Parks Connect is proudly supported through funding from the Queensland Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation.
Marvel at giant ancient conifers in Queensland’s second-oldest National Park for our October Park of the Month.
Discover. Connect. Protect. Enjoy
Park of the Month is a key initiative of the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) and NPAQ’s Parks Connect program. We’re passionate about parks, and by sharing decades of knowledge from committed volunteers, conservationists and National Park Rangers with local communities and visitors, we hope Queenslanders from all walks of life will fall in love with our amazing wild places.
OCTOBER PARK OF THE MONTH
Bunya Mountains National Park
Declared in 1908, Bunya Mountains National Park is Queensland’s second-oldest National Park, covering 19,600 ha and sheltering the world’s largest stand of ancient bunya pines (Araucaria bidwillii) alongside more than 30 rare and threatened species. Rising from the farming plains of the Western Downs and South Burnett, about 200 km northwest of Brisbane, the park supports an extraordinary range of vegetation, from tall moist rainforest and subtropical vine thickets to natural grasslands, rare “balds” and dry eucalypt forest, nourished by deep basalt soils.
The Bunya Mountains were one of the most significant gathering places for First Nations peoples in eastern Australia. When bumper bunya nut crops occurred (roughly every three years), First Nations peoples, including the Wakka Wakka, Jarowair and Barrungum, hosted great gatherings that drew guests from coastal and inland regions to share food, songs, dances and social interactions. Despite being declared a National Park in 1908, the logging of bunya pines within the park continued until approximately 1917. Today, some of the park’s individual bunya pines are thought to be up to 600 years old!
Join this fun citizen science project on iNaturalist.
Images, left to right: female satin bowerbird, tracielouise/CanvaNFP; firefly, ruinato/CanvaNFP; bunya cone, Roger Ward/CanvaNFP; mountain brushtail possum, tracielouise/CanvaNFP.
Check out the line-up for Saturday 31 October, with activities taking place at the Dandabah Picnic Area.
This session suits all ages and abilities and takes place along Dandabah’s new, wheelchair- and pram-accessible Bunya Bunya Loop.
Book now at Eventbrite
Walk through two distinct types of rainforest—a blend of habitats that makes Bunya Mountains National Park ecologically distinct—on this guided plant walk to Pine Gorge Lookout, led by Professor Jennifer Firn.
Book now at Eventbrite
Guided by avian expert Bernice Seton—an honorary life member of both BirdLife Australia and Birds Queensland—beginner birders can borrow a pair of our binoculars and try to check off the species on their Bird Bingo card!
Book now at Eventbrite
Learn about the bunya pine and enjoy a taste test and “how-to” bunya nut cooking session hosted by Meg, Carol and Kay from Bunya Mountains Natural History Association.
Bookings now at Eventbrite
Explore this park after dark as you learn how Astrophotographer Donna Glass sets up to snap the night sky.
Book now at Eventbrite.
SAVE THE DATE of Saturday 28 November for our November Park of the Month!
In November, we’ll be heading to Burleigh Head National Park.
