Bunya Mountains National Park

• Introduction
• Fact file


Bunya Mountains National Park, Peter Lik / Courtesy of Tourism Queensland

Introduction

The Bunya Mountains hosted important gatherings for the Waka Waka tribe and up until the late 1800s local and neighbouring Aboriginal groups met every three years for feasts that coincided with heavy crops of bunya nuts. From the 1860s, timber cutters began felling the giant red cedar trees, and the hoop and bunya pines – although the national park was gazetted in 1908, it was not until 1961 that the last sawmill in the area ceased operation. The Bunya Mountains, peaking at 1135 metres, rise abruptly from the surrounding Darling Downs and South Burnett Valley. The most westerly rainforest park in southern Queensland, it protects more than 30 rare and threatened species of flora and fauna. Here you will find the largest remaining area of bunya pines in the world, along with cool subtropical rainforests, dry rainforests and grasslands, known as ‘balds’, containing rare grass species. Grasstrees growing on these plains are among the oldest and tallest in Queensland. The park is a refuge for some 120 bird species, including the rarely sighted sooty owl, the powerful owl and the black-breasted button-quail. More common are Australian king-parrots and crimson rosellas, which gather in the bunya trees near the picnic area. Of the park’s nocturnal residents, the Bunya Mountains ringtail possum is endemic to the area.There are 35 kilometres of walking tracks, ranging from a 500-metre stroll to a 10-kilometre hike. However, watch out for nettles, stinging trees, prickly vines and thorny shrubs and stay on the tracks to avoid being scratched or stung. Dandabah village, next to the camping ground, offers accommodation and basic supplies.

Fact file

Camping

Dandabah; bush camping at Westcott (no showers) and Burton’s Well (bush showers); permit and fees apply

Location and access

230 km north-west of Brisbane via Warrego Hwy through Toowoomba, Jondaryan or Dalby; 63 km north-east of Dalby; 58 km south-west of Kingaroy via D’Aguilar Hwy

Park Information

NQIS (07) 3227 8185 Park ranger (07) 4668 3127

Size

11 700 ha

Where to Stay

Dandabah (07) 4162 3199 www.tourism.southburnett.com.au


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• Campsites

Campsites

Burton’s Well camping area

Camp among the ancient grass trees with beautiful forest surrounds at this large site, 8.5 km north-west of the QPWS information centre. The carpark is a short walk from the 50 designated camping spots. A gas/fuel stove... Find out more

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Dandabah camping area

Dandabah has large, open grassy areas conveniently close to a small general store, restaurant and public phone. There are sites for up to 70 campers and it can be reached by conventional vehicle. The site is on Bunya... Find out more

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Westcott camping area

Suitable for tents only, there is no vehicular access to this small partly shaded campground, but parking is just 20 m away. There are fireplaces but use the firewood sparingly. The site is 4 km north of Dandabah on... Find out more

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