In case you’re planning a visit to Lamington Nationwide Park and looking for the very 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 kinds a part of the UNESCO-listed Gondwana Rainforests and is residence to a few of the oldest subtropical rainforests on Earth. It’s a bit of 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 attraction. It is a vacation spot for travellers who love epic day hikes, cascading waterfalls, misty lookouts and wildlife encounters – and who’re keen to go the additional mile (or 50). Lamington Nationwide Park is finest recognized for its well-known treetop stroll, O’Reilly’s property and the multitude of unimaginable hikes throughout the park.
From historic Brush field timber to deep valleys carved by waterfalls (and the possibility 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 little thing behind — the right alternative to modify off and reconnect with nature.
On this information, I’m sharing every little thing you could know – together with the very best issues to do in Lamington Nationwide Park, essentially 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 option 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 super weekend journey or road-trip vacation spot on a wider East Coast itinerary. In case 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 lease a automotive.
Okay, so in terms of ‘the place to discover in Lamington Nationwide Park’, there are a couple of totally different sections, and every is equally distant. There is no such thing as a handy loop that lets you drive between all of them in at some point. 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 when 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 important entry factors into the park: Inexperienced Mountains (O’Reilly’s) and Binna Burra. Each provide totally different mountaineering choices and experiences, and if in case you 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 crushed path (which I personally love!).
To determine which a part of the park to go to, you possibly can see my finest issues to do in Lamington Nationwide Park later on this information. You can even 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 like 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 easy accessibility to most of the park’s traditional 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 – an identical set-up to O’Reilly‘s with a wide range of rooms, views and direct entry to strolling tracks. There are lodges, homes and a campsite too.
In case you’re eager to discover each sections of the park, I don’t assume it’s a foul concept to discover a cosy cabin, eco-lodge or farm stays round Canungra and Beechmont.
Under are footage of O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat, particularly the mountain view room.
Finest Time to Go to Lamington Nationwide Park
Lamington is a year-round vacation spot for positive, however the very best time to go to relies on what you’re in search of.
- Autumn and winter (April–September) are perfect for mountaineering, with cooler temperatures, clearer views and fewer leeches.
- Summer season (December–February) brings heavy rainfall (leeches), making waterfalls spectacular but additionally making tracks extra slippery and difficult.
Spring is a lovely center floor, with wildflowers blooming, flowing creeks and infrequently essentially the most snug mountaineering situations. In case you’re eager to deal with longer hikes and routes in Lamington Nationwide Park, goal for the drier months and at all times verify monitor situations and the Nationwide Park web site earlier than setting out.
Inexperienced Mountains (O’Reillys) Part of Lamington Nationwide Park
Moran Falls
Moran Falls is without doubt 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 by way of lush subtropical rainforest earlier than opening out to an EPIC lookout over the 80m cascade. It’s an particularly lovely stroll within the early morning when the sunshine filters by way of the timber.
Tip: In case 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. When you’ve got your lunch, come and revel in it right here with an epic view!
Kamarun Lookout gives 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 a couple of picnic benches and shade right here, too.
Border Monitor & Field Forest Circuit (together with Elabana, Field Log & Moran Falls)
In case you’re in search of an prolonged hike by way of the rainforest, the border monitor and Field Forest Circuit is an incredible, well-trodden choice. The Border Monitor and Field Forest Circuit combines a few of the park’s finest highlights into one epic loop. Suppose dense rainforest (look out for the traditional Brush Field timber!!!), a number of waterfalls, river crossings and peaceable picnic spots (deliver a picnic). You’ll move Moran Falls, Field Log Falls and the gorgeous Elabana Falls, making it some of the numerous and immersive walks within the park. It’s a correct journey, however one which’s effectively 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
In case you’re brief on time or not up for the total loop, you possibly can observe the Border Monitor out-and-back to Elabana Falls as a substitute (7.2km). This shorter model nonetheless offers you a style of the rainforest and one among Lamington’s finest 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
In case you’re trying to gradual issues down after a morning of mountaineering, a cease at O’Reilly’s Canungra Valley Winery is the right option to spherical out your journey and is without doubt one of the finest 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 possibly can get pleasure from wine tasting, a spot of lunch on the deck or choose up a gourmand 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 get pleasure from it. It was HEAVEN! See beneath.
The cellar door right here at Canungra Valley Winery gives a spread of domestically produced wines, and it’s a super cease both in your manner into or out of the nationwide park (positioned on the drive from O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat to Canungra).
Stroll the FREE Rainforest Tree Prime Stroll at O’Reilly’s
One of the crucial distinctive methods to expertise Lamington Nationwide Park is the Rainforest Tree Prime Stroll at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat. What’s even higher is that it’s free (really useful to depart 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 sequence of suspension bridges rising as much as 30 metres above the bottom. As you progress by way of the treetops, you’ll get a totally totally different perspective of the forest. It’s the right option to begin your day. Seize a espresso and hearken to the native wildlife, and also you self-guide your manner by way of this 2km loop.
The boardwalks and suspension bridges connect with viewing platforms the place you possibly can pause and take within the scale and density of the rainforest beneath. Enable 30-60 minutes to meander by way of 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 without doubt one of the most accessible and finest issues to do in Lamington Nationwide Park, good for households or travellers brief 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 mountaineering adventures, you possibly can get pleasure from an intimate alpaca expertise at Mountview Alpaca Farm (positioned throughout the Canungra winery grounds).
You possibly can choose to watch them on the grounds, or take it to the following degree 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 data you want for a enjoyable and secure 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 shopping 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 principle gateway to the park, making it an ideal place to refuel and choose up any last-minute provides.
Some suggestions:
- Customer’s Info Centre: Decide up your path maps, souvenirs and leaflets
- Bean In Cafe: Seize a espresso and lunch to go!
- Canungra Books and Artwork: Decide up a guide from this beautiful native bookstore
Binna Burra Part of Lamington Nationwide Park
Hike the Coomera Circuit
One of the crucial 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 ultimate when 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 a wide range 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 ideal mixture of dense rainforest, open ridge strolling and sweeping views throughout the encompassing valleys. In contrast to a few of the extra closely trafficked trails, this circuit feels quieter and extra distant, supplying 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 by way of the leaf litter, pademelons alongside the monitor edges, wallabies in open clearings, and a spread of birdlife, together with rosellas and honeyeaters
Take within the views from the Binna Burra Day-Use Space
In case 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 gives elevated viewpoints throughout the encompassing valleys and rainforest, with picnic tables and open areas to calm down and take within the surroundings. It’s a super 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 finest.
Alternatively, go and seize a cuppa and a deal with from Binna Burra Tea Home!
Prime Ideas for Visiting Lamington Nationwide Park and making essentially the most out of your journey:
- Obtain offline playlists, AllTrails walks, and Google maps earlier than you arrive, as telephone reception is restricted.
- Begin hikes early to keep away from noon solar, particularly on the longer circuits.
- Time waterfalls (when you can) after rainfall for extra dramatic views!
- Put on correct mountaineering sneakers; tracks could be slippery year-round.
- Pack leech socks or repellent in hotter months.
- Respect the park and its cultural significance to the Yugambeh folks.
With its historic rainforests, epic strolling tracks and sense of true wilderness, Lamington Nationwide Park is one among Queensland’s most unforgettable locations and is unquestionably probably the greatest issues to do in Queensland Australia.
Whether or not you’re ticking off bucket-list hikes or having fun with gradual mornings at a rainforest campground, there’s no scarcity of journey right here.
I hope you’ve discovered some inspiration in my finest issues to do in Lamington Nationwide Park checklist! Time to lock the dates in your calendar and message you pals!!
Have you ever been to Lamington Nationwide Park?
What are the very 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 pleased adventuring…
Get lifetime entry to my infinite hours of analysis and time spent on the bottom discovering the very best locations to eat, drink, calm down 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.
