PARK INFORMATION
NPRSR 13 7468
SIZE
29 730 ha
VISITOR INFORMATION
Boonah (07) 5463 2233 | Warwick (07) 4661 3122 | www.visitscenicrim.com.au
LOCATION AND ACCESS
112 km south-west of Brisbane; 50 km east of Warwick via Cunningham Hwy (Goomburra and Cunninghams Gap sections); 11 km east of Killarney via Spring Creek Rd
CAMPING
Three campsites; 26 remote bush camping areas (walk-in); permit and fees apply
Stretching for 55 kilometres along the Great Dividing Range, World Heritage–listed Main Range National Park forms the western part of a crescent of mountains in south-east Queensland known as the Scenic Rim. The park boasts impressive peaks and escarpments, and the delightful Queen Mary Falls. In 1828, explorer Allan Cunningham discovered a passage through the mountains, and Cunninghams Gap was named in his honour. Spicers Gap to the south was discovered in 1847 by stockman Henry Alphen; the historic Spicers Gap Road took drays laden with Darling Downs produce to the port of Brisbane. Aboriginal people travelling between the inland and the coast are believed to have followed the route through Spicers Gap. Declared in 1909, Main Range was one of Queensland's first national parks.
There are three main types of vegetation: rainforest in the moist, sheltered areas, open eucalypt forest on the high ridges and slopes, and mountain heath on the cliffs and rocky outcrops. Wildflowers, including giant spear lilies and orchids, appear in spring. Birdlife is abundant. Look for the satin bowerbird, bell miner, eastern bristlebird, Bassian thrush, Australian king-parrot, the critically endangered double-eyed fig-parrot (subsp. coxeni) and the rare black-breasted button-quail.
Picnic spots are plentiful and there are spectacular views from Governors Chair (to the New South Wales border), and Sylvesters and Fassifern lookouts. Renowned for its bushwalks, there are trails at Cunninghams Gap, Spicers Gap and Queen Mary Falls. The rest of the park is a rugged wilderness suitable only for experienced, well-equipped bushwalkers, who can stay at one of 26 walk-in bush campsites.