Spring Creek Road Scenic Drive, Boonah to Killarney, QLD.

Queen Mary Falls

After weeks of very dry weather it was finally raining and we thought it would be a great time to see a few waterfalls. On this road trip we chose to drive to Queen Mary Falls via the scenic route from Boonah along Carney's Creek Road and Spring Creek Road. This route is not suitable for caravans or heavy vehicles.

The small town of Boonah was looking great as the Jacaranda trees were in full bloom. There is an excellent Information Centre in Bicentennial Park on the Boonah-Fassifern Road. Free overnight camping is permitted in the car park for self-contained motor homes and caravans. 

If you are self-contained you can stay the night in the Boonah Information Centre Car Park.

Our first stop on the scenic route was Teviot Falls. These are intermittent falls best viewed after heavy rain. However, it's worth stopping anytime for the view.

Teviot Falls

View from Teviot Falls Lookout.

Our second stop was Carr's Lookout where there is a constructed walkway and lookout with an expansive view out over the surrounding countryside. Spring Creek Cafe and Cottages is also located here.

Carr's Lookout

View from Carr's Lookout

We continued on to Queen Mary Falls. There is a Day Use Area in the national park and the Queen Mary Falls Caravan Park and Cafe is across the road. Bird feeding is a popular activity in front of the Cafe. 

Queen Mary Falls Day Use Area

Queen Mary Falls Cafe and Caravan Park Office.

It is only a short walk to the lookout overlooking Queen Mary Falls.

Queen Mary Falls from the Lookout.

Continuing the scenic drive towards Killarney; Daggs Falls is the next stop. Here there is a constructed lookout and a sheltered picnic table but no toilets. Dogs are allowed.

Dagg's Falls Lookout.

Dagg's Falls

Browns Falls Park is only a further 1.2 km along Spring Creek Road. Here there are toilets, picnic tables and a children's playground. It is only a short walk of 600 m to Brown's Falls from here, however, the track is unformed and it is necessary to cross the creek three times so this walk is not for everybody. No sooner had we set out under the tunnels than it started to thunder and rain so we made the decision to retreat back to the car.

This is an excellent day trip. Choose between returning the way you came, cutting across to Cunningham's Gap or doing a circuit through Koreela, White Swamp Road and Carney's Creek Road. We choose to head into northern New South Wales.

Queen Mary Falls Section of Main Range National Park, QLD.

 Queen Mary Falls.

The Queen Mary Falls section of Main Range National Park is on Spring Creek Road between Boonah and Killarney. Camping is not allowed in this section of Main Range National Park but there is a privately run Caravan Park and Cafe across the road from the Queen Mary Falls Day Use Area. The Day Use Area is quite large with several separate areas, however, the car park can be full on Sundays.

Queen Mary Falls Day Use Area.

We saw a Satin Bowerbird guarding his bower between the road and the Day Use Area. 

We haven't seen fresh grass growing in a bower before.

Due to the bird-feeding activities across the road at the Caravan Park Cafe there are usually lots of Australian King Parrots and Crimson Rosellas about.

The walks leave from the Day Use Area.
Cliff Circuit, Class 2, 400 m return:
This is an easy short walk but doesn't have great views of the falls. However, about half of the circuit is also part of the Queen Mary Falls Circuit and I feel, that if you prefer short walks or are in a hurry, you would find it more rewarding to walk to the Lookout on the Queen Mary Falls Circuit and return the same way.

Queen Mary Falls Circuit, Class 3, 2 km return:
Although this walk descends to the base of the falls before climbing again to the Day Use Area we found the walk easier than we expected. The track meanders alongside Spring Creek before the creek plunges over the falls. There is an easy crossing over Spring Creek by a foot bridge and it is only a short distance to the lookout which has excellent views of the falls.

Crossing Spring Creek to get to the lookout is easy.

The lookout on the Queen Mary Falls Circuit.

Queen Mary Falls viewed from the Lookout.

We continued on and descended to the base of the falls. There was a rainbow at the base of the falls and excellent views back up to the lookout.

There were lots of Eastern Water Dragons on the rocks at the base of the falls.

Eastern Water Dragon

The circuit continues on, zig zagging to the Day Use Area via a few steps.
The descent and ascent to the Day Use Area was surprisingly good for bird watching considering how many people pass through every day. 

Spotted Pardalote

Black-faced Monarch

Details for Queen Mary Falls Section of Main Range National Park, QLD:
Access: South-west of Brisbane. Choice 1: The scenic route is 64 km south-west of Boona via Carneys Creek Road and Spring Creek Road. This route is very steep and unsuitable for caravans or trucks over 3 tonnes. Choice 2: the Day Use Area can be reached via Warwick and Killarney. Choice 3: Take Freestone Road off the Cunningham Highway and drive via Yangan and Emu Vale.
Caution: Sheer cliffs. Supervise children closely.

Queen Mary Falls Day Use Area:
Where: Opposite the Queen Mary Falls Caravan Park and Cafe on Spring Creek Road.
Facilities: Drop toilets, tables, picnic shelter, wood BBQ's (BYO wood) and free electric BBQ's, walks, information sign. No bins.
Prohibited: Pets. Camping. Collecting wood from the park.
Note: Gets very busy on Sundays. At the time of our visit in October 2017 the toilets were in the most disgusting condition of any toilet we have ever seen!

Bird List: Satin Bowerbird, Grey Butcherbird, Pied Butcherbird, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Galah, Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Pied Currawong, Australian Wood Duck, Superb Fairy-wren, Grey Fantail, Red-browed Finch, Leaden Flycatcher, Fairy Gerygone, Blue-faced Honeyeater, Lewin's Honeyeater, Laughing Kookaburra, Rainbow Lorikeet, Australian Magpie, Noisy Miner, Black-faced Monarch, Spotted Pardalote, Australian King Parrot, Pheasant Coucal, Wonga Pigeon, Eastern Yellow Robin, Eastern Rosella, Crimson Rosella, White-browed Scrubwren, Eastern Spinebill, Welcome Swallow, Brown Thornbill, Red-browed Treecreeper, White-throated Treecreeper, Eastern Whipbird. Heard: Bell Miners along Spring Creek Road.