Summary

Lamington National Park is a 206 square kilometre park on the McPherson Range on the Queensland-New South Wales border. The park features beautiful rainforest waterfalls, amazing views and a comprehensive series of clearly marked tracks.

History

Any interesting history for the region?

Features

What are the standout bushwalking features?

Access

Green Mountains (O'Reilly's)

Exit the M1 at Nerang and follow signs to Canungra (signs also indicate Lamington National Park or O'Reilly's). Turn left into Kidston Street and follow this road up the mountain (don't miss the great views along the way!) to the carpark adjacent to the QPWS Information Centre, campground and O'Reilly's Guesthouse.

Note that the road, although sealed, is narrow and winding and has many blind corners. Take care!

Binna Burra

Exit the M1 at Nerang and follow signs to Beechmont. Follow the signs from the roundabout at Beechmont to Binna Burra.

Maps

A number of SUNMAP 1:25000 topographic maps cover Lamington National Park including Lamington (South-West of the park), Tyalgum (South-East) Hillview (North-West) and Beechmont (North-East).

Hema maps also provides a comprehensive 1:35000 map of the park.

Accommodation

Camping

A National Park campground is available in the Green Mountains section. Sites must be pre-booked on weekends and holidays, but you may self-register at other times.

Remote, walk-in camping is allowed at designated sites between February and November. These sites must be pre-booked through the QPWS (see website below).

A private campground is available at Binna Burra

Other

Resort accommodation is available at O'Reilly's Rainforest Guesthouse and Binna Burra Mountain Lodge as well as various other options around the surrounding area.

Contact details

EPA Website - http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/projects/park/index.cgi?parkid=97

Walks in Lamington National Park

Very Hard

37.5 km return

2 days

Running Creek Falls Via Stinson Track

Running Creek Falls Campsite via Stretcher Track
Christmas creek road..
-to Westrays Grave
-to Stinson Remote Bush Camp
-to Point Lookout Bush Camp
-to Running Creek Bush Camp
-to Falls
-to car at Gap Creek Road

Medium

21 km

7 hrs

Ships Stern Circuit

Combines rainforest, palm groves and open eucalypt forest, wildflower vegetation and excellent lookouts over the Numinbah Valley. A short side trip takes in the Lower Ballanjui Falls. The Ship's Stern Walk is one of the most magnificent walks in the Park. It is particularly excellent in winter and spring, especially the latter when wildflowers are often abundant. The Binna Burra lodge offers convenient accommodation for an early start or an overnighter, and also has a cafe with a view that's a great way to finish this track.

Hard

14 km return

7 hrs

Stairway Falls

Great, but long and difficult walk from O'Reily's, following a path down to Blue Pool, then a run down path that's hard to find in some sections down to stairway falls. Goes though a lot of great scenery and you should definitely be prepared for your feet to get wet as you need to continually cross the creek to keep on path.

Hard

15 km return

8 hrs

Stinson Crash Site from Christmas Creek

This walk takes you to the Stinson memorial crash site and the close-by Stinson remote bush camping site (no bush camping is allowed anywhere along the track, only with a permit in designated area). There is not much of the Stinson wreck left so I'd recommend doing this one sooner rather than later before it all goes under, there has been some serious treefall and landslide in the area in late 2020 and early 2021 due to heavy rains. The memorial area contains some plaques dedicated to those who lost their lives in the crash.

Aside from the wreck it is a lovely hike with diverse forest, land features and some easy unexposed rock scrambling/climbing although this could probably be avoided. There's even a bit of vine swinging to be done on the way back down if you're game.

It is a hard walk in rough terrain. The initial climb is very steep and fitness is key to completing the track in a decent time. It diverges off Westray's Grave track, just before reaching the grave, seeing the grave on the same walk is recommended (https://www.aussiebushwalking.com/qld/se-qld/lamington-np/westray-s-grave-from-christmas-creek).

Hard

20.5 km one-way

2 days

Stretcher Track

Long considered a "classic" walk in South East Queensland this walk retraces the route taken by the rescue party for the survivors of the Stinson plane crash. It is not maintained by QPWS and is extremely overgrown once the main plateau is reached. A compass and a topographical map is essential as visibility is extremely limited in the rainforest even if you are not walking through low cloud and the track is to all intensive purposes non existent on the plateau.

Medium

19.73 km

6 hrs

Toolona Creek and Mount Wanungra

A full day walk that follows Toolona Creek in which over 8 waterfalls will be seen, also reaching Mt Wanungara lookout to provide views to Byron Bay and North Stradbroke Is. The round trip takes 6-8 hours.

Medium

19.8 km return

7 hrs

Toolona Creek Circuit

A beautiful walk along Toolona Creek and an endless number of waterfalls! Many creek crossings and beautiful, lush areas deep in the valley.

Easy

5 km return

90 mins

Tullawallal Circuit

This track leads through the rainforest to the summit of Tullawallal at over 950m. Also this track leads to the closest stand of Antarctic beech trees to Binna Burra. The rock formation at the end is a natural wonder that will have you guessing! Can be completed as a loop with the Border Track.

Hard

18 km

6 hrs

West Canungra Creek Circuit

The circuit descends to 'Yerralahla' (blue pool) passing by some large rainforest trees including red cedar Toona ciliata, and then follows the creek for most of its length, crossing it several times. Eels inhabit the West Canungra Creek. They bite when threatened and injuries have occurred. Creek crossings may be difficult to navigate and the circuit might not be obvious in places. Take particular care at creek crossings, especially after rain. Check track conditions with a ranger before you leave. The circuit exits via the Box Forest circuit.

Medium

7.5 km return

3.5 hrs

Westray's Grave from Christmas Creek

Hike from Christmas Creek to Westray's Grave along the South Branch of Christmas Creek. An enjoyable hike with obstacles to traverse to reach Westray's Grave. A chance for a swim on a hot day! Return trip is approximately 3-4 hours depending on conditions.