Bunya Mountains National Park Southern Queensland Country

Set up at one of the tables or lay out your picnic blanket in the shade. Photo credit: Robert Ashdown © Queensland Government

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

Be inspired: Bunya Mountains ticks all the boxes for camping with kids!

Planning your holidays and short breaks tends to revolve around the kids, right? Well, you’re not alone! A recent survey of 500 families found that not only do most families consider their kids’ wishes, but 87% give their kids a say in planning family trips. Photo credit: Michael O'Connor © Queensland Government

Be inspired: A magical history tour of Queensland’s earliest national parks

South-East Queensland is the cradle of Queensland National Parks. So let’s take a tour of 4 of our earliest parks to learn the fascinating stories behind their creation and find out how to best enjoy them today. Photo credit: Nick Hill © Queensland Government

Be inspired: Cultural experiences in the Bunya Mountains!

The Bunya Mountains are like an island, surrounded by a sea of plains. They are a refuge of biodiversity, harbouring the world’s largest stand of bunya pines. Photo credit: Michael O'Connor © Queensland Government

Westcott to Cherry Plain walk

Wind through rainforest, vine forest and open eucalypt forest, admire sweeping views to the west and glimpse soaring birds of prey.

Journey type
Walk
Distance
9.6km one way A path where the start point is different to the finish point
Time suggested
Allow 3-4hrs walking time.
Grade
Grade 4 walking track

Accessible by

  • Conventional vehicle

Journey facilities

  • Walking

From Westcott picnic area, wind your way this breathtaking track where rainforest-clad summits give way to dramatic exposed escarpments and views west over distant plains. Meander through eucalypt-clad ridges interspersed with shady gullies.

Look for white-browed scrubwrens in the gullies, and spot carpet pythons basking in the sun along the track. Watch red-backed fairy-wrens, superb blue wrens and variegated wrens flit from grass to branch in sunny open areas. See wedge-tailed eagles soaring in the distance, red-necked wallabies bounding through tall grass, and brown quails in grassy areas.

The track ends at Cherry Plain—from here continue to Burtons Well or retrace your steps.

Getting there and getting around

The Westcott to Cherry Plain track is in the Bunya Mountains National Park, 200km north-west of Brisbane and 125km north-west of Toowoomba in the South Burnett region.

Several 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.

From Brisbane via Toowoomba

  • Drive 138km west along the Ipswich Motorway and Warrego Highway to Toowoomba.
  • Continue 44km along the Warrego Highway to Jondaryan and turn right towards the Bunya Mountains.
  • Travel 34km to Maclagan, turn left and follow the signs for about 31km to the park; 2km of this road is gravel.

From Brisbane via Yarraman

  • Travel up the Brisbane Valley through Esk, or the D'Aguilar Highway through Kilcoy.
  • Drive to Yarraman then turn left onto the New England Highway towards Toowoomba and travel 20km.
  • Turn right to Maidenwell on Kingaroy-Cooyar Road, then turn left to the Bunya Mountains; about 3.8km of the road is gravel.

From Nanango

  • Drive 30km to Maidenwell on Nanango-Tarong Road and turn right to the Bunya Mountains. This 55km route has about 4km of gravel road.

From Kingaroy

  • Drive via Kumbia on the Bunya Highway and turn left onto Bunya Mountains Road and drive to the northern park entrance. This 56km route is sealed road.

From Dalby

  • Travel 25km along Dalby-Cooyar Road to Kaimkillenbun, then drive 30km via Yamsion to Bunya Mountains Road and through to the south-eastern park entrance. These roads are sealed.

Wheelchair access

There are no wheelchair-accessible facilities.

Before you visit

Opening hours

Westcott to Cherry Plain walk 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.