national park in Australia
Oceania > Australia > Queensland > Darling Downs > Bunya Mountains National Park

Bunya Mountains National Park is the second oldest national park in Queensland. The national park has on the tentative list for world heritage since 2010.

Understand

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Bunya Mountains National Park is the home of the bunya pine. This very ancient tree grows cones weighing up to 10 kg (22 lb).

History

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Prior to European colonisation, the Indigenous peoples of Australia gathered here to celebrate the bunya nut harvest.

Landscape

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Flora and fauna

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  • The bunya pine is the king of the park.
  • The xanthorrhoea (or black boy).
  • The Satin Bowerbird builds a strange nest decorated with blue objects. The male gathers all kind of blue items like flowers, feathers, pieces of plastic or glass and arranges it in his nest in the hope to attract a female. The females look at the different nests and choose for the most beautiful one.
  • You'll see many parrots and wallabies in and around the park. Please don't feed them.

Climate

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The park is at 500 m (1640 ft) above sea level. The temperature here is several degrees lower than in Brisbane. Even in the summer, the temperature is only 25°C (77°F).

Park information

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Get in

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The park is three hours west from Brisbane. The roads are steep and winding, not suited for caravans. No buses, nor trains, let alone planes.

From Toowoomba, use the A2 Warrego Highway west-north-west for about 25–30 km (16–19 mi) until you reach the town of Jondaryan. Once at Jondarya, turn right onto Jondaryan Sabine Rd and then immediately turn left onto Jondaryan Muldu Rd. Continue on Jondaryan Muldu Rd for 1 km and after that 1 km, turn left onto Jondaryan Nungil Rd and continue for 16 km. After 16 km, continue for another 15 km but on Pechey Maclagan Rd (no turns required). Once you are at the town of Maclagan, turn left onto Bunya Mountains Maclagan Rd (dirt road) and after 14 km, turn onto Bunya Mountains Rd until the end. Follow signage to the park, and you'd have reached Queensland's second national park.

If you wish to avoid the dirt road (Bunya Mountains Maclagan Rd), take a left just before the town of Maclagan onto Dalby Cooyar Rd. Then after 16 km, turn right on Bunya Mountains Rd. Stick on this road to get to the park!

From Kingaroy, use the Bunya Highway southbound for about 30 km (19 mi), before turning left onto Bunya Mountains Rd. Follow this road and the signage, and you'll end up at the Bunyas!

Fees and permits

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As with nearly every park in Queensland, the park is free to access. However, if you want to camp there, you will attract some fees. As of early 2024, the camping fees are $7.25 per person per night, or $29.00 per family per night. You can read more and make bookings on this DES page.

Get around

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Map
Map of Bunya Mountains National Park

There are numerous walks you can do in the park. They are rather easy. Don't forget to bring enough water with you.

  • A map of the Bunya Mountains National Park can be found here
  • A map of the mountain biking trails can be found here

Plants and animals of the park. The views on some of the lookouts are amazing.

  • 1 Tim Shea Falls. Tim Shea Falls (Q24189511) on Wikidata Tim Shea Falls on Wikipedia
  • 2 Mcgrory Falls. Mcgrory Falls (Q24189464) on Wikidata Mcgrory Falls on Wikipedia
  • 3 Pine Gorge Lookout.
  • 4 Fisher's Lookout.
  • Walk in the park
  • Rest on the terrace of your cabin/house and watch the birds and the wallabies.
Bunya Mountains Walking Trails
Walking trackDistanceWalking time
Bunya Bunya trackClosedNo access at this time
Scenic circuit4 km return1 hr 20 min
Barker Creek circuit10 km return3-4 hr
Barker Creek Lookout / Tree Identification Walk5.4 km return2 hr from Paradise
Dandabah to Paradise2 km one-way1 hr
Paradise to Westcott3.2 km one-way1 hr 15 min
Koondaii Circuit2.5 km return1hr
Westcott to Cherry Plain4.8 km one-way1.5-2.5 hr
Cherry Plain to Burtons Well6 km one-way2 hr
Mt Kiangarow track2.3 km return1 hr
Bunya Mountains Mountain Biking Trails
Trail nameTrail TypeApproximate Trail Length (metres)Trail Width (metres)Trail Difficulty
Wamga WayShared Use (two-way)1,3002.0Easy - Class 4
Serpent SpinLoop (one-way clockwise)6,2500.8-1.2Easy/Intermediate
Oh Chute!Loop (one-way clockwise)5,0000.8-1.2Easy
Wilf's Free PassLoop (one-way clockwise)4,7000.8-1.2Easy

There's not a lot to buy here. The only store here is the Bunya Mountains General Store, connected to the Tavern.

There is a tavern here, but if you plan to stay some nights in the region, you better take food with you.

Drink

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You'll find the only drinks in the Bunya's at the Bunya Tavern.

Sleep

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Lodging

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You can rent a cabin or a house just outside the national park. Some of them are very comfortable, with a terrace when you'll take the breakfast in the company of parrots and a garden full of wallabies.

  • 1 The Wren Cottage (Jenny Wren Cottage), Bunya Mountains Titles Estate, via Dalby 4405, +61 7 4668 3126. A comfortable cottage, living room with firewood, terrace giving on the garden, wonderful view. From $160 per night.

Camping

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The park has three main campings — Dandabah, Westcott and Burton's Well. All have toilets and picnic tables. Dandabah is suitable for tents, caravans and large motorhomes. Westcott and Burton's Well are suitable for tents only as cars must remain in carparks nearby. All campers must have a booking and permit to camp. The fees are the same as all campsites in Qld . You may book online , by phone at 131304 (national booking number), at an over-the-counter booking office (there are none at the Bunyas) or at the Tavern's general store.

Read more here:

Stay safe

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Avoid the giant stinging tree and other stinging nettles. Between December and March, take care for the falling bunya cones. Always remember water and check for ticks.

Go next

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Routes via Bunya Mountains National Park
Toowoomba Maclagan S Bunya Mountains Rd NE  Kumbia Kingaroy



This park travel guide to Bunya Mountains National Park is a usable article. It has information about the park, for getting in, about a few attractions, and about accommodations in the park. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.