The following walks are listed from the shortest to the longest.
Tree Top Walk and Botanical Gardens
Return Distance 800 metres
(Accessible by wheelchair)
The Booyong Walk is clearly sign posted opposite the entrance to the Guesthouse.
The Tree Top Walk consists of 9 suspension bridges up to 16 metres above ground. A bird's eye view is obtained from a deck 30 metres above ground in a fig tree over the walkway. Early or late in the day is the best time to visit it.
The Botanical Gardens are ideally located in a setting of regrowth rainforest and large boulders on land originally selected by Mick O'Reilly. Col Harman spent years establishing these gardens which have given pleasure to many visitors to O'Reilly's.
Orchid Circuit Walk
Return Distance 1.3km
For the Orchid Circuit Walk proceed past the gardens outside the fence and turn left at the Main Border Track.
Wishing Tree and Mick's Tower
Wishing Tree Return Distance 2.4 km
Mick's Tower Return Distance 1 km
The Wishing Tree Track entrance is located below the main guesthouse accommodation. The track continues past some large Brush Box and over a tree fern gully spanned by a suspension bridge. At the Wishing Tree you can turn left into Glow Worm Gully or ahead under the Wishing Tree to Morans Creek.
Retrace your steps for the easiest way home or you can extend your walk by following the track downstream to return by the Red Road (2.5 km) or Moran's Falls (5km).
For Mick's Tower follow the track for 330 metres. Turn sharp right at the track junction for 120 metres. This rainforest observation tower is 18 metres high. Information signs on the various decks refer to the surrounding rainforest and in particular to a large Red Carabeen growing close by.
This is an ideal spot to enjoy the tranquillity of a rainforest canopy with the birds for company.
Python Rock
(Wheelchair access)
Track Entrance 1 km from O'Reilly's on Main Road
Return Distance from Track Entrance 3.4 km
The sealed track to Python Rock has even grades, suitable for older people and those confined to wheelchairs. The booyongs and figs near the West Cliff turn off are impressive as are the large New England Blackbutt as you enter the open forest for the first time. The view from Python Rock overlooks Castle Crag to the Lost World with Mount Throakban on the left and Moran's Falls. You can proceed up the hill from the lookout on a tough track and turn left for West Cliff.
West Cliff (Pat's Bluff)
Return Distance from Track Entrance 5.4 km
Time 2.5 Hours
The West Cliff Track branches to the right from the Python Rock Track and then immediately sharp left past a Black Booyong with extensive buttressing and a tall Hoop Pine 30 metres further down the track.
Pat's Bluff affords a view over the Albert and Logan River valleys to the Great Dividing Range. Follow the cliff line down past a view of Raining Cliff to the picnic area. Pat O'Reilly's log cabin is 70 metres in from this spot. Peregrine Falcons nest in caves in these cliffs and often rest in the dead trees above the cliff line.
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Moran's Falls
Track Entrance 1 km from O'Reilly's on Main Road
Return Distance from Track Entrance 4.6 km
Time 2 Hours
The track descends 140 metres through a sub-tropical rainforest of booyongs, figs and brush box to Moran's Falls Lookout. A picnic area is located 400 metres further on at the top of the falls.
This was the site of a bark hut, the first home of the O'Reilly brothers when they arrived on the mountain. Go through the entrance above the picnic area if you wish to return by the Red Road or to extend your walk. Refer to the Moonlight Crag or Balancing Rock walks.
Moonlight Crag and Balancing Rock
Return Distance 7km
Track entrance to the Red Road is 500 metres from O'Reilly's, past the camping area.
Return Distance from Track Entrance 3.4 km
These walks are not on graded tracks and involve some hill climbing.
From the track entrance off the Red Road, follow the track down hill to the Red Cedar tree. then turn sharp right and cross the creek. At the next junction, take the left hand road (the track to the right leads to Moran's Falls).
Proceed up the hill from where the road turns sharp left and follow the power line to Balancing Rock. Keep to the road for Moonlight Crag and continue down hill for 150 metres from where the road ends for Moonlight Crag Lookout. Follow the track back down the hill and keep to the crest of the ridge for Balancing Rock.
Castle Crag
Return Distance 7.5 km
Time each 3 Hours
Track entrance to the Red Road is 500 metres from O'Reilly's, past the camping area.
The track to Castle Crag follows the top of the ridge over rough terrain and close to precipitous edges.
These walks are not on graded tracks and involve some hill climbing. From the track entrance off the Red Road, follow the track down hill to the Red Cedar tree. then turn sharp right and cross the creek. At the next junction, take the left hand road (the track to the right leads to Moran's Falls).
Proceed up the hill from where the road turns sharp left and follow the power line to Balancing Rock. Keep to the road for Moonlight Crag and continue down hill for 150 metres from where the road ends for Moonlight Crag Lookout. Follow the track back down the hill and keep to the crest of the ridge for Castle Crag.
Views of the Albert River Gorge and the Lost World can be enjoyed from these lookouts, while up the valley, Mount Throakban and Mount Worendo can be seen on the crest of the McPherson Range.
Return by the Red Road or by Moran's Falls - 1 km longer.
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Picnic Rock and Elabana Falls
Return Distance 7.6 km
Time 3 Hours
The Elabana Falls Track branches off the Main Border Track 1.7 km from the entrance. It descends through a stand of Antarctic Beech and then past the largest Brush Box trees in the National Park.
Turn right at the Box Forest turn-off for Picnic Rock, a favourite lunch spot, but be sure to continue to Elabana Falls 400 metres further on.
Lyrebird Lookout
Return Distance 8 - 10 km
Time 3 - 4 Hours
Proceed along the main border track for 700 metres. Turn sharp right then immediately left after crossing the black pipe and continue up the hill past the 'TRAIL ONLY' sign.
This track was originally made for horses and is consequently steeper and less defined than other tracks. The rainforest along this section of the track was virtually flattened by a devastating storm in September 1983.
Keep right at the next junction for Lyrebird Lookout. The Lyrebird Track crosses Moran's Creek and rises into temperate rainforest of Antarctic Beech and the white barked Kanuka Box.
The great wall of Widgee Mountain can be seen from the lookout across a low saddle between the Lost World on the right and Mount Worendo on the left and over the two branches of the Albert River. Widgee terminates on the left at Mount Throakban. It was from this mountain that Bernard O'Reilly spotted a burnt tree 4 km away indicating where the lost Stinson crashed.
The track continues along the ridge to Moonlight Crag and then home via the Red Road or Morans Falls.
