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.

Bellthorpe National Park, QLD.

Stony Creek Day Use Area, Bellthorpe National Park, 

The last place we visited on our Blackdown Tablelands roadtrip was Bellthorpe National Park. There is no camping available but the Stony Creek Day Use Area is well worth the drive in for a picnic. We walked the short distance to the waterhole where we saw a Keelback snake and a Saw-shelled turtle swimming about. Due to the light rain we hadn't taken our zoom lens to the waterhole so we ran back to get the lens but were too late for a photo of the keelback. 

Natural swiming hole in Bellthorpe National Park

We saw some Yellow-faced Honeyeaters and a White-eared Monarch; a bird that usually alludes us.

White-eared Monarch

The weather deteriorated quite quickly so we were only able to stay a short time before we decided it would be prudent to leave as the wind was really picking up. We didn't get far before the road was blocked by a small fallen tree. With a bit of work we were able to remove it from the road and continue on our way.

Details for Stony Creek Day Use Area, Bellthorpe National Park:
Where: D'Aguilar Hwy, turn into Stony Creek Road approximately 5 km east of Woodford, turn into Fletcher Creek Road. Follow the signs to Stony Creek Day Use Area. 
Access: 2WD access. Last couple of kilometers unsealed road.
Facilities: picnic tables, toilets, wood BBQ's (BYO wood).
Prohibited: No Camping. No pets. 
Activities: Swimming. 4 wheel driving. Picnics. Cycling. Horse riding. Short walk to natural swimming hole.

Walks and Wildlife at Peach Trees Camping Area, Jimna State Forest, QLD.

Three walks leave from Peach Trees Camping Area. 

Yabba Creek Circuit, 730 m, grade 2 walk:
This is a popular walk with families and nature lovers. As we made our way towards the suspension bridge on the Yabba Creek Circuit, a man carrying a camera with a very large lens overtook us and raced to get to the walk first. He told us that he was intent on getting a photo of an Eastern Whipbird and apparently he didn't want us ahead of him disturbing the birds! After a while he stopped on the path and was intently taking photos so we stopped a few meters back and waited for him to achieve his goal. While waiting, I spotted a male Regent Bowerbird and we managed to get some photos. 

Regent Bowerbird, male.

After a while, the birder came back to us and told us that he had been taking close up photos of an Eastern Yellow Robin sitting on it's nest. We were horrified because birds are easily stressed and have been known to abandon their nests if they feel uncomfortable. Of course we have learnt these things over time. If you are interested in learning more, Birdlife Australia has published an Ethical Birding Guidelines PDF that is helpful. It turns out that the birder didn't manage to get a photo of an Eastern Whipbird. After the incredulous look he gave us when we told him we had been taking photos of a Regent Bowerbird we didn't have the heart to tell him that we had in fact managed to get a couple of photos of an Eastern Whipbird as well.

Not the greatest photo of an Eastern Whipbird but relevant to the story.

We often encounter goannas sunning themselves on the path.

Lace Monitor (goanna)

Turtles and Little Pied Cormorant on Yabba Creek.

We have, in the past, viewed platypus in Yabba Creek from different places on the path. We didn't miss out altogether on this trip though because we saw them while walking the Eugenia Circuit.

Araucaria Circuit, 3.5 km, grade 3 walk.
An extension of the Yabba Creek Circuit which I have written about previously.

Eugenia Circuit, 2.4 km, grade 3 walk.
The first part of this walk climbs gradually to a lookout before descending again to the creek. The second half of the walk is mostly flat. We have walked this circuit many times over the years and there is always something interesting to see. This time, the highlight was seeing several active platypus moving about Yabba Creek.

I certainly wish I had the eyesight of this Grey Goshawk when viewing wildlife.

Grey Goshawk

I attached a full list of wildlife that we saw on this visit to the blog Peach Trees Camping Area.

Peach Trees Camping Area, Jimna State Forest, QLD.

Peach Trees Camping Area is a large grassy campground frequented by Eastern Grey Kangaroos.

Peach Trees Camping ARea

Eastern Grey Kangaroos relax around the campground.

Blue-faced Honeyeaters turn up quickly when they notice you preparing food. They can get quite vocal as they beg for food but it is best to ignore them. We went for a walk in the early evening and saw lots of bandicoots and pademelons near the creek.

Juvenile Blue-faced Honeyeater on the lookout for food.

Over the years we have seen quite a few changes at Peach Trees. The latest addition is a specifically designed wheelchair access campsite near the far amenities block.

Wheelchair Access Disability Campsite.

I have often wondered why the campground was named "Peach Trees". On this trip we saw several trees in blossom so I guess that explains it.

Peach Tree blossoms?

Entry to the suspension bridge over Yabba Creek at Peach Trees Camping Area.

Details for Peach Trees Camping Area, Jimna, QLD:
Where: about 142 km north-west of Brisbane. About 43 km north of Kilcoy. The directions on Google Maps are incorrect. From Kilcoy-Murgon Road take the sign posted turnoff between School Road and the Jimna Fire Tower.
Access: The last 3 km is unsealed. There is a concrete causeway, just before the campground, that can flood in wet weather.
Campground: Large grassy area suitable for tent camping beside your vehicle and all rigs. 1 designated wheelchair accessible campsite.
Bookings and Fees: National Parks Queensland provides limited WiFi at the campground which can be used to make bookings and to check the weather etc. It would be best to pre-book at busy times. Book online https://qpws.usedirect.com/qpws/ or by phone 13 74 68  Standard National Parks QLD fees. We paid $6.30 pp.
Facilities: There are three amenities blocks with flush toilets. Taps with non-potable water throughout the campground. Fire rings (BYO wood). Walks. QldParks-Wifi. We did not have Telstra phone reception. We have heard that there is some Optus reception but can't confirm. The Day Use Area has been removed and there are no longer any tables in the campground (with the exception of one disability access table which is in the designated wheelchair access campsite). 
Prohibitions: No pets. No generators.

Wildlife List:
Lace Monitors, Eastern Grey Kangaroos, Pademelons, Bandicoots, Antechinus, Freshwater Turtles, Platypus, Micro Bats. 
Butterflies: Scarlet Jezebel, Glasswing, Monarch, Orchard Swallowtail.
Bird List: Grey Goshawk, Satin Bowerbird, Regent Bowerbird, Australian Brush Turkey, Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Little Pied Cormorant, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Pied Currawong, Torresian Crow, Australian Wood Duck, Brown Cuckoo-Dove, Superb Fairy-wren, Grey Fantail, Rufous Fantail, Red-browed Finch, Noisy Friarbird, White-necked Heron, Blue-faced Honeyeater, Lewin's Honeyeater, New Holland Honeyeater, Laughing Kookaburra, Rainbow Lorikeet, Australian Magpie, Magpie-lark, Bell Miner, Noisy Miner, Australian King Parrot, Paradise Riflebird, Eastern-Yellow Robin, Pale-headed Rosella, White-browed Scrubwren, Little Shrike-thrush, Grey Shrike-thrush, Welcome Swallow, Brown Thornbill, Russet-tailed Thrush, Varied Triller, White-throated Treecreeper, Brown Quail, Eastern Whipbird, Golden Mangrove, Willie Wagtail, Dusky Woodswallow. Heard: Green Catbird, Southern Boobook, Tawny Frogmouth.

Coomba Waterhole, Maidenwell and Harland Park, near Yarraman, QLD.

On our way from Bunya Mountains National Park to Jimna State Forest we stopped off at a couple of places of interest.

Coomba Falls

Coomba Falls

Coomba Falls is 2 km east of Maidenwell along Coomba Waterhole Road. The road drops steeply and is signposted not suitable for caravans. There are bins at the car park but unfortunately there are no picnic tables or toilets. There is a constructed stairway down to the waterhole. 

Looking back up the stairs.

The waterfall was not running when we were there due to prolonged dry weather but the waterhole was still worth the visit.

Coomba Waterhole

It is possible to camp in Maidenwell at either the Maidenwell Hotel or the Maidenwell Recreation Ground. We have not, as yet, camped at either place but they both have reputations as being excellent places to camp. Caravaners find Maidenwell a handy place to leave their vans while they explore Coomba Falls and Bunya Mountains National Park.

Harland Park

Harland Park

Harland Park is 6 km east of Yarraman on the D'Aguilar Highway. Free, overnight camping is allowed here. It is a large grassy area between the highway and Cooyar Creek. There is a picnic shelter but no toilets. There is access to the Rail Trail from here.

"These waters have been stocked by local funds and support from the Queensland Government Fish Stocking Programme"

Cooyar Creek at Harland Park

Mt Kiangarow Track and Barker Creek Circuit, Bunya Mountains National Park, QLD.

View from the summit of Mt Kiangarow.

Our favourite short walk at Bunya Mountains National Park is the Mt Kiangarow Track. At only 2.3 km return it is well worth doing at any time of day. It is also one of those special places that has great light at both sunrise and sunset.

Scarlet Honeyeater on the Mt Kiangarow Track

The Grass Trees were in flower.

Barker Creek Circuit: 10 km circuit from Dandabah Car Park and Picnic Area.

As we were camping At Burton's Well Campground we drove to Dandabah early in the morning and parked at the picnic area. There is always plenty of wildlife around the picnic area and it is a delightful place to spend some time. Facilities include tables, toilets, information boards and a cafe. The Bunya Bunya Circuit 500 m Class 3, the Scenic Circuit 4 km Class 3 and the Barker Creek Circuit 10 km Class 3, can all be accessed from the Dandabah car park.

Some Dandabah Picnic Area Wildlife:

Male and Female Australian King Parrot.

Guardian of the walking track entry.

This Superb Fairy-wren landed on the window ledge of our car.

Satin Bowerbird, male.

The walk takes a pleasant path through cool, lush rainforest with a bracken understory.

Barker Creek Circuit.

We walked in a clockwise direction to Paradise Falls. The falls were barely flowing due to the dry weather. It is also possible to do a much shorter walk to the falls from the Paradise car park on Bunya Mountains Road.

We saw a Bassian Thrush and Rufous Fantails beside the track. Topknot Pigeons were feeding high in the tree canopy.

Bassian Thrush

Rufous Fantail

Topknot Pigeon

A native King Orchid caught the sun in a dark patch of rainforest.

King Orchid

As we made our way along Barker Creek we kept our eye out for the huge tadpoles of the Great Barred-frog.

Great Barred-frog tadpole in Barker Creek.

Little Falls was also a shadow of its usual self due to the prolonged dry weather. 

Little Falls

We choose to extend the walk by going to Barker Creek Lookout via the informative Tree Identification Walk. The track emerges from the shade of the rainforest into the open and passes across balds. At Big Falls Lookout there were no falls to be seen.

Big Falls appears to have dried up.

While the lookout isn't particularly stunning the tree identification signage is excellent and made the extra walking worth while.

Barker Creek Lookout.

We returned to the main Barker Creek Circuit and continued on in a clockwise direction through a section of eucalypt forest before reentering the rainforest and returning to the Dandabah Picnic Area.

Burtons Well Camping Area, Bunya Mountains National Park, QLD.

Burtons Well Camping Area. Our tent is in front of a huge Grass Tree.

It's no secret, we love the Burtons Well Camping Area at Bunya Mountains National Park. We have camped there many times and are particularly keen to camp there when the Grass Trees are in flower. Flowering time varies but it usually occurs sometime around September. The nectar attracts a wide variety of wildlife, from possums through to butterflies. Just be aware that the Burtons Well Camping Area is restricted to tents.

Booking tags are provided but there is no self-registration.

Wood pile, donkey shower with shower cubicles and toilet block.

There are hybrid toilets and a Donkey Shower in the campground and a dedicated disability campsite.

Disability campsite.

One of the things we love about Burtons Well is the awesome sunrises. There are also excellent sunrise and sunset views from the nearby Mt Kiangarow walk.

Sunrise view from our tent.

We got our timing right this trip and the Grass Trees were in flower which makes for some relaxing campground photography.

Satin Bowerbirds

Macleay's Swallowtail

Paradise Riflebirds

The male Paradise Riflebird kept his distance.

Eastern Spinebill and Crimson Rosella

Wildlife: Northern Brown Bandicoot, Eastern Grey Kangaroo, Red-legged Pademelon, Red-necked Pademelon, Pretty Face (Whiptail) Wallaby, Swamp Wallaby.
Butterflies: Purple Moonbeam, Large Grass Yellow, Macleay's Swallowtail.
Bird List: Satin Bowerbird, Regent Bowerbird, Australian Brush Turkey, Green Catbird, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Pied Currawong, Torresian Crow, Brown Cuckoo-Dove, Superb Fairy-wren, Frey Fantail, Rufous Fantail, Brown Gerygone, Lewin's Honeyeater, Scarlet Honeyeater, Laughing Kookaburra, Southern Boobook, Spotted Pardalote, Australian King Parrot, Topknot Pigeon, Wonga Pigeon, Paradise Riflebird, Eastern Yellow Robin, Crimson Rosella, White-browed Scrubwren, Yellow-throated Scrubwren, Grey Shrike-thrush, Eastern Spinebill, Brown Thornbill, Buff-rumped Thornbill, Bassian Thrush, Eastern Whipbird, Golden Whistler, Willie Wagtail.

Details for Burtons Well Camping Area:
Where: About 250 km north-west of Brisbane. Very steep access roads. Entry from Kumbia signed not suitable for caravans. Entry from Maidenwell signed not suitable for caravans. (I haven't driven in from the south so I'm unaware of the road conditions from that direction but please note access below). 4.2 km north-west of the information centre at Dandabah Camping Area.
Access: 2WD. Sealed roads. Steep roads into the Bunya Mountains. Please note that the Department of Transport and Main Roads advises that "all access roads are unsuitable for long and/or heavy vehicles".
Sites: 1 disability campsite. Large open grassy area for up to 30 people. Tents only. Vehicles in car park separated from tent area by bollards.
Bookings and Fees: Normal National Parks Queensland fees, $6.30 pp at time of writing. Maximum stay 14 nights. Book online or by phone 13 74 68.
Facilities: Hybrid toilets, tables, wood BBQs, wood pile, donkey shower (BYO bucket to take water to shower cubicle), 2 shower cubicles with canvas shower bags, taps (non-potable). We had Telstra phone reception at the campground but not throughout the park. Walks. No bins. 
Prohibitions: No pets. No generators. Don't collect wood from the park. No camping in the car park.
Caution: Check regularly for ticks. Tent only campground. No long and/or heavy vehicle access to the Bunya Mountains.
What's Special: Large Grass Trees. Lots of birds and wallabies.
Other Campgrounds in Bunya Mountain National Park: Dandabah: suitable for any rig that can drive into the mountains ie. not long and/or large. Westcott: tent only.