Best Walking Tracks of Green Mountains, Lamington National Park

Summary

Thinking of visiting the Green Mountains section of Lamington National Park? While both Green Mountains and the Binna Burra sections of Lamington National Park are very similar in terms of walking trails, they are different in terms of the experience you will have. Read on for the best walking tracks in the Green Mountains, how to get here as well as accommodation and restaurant options.

Best Walking Tracks of Green Mountains, Lamington National Park

 

Thinking of visiting the Green Mountains section of Lamington National Park? While both Green Mountains and the Binna Burra sections of Lamington National Park are very similar in terms of walking trails, they are different in terms of the experience you will have.

Thanks to the O’Reilly’s, Green Mountains has become more sophisticated and modern than Binna Burra. It attracts more visitors due to its modern developments, such as the tree top walkway, as well as its national park camping grounds. Expect it to be a bit more crowded than Binna Burra and to have a more ‘tourist-y’ atmosphere. Read on for the best walking tracks in the Green Mountains, how to get here as well as accommodation and restaurant options.

 

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Where are the Green Mountains Located?

Green Mountains is located within Lamington National Park, part of the Gold Coast hinterland in Queensland, Australia. In terms of distance, it is 102 km south of Brisbane and 44 km southwest of Broadbeach in the Gold Coast.

 

Green Mountains Map

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Best Green Mountain Walking Tracks

There are nine walking tracks that can be accessed from the Green Mountains section of Lamington National Park. While three of these are short walking tracks that can be completed in half a day, the rest are longer walking tracks that require a full day.

 

Key to Australian Tracks Standards

The classification system is based on Australian Standards. Please note that while each track is classified according to its most difficult section, other sections may be of an easier level.

Class 2

• Easy level track, suitable for all fitness levels—no previous bushwalking experience necessary.
• All junctions sign-posted and may include interpretive signs.

Class 3

• Distinct tracks with junctions sign-posted, rough track surfaces with some exposed roots and rocks.
• Variable in width; muddy sections, steep grades and steps may be encountered.
• May be partially overgrown; hazards such as fallen trees and rockfalls may be present.
• Caution needed at creek crossings, cliff edges and naturally occurring lookouts.
• Reasonable level of fitness required and ankle-supporting footwear recommended.

Class 4

• Distinct tracks with junctions sign-posted, rough track surfaces with some exposed roots and rocks.
• Variable in width; muddy sections, steep grades and steps may be encountered.
• May be extensively overgrown; hazards such as fallen trees and rockfalls likely to be present.
• Caution needed at creek crossings, cliff edges and naturally occurring lookouts.
• Moderate fitness level with previous experience and ankle-supporting footwear strongly recommended.

Class 5

• No signs or markers provided, except where necessary to reduce environmental damage. Trails may range from clearly visible footpads to indistinct, overgrown routes depending on levels of usage.
• Muddy sections, steep grades and numerous hazards such as fallen trees and rock falls highly likely to be encountered.
• No bridges, no fences on cliff edges or lookouts, high level of caution required.
• High level of fitness, ankle-supporting footwear, good navigational skills, extensive off-track walking experience, relevant topographic maps and compass essential.

 

 

Half-day Green Mountain Walks

 

1. Rainforest Return

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Great for: Short introductory walk, bird-watching

Classification: 2

Distance: 1.4 km return
Time: 30 mins

Platform lookout: No

Natural lookout: No

 

The Rainforest Return is a short walk which follows the Border Track through rainforest for 700 m. This walk offers excellent bird-watching opportunities. Look out for yellow-throated scrubwrens and logrunners among the leaf litter. The large boulders just past the entrance are a good example of how exposed basalt eventually decomposes by a weathering process (exfoliation) into spherical boulder shapes.

 

2. Python Rock Track

 

Great for: Rainforest walk, views of Morans Falls, Castle Crag and Lost World

Classification: 3

Distance: 3.1 km return
Time: 1 hr

Platform lookout: Yes

Natural lookout: No

 

The Python Rock track leaves the Lamington National Park Road 800 m downhill from the national park’s information centre. This track passes through a closed rainforest community into an open eucalypt forest where fire-adapted species such as grass trees, hakeas and various wildflowers grow. The guttural ‘popping’ of the masked mountain frog (Kyarranus loveridgei) can be heard on wet or moist days in late spring and summer. These ancient frogs are members of the Gondwanan family commonly known as southern frogs.

The track takes you to Python Rock lookout from where you can get splendid views of Morans Falls, Castle Crag and Lost World. Views from the lookout highlight the geological processes of erosion, including valley widening and escarpment formation.

Caution – Take care when walking beside the bitumen road especially on weekends when traffic is busy. Some parking is available at the track entrance.

 

3. Morans Falls Track

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Great for: Viewing Morans Falls and Morans Creek gorge

Classification: 3

Distance: 4.4 km return
Time: 1.5 hrs

Platform lookout: Yes

Natural lookout: No

 

The Morans Falls track leaves the Lamington National Park Road 800 m downhill from the national park’s information centre. An excellent view of Morans Falls and Morans Creek gorge can be seen from the constructed lookout located before the creek crossing. Layers of ancient volcanic lava flows are also visible; the more resistant flows have formed small cliff-lines along the valley, and are best seen at the second lookout located at the end of the track.

Caution – Take care when walking beside the bitumen road especially on weekends when traffic is busy. Some parking is available at the track entrance.

 

 

Full-day Green Mountains Walks

 

4. Box Forest Circuit

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Great for: View of Picnic Rock and Elabana Falls, brush box trees

Classification: 4

Distance: 10.9 km return
Time: 4 hrs

Platform lookout: No

Natural lookout: No

 

The Box Forest circuit branches from the Border Track 3.2 km from the trailhead and leads directly to Picnic Rock and Elabana Falls. It leads you through rainforest, past impressive stands of smooth, pink-barked brush box (Lophostemon confertus), before reaching the falls. Similar brush box in other parts of the World Heritage area have been radiocarbon-dated at 1500 years, making these giants the oldest ever carbon-dated trees on Australia’s mainland.

If you intend walking this entire circuit, walk in a clockwise direction and exit via Elabana Falls and Picnic Rock.

 

5. West Canungra Creek Circuit

 

Great for: Exploring the West Canungra Creek, wildlife viewing

Classification: 4

Distance: 13.9 km return
Time: 5.5 hrs

Platform lookout: No

Natural lookout: No

 

Due to gradient, it is recommended to walk the West Canungra Creek circuit in a clockwise direction. The circuit descends to ‘Yerralahla’ (blue pool) passing by some large rainforest trees including red cedar (Toona ciliate), and then follows the creek for most of its length, crossing it several times.

On overcast summer days, leaf-tailed geckos may be seen along this circuit. This gecko is endemic to the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area. Fossilised ancestors of this species from over 20 million years ago have been found in the World Heritage-listed Australian Fossil Mammal sites (Riversleigh).

The circuit exits via the Box Forest circuit.

Caution – Eels inhabit the West Canungra Creek. They bite when threatened and injuries have occurred. Creek crossings may be difficult to navigate and the circuit might not be obvious in places. Take particular care at creek crossings, especially after rain. Check track conditions with a ranger before you leave.

 

6. Toolona Creek Circuit

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Great for: Viewing Toolana creek & gorge, king ferns and Antarctic beech trees

Classification: 4

Distance: 17.4 km return
Time: 6 hrs

Platform lookout: No

Natural lookout: No

 

The Toolona Creek circuit branches from the Box Forest circuit near Elabana Falls, then continues beside Toolona Creek, up through a gorge, and past its headwaters to emerge on the Border Track near Wanungara lookout. The narrow Toolona Gorge creates a protected moist and shady refuge for many ancient flowering rainforest plants. The king fern (Todea Barbara) is a relict of one of the oldest fern families, Osmundaceae, evolving even before Gondwana formed.

The return trip via the Border Track passes Mount Bithongabel. Many large clumps of Antarctic beech (Nothofagus moorei) trees are found in the area.

 

7. Albert River Circuit

 

Great for: Viewing Mount Wupawn to Mount Durigan, McPherson Ranges, Tweed Range

Classification: 4

Distance: 21.8 km return
Time: 7 hrs

Platform lookout: No

Natural lookout: Yes

 

The Albert River circuit leaves the Border Track 5 km from the trailhead and winds down to Echo Falls before following a branch of the Albert River upstream to Echo Point lookout. Panoramic views of Mount Wupawn to Mount Durigan the McPherson Range and south to the Tweed Range can be seen from here. These peaks are all part of the erosion caldera that surrounds Mount Warning, once a central volcanic plug. Traditional owners of the Bundjalang language group call this mighty plug ‘Wollumbin’ (Cloud-catcher).

The circuit continues east along the Queensland—New South Wales border and then turns north-west to connect with the Border Track.

In September when the beech orchids (Dendrobium falcorostrum) are flowering, this circuit takes on a particular charm, with the delicate orchids contrasting with the massive trunks to which they cling.

 

 

Full-day Walks Accessible from both Binna Burra & Green Mountains

 

8. Border Track

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Great for: Seeing several sections of Lamington National Park, views of Limpinwood Valley, Mount Warning and Tweed Range

Classification: 4

Distance: 21.4 km one way

Time: 7 hrs

Platform lookout: No

Natural lookout: Yes

 

The Border Track forms the backbone of the walking track system of Lamington National Park, with most walks radiating from it. The track is also a section of the Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk. This track connects the Binna Burra and Green Mountains sections of Lamington National Park, passing through warm and cool subtropical, and warm and cool temperate rainforest. These varied rainforest communities contain many ancient families of flowering plants: the bolwarra family (Eupomatiacea), pepperbush (Winteraceae), laurels (Lauraceae), lillypillies (Myrtaceae), and the southern beech (Fagaceae).

On a clear day, lookouts provide spectacular views of the Limpinwood Valley, Mount Warning and the Tweed Range. During winter months, walkers are likely to hear the loud ringing call of the Albert’s lyrebird.

Note – There is no shorter way to walk from either trailhead in the park. Stay on the Border Track. Other routes may appear to reduce the distance, but end up being longer.

 

9. Mount Merino Track

 

Great for: Views of Mount Merino, Tweed and Limpinwood valleys

Classification: 4

Distance: 21.6 km return

Time: 8 hrs

Platform lookout: No

Natural lookout: Yes

 

The Mount Merino track passes through areas of forest damaged during a severe storm in 1983. A short sidetrack 10 km from Binna Burra leads to two lookouts; Beereenbano and Merino, with views over the Tweed and Limpinwood valleys. Chakoonya lookout is about halfway along the Border Track between Binna Burra and Green Mountains (O’Reilly).

 

 

How to get to the Green Mountains?

From Broadbeach, drive 40 km to Canungra via Nerang. From the north, take Pacific Motorway exit 34 to Beenleigh, route 92 to Tamborine, and route 90 to Canungra. The 36 km winding and often narrow bitumen road from Canungra requires care and takes at least 50 min. This road is unsuitable for recreational vehicles (RVs) longer than 4m and vehicles towing caravans and camper trailers.

 

 

Green Mountains Accommodation

The only Green Mountains accommodation is located at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Guesthouse on Lamington National Park Road.

 

O’Reilly’s Rainforest Guesthouse

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Established in 1926, the famous O’Reilly’s Rainforest Guesthouse is still run by the O’Reilly family. Highlights of your stay will be the chance to hand-feed brilliantly coloured rainforest birds every morning. Nestled high on a cleared plateau, the buildings are closed in on three sides by dense tangled rainforest and open to picturesque mountain views to the west.

A number of luxury villas have recently been built but the original guesthouse still manages to retain its old-world rustic charm and offers sensational views of the park.

The comfortable guest lounge has an open fire, old-fashioned sofas and chairs, and an upright piano. The six rooms in the Toolona block, built in the 1930s, have communal bathrooms and basic furniture. The six motel-style Garden View rooms have handcrafted maple furniture. The seven Bithongabel rooms are singles. Mountain View rooms look out to the McPherson Ranges and have balconies; the six family rooms in this block have bunks for kids, and two rooms have wheelchair access. Three large Canopy suites have king-size four-poster beds, fireplaces, Jacuzzis, libraries, stereo/CD players, minibars, and bars. One of the former O’Reilly family homes has been transformed into two suites, called “Vince” and “Lona,” after the second-generation couple who raised their 10 children in the house. Each unit has two bedrooms (one with a king-size four-poster bed), two bathrooms, a separate living room, and a two-way fireplace. The large decks have a Jacuzzi, from which you can look out to magical sunsets.

The latest accommodation choice is a range of 48 new one-, two-, and three-bedroom villas a short distance from the guesthouse complex.

The Discovery Centre runs daily activities included guided rainforest walks, glow-worm walks, 4WD tours, flying-fox and giant swing rides, and free nightly nature documentaries. There’s a plush restaurant or a more affordable café. For cocktails at sunset, the hexagonal Rainforest Bar, perched up high for great sunset views opens from 4pm and has half-price cocktails from 5 to 6:30pm. Among other facilities are a cafe and gift shop, a basketball court, and free tea, coffee, and cookies all day. The Lost World Spa has eight treatment rooms and offers the full array of pampering treatments.

 

Green Mountains Camping

Unlike Binna Burra, Green Mountains has a national-park camping ground which is located close to O’Reilly’s Rainforest Guesthouse. Bush camping is permitted in several areas within the park, but only a limited number of permits are issued. Camping permits can be obtained by self-registering on site, from the ranger at Green Mountains, or by booking online. During weekends and school holidays all permits must be booked in advance.

 

 

Tell us what you think. Do you prefer the Green Mountains to the Binna Burra section of Lamington National Park? If so why? If you’ve been to the Green Mountains before, please share any ideas or tips to help make a visit here more memorable.

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