Lamington National Park, QLD. Walks and Wildlife: Revisit.

On our recent camping trip to the Green Mountains section of Lamington National Park there had been heavy rain in the days prior to our arrival. We had intended doing half of the Border Track (10.7 km return from the halfway point) but we found the muddy conditions very heavy and slow going so we changed tactics, deciding to do shorter forays while keeping an eye out for local birds and wildlife. 

As always there were plenty of birds to be seen in the trees around the O'Reilly's birdfeeding area. Here we saw King Parrot, Crimson Rosella, Red-browed Finch and White-throated Scrubwren. There were Yellow-throated Scrubwrens, Lewins and Satin Bowerbirds in the Day Use Area. The Rainforest Walk starts near here and is a pleasant short walk, 1.4 km return.

Crimson Rosella and King Parrot, female

The Rainforest Walk.

We had excellent views of Logrunner, Bassian Thrush and Large-billed Scrubwrens along the first section of the Border Track.

Logrunner, female

Bassian Thrush

Large-billed Scrubwren

Albert's Lyrebird were present and we enjoyed watching them scratching and feeding in the undergrowth. We stood very still and one pair came closer and closer to us until they were right in front of us seemingly oblivious to our presence looming over them.

Albert's Lyrebirds

Red-necked Pademelons are common in the campground but along the track it is possible to spot Red-legged Pademelons in the forest undergrowth. They can be hard to get a full photo of as they seem shyer than the Red-necked Pademelons and they tend to move away when they notice you looking at them. We are pretty chuffed to have managed one photo of a Red-legged Pademelon out in the open.

Red-legged Pademelon

On another morning we walked to Picnic Rock to have a picnic breakfast. We love picnics and just can't resist such an enticingly named spot.

Picnic Rock

We have walked the Moran's Falls track before (4.4 km return, Class 3). One afternoon as the sun was setting we did it again even though the trail goes down to the lookout and what goes down must go up on the return.

Moran's Fall Lookout

View from Moran's Fall Lookout at Sunset

Moran's Falls

Last time we were here the Python Rock Track (3.1 km return, Class 3) was closed for maintenance so it was one of our goals for this trip. This trail has a gentle decent which is easier on the return than the Moran's Fall Track. We thoroughly enjoyed walking through the forest to the beautiful vistas from the lookout. Here we discovered why the track was closed on our last visit when we arrived at the newly constructed lookout platform. The helpful sign at the lookout named all the mountains and rock formations that could be viewed from here but strangely none of them was named Python Rock. No doubt one of these natural landforms is locally known as Python Rock and we had fun guessing which one. Moran's Falls can also be seen in the distance from the Python Rock track.

Strangler Fig on Python Rock Track

Fungi on Python Rock Track

Grass trees, Zanthorrhoea, on the Python Rock Track

Python Rock Lookout

Python Rock Lookout

Which one is Python Rock?

Moran's Falls

We walked from the campground to the trailhead for the Moran's Falls and Python Rock tracks. This involves carefully sharing the narrow road with traffic. However, while we were there a walking path was being constructed from O'Reilly's, through the top of the campground, all the way to the trailhead. It is expected to be completed in late September 2015 and will make this a safer and more pleasant walk.

The road from the trailhead back to the campground.

We also walked along part of Duck Creek Road while we were here. Duck Creek Road is a popular 4WD road with beautiful views and has areas of interest for birders. Unfortunately my camera stopped working a couple of hundred meters in as the SD card was full.

Our last post covered the campground and our previous post contains more information about Lamington National Park.