Wooroonooran National Park
- Introduction
- Fact file
- A look at the past
- Aboriginal culture
- Natural features
- Native plants
- Wildlife
- NQIS (07) 3227 8185
- QPWS Cairns (07) 4046 6600
- QPWS Innisfail (07) 4061 5900
- GO whitewater rafting on the North Johnstone River
- ENJOY the view over North Johnstone River gorge from Crawfords Lookout
- LOOK for platypus and freshwater turtles in Henrietta Creek
- PICNIC at beautiful Josephine Falls
Introduction
Part of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, Wooroonooran National Park boasts the two highest mountains in Queensland, along with wildrivers, spectacular waterfalls and lush rainforests, which blanket the landscape from foothills to summits. Widely regarded as one of the most scenic areas of the Wet Tropics yet receiving few visitors, Wooroonooran is one of Queensland’s best-kept secrets.
Fact file
Access
From Cairns via Bruce Hwy (Josephine Falls section) or via Bruce Hwy then Palmerston Hwy (Palmerston section)
Best Season
All year; summer months can be hot, wet and humid
Location
75 km south of Cairns, 7 km west of Babinda, 23 km north-west of Innisfail (Josephine Falls section); 33 km west of Innisfail, 25 km east of Millaa Millaa (Palmerston section)
Park Information
Permits
Camping and rafting permits required
Size
79 500 ha
Where to Stay
Babinda (07) 4067 1008
Innisfail (07) 4061 7422
Millaa Millaa Tourist Park
(07) 4097 2290
A look at the past
In 1882, bushman, gold prospector and explorer Christie Palmerston, assisted by Aboriginal guides, walked west from Innisfail to Herberton in 12 days. The highway, named in his honour, follows his route. Four years later Palmerston became the first European to climb Mount Bartle Frere, taking two days to reach the summit. Today’s Mount Bartle Frere Trail follows a rough track used by miners and adventurers since the 1890s.
Aboriginal culture
The Wari and Dulgubara people are the traditional owners of the Palmerston section of the park, while the Mount Bartle Frere area is the spiritual home of the Noongyanbudda Ngadjon and the place where their spirits return to when they die.
Natural features
Wooroonooran protects the Bellenden Ker Range and the escarpment country west of Innisfail. The range boasts the highest mountains in Queensland: Mount Bartle Frere at 1622 metres and Bellenden Ker at 1561 metres. It also reputedly receives the highest rainfall in Australia, creating the rivers and creeks that cascade through lush rainforest. The park is divided into two sections: the Palmerston area in the south, and the much larger Josephine Falls section in the north. The North and South Johnstone rivers fl ow through the Palmerston section, distinguished by the North Johnstone River gorge, numerous waterfalls and an incredible diversity of rainforest vegetation. The Josephine Falls section is dominated by Mount Bartle Frere and the picturesque waterfall is fed by rains falling on this peak.
Native plants
The lowland and upland rainforests in the park support a great diversity of plant species. More than 500 rainforest trees grow here, including palms, milky pines, water gums, black beans, red tulip oaks, silver silkwoods and crowsfoot elms. Beneath the dense rainforest canopy are cool, moist conditions that support vines, orchids and an abundance of ferns, including bird’s nest ferns, tassel ferns and staghorn ferns. Many plant species are confi ned to these high-altitude rainforest areas, such as Australia’s only native rhododendron.
Wildlife
In Wooroonooran, Wet Tropics’ endemics include the tiny musky rat-kangaroo, double-eyed fig-parrot and chowchilla. At Palmerston’s Henrietta Creek there are platypuses and freshwater turtles. Josephine Falls is home to the Bartle Frere skink. Golden bowerbirds, which only live at elevations above 900 metres between Paluma and Cooktown, can be seen between November and January in this section of the park. These smallest of bowerbirds build the tallest bowers in the world (up to 3 metres).
Featured Activities in the National Park
Introduction
From picnicking amid lush rainforest to climbing Queensland’s highest mountain, Wooroonoonan offers a variety of recreational activities. For great views, stop at Crawfords Lookout over the gorge in Palmerston. Go birdwatching during the day or search for possums by spotlight at night. The many beautiful waterfalls along the walking tracks are a photographer’s delight. In the Palmerston section, you can have a picnic at Goolagan’s picnic area or other spots along the highway. The picnic area at Josephine Falls has tables, a shelter shed, a coin-operated gas barbecue and wheelchair-accessible toilets.
Bushwalking
In the Palmerston section, you can see the rainforest along Henrietta Creek walk (1.6 km return, 1 hour, easy), Tchupala Falls walk (1.1 km return, 30 minutes, easy) and Nandroya Falls circuit (7.2 km, 3–4 hours, medium difficulty). In the Josephine Falls section, Josephine Falls Track (1.2 km return, 30 minutes, easy) takes you through lush tropical rainforest to viewing platforms overlooking Josephine Creek and falls. The viewing platform at the top pool is wheelchair accessible. Do not enter the restricted-access area around the top of the falls – serious injuries and deaths have occurred here. For more experienced walkers, Josephine Falls is the starting point for the Mount Bartle Frere Trail (15 km return, 2 days, difficult), which leads to the summit and back. Broken Nose Track (10 km return, 8 hours, difficult) offers a shorter but equally steep alternative. The summit can also be approached from the Atherton Tableland, again a challenging two-day walk. Make sure you check weather conditions with the ranger before undertaking these longer walks, as clouds can move in quickly on the upper reaches of the mountain and rainstorms are common all year. The dry season from May to October is the best time.
Whitewater rafting
Whitewater rafting is possible on the North Johnstone River. Permits apply. For details contact Gateway Discovery Centre, Cairns (07) 4051 3588.
Campsites
Western Summit Camp (walk-in camping)
Mount Bartle Frere Trail Big Rock camp (walk-in camping)
Eastern Summit Camp (walk-in camping)
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