Rugged mountain peaks rise above the surrounding landscape in this wild, beautiful Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area that is home to many rare animals, plant species and communities.

The distinctive peaks of Mount Barney, Mount Maroon, Mount May, Mount Lindesay, Mount Ernest, Mount Ballow and Mount Clunie make up Mount Barney National Park. These rugged peaks are the remains of the ancient Focal Peak Shield Volcano which erupted 24 million years ago. Mount Barney is the second highest peak in South East Queensland.

The park has varied vegetation with open forests around the foothills of the peaks, subtropical rainforest above 600m and montane heath shrublands towards the summits. The summit of Mount Ballow is cool temperate rainforest, and on Mount Maroon there are mallee eucalypt shrublands.

Many rare and unusual plant species grow in the park including the endangered Mt Maroon wattle Acacia saxicola, the near-threatened bell-fruited mallee Eucalyptus codonocarpa, and the vulnerable bush pea Pultenaea whiteana and Hillgrove gum Eucalyptus michaeliana.

Most of Mount Barney National Park is in the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area.