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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Outback Aussie Tours

Multiple Locations
Explore Outback Queensland and beyond with Outback Aussie Tours, a multi-award winning touring company and Savannah Guides accredited operator. They will take you on a journey to discover the natural and cultural heritage to favoured Outback places like Longreach, Winton, Birdsville, Corner Country, Gulf Savannah, Cape York and Torres Strait.

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.

Pittsworth Pioneer Historical Village

Pittsworth, Toowoomba Area
From AU$5 - 5
The Pittsworth Pioneer Historical Village brings to life a bygone time, The Village consists of the old Pittsworth Post Office, the telephone exchange, the post masters residence, the original one-teacher school, a fully furnished cottage (circa 1900) and a blacksmith shop.

Sundown National Park

Stanthorpe, Southern Downs Area
Free Entry
Journey along back roads to the spectacular wilderness of Sundown National Park on the Queensland–New South Wales border. With its dramatic landscape of sheer-sided gorges, tree-lined ridges and peaks rising over 1000 metres above the Severn River, discover for yourself the park’s wild isolation.

Russell Street Historical Walk, Toowoomba

Multiple Locations
This self-guided walking tour of Toowoomba's Russell Street will lead you by landmarks of fine historic architecture, many of which date back to the 1860s. Russell Street was originally know as Farm Road.

Brisbane Valley Rail Trail Yarraman to Moore

Multiple Locations
The top end of the trail is located on top of Australia's Great Dividing Range just two hours drive north-west of Brisbane and directly west of the Sunshine Coast. The Yarraman to Moore to (Nukku Road) section of the trail includes Linville and Benarkin and is located in the scenic upper reaches of the Brisbane River Valley and crosses the rugged and picturesque Blackbutt Range.

Queen Mary Falls circuit, Main Range National Park

Multiple Locations
Take a leisurely stroll through changing forests to the top, and then the base, of spectacular Queen Mary Falls. From the Queen Mary Falls picnic area, head along a fragrant eucalypt-topped ridgeline to the lush, rainforested gorge.

ECO Safaris Queensland

Multiple Locations
Eco Safaris Queensland specialises in private nature and wine safaris around South-East Queensland. Either choose a 'Suggested Safari' or tailor exactly to what you want. Many options on these informative and luxury tours from active safaris deep in the rainforest to relaxing sightseeing tours.

Morgan Park

Warwick, Southern Downs Area
Free Entry
Morgan Park is a major sport and recreation facility and houses a range of sport clubs and organisations, as well as a reserve which is home to a wide range of bird species. Morgan Park is known as the home of horse power and hosts equine events nearly every weekend including horse trials (equestrian), polocrosse, and equine driving.

Burke and Wills Dig Tree

Durham Downs, Maranoa Area
From AU$11.00 - 33.00
The Burke and Wills Dig Tree is one of Australia's National icons and an enduring reminder of the pioneering spirit and extreme harshness of the Outback. Nappa Merrie Station is proud to officially manage the site on behalf of the Royal Historical Society of Queensland.
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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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