Visiting Coominglah safely
Driving through Coominglah State Forest is a pleasant way to spend a day. It's always best to travel in small groups so people can help each other out if someone gets stuck.
Photo credit: Beryl Bleys
Take care when driving through Coominglah. Stop, rest and get your bearings.
Photo credit: Beryl Bleys
Getting there and getting around
- Parks of Monto and surrounds locality map
- Coominglah State Forest map
- Firing Range: Unauthorised entry prohibited danger sign
Coominglah State Forest is about 500km north-west of Brisbane and about 220km west of Bundaberg. The main entrance is via the Burnett Highway—19km north of Monto or 76km south of Biloela.
Wheelchair accessibility
Assisted wheelchair access is available at the lookout. No water or toilet facilities are available.
Staying safe
Please do not expect to be warned of every possible danger. Mobile phone coverage is not reliable in Coominglah State Forest. Follow these guidelines for a safe visit and enjoyable driving experience.
When driving:
- be prepared—carry a first-aid kit and know how to use it.
- assess your driving ability, your vehicle and weather conditions before setting out.
- keep to the graded roads—other roads may dwindle out into overgrown, unused logging tracks with few or no opportunities to turn around.
- carry extra food, drinking water and warm clothes.
- leave a copy of your driving plans with a friend, relative or other reliable person willing to contact police if you are overdue.
- carry a map of the drives and stay alert for landmarks and distances in case you need to retrace your journey or need rescue.
- drive with care—wildlife or cattle may be on the roads at any time.
At the lookout:
- take care near cliff edges—they can be deceptively closer than you think.
- stay on the formed area of the lookout as the edges may crumble underfoot.
- supervise children at all times.
- look where you’re going!—stand still when using binoculars or cameras at the lookout.
- don’t take risks—a search and rescue can endanger other peoples' lives, is costly and can damage the environment.
Riders take care!
Safety is our concern, but your responsibility.
Never continue on roads that peter out to rough tracks, are signed as ‘closed’ or ‘entry prohibited’, have obstacles, or are dangerous. Think about safety first—turn around and go back.
- Ride only on formed roads—do not venture off-road. Penalties apply.
- Queensland road rules apply.
- Riders should stay alert to other vehicles using the roads.
- Trail bikes must be road registered.
- Trail-bike riders must be licensed.
- Tell a responsible person about your trip times, as they, not rangers, must alert police if you do not return on time.
- Go with a group—if someone gets hurt others can arrange for help.
- Take and know how to use a first-aid kit.
- Wear safety gear.
- Trail-bike riders MUST give way to horses and mountain bikes.
In an emergency
- Call Triple Zero (000).
- Call 106 for a text-only message for deaf or speech or hearing impaired callers.
- Advise the location and nature of the emergency.
- Stay on the phone until you are told to hang up.
If mobile phone reception is not available, try UHF ch5 (Emergency channel) for assistance.
The nearest hospital is in Monto.
In case of a vehicle accident
After calling Triple Zero (000) and following directions given:
- stay with and monitor any injured person(s).
- turn off the ignition if your vehicle is damaged and cannot be driven.
- stay in or near your vehicle if safe—a vehicle is easier to find than a single person wandering through the bush.
- do not try to walk through the bush to find help—the area has many tracks and roads—some are dead-ends.
For more information, please read the guidelines on safety in parks and forests.
Before you visit
Essentials to bring
- Bring enough drinking water, food and a first-aid kit.
- Although reception is limited in the forest, a mobile phone is still handy to take.
- A satellite phone or at least a UHF radio is recommended if travelling alone within the State forest.
- A small Personal Location Beacon (PLB) is recommended. This device is not a phone. It emits a signal allowing rescuers to pinpoint your location, if needed.
Opening hours
Coominglah State Forest is open 24 hours a day.
Pets
Dogs are allowed in Coominglah State Forest. They must be on a leash and under control at all times.
Climate and weather
Coominglah State Forest has a hot, dry climate. Summer days can be very hot, up to 42°C, and evenings a cool 11°C. Winters are dry and pleasantly warm, with day temperatures up to 30°C but very cold night temperatures as low as –3°C. Frosts are not uncommon in winter. Weather forecasts are available from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology.
Fuel and supplies
The closest fuel and supplies are available in Monto.
- There are currently no park alerts for this park.