Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
strolls up to 23km (14-mile) treks. The park is a haven for bird lovers who come
to see and photograph the rosellas, bowerbirds, rare lyrebirds, and other species
that live here, but that's not the only wildlife you will see. Groups of small wal-
labies, called pademelons, graze outside your room. In summer you may see
giant carpet pythons curled up in a tree or large goannas sunning themselves on
rock ledges. Near streams you may be stopped by a hissing Lamington spiny
crayfish, an aggressive little monster 6 inches long, patterned in royal blue and
white. The park comes alive with owls, possums, and sugar-gliders at night.
Most visitors are fascinated by the park's Antarctic beech trees, which begin to
appear above the 1,000m (3,280-ft.) line. Like something from a medieval fairy
tale, these mossy monarchs of the forest stand 20m (66 ft.) tall and measure up to
8m (26 ft.) in girth. They are survivors of a time when Australia and Antarctica
belonged to the supercontinent, Gondwana, when it was covered by wet, tropi-
cal rainforest. The species survived the last Ice Age, and the trees at Lamington
are about 2,000 years old, suckered off root systems about 8,000 years old. The
trees are a 2 1 2 -hour walk from O'Reilly's Rainforest Guesthouse (see below).
EXPLORING LAMINGTON NATIONAL PARK
The easiest way to explore the park is to base yourself at O'Reilly's Rainforest
Guesthouse in the Green Mountains section of the park, or at Binna Burra
Mountain Lodge in the Binna Burra section (see “Where to Stay & Dine,”
below). Most of the trails lead from one or the other of these resorts, and a 23km
(14-mile) Border Trail connects them; it follows the New South Wales-
Queensland border for much of the way, and can be walked by most reasonably
fit folk in a day. Guided walks and activities at both resorts are for houseguests
only; however, both properties welcome day visitors who just want to walk the
trails for free. Both have inexpensive cafes for day-trippers.
It is a good idea to bring a torch (flashlight) and maybe binoculars for wildlife
spotting. The temperature is often 10°F to 20°F (4°C-5°C) cooler than on the
Gold Coast, so bring a sweater in summer and bundle up in winter when nights
get close to freezing. September through October is orchid season, and the frogs
come out in noisy abundance in February and March.
GETTING THERE By Car O'Reilly's is 37km (23 miles) from the town of
Canungra. The road is twisty and winding, so take it slowly, allow yourself an
hour from Canungra to reach O'Reilly's, and plan to arrive before dark. Binna
Burra is 35km (22 miles) from Nerang via Beechmont, or 26km (16 miles) from
Canungra, on a winding mountain road. From the Gold Coast go west to Nerang,
where you can turn off to Binna Burra via Beechmont, or go on to Canungra
where you will see the O'Reilly's and Binna Burra turnoffs. From Brisbane, fol-
low the Pacific Highway south and take the Beenleigh/Mt. Tamborine exit to
Mt. Tamborine. From there follow the signs to Canungra. Allow a good 2 1 2 hours
to get to either resort from Brisbane, and 90 minutes from the Gold Coast.
Binna Burra sells unleaded fuel; O'Reilly's has emergency supplies only.
By Coach The Mountain Coach Company ( & 07/5524 4249 ) does daily
transfers to O'Reilly's and Binna Burra from the Gold Coast, leaving the airport
at 8am, picking up at hotels along the way, and arriving at O'Reilly's at
12:30pm. The return trip leaves O'Reilly's at 2:30pm, arriving at the airport by
5:30pm. Allstate Scenic Tours ( & 07/3003 0700 ) makes a coach run from
outside the Roma Street Transit Centre in Brisbane every day except Saturday at
9:30am, arriving at O'Reilly's at 12:30pm.
Search WWH ::




Custom Search