Lamington National Park is a national park in the Scenic Rim of South East Queensland and is part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia UNESCO World Heritage Site, the largest extent of subtropical rainforests in the world. The park is home to over five hundred waterfalls, yet it's only an hour and a half from Brisbane and even closer to the Gold Coast. Known for its natural environment, rainforests, birdlife, ancient trees, waterfalls, 150 km of walking tracks and mountain views, it is sometimes colloquially referred to as "Queensland’s National Park". The park was one of the Q150 icons, in marking 150 years from being separate from New South Wales.

Understand

Landscape

Elabana Falls in 2003

Most of the park is situated 900 metres above sea level only 30 kilometres from the Pacific Ocean's shores. The plateaus and cliffs in Lamington and Springbrook National Parks are the northern and northwestern remnants of the huge 23-million-year-old Tweed Volcano, centred around Mount Warning. Elevation in the south of the park is above 1,000 metres in some parts but drops to 700 metres in the of the park but nevertheless, is usually around 900 metres.

The park is located on the northern side of the Tweed volcano. This large shield volcano is over 100 kilometres in diameter, and extends from Tamborine Mountain in the north to Lismore in the south. The volcanic plug of Mount Warning marks the centre of the volcano when it was active around 23 million years ago.

The park also contains more than five hundred waterfalls, with Elabana Falls, Yarrbilgong Falls and Coomera Falls being just some of the most visited waterfalls in the park.

Visitor information

• DES Queensland website
• 1 Green Mountains Information Centre, 890 Binna Burra Rd, Binna Burra. (updated Nov 2021)

Get in

There are generally good roads leading into Lamington National Park, and can be done in most types of vehicles. From Brisbane getting into the western side of the park, head down south onto M1 Pacific Motorway for about 70 kilometres and take Exit 69 onto State Route 20 Southport Nerang Road. Once you have exited, turn right onto Price Street and then continue on State Route 90 towards Beaudesert Nerang Road until Canungra. Once at Canungra, turn left onto Lamington National Park Road, and continue down south until you have arrived at the park.

To get to the Binna Burra side, instead of continuing on State Route 90, use State Route 97 instead and then turn onto Beechmont Road. Continue on Beechmont Road until you've arrived at the park.

Fees and permits

Fees and permits are required for bush camping, but there is no entry fee. See the Queensland Parks website for details.

See

Lookouts

• 1 Morans Falls lookout. A lookout overlooking the Morans Falls, it's one of a kind from feeling in a think dense rainforest all the way suddenly to a rather mountainous views with some remarkable valleys in just a couple of metres. (updated Nov 2021)
• 2 Python Rock Lookout. Lookout overlooking the Green Mountains, and it is possible to see Morans Falls in the far distance. (updated Nov 2021)
• 3 Kamarun lookout, LOT 496 Kamarun Lookout Rd, Cainbable. (updated Nov 2021)

Waterfalls

• 4 Elabana Falls. A cascade waterfall accessible via the walking tracks from Green Mountains (O'Reilly's), including the Box Forest circuit and the Toolona Creek circuit. (updated Nov 2021)
• 5 Coomera Falls. 64 m (210 ft) segmented waterfall. (updated Nov 2021)
• 6 Box Log Falls.  
• 7 Elabana Falls.  
• 8 Morans Falls.  
• 9 Nugurun Falls.  
• 10 Yarrbilgong Falls.  

Other points of interests

• 11 Green Mountain Gardens (Green Mountain Botanical Garden), 3579 Lamington National Park Rd, O'Reilly. A well maintained botanical garden with all about the flora aspects of the Gondwana forests the park is in. It's not actually part of the park but is in an area fully surrounded by it. Free. (updated Dec 2021)

Eat

• 1 Binna Burra Tea House, 1069 Binna Burra Rd, Beechmont, ☏ +61 7 5533 3622. Su-Th 7:30AM–7:30PM, F Sa 7:30AM–8:30PM. (updated Nov 2021)
• 2 O’Reilly’s Mountain Cafe, 3582 Lamington National Park Rd, O'Reilly, ☏ +61 7 5544 0520. M-F 9AM–4PM, Sa Su 8AM–4PM. (updated Nov 2021)

Sleep

Lodging

Binna Burra Lodge in 2009

• 1 Binna Burra Lodge, 1069 Binna Burra Rd, Beechmont, ☏ +61 7 5533 3622. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. (updated Nov 2021)
• 2 Cainbable Mountain Lodge, 2221 Lamington National Park Rd, Cainbable, ☏ +61 7 5544 9207. (updated Nov 2021)