Want to experience the best this World Heritage has to offer? Following is a guide to the best experiences, wildlife, walks, views and waterfalls of Lamington National Park.
Top dozen (or so) experiences in Lamington National Park
- Viewing glow worms on moist rainforest creek banks
- Splashing around in a cool mountain pool on a hot summer's day, or simply being under the rainforest canopy in summer
- Seeing the Antarctic Beech forest in the mist
- Watching a Peregrine Falcon in a dive from the lookout at West Cliffs
- Spectacular views of the Tweed Valley from the many great border lookouts on the crystal clear days of winter
- Hugging an enormous and ancient Brush Box tree
- Seeing and hearing lyrebirds displaying in mid-winter
- The challenge of hiking to the Stinson wreck
- The road to O'Reilly's (or Green Mountains) through the rainforest
- The warm welcome at O'Reilly's and Binna Burra mountain resorts
- Flying along a Flying Fox through the rainforest
- The famous Tree Top walk
- Warming up beside a log fire on a chilly winter's night after a hard day's bush walking (with or without a red wine or two)
The Best Wildlife…
Some of the fauna species have synonymous with Lamington include:
Albert's Lyrebird
Certainly one of the special birds of Lamington and much sought-after by birders, it is one of only two species in a unique Australian family. Its displays and mimicry are spectacular and must be heard to be believed.
Regent Bowerbird
A stunning member of another local family, restricted largely to Australia and PNG. Regents range from Mackay to Sydney, but Lamington is definitely the place to see them and, along with the lyrebird, they are iconic birds of this famous birding park. The Regent Bowerbird also features on the O'Reilly's logo.
Lamington Spiny Cray
Commonly seen in the creeks in summer and often wandering on the tracks in wet weather, they are certainly distinctive in their resplendent blue and white. They feed by sifting through streambeds for plant and animal material.
Red-necked Pademelon
These small wallabies of the rainforest are a very familiar part of the Lamington experience. See them grazing outside your room in the dawn and dusk hours.
Fleay's Barred Frog
These endangered frogs have been a focus of O'Reilly's Frog Week over the years. They breed in flowing streams rather than the still swamps or ponds favoured by many frog species, so the pristine creeks of Lamington make ideal habitat.
Richmond Birdwing Butterfly
This spectacular butterfly is relatively rare these days, partly due to the fact that the introduced Dutchman's Pipe vine (which is widespread in gardens) fools the female into laying eggs on it, but the caterpillars don't survive. Their native food plants are quite common on the mountain, and the spectacular green and black males and even larger (but duller) females can sometimes be seen around the guesthouse in mid-summer.
The Best Walks...
Many kilometres of tracks were built through the park in the 1930s, partly funded by the O'Reilly's and the owners of Binna Burra and built using Depression labour.
Workers took great care not to cause undue damage, even camping on the newly made sections of track. Soon leaves formed a carpet underfoot, disguising the cuttings. The track system established is widely regarded as one of the best.
Post WWII, forestry workers and their families camped out to maintain and construct walking trails, living a virtual pioneering existence.
The 23-km Border Track is probably the most iconic of walks on offer throughout the park.
Other must-do walks include:
Albert River Circuit (20km)
A beautiful border circuit with waterfalls, stunning temperate rainforest featuring Antarctic Beech and Coachwood and great views into northern NSW.
Box Forest Circuit (11km)
A picturesque circuit featuring enormous Brush Box trees (some of which are estimated at over 1500 years old) and beautiful creek scenery, swimming holes and waterfalls, including Elabana Falls.
Border Track (22km)
Probably the most famous walk in the park, boasting great views into northern NSW and pristine rainforest including Antarctic Beech.
Coomera Circuit (18km)
Excellent rainforest / creek circuit, with lots of waterfalls including Coomera, one of the most spectacular in the park.
Dave's Creek (13km)
Dave's Creek showcases the many and varied vegetation types in Lamington, passing through six different plant communities including mallee and monatne heath. A great walk for wildflowers in the spring, including some very interesting ground orchids.
The Best Views...
Situated 3000 feet above sea level, there's is always somewhere to stop to appreciate the view at O'Reilly's. Some of the best include:
Moonlight Crag
Located right on the edge of the park and at the end of the Lyrebird Lookout walk. Moonlight boasts a magnificent western panorama as well as a close-up view of the Lost World and up to Mt Throakban on the NSW border.
West Cliffs (Pat's Bluff)
A spectacular spot on the very edge of a sheer escarpment, showcases the western panorama again and Buchanan's Fort at the top end of the Kerry Valley. The cliffs are home to a pair of Peregrine Falcons, often seen from the lookout.
Valley of Echoes Lookout
One of many great border lookouts, with a view right along the border range to Mt Cougal and into northern NSW with Mt Warning prominent.
Wagawn Lookout
Another brilliant border lookout on the Binna Burra side, looking back along the range towards Mt Throakban and along the NSW coast towards Byron Bay and across to Springbrook and the Tweed.
Joalah Lookout
Also on the Border Track, Joalah has a north-easterly aspect, which gives a view over the Numinbah Valley to Springbrook and the coast.
For some of the best views, you will need to go 'off the beaten track', but you should only ever venture out with an experienced guide.
Water and more water…
Coomera Falls
On the Coomera Track, possibly the most spectacular falls in the park.
Running Creek
The falls are at the western end of the park, accessed by a roughish bush trail.
Black Canyon
At the top end of Black Canyon, Lightning Falls (on Lightning Creek) and Thunder Falls (on the Albert River) both drop into a beautiful pool. It's a pretty special spot but requires an extremely steep scrambling descent and some rock-hopping
Elabana Falls
Featured on all the picture postcards, this waterfall is an icon of Lamington and the Box Log falls, just downstream, are equally spectacular.
Ballanjui Falls
On the Binna Burra side of the park, has the longest drop of any waterfall in Lamington.
Gwongurai and Chalahn Falls
Are highlights on the Toolona Creek circuit.
