Should you’re planning a visit to Lamington Nationwide Park and trying to find one of the best issues to do in Lamington Nationwide Park to construct your final itinerary, you’ve landed in precisely the correct place.
Situated within the lush Gold Coast hinterland of Queensland, Australia, Lamington Nationwide Park types a part of the UNESCO-listed Gondwana Rainforests and is house to among the oldest subtropical rainforests on Earth. It’s a bit more durable to entry and requires extra driving and planning than close by Springbrook Nationwide Park and Tamborine Mountain, however that’s all a part of the enchantment. This can be a vacation spot for travellers who love epic day hikes, cascading waterfalls, misty lookouts and wildlife encounters – and who’re prepared to go the additional mile (or 50). Lamington Nationwide Park is greatest recognized for its well-known treetop stroll, O’Reilly’s property and the multitude of unbelievable hikes inside the park.
From historical Brush field timber to deep valleys carved by waterfalls (and the prospect to identify the uncommon blue Lamington crayfish), Lamington Nationwide Park is a type of locations in Australia that feels utterly faraway from the trendy world. The drive alone, with its hairpin turns and blind corners, has you leaving every thing behind — the right alternative to modify off and reconnect with nature.
On this information, I’m sharing every thing it is advisable know – together with one of the best issues to do in Lamington Nationwide Park, probably the most rewarding hikes, the place to remain, when to go to, and some native meals stops to spherical out your journey.
Getting To Lamington Nationwide Park
The simplest strategy to discover Lamington Nationwide Park while you’re there may be positively by automotive. The park is roughly 1.5–2 hours from Brisbane and simply over an hour from the Gold Coast, making it a really perfect weekend journey or road-trip vacation spot on a wider East Coast itinerary. Should you’re flying in to your Lamington Nationwide Park journey, Brisbane Airport (BNE) or Gold Coast Airport (OOL) are your closest choices, from which you’ll hire a automotive.
Okay, so in relation to ‘the place to discover in Lamington Nationwide Park’, there are just a few completely different sections, and every is equally distant. There isn’t a handy loop that permits you to drive between all of them in someday. When planning your journey to Lamington Nationwide Park, I’d counsel making a bucket checklist of the actions and spots you wish to prioritise, seeing the place they fall on the map, after which selecting one spot for a day journey, or perhaps two in case you’re taking your journey over 2/3 days.
See what I imply with street entry on the map beneath:
To make it easy, there are two primary entry factors into the park: Inexperienced Mountains (O’Reilly’s) and Binna Burra. Each supply completely different mountain climbing choices and experiences, and you probably have time, it’s price visiting each. The drive across the park itself is extremely scenic, however put together for winding roads, slim passings and a few blind turns! It positively feels such as you’re going off the overwhelmed path (which I personally love!).
To determine which a part of the park to go to, you’ll be able to see my greatest issues to do in Lamington Nationwide Park later on this information. You too can entry all of my suggestions for Lamington Nationwide Park and past in my Australia Google Map right here.
The place to Keep in Lamington Nationwide Park
Firstly, you’ll wish to determine whether or not you’re tenting or would favor to reach at a spot the place your mattress is already arrange. In fact, additionally price deciding which part of the park you’d wish to spend your time in.
Within the Inexperienced Mountains (O’Reillys) part, you might have:
- The Inexperienced Mountains Campground close to O’Reilly’s has quick access to lots of the park’s basic walks. Easy, peaceable and surrounded by rainforest.
- O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat – a variety of lodges, rooms and eco-lux chalets (Pat’s Farm), once more conveniently positioned close to all the favored walks.
Within the Binna Burra part, you might have:
- Binna Burra Lodge – the same set-up to O’Reilly‘s with quite a lot of rooms, views and direct entry to strolling tracks. There are lodges, homes and a campsite too.
Should you’re eager to discover each sections of the park, I don’t suppose it’s a foul concept to discover a cosy cabin, eco-lodge or farm stays round Canungra and Beechmont.
Beneath are photos of O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat, particularly the mountain view room.
Greatest Time to Go to Lamington Nationwide Park
Lamington is a year-round vacation spot for certain, however one of the best time to go to depends upon what you’re on the lookout for.
- Autumn and winter (April–September) are perfect for mountain climbing, with cooler temperatures, clearer views and fewer leeches.
- Summer season (December–February) brings heavy rainfall (leeches), making waterfalls spectacular but in addition making tracks extra slippery and difficult.
Spring is a ravishing center floor, with wildflowers blooming, flowing creeks and infrequently probably the most comfy mountain climbing circumstances. Should you’re eager to sort out longer hikes and routes in Lamington Nationwide Park, intention for the drier months and at all times examine monitor circumstances and the Nationwide Park web site earlier than setting out.
Inexperienced Mountains (O’Reillys) Part of Lamington Nationwide Park
Moran Falls
Moran Falls is likely one of the most accessible but rewarding walks within the Inexperienced Mountains part of Lamington Nationwide Park, making it a must-add to your itinerary. We did it after breakfast, and it was a delicate, comparatively flat stroll to the lookout and again, taking us 50 minutes spherical journey. The monitor winds via lush subtropical rainforest earlier than opening out to an EPIC lookout over the 80m cascade. It’s an particularly stunning stroll within the early morning when the sunshine filters via the timber.
Tip: Should you can, time it after rainfall when the falls are at their strongest.
- Distance: 4.4km loop
- Time: 1-1.5 hr.
- Begin level: Inexperienced Mountains automotive park (close to O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat)
- Wildlife to look out for: Pademelons, brush turkeys, king parrots, rosellas and the occasional goanna.
Park up and have lunch at Kamarun Lookout
Situated alongside the street to O’Reilly’s, this scenic and peaceable little lookout spot is the right place to pause and refuel. If in case you have your lunch, come and revel in it right here with an epic view!
Kamarun Lookout affords 360-degree views over the Lamington hinterland and surrounding valleys. There aren’t truly too many locations to cease on the drive in and soak within the view, so it is a nice choice. There are just a few picnic benches and shade right here, too.
Border Monitor & Field Forest Circuit (together with Elabana, Field Log & Moran Falls)
Should you’re on the lookout for an prolonged hike via the rainforest, the border monitor and Field Forest Circuit is a tremendous, well-trodden choice. The Border Monitor and Field Forest Circuit combines among the park’s greatest highlights into one epic loop. Assume dense rainforest (look out for the traditional Brush Field timber!!!), a number of waterfalls, river crossings and peaceable picnic spots (carry a picnic). You’ll go Moran Falls, Field Log Falls and the beautiful Elabana Falls, making it some of the various and immersive walks within the park. It’s a correct journey, however one which’s properly well worth the effort.
- Distance: 11km loop
- Time: 3.5–5 hours
- Begin level: Inexperienced Mountains automotive park (close to O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat)
- Wildlife to look out for: Pademelons, lyrebirds, king parrots, logrunner birds, crayfish within the creek crossings and loads of reptiles alongside the monitor
Should you’re quick on time or not up for the total loop, you’ll be able to observe the Border Monitor out-and-back to Elabana Falls as a substitute (7.2km). This shorter model nonetheless provides you a style of the rainforest and certainly one of Lamington’s greatest waterfalls with out committing to the total circuit.
Tip: Obtain AllTrails and save the path as a way to navigate and monitor your distance and time!
Wine Tasting & Picnic by the river at O’Reilly’s Canungra Valley Winery
Should you’re seeking to sluggish issues down after a morning of mountain climbing, a cease at O’Reilly’s Canungra Valley Winery is the right strategy to spherical out your journey and is likely one of the greatest issues to do in Lamington Nationwide Park. Set alongside a peaceable creek on the base of the mountains, this property is all about lengthy, lazy afternoons. Right here you’ll be able to take pleasure in wine tasting, a spot of lunch on the deck or choose up a connoisseur picnic basket and benefit from the relaxed countryside environment with the sound of the creek as a background playlist.
We picked up a pre-packed picnic basket full of native produce and selected a spot by the river to take pleasure in it. It was HEAVEN! See beneath.
The cellar door right here at Canungra Valley Winery affords a variety of domestically produced wines, and it’s a really perfect cease both in your means into or out of the nationwide park (positioned on the drive from O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat to Canungra).
Stroll the FREE Rainforest Tree High Stroll at O’Reilly’s
One of the distinctive methods to expertise Lamington Nationwide Park is the Rainforest Tree High Stroll at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat. What’s even higher is that it’s free (advisable to go away a donation on the finish).
This elevated walkway is a part of the O’Reillys property and takes you up into the rainforest cover, with a collection of suspension bridges rising as much as 30 metres above the bottom. As you progress via the treetops, you’ll get a very completely different perspective of the forest. It’s the right strategy to begin your day. Seize a espresso and hearken to the native wildlife, and also you self-guide your means via this 2km loop.
The boardwalks and suspension bridges connect with viewing platforms the place you’ll be able to pause and take within the scale and density of the rainforest beneath. Enable 30-60 minutes to meander via this stroll.
- Begin level: O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat (Inexperienced Mountains part)
- Reserving: No reserving required (free entry for day guests)
- Wildlife to look out for: King parrots, crimson rosellas, bowerbirds, lorikeets and typically pademelons beneath the cover.
The treetop stroll is likely one of the most accessible and greatest issues to do in Lamington Nationwide Park, excellent for households or travellers quick on time.
Tip: Look out for the ladders that take you as much as the tops of the timber the place there are particular viewing platforms!
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Stroll the Alpacas at O’Reilly’s Canungra Valley Vineyards
Lol yep, you learn it appropriately! For a enjoyable, memorable break out of your mountain climbing adventures, you’ll be able to take pleasure in an intimate alpaca expertise at Mountview Alpaca Farm (positioned inside the Canungra winery grounds).
You may decide to watch them on the grounds, or take it to the subsequent stage and feed them / stroll them across the property (selfie central). It’s a beautiful location, and also you watch a video beforehand which supplies you all the knowledge you want for a enjoyable and protected expertise. Alapacas have such characters I swear, this was a hilarious expertise. Shout out to Ernie!
Pricing-wise, buying alpaca meals is < $10, however for the extra intimate strolling expertise, it begins at $49. See reserving data right here.
Seize a espresso and wander Canungra
Earlier than or after heading into Lamington Nationwide Park, it’s price stopping within the close by township of Canungra for a espresso, a little bit of native searching and a fast customer cease on the data centre earlier than heading deeper into the park.
This small hinterland city has a relaxed, nation really feel and is the primary gateway to the park, making it an incredible place to refuel and choose up any last-minute provides.
Some suggestions:
- Customer’s Data Centre: Choose up your path maps, souvenirs and leaflets
- Bean In Cafe: Seize a espresso and lunch to go!
- Canungra Books and Artwork: Choose up a e book from this beautiful native bookstore
Binna Burra Part of Lamington Nationwide Park
Hike the Coomera Circuit
One of the iconic and rewarding hikes in Lamington Nationwide Park, the Coomera Circuit is a should for skilled hikers. This difficult loop takes you deep into the center of the park, passing a number of waterfalls together with Coomera Falls, Bahnamboola Falls and Ungurungbano Falls.
The spotlight of this circuit is Coomera Falls, the place the creek plunges dramatically right into a gorge beneath from a suspended viewing platform. This hike is extra distant and fewer trafficked than the Inexperienced Mountains walks, making it best in case you’re after a extra adventurous, immersive expertise.
- Distance: 17.5km loop
- Time: 5–7 hours
- Begin level: Binna Burra part automotive park (by way of Binna Burra Highway)
- Wildlife to look out for: Lyrebirds, pademelons, brush turkeys, goannas, and quite a lot of rainforest birdlife, plus the occasional wallaby close to the monitor edges
Hike the Daves Creek Circuit
The Daves Creek Circuit is one other standout hike in Lamington Nationwide Park, providing an incredible mixture of dense rainforest, open ridge strolling and sweeping views throughout the encircling valleys. In contrast to among the extra closely trafficked trails, this circuit feels quieter and extra distant, providing you with a stronger sense of solitude and immersion in nature.
- Distance: 12.4km loop
- Time: 4–5 hours
- Begin level: Binna Burra part automotive park (by way of Binna Burra Highway)
- Wildlife to look out for: Lyrebirds scratching via the leaf litter, pademelons alongside the monitor edges, wallabies in open clearings, and a variety of birdlife, together with rosellas and honeyeaters
Take within the views from the Binna Burra Day-Use Space
Should you’re not up for a protracted hike and desire a extra stress-free choice throughout your time in Lamington Nationwide Park, merely spending time across the Binna Burra day-use space is an expertise in itself.
This space affords elevated viewpoints throughout the encircling valleys and rainforest, with picnic tables and open areas to chill out and take within the surroundings. It’s a really perfect spot to pause earlier than or after a hike, particularly within the early morning or late afternoon when the sunshine over the mountains is at its greatest.
Alternatively, go and seize a cuppa and a deal with from Binna Burra Tea Home!
High Ideas for Visiting Lamington Nationwide Park and making probably the most out of your journey:
- Obtain offline playlists, AllTrails walks, and Google maps earlier than you arrive, as telephone reception is proscribed.
- Begin hikes early to keep away from noon solar, particularly on the longer circuits.
- Time waterfalls (in case you can) after rainfall for extra dramatic views!
- Put on correct mountain climbing sneakers; tracks may be slippery year-round.
- Pack leech socks or repellent in hotter months.
- Respect the park and its cultural significance to the Yugambeh individuals.
With its historical rainforests, epic strolling tracks and sense of true wilderness, Lamington Nationwide Park is certainly one of Queensland’s most unforgettable locations and is definitely the most effective issues to do in Queensland Australia.
Whether or not you’re ticking off bucket-list hikes or having fun with sluggish mornings at a rainforest campground, there’s no scarcity of journey right here.
I hope you’ve discovered some inspiration in my greatest issues to do in Lamington Nationwide Park checklist! Time to lock the dates in your calendar and message you associates!!
Have you ever been to Lamington Nationwide Park?
What are one of the best issues to do in Lamington Nationwide Park? Something you’d add to this Lamington Nationwide Park bucket checklist?
Love as at all times and blissful adventuring…
Get lifetime entry to my countless hours of analysis and time spent on the bottom discovering one of the best locations to eat, drink, chill out and discover in Australia. You merely open the Google Map in your system and ALL my suggestions (over 400 pins) are on the contact of your fingertips.
