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 and then Warrego Highway 138km west to Toowoomba. Continue 44km to Jondaryan and turn right towards the Bunya Mountains. Travel 34km to Maclagan, turn left and follow directional signs approximately 31km to the Bunya Mountains. About 2km of this road is gravel.
From Brisbane via Yarraman
Travel up the Brisbane Valley through Esk. Turn left to Yarraman then left again at Yarraman towards Toowoomba. 20km from Yarraman turn right to Maidenwell. At Maidenwell turn left to the Bunya Mountains. About 3.8km of the road is gravel.
From Dalby (south-west of the park)
Travel 25km to Kaimkillenbun, turn right then several km later take the next left, travelling 30km to Bunya Mountains via Yamsion. These roads are sealed.
From Kingaroy(north-east of the park)
Take the road through Kumbia and 4km later turn left towards the Bunya Mountains. The park is 56km from Kingaroy via this route. These roads are sealed.
From Nanango (north-east of the park)
Take the road to Maidenwell and turn right to Bunya Mountains. This 55km route has about 3km of gravel.
Contact Department of Transport and Main Roads (13 19 40) to enquire about local road conditions.
Wheelchair accessibility
Dandabah, Westcott and Burtons Well have wheelchair-accessible toilets.
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, use fine tweezers to carefully lever it out then apply antiseptic. 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
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.
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.
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 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 tweezers to 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. The QPWS Visitor Centre at Dandabah is open from at least 10am to 2pm most days, park duties permitting.
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, through the over-the-counter booking office at Dandabah or learn about our camping booking options.
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
A public telephone, restaurant, bistro, café, general store with basic supplies, art and craft displays can all be found at Dandabah. Fuel is not available on the mountain. For more information see the tourism information links.
- The Bunya Bunya walking track is closed 1 February 2021 to 31 January 2023