National park · Australia
Bunya Mountains National Park
Entry is free: drive up from Dalby or Kingaroy, park at Dandabah, and walk the 4 km Scenic circuit in 1.5 h; go on a weekday in May–Sep, and skip the steep dirt Maclagan road if towing.Entry is free: drive up from Dalby or Kingaroy, park at Dandabah, and walk the 2.5 mi Scenic circuit in 1.5 h; go on a weekday in May–Sep, and skip the steep dirt Maclagan road if towing.
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
117 km²45 sq mi
approximate
Established
1908
Best months
Apr–Sep
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 7
- Oceania ↗Oceania's island states guard their farms and reefs at the border: tick 'yes' on the arrival card for any food, plant, animal product, soil or used outdoor gear, and let the officer decide.
- Oceania ↗Across the tropical South Pacific, cyclones are possible from November to April: choose insurance that covers weather delays and keep one spare night before a long-haul departure.
- Australia and New Zealand ↗Both countries drive on the left, with long distances between fuel stops in the outback and on New Zealand's back roads; fatigue causes more visitor crashes than speed.
- Australia ↗Almost every visitor needs a visa or an electronic authorisation (ETA or eVisitor, depending on passport) before boarding: apply only through the official Department of Home Affairs site or the official AustralianETA app, and check the rules for your passport.
- Australia ↗Declare all food, plant material, seeds, wood and animal products on your arrival declaration; undeclared items can bring on-the-spot fines or visa cancellation. When unsure, declare it.
- Australia ↗Drive on the left. An overseas licence in English (or with an official translation or International Driving Permit) is accepted for visitors; check the state rules and your rental contract.
- Australia ↗Swim between the red and yellow flags on patrolled beaches; rip currents cause most beach drownings.
At a glance
- Country
- Australia
- Area
- 117 km²45 sq mi
- Roughly 117 km² of park on the Bunya Mountains plateau (check).
- Established
- 1908
- Best months
- Apr–Sep
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Brisbane
Bunya Mountains National Park is Queensland's second-oldest national park, a cool rainforest plateau at about 500 m where bunya pines stand above the walking tracks. The trees drop cones that can weigh up to 10 kg, so the area under them is closed to camping and walking in the cone season. The park is small and the tracks are short, so most people see it in a day; the reason to stay a night is the birds and wallabies around the cabins at Dandabah.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- Special national site · 2010On Australia's tentative World Heritage list since 2010 (check).
Size and age
117 km²45 sq mi · national park since 1908
Roughly 117 km² of park on the Bunya Mountains plateau (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Brisbane.
Why go
- Bunya pines: a rainforest tree that survives here in groves you can walk under.
- Cool air at 500 m — several degrees below Brisbane, even in summer.
- Short, well-signed tracks from the Dandabah day-use area, so a half day is enough.
- Parrots and wallabies around the cabins and picnic ground; do not feed them.
When to go
- JanCaution
- FebCaution
- MarCaution
- AprBest
- MayBest
- JunBest
- JulBest
- AugBest
- SepBest
- OctGo
- NovGo
- DecCaution
- JanWarm and wet; storms; cone fall
- FebWettest stretch; leeches on tracks
- MarRain easing; cone fall ends
- AprMild, clear, tracks drying
- MayCool nights, dry days
- JunCold mornings, frost possible
- JulColdest; clearest skies
- AugDry; good walking
- SepWarming; wildflowers
- OctWarm; afternoon storms start
- NovHotter; do tracks early
- DecCone fall begins; storms
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bunya pine cone fallDec–Mar · Cones up to 10 kg drop from the canopy; stay out of closed ground. | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes |
| Satin bowerbirdAll year · Males build and decorate a bower; watch from the track, do not move the blue objects. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Parrots and wallabiesAll year · Common around Dandabah; feeding them is not allowed. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Ticks and leechesNov–Mar · Wet-season hazard on the longer tracks; check yourself after walking. | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
From Brisbane
Drive via the Warrego Highway and Dalby or via Kingaroy; the last section is steep and winding.
3–3.5 h
Open the page →
From Toowoomba
Warrego Highway west, then back roads via Jondaryan and Maclagan, or the sealed route via Dalby Cooyar Rd.
2–2.5 h
Open the page →
From Kingaroy
Bunya Highway south, then Bunya Mountains Rd to the park.
1–1.5 h
Open the page →
From Darling Downs plan
Where the Bunyas fit in a Darling Downs loop.
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Dandabah | Day-use area, picnic ground, information and the start of most tracks; camping for tents, caravans and motorhomes. | Open; no ticket. |
| Paradise and Westcott | Western side of the plateau with the longer one-way tracks and tent-only camping. | Open; cars stay in carparks. |
| Burtons Well | Southern camping area and the start of the Cherry Plain and Mt Kiangarow tracks. | Open; tent camping only. |
| Cone-fall zones | Ground under mature bunya pines, closed when cones are dropping. | Closed December–March (check). |
Sketch map
- 1Dandabah day-use area · Headquarters≈-26.879, 151.598Map ↗
- 2Bunya Mountains General Store · Town≈-26.879, 151.598Map ↗
- 3Tim Shea Falls · Trail≈-26.872, 151.594Map ↗
- 4Pine Gorge Lookout · Viewpoint≈-26.871, 151.604Map ↗
- 5Fisher's Lookout · Viewpoint≈-26.891, 151.604Map ↗
- 6Mt Kiangarow · Summit≈-26.860, 151.590Map ↗
- 7Burtons Well camping area · Sleep≈-26.900, 151.610Map ↗
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry | Free | person | Queensland national parks are free to enter; no gate fee. |
| Camping at Dandabah, Westcott or Burtons Well | AUD 7–30 | person per night | Queensland Parks camping fee band; book online before you drive up (check). |
| Vehicle access | Free | vehicle | No road toll; the park roads are public. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Camping permit permit or guide
Day visit no permit
Park rules
- Feeding wildlife
- Do not feed parrots, wallabies or any other animal; it changes their behaviour and health.
- Stinging trees
- Giant stinging trees and nettles grow beside some tracks; stay on the formed path and do not touch foliage.
- Camping
- Only in the three signed camping areas, with a booking; no bush camping.
- Fires
- Use only provided fireplaces where signs allow; total fire bans apply in dry periods.
- Dogs
- Not allowed in the national park; leave them at your accommodation.
Where to stay
In the park
Dandabah camping area
Tents, caravans and motorhomes; toilets and picnic tables.
In the park
Westcott and Burtons Well camping areas
Tent-only sites; park the car and walk in.
Near the park
Cabins around Dandabah
Holiday houses and cottages just outside the park boundary; book early for weekends.
Safety
Falling bunya cones medium
Steep, winding access roads medium
Cold nights low
Stinging trees and ticks low
Accessibility
- The Dandabah day-use area, picnic ground and information shelter are reachable by car with level paths.
- The Scenic circuit and Mt Kiangarow track include steps and rough sections; not suitable for wheelchairs or limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Stay on formed tracks; the plateau soils and fern gullies erode quickly.
- Carry out all rubbish — bins are limited in the park.
- Book camping online so numbers stay within the site capacity.
- Buy supplies at the general store or in Dalby and Kingaroy rather than expecting services in the park.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Bunya Mountains National Park?
Nothing. Queensland national parks have no entry fee, so day walks and lookouts are free. You pay only for camping, which is booked online through Queensland Parks, and for fuel and food on the way.
What are the best hikes in Bunya Mountains National Park?
For a short visit, the 4 km Scenic circuit from Dandabah (about 1.5 h) takes in rainforest, falls and lookouts. With more time, the 10 km Barker Creek circuit (3–4 h) is the best half-day walk, and the 2.3 km Mt Kiangarow track gives the highest viewpoint.
When is the best time to visit Bunya Mountains National Park?
April to September: dry tracks, clear skies and cool nights, with the coldest mornings in June and July. December to March is wet and stormy, and bunya cones drop then, so some ground under the trees is closed.
Can I camp in the park?
Yes, at Dandabah, Westcott or Burtons Well. Dandabah takes tents, caravans and motorhomes; the other two are tent-only with cars left in nearby carparks. All campers need a booking made before arrival.
Do I need a 4WD to get there?
No. Sealed roads reach the park from Dalby and Kingaroy. The Maclagan approach includes a dirt section, and the final climb is steep and winding, so caravans and long vehicles should use the sealed route.
Is one day enough for the Bunya Mountains?
Yes for the main tracks and lookouts. Staying a night adds the early-morning birdlife and wallabies around Dandabah, and lets you walk two circuits without a long drive in the dark.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go