Location
BUNYA MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK
What it is?
National park with picnic areas, hiking and mountain bike trails. The dome-shaped crowns of the Bunya Pines tower above the canopy of the subtropical rainforest, this is the largest stand of the ancient bunya pines in the world. The iconic trees have large fruiting “cones” known as the bunya nut (see below).
Domestic animals are prohibited in National Parks, please leave them at home.
What it offers?
Camping, accommodation, hiking, lookouts, waterfalls; Dandabah has a hand sculpture, café and tavern, a ranger station, electric barbeques flushing toilets and hot showers (at some locations).
Wheelchair Access?
May require assistance.
Please see park ranger office at Dandabah.
What we did?
We completed two of the hiking tracks: Paradise and Westcliff; Paradise Falls, Little Falls, Big Falls Lookout, Baker Creek Lookout: Westcliff lookout; Russell Park Picnic Area; J.S.Fisher Lookout; Dandabah picnic area; Burton’s Well and Koondaii Lookout. The Westcliff track we completed was really overgrown and full of Cobblers peg (farmers friend), they were definitely not my friend as I had no less than 1000 of them all over me, whereas Michael literally had 3! Choose your outfit wisely and wear clothing that farmers friends do not like. While hiking along the Paradise trail towards Bakers Creek Lookout, we heard what sounded like an injured animal, or a bird that had fallen from a tree, it resembled a crying baby. We listened for a few minutes noting that it was moving. As we weren’t far from the lookout, we decided that we would go to the lookout and if on the way back we could still hear it, we would go into the bush and try to assist. We now know that the ‘crying baby’ noise is the call of the green catbirds.
Highlight?
Bunya Nuts – The fruit of the Bunya Pine have cultural significance to First Nations people who travelled long distances every few years for feats and celebrations coinciding with mass crops of the bunya nut. They would eat the soft, juicy, young nuts raw and roast the mature nuts – After cracking the outer shells of mature nuts on an open fire, kernels were pounded into meal and roasted into a kind of cake that could be stored for several weeks.
The nuts drop out of the trees in late summer. Be sure not to park or camp under a bunya tree during this period as the bunya nuts are heavy and fall hard. The nuts can be eaten and are used in many different recipes. We tried eating one that had been boiled, it had a mild flavour with a moist powdery texture. The nut can be boiled or roasted to split the hard outer shell. The nut can then be ground into a meal and used in almost any dish; burgers, curries, scones. You can cut the nut into pieces instead of grinding it into a meal and use it in dishes as a potato substitute.
Would I do it again?
We visited the area twice. We would go back to camp for the weekend and do another hike. We wanted to do the Mt Kiangarow track hike, but the track was closed because of storm damage.
What do you need?
As a couple: Pre-downloaded maps on your phone (reception is patchy); water bottles; stainless steel coffee cup; healthy snacks for the trails; wide brim hat: sunscreen; bug spray; good sturdy shoes; picnic and picnic blanket; hiking sticks (tracks have the potential to be slippery after rain).
With Kids: Water; snacks; wide brim hat; sunscreen; bug spray; good sturdy shoes.
With Pets: No domestic animals allowed in the National Park. Please leave all animals at home or with a pet sitter.
Yearly Events
There are nearby events such as the annual Maidenwell Folk Gathering, or the Wine and Food in the park Festival in Kingaroy, but nothing specific to the Bunyas.
Bunya Mountains market on the last Sunday of the month (9am-2pm).