Barakula State Forest is the largest state forest in the Southern Hemisphere and supplies much of Queensland’s cypress pine timber resource. Straddling the Great Dividing Range, Barakula contains a rich mosaic of vegetation communities, habitat for many different species of animals.

In 1907, Barakula was one of the first state forests in Queensland and has remained a working forest for over 110 years. Barakula is not only the largest state forest in Queensland, but also in the Southern Hemisphere—spanning an area of 283,000 hectares. Straddling the Great Dividing Range, Barakula contains a rich mosaic of vegetation communities, including eucalypt forests, cypress pine woodlands, heath-lands and spinifex.

Barakula State Forest plays host to a number of natural and historic attractions. Sprawling views of native vegetation and the Great Dividing Range can be seen from a few different observation points and many species of native flora and fauna are protected under the watchful eye of scientific research. The forest provides opportunity for bird watchers and gives bloom to spectacular wildflowers during spring.

Visit the old sawmill to see relics of the forest’s timber harvesting history.