Visiting Bunya Mountains safely
The cool peaks of the Bunya Mountains rise above the surrounding plains.
Photo credit: Queensland Government
Lookouts near the Westcott camping area give great views west across the Darling Downs.
Photo credit: Queensland Government
Prepare carefully to get the most out of your walks at the Bunyas.
Photo credit: M. O'Connor, Queensland Government
Walking tracks on the Barker Creek Circuit lead past waterfalls.
Photo credit: Queensland Government
Getting there and getting around
The park can be reached via several steep, narrow and winding routes; follow the signed Great Bunya Drive. The Department of Transport and Main Roads advises that all access roads are unsuitable for travel by long and/or heavy vehicles. Discretion is urged with respect to caravans, large motorhomes and large buses. No fuel is available on the mountain.
From Brisbane via Toowoomba
Take Ipswich Motorway (M7) and then Warrego Highway (M2) 138km west to Toowoomba. Continue 44km to Jondaryan and turn right onto Jondaryan–Muldu Road towards the Bunya Mountains. Travel 34km to Maclagan via Jondaryan–Muldu Road and Dalby–Cooyar Road (State Route 82), at Maclagan, turn left and follow directional signs approximately 31km to the Bunya Mountains. Note that 2km of this road is gravel.
From Brisbane via Yarraman
Travel up the Brisbane Valley via the Brisbane Valley Highway (A17) through Esk. Turn left onto the D’Aguilar Highway (A3) towards Yarraman. At Yarraman left onto the New England Highway towards Toowoomba. Travel approximately 20km from Yarraman, then turn right onto Maidenwell-Bunya Mountains Road towards Maidenwell. At Maidenwell, turn left to continue on Maidenwell-Bunya Mountains Road towards the Bunya Mountains
From Dalby (south-west of the park)
Travel 25km north along the Dalby-Cooyar Road (State Route 82) to Kaimkillenbun to Kaimkillenbun, turn right onto Kaimkillenbun-Bunya Mountains Road. After several kilometres take the next left onto Yamsion-Bunya Mountains Road. Travel, 30km to Bunya Mountains via Yamsion. These roads are sealed.
From Kingaroy (north-east of the park)
From Kingaroy, take the Bunya Highway (State Route 49) south towards Kumbia. Pass through Kumbia, and 4km later, turn left onto Bunya Mountains Road towards the Bunya Mountains, travelling via Alice Creek. The park is approximately 56km from Kingaroy via this route. These roads are sealed.
From Nanango (north-east of the park)
Take the Burnett Highway (A3) south towards Maidenwell. At Maidenwell, and turn right onto Maidenwell-Bunya Mountains Road towards the Bunya Mountains. The park is approximately 55km from Nanango via this route.
Contact Department of Transport and Main Roads (13 19 40) to enquire about local road conditions.
Wheelchair accessibility
Dandabah and Westcott have wheelchair-accessible toilets.
Burtons Well has toilet facilities with step-free access and grabrails.
The Visitor Information precinct at Dandabah is wheelchair accessible.
Staying safe
Tick alert
Ticks are active all year round. Ticks bury their mouthparts into the skin, causing irritation and potentially illness or paralysis. Reduce exposure to ticks by wearing insect repellent. Avoid direct contact with grass, leaves, undergrowth and wildlife where possible.
Check yourself and children carefully for ticks as some can be quite small. If you find a tick, freeze it, don’t squeeze it! Use a freezing product such as an ether-containing spray to freeze the tick. Tweezers should not be used to remove ticks. Expect some redness and swelling, but if you have a more severe reaction, seek medical advice promptly. Find more information on bites and stings.
Avoid leaves that sting
Avoid stinging nettles and giant stinging trees and leaves, even if they appear to be dead. Wear long trousers and sleeves.
Bunya cone drop zone
Avoid lingering under bunya pines between December and March. That is when the soccer-ball sized cones weighing up to 10kg fall from the tops of towering trees.
Take care with water
Water is not suitable for drinking. Boil or treat water from all sources before drinking or bring your own.
Tread safely
Take care on rocks, near waterfalls and at lookouts, especially in wet weather. Take care after rain as tracks may be muddy and slippery. Keep children under close supervision.
Some tracks end at the road. Return via the walking track, arrange a pick-up vehicle, or carefully walk back along the road. Keep to the road edge and out of the path of vehicles.
Protect bunya pines for future times
Phytophthora (a microscopic, disease-causing plant pathogen) has been found in the soil where groups of bunya pines have died. Limiting the spread of soil is currently our best chance of protecting bunya pines.
Use washdown stations at track entrances. This helps prevent the spread of pathogen-containing soil on boots and equipment into the park, and from the Bunya Mountains to other areas.
Read more about Phytophthora and how to protect bunya pines for future times .
In an emergency
In case of accident or other emergency:
- call Triple Zero (000)
- advise your location and nature of the emergency
- stay on the phone until you are told to hang up.
Mobile phone coverage is unreliable, but you can often get a signal near Mt Mowbullan, near the entrance to the Dandabah picnic area, or other clear vantage points.
The nearest hospitals are located at Dalby and Kingaroy.
For more information about staying safe while visiting national parks, please read the guidelines on Safety in parks and forests.
Before you visit
Clean your boots, clothes and equipment of soil and seeds before and after you visit and help stop the spread of weeds and harmful organisms (such as Phytophthora).
Essentials to bring
- Bring drinking water, a fuel stove to boil water for drinking and/or chemical tablets to treat water.
- Bring insect repellent to ward off ticks and ether-containing spray to freeze and remove ticks from skin.
- Take warm clothing and raincoats as weather is changeable.
- No bins are provided at Burtons Well and Westcott. Centralised industrial bins are provided at Dandabah.
Opening hours
Bunya Mountains National Park is open 24 hours a day.
Permits and fees
All camping areas within Bunya Mountains National Park require a camping permit and fees apply. A tag with your booking number must be displayed at your camp site. Permits are not available from rangers at the park and must be purchased before you set up camp. Book online or learn about our camping booking options. Permits can be purchased from the General Store at the Tavern between 9am–5pm (weekdays) and 8am–5pm (weekends), however booking in advance of your arrival on the mountain is recommended, particularly during busy periods.
Pets
Domestic animals are not permitted in Bunya Mountains National Park.
Climate and weather
Bring warm clothing, even in summer. The Bunya Mountains have a cool climate and an annual rainfall of about 1000mm. Heavy fog and mists occur at any time of year. Winter mornings can be frosty. On the hottest summer days the maximum temperature is usually only 25–27°C.
For more information see the tourism information links or the Bureau of Meteorology.
Fuel and supplies
Fuel is not available on the mountain. A public telephone, restaurant, bistro, café, general store with basic supplies, art and craft displays can all be found at Dandabah. For more information see the tourism information links.