Gondwana Rainforests of Australia
When it comes to wildlife, the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia got greedy. More than half the continent’s plant species, a third of its mammals and birds, and more than 200 rare and endangered species are packed into an area totaling less than 1% of Australia. Discover their biodiversity in more than 50 UNESCO-protected national parks, forests, and reserves.
Exploring the Gondwana Rainforests is all about getting back to nature, whether hiking to rugged mountain valleys, waterfalls, and ancient rainforests or camping out in the wilderness. Most day-trippers take in the highlights on a guided tour from Brisbane, the Gold Coast, or Coffs Harbour, but there are also plenty of multi-day adventures.
Popular destinations include the caves and waterfalls of Lamington National Park, the natural wonders of Tamborine Mountain National Park, and the Natural Bridge and glowworm caves at Springbrook National Park. Over the border in New South Wales, Dorrigo National Park is known for its scenic boardwalks and beautiful waterfalls; Barrington Tops National Park affords magnificent mountain views; and Border Ranges National Park has epic hiking trails.
As a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Gondwana Rainforests make a perfect destination for slow and sustainable travel.
Hikers can tackle several multi-day hikes through the Gondwana Rainforests, including the Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk and the Scenic Rim Tail.
Many of the national parks and reserves are undeveloped and provide few visitor facilities. You’ll find restrooms and picnic areas at campgrounds, but you’ll need to bring food, water, and other supplies with you.
There are plenty of accommodation options in and around the parks, from national park campgrounds to luxury eco-lodges.
There are lookouts, boardwalks, and viewing areas within some of the parks that are accessible to wheelchairs and strollers.
The Gondwana Rainforests of Australia is the collective name for the UNESCO World Heritage Site that encompasses dozens of national parks, forests, and reserves along the coastal regions of southern Queensland and Northern New South Wales. Expect an average drive time of 1–3 hours to reach the parks from the Gold Coast or NSW’s North Coast; you’ll need your own transport or to join a tour.
While conditions may vary in the individual parks, the best time for hiking in the Gondwana Rainforests tends to be during the dry winter months from March to November. Visiting during the wet summer season means that some trails and campgrounds will be off-limits; however, it’s also the time to admire the waterfalls at their most dramatic and see the most impressive bioluminescence displays.
Famous for their biodiversity, it’s no surprise that wildlife-watching tours rank high on the list of things to do in the Gondwana Rainforests. And there’s much more than kangaroo and koala sightings here. The marvels of Gondwana include trees and plant species that date back millions of years, along with endemic animals such as the Hastings river mouse, spotted-tailed quoll, and mountain tree frog, plus rare birds including wompoo dove, marbled frogmouth, and lyrebird.
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