picnic table

Sheltered picnic table

Barbecue—wood

Barbecue—electric

Elevated braziers

permitted

Short walk

Hiking

Natural viewpoint

Constructed lookout

Camping

Car camping

Camper trailer

Caravan

Campervan/motorhome

Kiosk

Petrol

Water

treat before drinking

Campfire prohibited

Cliff lookout

Queen Mary

Falls lookout

Queen Mary Falls day-use area

Private

camping area

Queen

Mary Falls

Spring Creek

To Boonah

To Warwick

Main Range

National Park

200m

Scale

For your safety!

Keep to tracks, stay well back from the cliff edges and never

enter the restricted access area surrounding Queen Mary Falls.

Queen

Mary Falls

Warning

Sheer cliffs—one slip could be fatal.

Remain on the track, stay away from

cliff edges and behind any barriers.

Supervise children at all times.

Explore on foot

Magniﬁcent Main Range has walks to suit everyone.

Meander through towering forests, stroll by a creek,

explore heritage sites or get your blood pumping on

an exhilarating climb to a peak.

Walking tips

Choose walks that suit your abilities and time available.

You’ll need drinking water, a hat and sturdy ankle-

supporting footwear. Most tracks lead to lookouts or near

water, so watch your step near cliff edges and on slippery,

muddy sections. Stay on tracks, keep children close and

remind them not to run ahead.

Grade &

Symbol

Suits Track description

Grade 2

Families with

young children.

No bushwalking

experience

required.

Tracks may have a

compacted surface with

gentle incline sections and

some steps.

Grade 3

Most ages and

ﬁtness levels.

Some

bushwalking

experience

recommended.

Well-deﬁned tracks may

have short steep hill

sections, a rough surface

and many steps. May

have unfenced cliff edges,

obstacles and be partly

overgrown.

Grade 4

Experienced

bushwalkers with

moderate levels

of ﬁtness.

Tracks may be long, rough,

very steep and overgrown.

Caution is needed near

cliff edges and naturally

occurring lookouts.

Grade 5

Very experienced

bushwalkers

with specialist

map reading and

navigation skills

and a high level

of ﬁtness.

Tracks are likely to be

rough, very steep and

unmarked, with many

obstacles. Caution is

needed near cliff edges

and naturally occurring

lookouts.

Bushwalking into remote areas is only for the

experienced and well-prepared (left); The Steamers are

reminders of Main Range’s ancient volcanic origins (below

left); Sylvesters lookout (below); Pioneer Graves (right).

Queen Mary Falls tumbles over

20 million year old trachyte rock.

Richmond birdwing butterﬂy

Photo: © J Asche

Box Forest track

Maxime Coquard © Qld Govt

Mount Mitchell track

Cunninghams Gap

Photos: © Mark Daly (left); © Tony Kevin Photography

(below left); Maxime Coquard © Qld Govt (below);

Photos: Maxime Coquard © Qld Govt

No domestic animals

Domestic animals are not allowed

in the national park, including

within vehicles.

Goomburra

Cunninghams Gap

Cappoong

Walks from Cunninghams Gap

Box Forest track

5km return (allow 2hr)

Follow West Gap Creek beneath massive brush box trees.

Listen out for frog calls, the whirring of satin bowerbirds

and chiming of bell birds.

Rainforest circuit

1.6km return (allow 25min)

Stroll to the sights and sounds of lush rainforest adorned

with mosses, ferns and epiphytes. Enjoy the warmth of the

sunshine and scent of eucalypts at Fassifern Valley lookout

while you gaze over ancient volcanic peaks far below.

Mount Cordeaux

6.8km return (allow 2.5hr)

Rainforest gives way to grasstrees, banksias and

giant spear lilies hugging the impressive 1144m peak.

Rest on the rocky slab below the summit and delight

in sweeping views towards Brisbane and south across

‘The Gap’ to Mount Mitchell and the peaks beyond.

Ten people per group recommended at the lookout.

Supervise children closely.

Bare Rock track and Morgans Walk

12.4km return (allow 4.5hr)

Trek past Mount Cordeaux and rise to temperate rainforest along

the ridge top and awe-inspiring panoramas in all directions.

Rainforest clothes the escarpment north of Bare Rock.

Palm Grove circuit

4.4km return (allow 2hr)

A charming grove of dense piccabeen palms thrives in the

shadow of imposing Mount Cordeaux. Look for topknot

pigeons, wompoo fruit-doves and a multitude of other

birds feasting on the bright red palm fruit.

Gap Creek Falls track

9.8km return (allow 6hr)

Zig-zag down steep, dry, eucalypt-clad slopes to marvel at

water cascading over a 100m cliff. The falls are best after heavy

rain but the valley views are lovely in any season. Take plenty

to drink and pause for rest breaks on the return climb uphill.

Mount Mitchell

10.2km return (allow 3.5hr)

Unparalleled views from the summit’s knife-edge ridge are

your reward for this energetic walk that starts in rainforest,

winds through grasstree-ﬁlled woodland and ends in

montane heath. You’ll feel like a soaring peregrine falcon

surveying signs of life on the slopes and valleys far below.

Walks around Spicers Gap

Mount Mathieson trail

8.1km return (allow 3hr)

Hike a rough trail uphill through lofty eucalypts and lush

rainforest, admiring views across the face of Mount Mitchell

towards Cunninghams Gap. Return via the Heritage trail and

Spicers Gap Road.

Pioneer Graves

260m return (allow 15min)

Pay homage to lives tragically lost in harsh pioneering days.

A large stone cairn marks a small cemetery where

it is believed up to 13 people are buried.

Moss’s Well

120m return (allow 10min)

This small, wildlife-attracting spring—named after the area’s

ﬁrst road contractor—once sustained thirsty travellers and

weary horse or bullock teams.

Governors Chair lookout

300m return (allow 15min)

Take in the picturesque panorama from a rocky cliff

edge—a favourite resting spot for 19th Century Queensland

governors on their bumpy journey via cart or carriage

through Spicers Gap. Take care near the cliff edge and

supervise children.

Heritage trail

3.2km return (allow 1hr)

Learn about ‘macadamised’ pavements and other techniques

adopted when constructing the old Spicers Gap Road, used

by heavy drays and wagons more than 160 years ago.

Walks at Queen Mary Falls

Cliff circuit

570m return (allow 20min)

Behold Spring Creek plunging an impressive 40m into a

gorge at the start of Australia’s longest river system—the

Murray-Darling. Take care when viewing the gorge below.

Queen Mary Falls circuit

2km return (allow 40min)

Admire Queen Mary Falls from above, then descend to creek

level and delight in its cool spray and the rainbows created

by the mist. Spot statue-like eastern water dragons on rocks.

Take care on the causeway as it can be slippery.

To avoid climbing stairs, return from the base of the falls by

retracing your steps; or walk the track in a clockwise direction.

Caution: After heavy rain, the circuit track will be closed

due to the possibility of rock falls from the cliffs above.

Never pass through closed/locked gates.

Walks around Goomburra

Dalrymple circuit

1.2km return (allow 30min)

Criss-cross Dalrymple Creek beneath a canopy of towering

white-trunked manna gums. Perfect for all the family—stop

and look for tadpoles, crayﬁsh, insects, ﬁsh and birds.

Cascades circuit

6.5km return (allow 3hr)

Follow the water’s edge upstream past cascades and rocky

pools. Search the forest for reminders of timber harvesting

that took place here between 1840 and the mid-1980s.

Ridge track

5km return (allow 2.5hr)

Ramble uphill into open forests of New England Blackbutt.

Admire views into the valley below and, if lucky, glimpse

glossy black-cockatoos feeding in sheoak trees.

Loose gravel can make steep sections slippery, especially

upon descent. For a longer 7.6km (3.5hr) journey, add the

northern section of the Cascades circuit.

North Branch track

7km return (allow 3.5hr)

Be serenaded by a symphony of bird and frog calls as you

rock-hop back and forth across the unspoilt north branch

of Dalrymple Creek.

Araucaria Falls

3.6km return (allow 1.5hr)

Take a short track to a small but splendid waterfall ﬂanked

by rainforest dominated by hoop pines. Sit quietly and

reﬂect on the beauty that surrounds you.

Winder track

12km return (allow 4hr)

Your adventure along an old logging track deep into the

rainforest ends at the Winder—a relic from the days when

huge forest giants were harvested from the Mistake Range.

Mount Castle lookout

960m return (allow 30min)

Be mesmerised by rainforest scattered with magniﬁcent

hoop pines as you wind to the escarpment edge.

Enjoy superb vistas over the pink-hued trachyte cliffs

of Mount Castle towards Laidley Valley, Little Liverpool

Range and Brisbane in the distance.

Sylvesters lookout

940m return (allow 30min)

Feel the breeze ﬂowing up the escarpment as you snap

picture-postcard views across Fassifern Valley to peaks

of the Scenic Rim. In spring, giant spear lilies adorning

cliff faces sprout impressively-huge, red ﬂower spikes.

This often-muddy track through rainforest requires

steady footwork, especially around exposed tree roots.

Remote area bushwalking

Experience the challenge of navigating steep climbs, rocky

outcrops, dense forest and rugged cliffs to reach a secluded

spot or mountain-top camp site that is all yours.

The best months for hiking are April to September to avoid

hot conditions and stormy weather.

To hike off-track you MUST be ﬁt, experienced and suitably

prepared! Ensure you have the relevant camping permits,

topographic maps, guidebooks, a compass or GPS,

a personal locator beacon (PLB), hiking companions and

all necessary equipment, food and water. The availability

of fresh water depends on the season and rainfall.

Severe weather or planned burns can sometimes

cause sections of the park to be closed, so always

check qld.gov.au/ParkAlerts before you head out.

See qld.gov.au/MainRange for remote area

bushwalking tips.

Scenic Rim Trail—opening in 2019/20

Beginning on private land near Thornton in the Laidley

Valley, the Scenic Rim Trail is a challenging 4 day, 38km

trek following a rough, mostly unformed track south along

Main Range to Cunninghams Gap. For camping permits

and route information visit qld.gov.au/ScenicRimTrail.

To enjoy an extended 5 day luxury guided Scenic Rim Trail

experience, visit spicersretreats.com/scenic-rim-trail

Spicers Gap

Galloongp a h

Mount Cordeaux

Niamboyoo (1144m)

Kurrajong

picnic area

Poplar Flat

camping area

permitted

Manna Gum

camping area

Bare Rock

(1168m)

Mount Mitchell

Cooyinnirra

(1175m)

Main Range

National Park

Fassifern

Valley lookout

West Gap Creek

picnic area

The Crest

Pioneer picnic area and graves

Moss’s Well

Governors Chair

Spicers Gap

camping area

West

Peak

East Peak

Mount

Mathieson

Mount

Alphen

Sylvesters

lookout

Mount Castle

lookout

To Queen

Mary Falls

To Warwick and

Toowoomba

To Allora

To Brisbane

To the

Winder

1 2km

Scale

Legend

National park

Restricted access area

Waterways

Sealed road

Unsealed road

4WD road

Walking track

Cliff line

Gate

Information

Ranger station

Parking

Toilets

Wheelchair

accessible facilities

Picnic table

Sheltered picnic table

Barbecue—wood

Barbecue—electric

Elevated braziers

permitted

Short walk

Hiking

Natural viewpoint

Constructed lookout

Camping

Car camping

Camper trailer

Caravan

Campervan/motorhome

Kiosk

Petrol

Water

treat before drinking

Campfire prohibited

Cliff lookout

Queen Mary

Falls lookout

Queen Mary Falls day-use area

Private

camping area

Queen

Mary Falls

Spring Creek

To Boonah

To Warwick

Main Range

National Park

200m

Scale

For your safety!

Keep to tracks, stay well back from the cliff edges and never

enter the restricted access area surrounding Queen Mary Falls.

Queen

Mary Falls

Warning

Sheer cliffs—one slip could be fatal.

Remain on the track, stay away from

cliff edges and behind any barriers.

Supervise children at all times.

Explore on foot

Magniﬁcent Main Range has walks to suit everyone.

Meander through towering forests, stroll by a creek,

explore heritage sites or get your blood pumping on

an exhilarating climb to a peak.

Walking tips

Choose walks that suit your abilities and time available.

You’ll need drinking water, a hat and sturdy ankle-

supporting footwear. Most tracks lead to lookouts or near

water, so watch your step near cliff edges and on slippery,

muddy sections. Stay on tracks, keep children close and

remind them not to run ahead.

Grade &

Symbol

Suits Track description

Grade 2

Families with

young children.

No bushwalking

experience

required.

Tracks may have a

compacted surface with

gentle incline sections and

some steps.

Grade 3

Most ages and

ﬁtness levels.

Some

bushwalking

experience

recommended.

Well-deﬁned tracks may

have short steep hill

sections, a rough surface

and many steps. May

have unfenced cliff edges,

obstacles and be partly

overgrown.

Grade 4

Experienced

bushwalkers with

moderate levels

of ﬁtness.

Tracks may be long, rough,

very steep and overgrown.

Caution is needed near

cliff edges and naturally

occurring lookouts.

Grade 5

Very experienced

bushwalkers

with specialist

map reading and

navigation skills

and a high level

of ﬁtness.

Tracks are likely to be

rough, very steep and

unmarked, with many

obstacles. Caution is

needed near cliff edges

and naturally occurring

lookouts.

Bushwalking into remote areas is only for the

experienced and well-prepared (left); The Steamers are

reminders of Main Range’s ancient volcanic origins (below

left); Sylvesters lookout (below); Pioneer Graves (right).

Queen Mary Falls tumbles over

20 million year old trachyte rock.

Richmond birdwing butterﬂy

Photo: © J Asche

Box Forest track

Maxime Coquard © Qld Govt

Mount Mitchell track

Cunninghams Gap

Photos: © Mark Daly (left); © Tony Kevin Photography

(below left); Maxime Coquard © Qld Govt (below);

Photos: Maxime Coquard © Qld Govt

No domestic animals

Domestic animals are not allowed

in the national park, including

within vehicles.

Goomburra

Cunninghams Gap

Cappoong

Walks from Cunninghams Gap

Box Forest track

5km return (allow 2hr)

Follow West Gap Creek beneath massive brush box trees.

Listen out for frog calls, the whirring of satin bowerbirds

and chiming of bell birds.

Rainforest circuit

1.6km return (allow 25min)

Stroll to the sights and sounds of lush rainforest adorned

with mosses, ferns and epiphytes. Enjoy the warmth of the

sunshine and scent of eucalypts at Fassifern Valley lookout

while you gaze over ancient volcanic peaks far below.

Mount Cordeaux

6.8km return (allow 2.5hr)

Rainforest gives way to grasstrees, banksias and

giant spear lilies hugging the impressive 1144m peak.

Rest on the rocky slab below the summit and delight

in sweeping views towards Brisbane and south across

‘The Gap’ to Mount Mitchell and the peaks beyond.

Ten people per group recommended at the lookout.

Supervise children closely.

Bare Rock track and Morgans Walk

12.4km return (allow 4.5hr)

Trek past Mount Cordeaux and rise to temperate rainforest along

the ridge top and awe-inspiring panoramas in all directions.

Rainforest clothes the escarpment north of Bare Rock.

Palm Grove circuit

4.4km return (allow 2hr)

A charming grove of dense piccabeen palms thrives in the

shadow of imposing Mount Cordeaux. Look for topknot

pigeons, wompoo fruit-doves and a multitude of other

birds feasting on the bright red palm fruit.

Gap Creek Falls track

9.8km return (allow 6hr)

Zig-zag down steep, dry, eucalypt-clad slopes to marvel at

water cascading over a 100m cliff. The falls are best after heavy

rain but the valley views are lovely in any season. Take plenty

to drink and pause for rest breaks on the return climb uphill.

Mount Mitchell

10.2km return (allow 3.5hr)

Unparalleled views from the summit’s knife-edge ridge are

your reward for this energetic walk that starts in rainforest,

winds through grasstree-ﬁlled woodland and ends in

montane heath. You’ll feel like a soaring peregrine falcon

surveying signs of life on the slopes and valleys far below.

Walks around Spicers Gap

Mount Mathieson trail

8.1km return (allow 3hr)

Hike a rough trail uphill through lofty eucalypts and lush

rainforest, admiring views across the face of Mount Mitchell

towards Cunninghams Gap. Return via the Heritage trail and

Spicers Gap Road.

Pioneer Graves

260m return (allow 15min)

Pay homage to lives tragically lost in harsh pioneering days.

A large stone cairn marks a small cemetery where

it is believed up to 13 people are buried.

Moss’s Well

120m return (allow 10min)

This small, wildlife-attracting spring—named after the area’s

ﬁrst road contractor—once sustained thirsty travellers and

weary horse or bullock teams.

Governors Chair lookout

300m return (allow 15min)

Take in the picturesque panorama from a rocky cliff

edge—a favourite resting spot for 19th Century Queensland

governors on their bumpy journey via cart or carriage

through Spicers Gap. Take care near the cliff edge and

supervise children.

Heritage trail

3.2km return (allow 1hr)

Learn about ‘macadamised’ pavements and other techniques

adopted when constructing the old Spicers Gap Road, used

by heavy drays and wagons more than 160 years ago.

Walks at Queen Mary Falls

Cliff circuit

570m return (allow 20min)

Behold Spring Creek plunging an impressive 40m into a

gorge at the start of Australia’s longest river system—the

Murray-Darling. Take care when viewing the gorge below.

Queen Mary Falls circuit

2km return (allow 40min)

Admire Queen Mary Falls from above, then descend to creek

level and delight in its cool spray and the rainbows created

by the mist. Spot statue-like eastern water dragons on rocks.

Take care on the causeway as it can be slippery.

To avoid climbing stairs, return from the base of the falls by

retracing your steps; or walk the track in a clockwise direction.

Caution: After heavy rain, the circuit track will be closed

due to the possibility of rock falls from the cliffs above.

Never pass through closed/locked gates.

Walks around Goomburra

Dalrymple circuit

1.2km return (allow 30min)

Criss-cross Dalrymple Creek beneath a canopy of towering

white-trunked manna gums. Perfect for all the family—stop

and look for tadpoles, crayﬁsh, insects, ﬁsh and birds.

Cascades circuit

6.5km return (allow 3hr)

Follow the water’s edge upstream past cascades and rocky

pools. Search the forest for reminders of timber harvesting

that took place here between 1840 and the mid-1980s.

Ridge track

5km return (allow 2.5hr)

Ramble uphill into open forests of New England Blackbutt.

Admire views into the valley below and, if lucky, glimpse

glossy black-cockatoos feeding in sheoak trees.

Loose gravel can make steep sections slippery, especially

upon descent. For a longer 7.6km (3.5hr) journey, add the

northern section of the Cascades circuit.

North Branch track

7km return (allow 3.5hr)

Be serenaded by a symphony of bird and frog calls as you

rock-hop back and forth across the unspoilt north branch

of Dalrymple Creek.

Araucaria Falls

3.6km return (allow 1.5hr)

Take a short track to a small but splendid waterfall ﬂanked

by rainforest dominated by hoop pines. Sit quietly and

reﬂect on the beauty that surrounds you.

Winder track

12km return (allow 4hr)

Your adventure along an old logging track deep into the

rainforest ends at the Winder—a relic from the days when

huge forest giants were harvested from the Mistake Range.

Mount Castle lookout

960m return (allow 30min)

Be mesmerised by rainforest scattered with magniﬁcent

hoop pines as you wind to the escarpment edge.

Enjoy superb vistas over the pink-hued trachyte cliffs

of Mount Castle towards Laidley Valley, Little Liverpool

Range and Brisbane in the distance.

Sylvesters lookout

940m return (allow 30min)

Feel the breeze ﬂowing up the escarpment as you snap

picture-postcard views across Fassifern Valley to peaks

of the Scenic Rim. In spring, giant spear lilies adorning

cliff faces sprout impressively-huge, red ﬂower spikes.

This often-muddy track through rainforest requires

steady footwork, especially around exposed tree roots.

Remote area bushwalking

Experience the challenge of navigating steep climbs, rocky

outcrops, dense forest and rugged cliffs to reach a secluded

spot or mountain-top camp site that is all yours.

The best months for hiking are April to September to avoid

hot conditions and stormy weather.

To hike off-track you MUST be ﬁt, experienced and suitably

prepared! Ensure you have the relevant camping permits,

topographic maps, guidebooks, a compass or GPS,

a personal locator beacon (PLB), hiking companions and

all necessary equipment, food and water. The availability

of fresh water depends on the season and rainfall.

Severe weather or planned burns can sometimes

cause sections of the park to be closed, so always

check qld.gov.au/ParkAlerts before you head out.

See qld.gov.au/MainRange for remote area

bushwalking tips.

Scenic Rim Trail—opening in 2019/20

Beginning on private land near Thornton in the Laidley

Valley, the Scenic Rim Trail is a challenging 4 day, 38km

trek following a rough, mostly unformed track south along

Main Range to Cunninghams Gap. For camping permits

and route information visit qld.gov.au/ScenicRimTrail.

To enjoy an extended 5 day luxury guided Scenic Rim Trail

experience, visit spicersretreats.com/scenic-rim-trail

Spicers Gap

Galloongp a h

Mount Cordeaux

Niamboyoo (1144m)

Kurrajong

picnic area

Poplar Flat

camping area

permitted

Manna Gum

camping area

Bare Rock

(1168m)

Mount Mitchell

Cooyinnirra

(1175m)

Main Range

National Park

Fassifern

Valley lookout

West Gap Creek

picnic area

The Crest

Pioneer picnic area and graves

Moss’s Well

Governors Chair

Spicers Gap

camping area

West

Peak

East Peak

Mount

Mathieson

Mount

Alphen

Sylvesters

lookout

Mount Castle

lookout

To Queen

Mary Falls

To Warwick and

Toowoomba

To Allora

To Brisbane

To the

Winder

1 2km

Scale

Legend

National park

Restricted access area

Waterways

Sealed road

Unsealed road

4WD road

Walking track

Cliff line

Gate

Information

Ranger station

Parking

Toilets

Wheelchair

accessible facilities

Picnic table

Sheltered picnic table

Barbecue—wood

Barbecue—electric

Elevated braziers

permitted

Short walk

Hiking

Natural viewpoint

Constructed lookout

Camping

Car camping

Camper trailer

Caravan

Campervan/motorhome

Kiosk

Petrol

Water

treat before drinking

Campfire prohibited

Cliff lookout

Queen Mary

Falls lookout

Queen Mary Falls day-use area

Private

camping area

Queen

Mary Falls

Spring Creek

To Boonah

To Warwick

Main Range

National Park

200m

Scale

For your safety!

Keep to tracks, stay well back from the cliff edges and never

enter the restricted access area surrounding Queen Mary Falls.

Queen

Mary Falls

Warning

Sheer cliffs—one slip could be fatal.

Remain on the track, stay away from

cliff edges and behind any barriers.

Supervise children at all times.

Explore on foot

Magniﬁcent Main Range has walks to suit everyone.

Meander through towering forests, stroll by a creek,

explore heritage sites or get your blood pumping on

an exhilarating climb to a peak.

Walking tips

Choose walks that suit your abilities and time available.

You’ll need drinking water, a hat and sturdy ankle-

supporting footwear. Most tracks lead to lookouts or near

water, so watch your step near cliff edges and on slippery,

muddy sections. Stay on tracks, keep children close and

remind them not to run ahead.

Grade &

Symbol

Suits Track description

Grade 2

Families with

young children.

No bushwalking

experience

required.

Tracks may have a

compacted surface with

gentle incline sections and

some steps.

Grade 3

Most ages and

ﬁtness levels.

Some

bushwalking

experience

recommended.

Well-deﬁned tracks may

have short steep hill

sections, a rough surface

and many steps. May

have unfenced cliff edges,

obstacles and be partly

overgrown.

Grade 4

Experienced

bushwalkers with

moderate levels

of ﬁtness.

Tracks may be long, rough,

very steep and overgrown.

Caution is needed near

cliff edges and naturally

occurring lookouts.

Grade 5

Very experienced

bushwalkers

with specialist

map reading and

navigation skills

and a high level

of ﬁtness.

Tracks are likely to be

rough, very steep and

unmarked, with many

obstacles. Caution is

needed near cliff edges

and naturally occurring

lookouts.

Bushwalking into remote areas is only for the

experienced and well-prepared (left); The Steamers are

reminders of Main Range’s ancient volcanic origins (below

left); Sylvesters lookout (below); Pioneer Graves (right).

Queen Mary Falls tumbles over

20 million year old trachyte rock.

Richmond birdwing butterﬂy

Box Forest track

Mount Mitchell track

Cunninghams Gap

No domestic animals

Domestic animals are not allowed

in the national park, including

within vehicles.

Goomburra

Cunninghams Gap

Cappoong

Walks from Cunninghams Gap

Box Forest track

5km return (allow 2hr)

Follow West Gap Creek beneath massive brush box trees.

Listen out for frog calls, the whirring of satin bowerbirds

and chiming of bell birds.

Rainforest circuit

1.6km return (allow 25min)

Stroll to the sights and sounds of lush rainforest adorned

with mosses, ferns and epiphytes. Enjoy the warmth of the

sunshine and scent of eucalypts at Fassifern Valley lookout

while you gaze over ancient volcanic peaks far below.

Mount Cordeaux

6.8km return (allow 2.5hr)

Rainforest gives way to grasstrees, banksias and

giant spear lilies hugging the impressive 1144m peak.

Rest on the rocky slab below the summit and delight

in sweeping views towards Brisbane and south across

‘The Gap’ to Mount Mitchell and the peaks beyond.

Ten people per group recommended at the lookout.

Supervise children closely.

Bare Rock track and Morgans Walk

12.4km return (allow 4.5hr)

Trek past Mount Cordeaux and rise to temperate rainforest along

the ridge top and awe-inspiring panoramas in all directions.

Rainforest clothes the escarpment north of Bare Rock.

Palm Grove circuit

4.4km return (allow 2hr)

A charming grove of dense piccabeen palms thrives in the

shadow of imposing Mount Cordeaux. Look for topknot

pigeons, wompoo fruit-doves and a multitude of other

birds feasting on the bright red palm fruit.

Gap Creek Falls track

9.8km return (allow 6hr)

Zig-zag down steep, dry, eucalypt-clad slopes to marvel at

water cascading over a 100m cliff. The falls are best after heavy

rain but the valley views are lovely in any season. Take plenty

to drink and pause for rest breaks on the return climb uphill.

Mount Mitchell

10.2km return (allow 3.5hr)

Unparalleled views from the summit’s knife-edge ridge are

your reward for this energetic walk that starts in rainforest,

winds through grasstree-ﬁlled woodland and ends in

montane heath. You’ll feel like a soaring peregrine falcon

surveying signs of life on the slopes and valleys far below.

Walks around Spicers Gap

Mount Mathieson trail

8.1km return (allow 3hr)

Hike a rough trail uphill through lofty eucalypts and lush

rainforest, admiring views across the face of Mount Mitchell

towards Cunninghams Gap. Return via the Heritage trail and

Spicers Gap Road.

Pioneer Graves

260m return (allow 15min)

Pay homage to lives tragically lost in harsh pioneering days.

A large stone cairn marks a small cemetery where

it is believed up to 13 people are buried.

Moss’s Well

120m return (allow 10min)

This small, wildlife-attracting spring—named after the area’s

ﬁrst road contractor—once sustained thirsty travellers and

weary horse or bullock teams.

Governors Chair lookout

300m return (allow 15min)

Take in the picturesque panorama from a rocky cliff

edge—a favourite resting spot for 19th Century Queensland

governors on their bumpy journey via cart or carriage

through Spicers Gap. Take care near the cliff edge and

supervise children.

Heritage trail

3.2km return (allow 1hr)

Learn about ‘macadamised’ pavements and other techniques

adopted when constructing the old Spicers Gap Road, used

by heavy drays and wagons more than 160 years ago.

Walks at Queen Mary Falls

Cliff circuit

570m return (allow 20min)

Behold Spring Creek plunging an impressive 40m into a

gorge at the start of Australia’s longest river system—the

Murray-Darling. Take care when viewing the gorge below.

Queen Mary Falls circuit

2km return (allow 40min)

Admire Queen Mary Falls from above, then descend to creek

level and delight in its cool spray and the rainbows created

by the mist. Spot statue-like eastern water dragons on rocks.

Take care on the causeway as it can be slippery.

To avoid climbing stairs, return from the base of the falls by

retracing your steps; or walk the track in a clockwise direction.

Caution: After heavy rain, the circuit track will be closed

due to the possibility of rock falls from the cliffs above.

Never pass through closed/locked gates.

Walks around Goomburra

Dalrymple circuit

1.2km return (allow 30min)

Criss-cross Dalrymple Creek beneath a canopy of towering

white-trunked manna gums. Perfect for all the family—stop

and look for tadpoles, crayﬁsh, insects, ﬁsh and birds.

Cascades circuit

6.5km return (allow 3hr)

Follow the water’s edge upstream past cascades and rocky

pools. Search the forest for reminders of timber harvesting

that took place here between 1840 and the mid-1980s.

Ridge track

5km return (allow 2.5hr)

Ramble uphill into open forests of New England Blackbutt.

Admire views into the valley below and, if lucky, glimpse

glossy black-cockatoos feeding in sheoak trees.

Loose gravel can make steep sections slippery, especially

upon descent. For a longer 7.6km (3.5hr) journey, add the

northern section of the Cascades circuit.

North Branch track

7km return (allow 3.5hr)

Be serenaded by a symphony of bird and frog calls as you

rock-hop back and forth across the unspoilt north branch

of Dalrymple Creek.

Araucaria Falls

3.6km return (allow 1.5hr)

Take a short track to a small but splendid waterfall ﬂanked

by rainforest dominated by hoop pines. Sit quietly and

reﬂect on the beauty that surrounds you.

Winder track

12km return (allow 4hr)

Your adventure along an old logging track deep into the

rainforest ends at the Winder—a relic from the days when

huge forest giants were harvested from the Mistake Range.

Mount Castle lookout

960m return (allow 30min)

Be mesmerised by rainforest scattered with magniﬁcent

hoop pines as you wind to the escarpment edge.

Enjoy superb vistas over the pink-hued trachyte cliffs

of Mount Castle towards Laidley Valley, Little Liverpool

Range and Brisbane in the distance.

Sylvesters lookout

940m return (allow 30min)

Feel the breeze ﬂowing up the escarpment as you snap

picture-postcard views across Fassifern Valley to peaks

of the Scenic Rim. In spring, giant spear lilies adorning

cliff faces sprout impressively-huge, red ﬂower spikes.

This often-muddy track through rainforest requires

steady footwork, especially around exposed tree roots.

Remote area bushwalking

Experience the challenge of navigating steep climbs, rocky

outcrops, dense forest and rugged cliffs to reach a secluded

spot or mountain-top camp site that is all yours.

The best months for hiking are April to September to avoid

hot conditions and stormy weather.

To hike off-track you MUST be ﬁt, experienced and suitably

prepared! Ensure you have the relevant camping permits,

topographic maps, guidebooks, a compass or GPS,

a personal locator beacon (PLB), hiking companions and

all necessary equipment, food and water. The availability

of fresh water depends on the season and rainfall.

Severe weather or planned burns can sometimes

cause sections of the park to be closed, so always

check qld.gov.au/ParkAlerts before you head out.

See qld.gov.au/MainRange for remote area

bushwalking tips.

Scenic Rim Trail—opening in 2019/20

Beginning on private land near Thornton in the Laidley

Valley, the Scenic Rim Trail is a challenging 4 day, 38km

trek following a rough, mostly unformed track south along

Main Range to Cunninghams Gap. For camping permits

and route information visit qld.gov.au/ScenicRimTrail.

To enjoy an extended 5 day luxury guided Scenic Rim Trail

experience, visit spicersretreats.com/scenic-rim-trail

Spicers Gap

Galloongp a h

Mount Cordeaux

Niamboyoo (1144m)

Kurrajong

picnic area

Poplar Flat

camping area

permitted

Manna Gum

camping area

Bare Rock

(1168m)

Mount Mitchell

Cooyinnirra

(1175m)

Main Range

National Park

Fassifern

Valley lookout

West Gap Creek

picnic area

The Crest

Pioneer picnic area and graves

Moss’s Well

Governors Chair

Spicers Gap

camping area

West

Peak

East Peak

Mount

Mathieson

Mount

Alphen

Sylvesters

lookout

Mount Castle

lookout

To Queen

Mary Falls

To Warwick and

Toowoomba

To Allora

To Brisbane

To the

Winder

1 2km

Scale

Legend

National park

Restricted access area

Waterways

Sealed road

Unsealed road

4WD road

Walking track

Cliff line

Gate

Information

Ranger station

Parking

Toilets

Wheelchair

accessible facilities

Picnic table

Sheltered picnic table

Barbecue—wood

Barbecue—electric

Elevated braziers

permitted

Short walk

Hiking

Natural viewpoint

Constructed lookout

Camping

Car camping

Camper trailer

Caravan

Campervan/motorhome

Kiosk

Petrol

Water

treat before drinking

Campfire prohibited

Cliff lookout

Queen Mary

Falls lookout

Queen Mary Falls day-use area

Private

camping area

Queen

Mary Falls

Spring Creek

To Boonah

To Warwick

Main Range

National Park

200m

Scale

For your safety!

Keep to tracks, stay well back from the cliff edges and never

enter the restricted access area surrounding Queen Mary Falls.

Queen

Mary Falls

Warning

Sheer cliffs—one slip could be fatal.

Remain on the track, stay away from

cliff edges and behind any barriers.

Supervise children at all times.

Explore on foot

Magniﬁcent Main Range has walks to suit everyone.

Meander through towering forests, stroll by a creek,

explore heritage sites or get your blood pumping on

an exhilarating climb to a peak.

Walking tips

Choose walks that suit your abilities and time available.

You’ll need drinking water, a hat and sturdy ankle-

supporting footwear. Most tracks lead to lookouts or near

water, so watch your step near cliff edges and on slippery,

muddy sections. Stay on tracks, keep children close and

remind them not to run ahead.

Grade &

Symbol

Suits Track description

Grade 2

Families with

young children.

No bushwalking

experience

required.

Tracks may have a

compacted surface with

gentle incline sections and

some steps.

Grade 3

Most ages and

ﬁtness levels.

Some

bushwalking

experience

recommended.

Well-deﬁned tracks may

have short steep hill

sections, a rough surface

and many steps. May

have unfenced cliff edges,

obstacles and be partly

overgrown.

Grade 4

Experienced

bushwalkers with

moderate levels

of ﬁtness.

Tracks may be long, rough,

very steep and overgrown.

Caution is needed near

cliff edges and naturally

occurring lookouts.

Grade 5

Very experienced

bushwalkers

with specialist

map reading and

navigation skills

and a high level

of ﬁtness.

Tracks are likely to be

rough, very steep and

unmarked, with many

obstacles. Caution is

needed near cliff edges

and naturally occurring

lookouts.

Bushwalking into remote areas is only for the

experienced and well-prepared (left); The Steamers are

reminders of Main Range’s ancient volcanic origins (below

left); Sylvesters lookout (below); Pioneer Graves (right).

Queen Mary Falls tumbles over

20 million year old trachyte rock.

Richmond birdwing butterﬂy

Box Forest track

Mount Mitchell track

Cunninghams Gap

No domestic animals

Domestic animals are not allowed

in the national park, including

within vehicles.

Goomburra

Cunninghams Gap

Cappoong

Walks from Cunninghams Gap

Box Forest track

5km return (allow 2hr)

Follow West Gap Creek beneath massive brush box trees.

Listen out for frog calls, the whirring of satin bowerbirds

and chiming of bell birds.

Rainforest circuit

1.6km return (allow 25min)

Stroll to the sights and sounds of lush rainforest adorned

with mosses, ferns and epiphytes. Enjoy the warmth of the

sunshine and scent of eucalypts at Fassifern Valley lookout

while you gaze over ancient volcanic peaks far below.

Mount Cordeaux

6.8km return (allow 2.5hr)

Rainforest gives way to grasstrees, banksias and

giant spear lilies hugging the impressive 1144m peak.

Rest on the rocky slab below the summit and delight

in sweeping views towards Brisbane and south across

‘The Gap’ to Mount Mitchell and the peaks beyond.

Ten people per group recommended at the lookout.

Supervise children closely.

Bare Rock track and Morgans Walk

12.4km return (allow 4.5hr)

Trek past Mount Cordeaux and rise to temperate rainforest along

the ridge top and awe-inspiring panoramas in all directions.

Rainforest clothes the escarpment north of Bare Rock.

Palm Grove circuit

4.4km return (allow 2hr)

A charming grove of dense piccabeen palms thrives in the

shadow of imposing Mount Cordeaux. Look for topknot

pigeons, wompoo fruit-doves and a multitude of other

birds feasting on the bright red palm fruit.

Gap Creek Falls track

9.8km return (allow 6hr)

Zig-zag down steep, dry, eucalypt-clad slopes to marvel at

water cascading over a 100m cliff. The falls are best after heavy

rain but the valley views are lovely in any season. Take plenty

to drink and pause for rest breaks on the return climb uphill.

Mount Mitchell

10.2km return (allow 3.5hr)

Unparalleled views from the summit’s knife-edge ridge are

your reward for this energetic walk that starts in rainforest,

winds through grasstree-ﬁlled woodland and ends in

montane heath. You’ll feel like a soaring peregrine falcon

surveying signs of life on the slopes and valleys far below.

Walks around Spicers Gap

Mount Mathieson trail

8.1km return (allow 3hr)

Hike a rough trail uphill through lofty eucalypts and lush

rainforest, admiring views across the face of Mount Mitchell

towards Cunninghams Gap. Return via the Heritage trail and

Spicers Gap Road.

Pioneer Graves

260m return (allow 15min)

Pay homage to lives tragically lost in harsh pioneering days.

A large stone cairn marks a small cemetery where

it is believed up to 13 people are buried.

Moss’s Well

120m return (allow 10min)

This small, wildlife-attracting spring—named after the area’s

ﬁrst road contractor—once sustained thirsty travellers and

weary horse or bullock teams.

Governors Chair lookout

300m return (allow 15min)

Take in the picturesque panorama from a rocky cliff

edge—a favourite resting spot for 19th Century Queensland

governors on their bumpy journey via cart or carriage

through Spicers Gap. Take care near the cliff edge and

supervise children.

Heritage trail

3.2km return (allow 1hr)

Learn about ‘macadamised’ pavements and other techniques

adopted when constructing the old Spicers Gap Road, used

by heavy drays and wagons more than 160 years ago.

Walks at Queen Mary Falls

Cliff circuit

570m return (allow 20min)

Behold Spring Creek plunging an impressive 40m into a

gorge at the start of Australia’s longest river system—the

Murray-Darling. Take care when viewing the gorge below.

Queen Mary Falls circuit

2km return (allow 40min)

Admire Queen Mary Falls from above, then descend to creek

level and delight in its cool spray and the rainbows created

by the mist. Spot statue-like eastern water dragons on rocks.

Take care on the causeway as it can be slippery.

To avoid climbing stairs, return from the base of the falls by

retracing your steps; or walk the track in a clockwise direction.

Caution: After heavy rain, the circuit track will be closed

due to the possibility of rock falls from the cliffs above.

Never pass through closed/locked gates.

Walks around Goomburra

Dalrymple circuit

1.2km return (allow 30min)

Criss-cross Dalrymple Creek beneath a canopy of towering

white-trunked manna gums. Perfect for all the family—stop

and look for tadpoles, crayﬁsh, insects, ﬁsh and birds.

Cascades circuit

6.5km return (allow 3hr)

Follow the water’s edge upstream past cascades and rocky

pools. Search the forest for reminders of timber harvesting

that took place here between 1840 and the mid-1980s.

Ridge track

5km return (allow 2.5hr)

Ramble uphill into open forests of New England Blackbutt.

Admire views into the valley below and, if lucky, glimpse

glossy black-cockatoos feeding in sheoak trees.

Loose gravel can make steep sections slippery, especially

upon descent. For a longer 7.6km (3.5hr) journey, add the

northern section of the Cascades circuit.

North Branch track

7km return (allow 3.5hr)

Be serenaded by a symphony of bird and frog calls as you

rock-hop back and forth across the unspoilt north branch

of Dalrymple Creek.

Araucaria Falls

3.6km return (allow 1.5hr)

Take a short track to a small but splendid waterfall ﬂanked

by rainforest dominated by hoop pines. Sit quietly and

reﬂect on the beauty that surrounds you.

Winder track

12km return (allow 4hr)

Your adventure along an old logging track deep into the

rainforest ends at the Winder—a relic from the days when

huge forest giants were harvested from the Mistake Range.

Mount Castle lookout

960m return (allow 30min)

Be mesmerised by rainforest scattered with magniﬁcent

hoop pines as you wind to the escarpment edge.

Enjoy superb vistas over the pink-hued trachyte cliffs

of Mount Castle towards Laidley Valley, Little Liverpool

Range and Brisbane in the distance.

Sylvesters lookout

940m return (allow 30min)

Feel the breeze ﬂowing up the escarpment as you snap

picture-postcard views across Fassifern Valley to peaks

of the Scenic Rim. In spring, giant spear lilies adorning

cliff faces sprout impressively-huge, red ﬂower spikes.

This often-muddy track through rainforest requires

steady footwork, especially around exposed tree roots.

Remote area bushwalking

Experience the challenge of navigating steep climbs, rocky

outcrops, dense forest and rugged cliffs to reach a secluded

spot or mountain-top camp site that is all yours.

The best months for hiking are April to September to avoid

hot conditions and stormy weather.

To hike off-track you MUST be ﬁt, experienced and suitably

prepared! Ensure you have the relevant camping permits,

topographic maps, guidebooks, a compass or GPS,

a personal locator beacon (PLB), hiking companions and

all necessary equipment, food and water. The availability

of fresh water depends on the season and rainfall.

Severe weather or planned burns can sometimes

cause sections of the park to be closed, so always

check qld.gov.au/ParkAlerts before you head out.

See qld.gov.au/MainRange for remote area

bushwalking tips.

Scenic Rim Trail—opening in 2019/20

Beginning on private land near Thornton in the Laidley

Valley, the Scenic Rim Trail is a challenging 4 day, 38km

trek following a rough, mostly unformed track south along

Main Range to Cunninghams Gap. For camping permits

and route information visit qld.gov.au/ScenicRimTrail.

To enjoy an extended 5 day luxury guided Scenic Rim Trail

experience, visit spicersretreats.com/scenic-rim-trail

Spicers Gap

Galloongp a h