Lamington National Park — Attraction in O'Reilly

Lamington National Park feels like stepping into an enormous greenhouse powered by waterfalls. The moment you leave the car behind at either Binna Burra or O’Reilly’s the air shifts to cool and damp, scented with leaf litter and the faint sweetness of orchids clinging to beech trunks. Vines loop between strangler figs, pademelons graze beside the trail without concern and every few minutes a whipbird call ricochets through the canopy.

The walking tracks cater for all moods. Border Track is the park’s backbone, a soft, fern-lined corridor that links the two main trailheads, while detours like the Toolona Creek circuit reward sturdier legs with a procession of cascades spilling over mossy ledges. Suspension bridges on the Tree Top Walk lift you into the mid-storey where you can look eye to eye with fruit doves and spot glow-in-the-dark fungi on fallen logs. Even short strolls such as the Centenary Track reveal lamington blue crayfish scuttling over wet stone after rain.

Facilities are low-key but thoughtful. Trail maps at car parks are clear, water refill points sit near the main visitor centres and picnic areas come with barbecues that stay surprisingly clean given the daily traffic. Mobile signal is patchy once you drop into the gullies so download an offline map, and pack a light jacket even in summer because mist moves in fast. If you stay overnight, the campground fire pits make a perfect end to the day as sugar gliders dart overhead.

For anyone chasing ancient rainforest, reliable wildlife encounters and a network of tracks that can fill a single hour or an entire long weekend, Lamington...

Lamington National Park – A Must-Visit Gem near Brisbane

Just a two-hour drive (around 160 kilometers) from Brisbane lies the spectacular Lamington National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage–listed wonderland of towering mountains, cascading waterfalls, and lush subtropical rainforest.

The journey itself is scenic, winding through narrow forested roads that gradually open up to breathtaking views of valleys and peaks. Once inside, you’ll find walking tracks that range from gentle strolls to long adventurous hikes, each surrounded by the sights and sounds of untouched wilderness.

The waterfalls, hidden within the dense greenery, provide picture-perfect stops along the way. Morning is the best time to visit, when the air is fresh and cool — all you need is a pair of light, comfortable shoes to explore the trails with ease.

What makes the experience magical is the wildlife. Colorful native birds often perch on your arms or even your head, especially if you offer them food at the designated feeding areas. Their friendly presence adds a fairytale-like charm to the park.

Lamington National Park is more than just a natural reserve — it is a sanctuary of peace and wonder, where you can immerse yourself in the beauty of Australia’s unique landscape. For anyone visiting Brisbane, this is truly a must-go...

Great national park! Awesome walks - the box forest circuit was a favourite, with lots of pretty waterfalls and creeks. I'd recommend their advice of going clockwise round the circuit and finishing the walk with box log falls, elabana falls and picnic rocks as it's mostly downhill that way (until you head back up to the border track) and then you get all the great water scenery towards the end of your walk too!

Whilst we were there, there was a large tree that had fallen on to the border track, blocking it. It will probably be cut back soon, but if you come across it, then it's possible to pass it. We just went up the bank and scrambled a little bit up and around the roots to get to the other side.

We camped at Green Mountains for 4 nights so had lots of time to explore, but if you're after a shorter walk, there's the tree top walk, or you can go through the resort reception (O'reillys) and follow the track for the Wishing Tree and Mick's Tower. You can go back on yourself or if you've got a bit more time then you can follow that track down stream to Morans Creek, to Morans Falls and then back up to the centenary track and complete a circuit back up to the resort. This trail isn't on the national park map.

Heaps of birds and wildlife to...