Welcome to Bunya Mountains Bunya Mountains National Park National Park Bunyas, balds and island animals The Bunya Mountains were formed about 30 million years ago and are thought to be the remnant of an old shield volcano. The dome-shaped topography is comprised of lava flows that cooled and hardened into basalt. Over millions of years, the rock has eroded and weathered to form deep, nutrient-rich, red-brown For generations, people have gathered at the and black earth soils. Bunya Mountains (Booburrgan Ngmmun) — With its deep, moist gullies and varying aspects and altitudes, the Bunya Mountains has sheltered where rainforest-clad peaks rising above the environments and geographically isolated habitats plains shelter the largest stand of ancient in which a diverse range of plant and animal bunya pines in the world today. communities thrive. A mix of moist rainforest, dry rainforest, grasslands, open forests and woodlands In times past, Traditional Custodians from cover the mountains. across south-east Queensland and northern The mountains are like an island surrounded by New South Wales gathered to feast and plains and cleared farming land. They are a refuge celebrate the bounty of the bunya nut harvest. of biodiversity, harbouring ancient species, distinct plant and animal communities and more than 30 rare The Bunya Mountains are still a gathering place and threatened species. with visitors coming to camp, walk and rest Forests, cascading creeks and in the cool mountain environment. scenic campsites — stay a while Bunya Mountains National Park is the and explore second oldest national park in Queensland. Natural grasslands abut rainforest in the Bunya Mountains Many kinds of rainforest Not as bald on top Rainforest covers most of the Bunya Mountains, The Bunya Mountains’ rainforests One hundred and nineteen native grasslands, known and not just the distinctive subtropical rainforest are known for their bird life. locally as ‘balds’, are dotted across the Bunya Mountains. with bunya pine emergents. At least nine different Hear the ‘crying baby’ calls of green One of the grasses, the blue grass Bothriochloa bunyensis, kinds can be found on the mountains and lower slopes. catbirds, raucous ‘yaas’ of paradise was first discovered in the Bunya Mountains and grows only Bunya pines Araucaria bidwillii tower over tall moist riflebirds and two-part ‘whip-crack’ in the eastern Darling Downs. It is considered vulnerable rainforest along the range crest. You can recognise calls of eastern whipbirds. See flocks to extinction. the distinctive dome-shaped crowns of bunya pines of topknot pigeons feeding at fig Swamp-rats, brown quail, red-backed, variegated and emerging above the canopy. Under the canopy it is trees and colourful crimson rosellas superb blue fairy-wrens live in the grasslands as do other relatively open and ferns carpet the forest floor. inside the rainforest or at its edge. animals that would not survive inside dense forests. On steep, lower slopes, hoop pines Araucaria Be scolded by noisy yellow-throated The rare skink Lampropholis colossus is only known cunninghamii emerge above dry rainforest and vine scrubwrens as you walk, stalked from the Bunyas’ balds. thicket. The forest canopy is lower and the understorey by a bold brush turkey or amazed The balds are an endangered regional ecosystem and is a mass of prickly, small-leaved shrubs and vines. by a satin bowerbird tending to his Topknot pigeon a quarter of the area of grassland on the Bunya Mountains highly decorated bower. Drier rainforest and vine thicket cover less elevated was invaded by woodland and rainforest between 1951 areas. Narrow-leaved myrtle Backhousia Shy black-breasted button-quails (considered vulnerable and 1991. Scientists believe that grasslands covered angustifolia is prominent in places, to extinction) live in dense scrubs. Dish-shaped more of the Bunya Mountains during the last ice age but on the western and northern scrapes in the dirt are the tell-tale signs that (18,000 years ago) than now, and that the grasslands slopes, where it is drier, rainforests these secretive birds have been searching (which contain temperate plant species preferring cooler, are dominated by narrow-leaved for food on the forest floor. You sometimes moister climates) are gradually disappearing under forest bottletree Brachychiton rupestris hear the ‘walk-to-work’ call of noisy pittas in response to Australia’s warming climate. The rapid (right). On some lower western or see the piles of broken land snail shells invasion of the balds by woody plants could be because slopes of the park, belah Casuarina they leave beside large rocks. regular fire events undertaken as part of past Aboriginal cristata and brigalow Acacia If you shine a torch at night on a rainforest land management no longer occur. harpophylla occur in open forest, track or in the camping area, you might Regular fire is being re-introduced to the grasslands woodland and vine thicket spy mountain brushtail possums or the through experimental burns of varying frequencies and communities. Vast areas of Bunya Mountains’ own subspecies of intensities. Researchers and rangers are working to find brigalow forests and bottletree ringtail possum feeding high up in trees the right fire regimes to maintain the open character and scrubs have been cleared on leaves, fruit and flowers. Yellow-footed species diversity of the balds before they are lost forever. across southern Queensland antechinus dart about on the ground to and these are now considered as pounce on insects and ‘bulldoze’ leaf litter Bunya Mountain in search of prey. Keep watch for red-legged grasslands are ‘endangered’ regional ecosystems. also known locally pademelons and swamp wallabies as ‘balds’ BP69-5 June 2004 © State of Queensland. bounding through the undergrowth. Environmental Protection Agency, 2004. Recycled paper saves energy and resources. Places to picnic and camp The park has three visitor areas — Dandabah, Westcott and Burton’s Well. All have toilets and picnic tables. Out in the open Dandabah has coin-operated barbecues and hot water showers. Westcott does not have showers and Burton’s Well has only bush ‘boil your own water’ showers. One step from the closed, dimly-lit rainforest brings Fuel and gas stoves are preferred at Westcott and Burton’s Well, although fireplaces and firewood you into the bright, warm are provided at both sites. Please use wood sparingly and sunshine of open eucalypt make sure your fire is out before you leave it. forests and woodlands. Westcott and Burton's Well are suitable for tents Here fire-adapted only as cars must remain on sealed carparks nearby. flowering plants such as forest red gum Eucalyptus Camping permits are required for all sites and fees apply. If you haven’t pre-booked and there is still tereticornis and thin-leaved space available, self-register before you set up camp. stringybark E. eugenioides tower over Campsite bookings can be made online at wattles, grasstrees and other shrubs. www.qld.gov.au/camping or by phoning 13 13 04. Wedge-tailed eagles soar overhead, Burton’s legless Book well ahead for school and public holidays. lizard and the vulnerable collared delma Delma torquata hide amongst the grass. Carpet pythons bask in sunny Accommodation, food and other walks spots. Koalas, greater gliders, squirrel gliders, sugar gliders and other possums forage at night in the tree Privately run cabins, guesthouses and houses are available tops while by day grey fantails, tree-creepers and for rent outside the national park. For bookings contact honeyeaters forage among leaves and flowers. RACQ Accommodation Bookings direct on (07) 3361 2802 Preying or consult the local telephone directory or tourist guides. night and day A public telephone, kiosk, restaurant, general store Peregrine falcon At night, owls take with basic supplies, galleries and craft can all be found Tall and often-branched grasstrees Xanthorrhoea glauca subsp glauca grow on Mt Kiangarow. At almost 5m high, they are some of the tallest to the skies to hunt. at Dandabah. Fuel is not available on the mountain. grasstrees you will ever see and are at least several hundred years old. Rare sooty owls prefer the dark, damp rainforest Russell Park, managed by the Wambo Shire Council, also Grasstrees shoot out tall flower spikes that attract butterflies, bees, has walking tracks. They are not featured in this guide but other insects and birds such as the tiny eastern spinebill. while powerful owls (listed as vulnerable to can be accessed from the road heading south to Dalby. extinction) live in open forest and woodlands, snatching greater gliders, sugar gliders and In an emergency ringtail or brushtail possums and sometimes birds from among the leaves. In case of accident or other emergency please: • call 000 or Rare grey goshawks are active during the day, • from mobile phones call 112 swooping upon insects, reptiles, birds and small • advise your location and nature of the emergency mammals. Peregrine falcons are magnificent • stay on the phone until you are told to hang up. The nearest hospitals are located at Dalby and Kingaroy. hunters that can be seen darting out from cliffs Mobile phone coverage is not reliable, but you can often to seize unsuspecting birds. get a signal near Mt Mowbullan. Walk back in time A human history A walk through the bunya pine forest takes you back to The bunya pine is as central to the human story Expansion of European settlements, along with increased pre-historic times when ferns, followed by gymnosperms of the mountains as it is to the landform’s name. logging activity and clearing for grazing and farming, (cone-bearing plants such as conifers), then flowering disrupted the large gatherings, making it difficult for visiting plants first appeared. Bounty of the bunya nut Aboriginal groups to travel along their traditional pathways.