Summary

Boarding NSW and the pacific Ocean, it is not uncommon for hikes to have views of both worlds (ocean and hinterland). Hikes here are typically on the great dividing range.

History

Any interesting history for the region?

Features

What are the standout bushwalking features?

Access

How do you get there? Include all access points if there are many?

Maps

Which maps cover the region?

Accommodation

Where can I stay there? or near there?

Camping

Council Areas:

1. Scenic Rim Regional
2. Gold Coast City
3. Logan City
4. Redland City
5. Ipswich City
6. Lockyer Valley Regional
7. Brisbane City
8. Somerset Regional
9. Moreton Bay Regional
10. Sunshine Coast Regional
11. Noosa Shire

Contact details

See Qld National parks website

Walks in Lamington National Park

Very Hard

14 km

10 hrs

Noowongbill Lookout

x

Very Hard

40 km one-way

3 days

Numinbah Gap to Christmas Creek

A challenging 2-day or 3-day hike along the QLD/NSW border.

2-day option: camp at Echo Point
3-day option: camp at Bithongabel and Point Lookout

A good challenge for experienced walkers with good experience and navigation skills. Points of interest along the way include Bushranger's Cave, Mt Wagawn, Mt Hobwee, Dacelo Lookout, Merino Lookout, Bithongabel Lookout, Echo Point Lookout, Point Lookout, and the Stinson Crash.

This walk can be done in either direction. In any case, you will either have to do a car shuffle or very nicely ask friends or family to do a drop-off and pick-up.

Make sure that you take a PLB and proper emergency provisions (first aid kit, shelter, wet weather gear, warm clothes, extra food rations etc.).

Easy

5.4 km return

2 hrs

Pats Bluff

The West Cliff Track branches to the right from the Python Rock Track and then immediately sharp left past a Black Booyong with extensive buttressing and a tall Hoop Pine 30 metres further down the track.

Pat’s Bluff affords a view over the Albert and Logan River valleys to the Great Dividing Range. Follow the cliff line down past a view of Raining Cliff to the picnic area. Pat O’Reilly’s log cabin is 70 metres in from this spot. Peregrine Falcons nest in caves in these cliffs and often rest in the dead trees above the cliff line

Easy

3.4 km return

1 hr

Python Rock

The track to Python Rock has even grades, suitable for older people and young children. The booyongs and figs near the West Cliff turn off are impressive as are the large New England Blackbutt as you enter the open forest for the first time. The view from Python Rock overlooks Castle Crag to the Lost World with Mount Throakban on the left and Moran's Falls. You can proceed up the hill from the lookout on a tough track and turn left for West Cliff.

Very Easy

1.2 km return

30 mins

Rainforest Circuit

For a quick introduction to the rainforest, follow the Border Track for 500m, then branch right and return to the picnic area. A self-guiding brochure, produced by the Lamington Natural History Association is available at the Information Centre, the Lamington Teahouse and at Binna Burra Lodge.

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.