Southern Queensland Country National Parks and Nature

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  2. Explore Queensland
  3. Southern Queensland Country
  4. Things to do in Southern Queensland Country
  5. National Parks and Nature in Southern Queensland Country

You’ll be surrounded by natural wonders when discovering Southern Queensland Country. Explore huge granite boulders towering above open forests in Girraween National Park, dense subtropical rainforests found in the Bunya Mountains and feel the cool spray of Queen Mary Falls, near Killarney. 

If you're looking for a weekend getaway or a Sunday drive, you'll be spoilt for choice. From sunlfowers fields lining country roads in summer to enjoying the views of Picnic Point Lookout in Toowoomba or relax at picturesque Lake Boondoomba - delightful!

With everything from waterfalls to swimming holes, picnic spots to breath-taking national parks that form part of the Great Dividing Range, you'll be spoilt for choice with these natural encounters.  So start planning your next weekend getaway or Sunday drive now, it's all just a short drive from Brisbane!

Bunya Mountains

Traditionally a meeting place for Aboriginal tribes, the Bunya Mountains is a natural wonderland and an offshoot of the Great Dividing Range formed about 30 million years ago and shelters the largest ancient bunya pine forest in the world today. This recently declared national park is the second oldest in Queensland where you'll discover dense rainforest, grasslands and water falls which make for unique walking trails where you'll also be able to spot native wildlife from wallabies to 121 species of birds.

Just two hours from Brisbane, the Bunya Mountains makes for the perfect next day trip or weekend escape with various accommodation options also available. 



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The Palms National Park

Cooyar, Toowoomba Area
Free Entry
Tucked away in the hills east of Cooyar, The Palms National Park is a gem worth making an effort to visit. Small in size, but big in nature, this tiny patch of rainforest is filled with impressive piccabeen palms, towering fig trees and a rich suite of birdlife.

Kings Creek Helicopters

Kings Creek, Toowoomba Area
Explore the Red Centre from the air with Kings Creek Helicopters and see iconic wonders, including George Gill Range, Uluru / Ayers Rock, Kata Tjuta / The Olgas and Kings Canyon, Watarrka National Park.

Lake Broadwater Conservation Park

Dalby,
Free Entry
Lake Broadwater Conservation Park protects the only natural lake on the Darling Downs. Waterbirds and wildlife are drawn to the shallow lake and find refuge in the surrounding vegetation. The lake precinct was a focal point for local Aboriginal people and later teamsters and early settlers.

Cunninghams Gap and Spicers Gap, Main Range National Park

Warwick, Southern Downs Area
Free Entry
A landscape of rugged mountains, spectacular lookouts, exhilarating walks, dappled forests and unique wildlife is waiting to be explored. Discover walks through lush tropical rainforest, fragrant eucalypts and colourful montane heath.

Birdwatching in the South Burnett

Kingaroy, South Burnett Area
Free Entry
With more than 350 recorded species, the South Burnett is a bird watchers dream. The region is known for the Black-breasted Button-quail and Glossy Black-Cockatoo, but expect to see the likes of the Red-rumped Parrot, Regent Bowerbird, Rainbow Bee-eater, Dollarbird and Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater too.

Expedition National Park

Taroom, Banana Area
Free Entry
Rugged gorges with towering sandstone cliffs, spectacular views of the Carnarvon ranges, and colourful wildflowers in late winter and spring, are highlights of this rugged outback park, which includes Robinson Gorge, Lonesome and Beilba sections.

Araucaria Ecotours

Multiple Locations
Enjoy learning about Australian wildlife with Araucaria Ecotours' wildlife experts while travelling from Brisbane to rainforests, bushland, wetlands, quiet beaches, mountains and the outback on small group tours with advanced eco-certification.

Crows Nest National Park

Crows Nest, Toowoomba Area
Free Entry
Discover spectacular scenery, granite outcrops, a scenic waterfall and eucalypt forest remnants on the edge of the Great Dividing Range. Nestled amongst eucalypt forest, bloodwood and stringybark trees lies Crows Nest Falls, about six kilometres east of Crows Nest and 56-kilometres north of Toowoomba.

Governors Chair lookout track, Main Range National Park

Multiple Locations
Perched high on the edge of a cliff face, this large rock was reportedly a popular resting spot for early Queensland governors when their journeys took them through Spicers Gap. Originally known as Governors Rock, the name changed to Governors Chair in 1854 in honour of Sir Charles Fitzroy—the then Governor-General of the Australian colony.

Toowoomba Water Bird Habitat

Toowoomba, Toowoomba Area
Free Entry
Nestled into suburban Rangeville, Toowoomba Waterbird Habitat is a beautiful and diverse wetland spread over 7.6 hectares (19 acres). Environmental diversity is essential if the habitat is to attract a variety of waterbirds.
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Girraween National Park

You'll find the spectacular and popular Girraween National Park, outside Stanthorpe in southern Queensland. Unlike other national parks, this one replaces rainforests with rocks, and stands alone from its neighbours, Springbrook National Park and Lamington National Park. A bush walkers wonderland, the park has over 30 kilometres of walking trails available from exploring the famed Granite Arch to The Pyramid for great views over the park, it's hard to fit everything in! Rest assured, camping is an option. Castle Rock or Bald Rock Creek camping areas or relax with a picnic in the shady Bald Rock Creek day-use area for day trippers.  

Check out our guide to tackling this rugged beauty. 

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