Coalstoun Lakes National Park, QLD.

Coalstoun Lakes National Park

At only 26 ha, Coalstoun Lakes National Park is Queensland's smallest national park. This small area protects an extinct volcano, Mount Le Brun, and it's two crater lakes. The lakes were dry when we visited recently but sometimes they contain water. 

The car park is only about 1 km off the Isis Highway between Ban Ban Springs and Biggenden on a narrow gravel track with limited room to turn around at the end. We stayed at Mountain Views Caravan Park in Biggenden for a few days while we explored the national parks in the area.

Excerpt from a sign near the car park.

The walk from the car park to the lookout and picnic table is a steep 350 meters. The views at the top are worth it. 

Views over the countryside towards the small town of Coalstoun Lakes.

Views of Mount Walsh National Park.

The walk along the craters rim is listed as a Class 4, 2 km return walk of approximately 30 minutes. The track has been damaged by cattle in some places and requires stepping over small volcanic rocks in other sections. We spent about three hours exploring the craters, checking out the interesting volcanic geology and bird watching.

Bird hide at the first crater lake.

The crater lakes are lined with volcanic rocks and rimmed by melaleucas and blue gums.

Edge of the first crater lake.

We saw a great variety of birds on our walk. There were Wedge-tailed Eagles soaring overhead and along the edge of Mount Le Brun. A Brown Falcon shadowed our every move and seemed to be playing peek-a-boo with us. We saw lots of Varied Trillers, Rufous and Golden Whistlers and Australasian Figbirds in the surrounding melaleucas. Dozens of Double-barred Finches were scrabbling about on the crater floor sharing the dead sedge grass with Golden-headed Cisticolas.

Brown Falcon

Varied Triller and Striped Honeyeater

Golden Cisticola and Double-barred Finch

After a full morning of exploring we headed back to the picnic table for a well earned break.

Coalstoun Lakes Lookout: our kind of picnic spot!

As we descended along the track we noticed that some cattle were crowded around our ute. It seems they love it has much as we do as on our return we found that it was covered in cow licks! 

Yum, a nice new ute to check out.

I've had Coalstoun Lakes on my bucket list for a while and it didn't disappoint. However, I've popped it back on the bucket list to return when the lakes are full of water.

Details for Coalstoun Lakes National Park:
Where: 105 km west of Maryborough, QLD.
Access: Turn off the Isis Highway, 20 km south of Biggenden. Entry road is a 1 km gravel track.
Facilities: Car park. Steep 350 m walk to a picnic table. 2 km walking track. Bring your own water.
No Camping.
Cautions: Cattle.

Bird List: Wedge-tailed Eagle, Brown Falcon, Varied Triller, Grey Fantail, Grey Shrike-thrush, Little Shrike-thrush, Golden Whistler, Rufous Whistler, Willie Wagtail, Golden Cisticola, Double-barred Finch, Australasian Figbird, Striped Honeyeater.