A walk in one of the many rainforests in Queensland can be highly beneficial to your health and well-being. Getting out in nature and among trees is great for boosting your mood and reducing stress which in turn can strengthen your immunity. It gives your senses a break from everyday life and replenishes your spirit.
Close to Brisbane and the Gold Coast is the perfect magical forest to escape to. Lamington National Park offers diverse natural features include rugged mountain scenery, dramatic lookouts, waterfalls, caves, creeks, unique wildlife and some of the best bushwalking in Queensland.
Located only 90 minutes from the city of Brisbane and 45 minutes from the glitter strip of Surfers Paradise, you will feel like you have been transported into a fairytale world. Lamington National Park is the most extensive subtropical rainforest in the world and part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia UNESCO World Heritage Area. The geology dates back more than 225 million years!
All tarmacked accessible roads lead you inland from the Gold Coast with a beautiful winding ascent to approximately 800m above sea level. You will feel the drop in temperature as you climb, which makes it a year round destination.
The area was declared a National Park in 1915 and is now part of the Scenic Rim region. It was named after a Governor of Queensland, Lord Lamington (no – it wasn’t named after the chocolate and coconut coated sponge cake).
You can get amongst it and feel the benefits of the ‘green behind the gold’ seeping into your senses on one of the many walking tracks. There are over 160km in total which leave from the two most accessible areas – Binna Burra and Green Mountains. The walks range from 20 minutes, through to three whole days on the Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk. Popular walks include the Tree Top Walk at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat, suspended 15 metres above the ground, and the Coomera Circuit (19km) which leaves from Binna Burra Lodge was voted one of the Top Ten Walks in the World by Lonely Planet. If you are looking to enhance your fitness levels, you can hike a half-marathon across the Border Track which runs between Binna Burra & O’Reilly’s.
For those who want to get the most out of their visit to Lamington National Park, the experience can be enhanced by joining an experienced rainforest guide. Tours such as the Lamington Short Break with local walking holiday company interNATIONAL PARKtours offer singles and groups packaged National Park holidays which include guides, accommodation, food and a detailed and interesting itinerary.
In addition to the clean air and surrounding yourself with the calming vibes of dense forests, Lamington National Park is an important area for wildlife. Here you’ll see critters that are solely exclusive to this area, such as the rare Albert’s Lyrebird. This miracle of nature can be seen in the winter months and is the bird featured on David Attenborough’s show that imitates sounds from nature, human activities and even machinery. There are in fact over 230 species of bird spotted in the park, notably the regent bowerbird, satin bowerbird, and you will constantly hear the wonderful calls of the whipbird.
The blue Lamington crayfish is found in this area, and you will see them in and around the creeks, particularly on the Dave’s Creek Circuit.
If waterfalls are your thing, there are more than 500 in Lamington National Park, and they are accessible from both Binna Burra and Green Mountains. Other notable natural features set to inspire you include caves, swimming holes, and multiple breathtaking lookouts. For a place that’s so close to the city, it would be a crying shame to miss this.
The Park attracts day visitors, however with so much to experience, you could easily spend a week or two here. If a few days in Lamington National Park and its surrounds is something you would like to experience, take a look at our upcoming three day walking holidays in the area.