Rainforest-clad peaks shelter the largest stand of ancient bunya pines in the world. Discover cool mountains, rainforests and waterfalls, unique range-top grasslands, panoramic views, colourful birdlife and enthralling stories of times long ago.

For generations, people have been gathering at the Bunya Mountains. The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) acknowledges the ongoing connection Aboriginal people have with this special place, and asks that you treat the area with care and respect.

Rising abruptly from the surrounding plains, the cool peaks of the Bunya Mountains reach more than 1,100m and offer spectacular mountain scenery, views and abundant wildlife.

Bunya Mountains National Park (declared in 1908) is Queensland’s second oldest national park. It shelters the world’s largest stand of ancient bunya pines Araucaria bidwillii and more than 30 rare and threatened species.

The bunya pines tower over tall, moist rainforest along the range crest, while hoop pines dominate dry rainforest on lower slopes. Subtropical rainforest, once the most widespread rainforest community in Queensland, grows along the range crest and upper parts of the eastern side of the mountains. Semi-evergreen vine thickets and at least seven other types of dry rainforest grow on the lower or western slopes. The park's forests shelter rare and threatened plants including orchids and small herbs. Natural grassland (locally known as 'balds') containing rare grass species are scattered across the mountains. The national park also protects open eucalypt forests, woodlands, brigalow scrub and the largest protected areas of vine thickets dominated by bottle trees in Australia.

The park is home to about 120 species of birds and many species of mammals, frogs and reptiles. Several rare and threatened animals live here including sooty owls, powerful owls, the black-breasted button quail(external link), a skink species and a number of mammals. Birdlife is abundant, with brightly-coloured parrots being popular visitors to picnic areas.

Long revered by generations of Aboriginal people—travelling long distances every few years for feasts and celebrations coinciding with mass crops of bunya 'nuts'—the Bunya Mountains are for all a worthy destination. Picnic and camping areas and more than 35km of walking tracks make it a wonderful place at which to escape the heat, or the hustle and bustle of modern life.