Lamington National Park is approximately two hours drive South / South-West of Brisbane, next to Springbrook. Like Springbrook Lamington National Park is covered in lushes green fields and mountains, long, windy roads, and plenty of natural beauty to experience up close and personal. Although the national park occupies a large area and boasts over 160km of walking trails, one of the more popular areas to visit is O’Reilly’s (see after break for directions).
Situated 930 metres above sea level, in the heart of Lamington National Park, O’Reilly’s is a great starting point for discovering the surrounding area. Accessible only via a two way, single lane, road up a windy mountain it would be wise to take your time and enjoy the scenery — ensuring you watch out for the Kangaroos around dusk, as they pop out from the foliage. One thing you will notice while ascending the mountain is the rapid change from bushland to rainforest; suddenly less light is able to penetrate to the road and there is a distinct drop in temperature. Although it can still get fairly hot, I would suggest packing an extra set of warm clothes, just in case, as it does typically tend to be cooler in the rainforest areas.
Although O’Reilly’s has been able to — with marvelous engineering — provide a canopy walk of the rainforest, it is not very long or overally fascinating. Throw in some time feeding the birds at the resort and you may have been able to occupy yourself for an hour or two, but the real rewards await on some of the trail walks. With walks ranging from between 1km to over 20km, you’re sure to find one to suit you.
One particularly enjoyable track is the Moran’s Falls’ track, which takes you on a leisurely 4.6km (return) through sub-tropical rainforest to the top of Moran’s Falls’. Although the Moran’s Falls’ track takes you across the waterfall, to a picnic area with spectacular views (see image above), those more daring (ensuring all safety precautions are taken) can follow the stream a bit to the edge of the waterfall. Please do be warned though — this is a very high cliff face and any slip could lead to serious or fatal injuries or death.
Note: Prior to visiting Lamington National Park, as with all National Parks, it is important to check the EPA website for any warnings or closures.
See additional photos from Lamington National Park.
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