Bunya Mountains National Park Southern Queensland Country

Meander through lush, green rainforest on the Barker Creek circuit. Photo credit: Maxime Coquard © Tourism and Events Queensland

Bunya Mountains National Park is a haven the whole family will enjoy. Photo credit: © Tourism and Events Queensland

Barker Creek circuit

Get back to nature on this rainforest track with splendid views of the tallest waterfall in the Bunya Mountains.

Journey type
Walk
Distance
10km circuit The same start and finish point, but the traveller doesn’t return along the same path
Time suggested
Allow 3–4hr walking time.
Grade
Grade 3 walking track

Accessible by

  • Conventional vehicle
  • Bicycle

Journey facilities

  • Lookout (natural)
  • Walking

From Dandabah picnic area or Paradise car park, meander through rainforest, past picturesque waterfalls—Paradise, Little and Tim Shea falls. Walk through an exceptional stand of bunya pines before emerging above a fern-carpeted forest.

Take the short 750m detour to Big Falls lookout to view the falls and valley below featuring large hoop pines. The true splendour of the falls, the tallest in the Bunya Mountains, is only revealed after heavy rain. Have lunch on the grassy ‘bald’ above Big Falls and view Barker Creek Gorge.

Look for carpet pythons basking in patches of sunlight. Gaze at grey goshawks and wedge-tailed eagles soaring, or topknot pigeons wheeling overhead.

Getting there and getting around

Barker Creek circuit is in the Bunya Mountains National Park, 200km north-west of Brisbane and 125km north-west of Toowoomba in the South Burnett region.

  • The circuit starts from either the Dandabah picnic area at the south-eastern park entrance (turn onto Bunya Avenue and drive 1km to the picnic area) or Paradise car park, 2.5km along Bunya Mountains Road from the south-eastern park entrance.

Three steep, narrow and winding routes, signposted as the Great Bunya Drive, lead to the park. The Bunya Mountains Road passes through the park from the south-east to the north.

For more details on how to get to Bunya Mountains National Park, please see getting there and getting around.

Wheelchair access

There are no wheelchair-accessible facilities.

Before you visit

Opening hours

Barker Creek circuit is open 24 hours a day.

Check park alerts for the latest information on access, closures and conditions.

Visiting safely

For more safety information see Visiting Bunya Mountains safely and Walk with care.