Crater Lakes National Park Tropical North Queensland

Walk the short track and be dwarfed by Lake Barrine's twin kauri pine trees. Photo credit: © Queensland Government

Photo credit: Darren Jew ©Tourism and Events Qld

Take your canoe and kayak for a majestic paddle along the edge of the lake. Photo credit: © Tourism Tropical North Qld

Walking tracks through the rainforest provide secluded forest-fringed views of the lake. Photo credit: © Queensland Government

Be inspired: Chasing volcanoes (and waterfalls) in the tropical north

They say ‘don’t go chasing waterfalls’ but we suggest you do, and volcanoes too! Photo credit: Steven Nowakowski © Queensland Government

Twin kauris walk, Lake Barrine

Admire these two magnificent bull kauri pine trees that tower 45m over you and the rest of the forest.

Journey type
Walk
Distance
160m return Start and finish points are the same and the traveller must return via the same path
Time suggested
Allow 10min walking time.
Grade
Grade 2 walking track

Accessible by

  • Conventional vehicle
  • Walk-in

Journey facilities

  • Lookout (natural and constructed)
  • Wheelchair access (may require assistance)
  • Walking

A lovely short walk amongst the World Heritage tropical rainforest. Follow the sealed bitumen track to the boardwalk at the base of two exceptionally large bull kauri pines.

A feature of the park, the pair of towering bull kauri pine trees Agathis microstaychia are an astonishing 45m tall and have a trunk girth of more than 6m. Take a moment to stand in awe of these ancient giants, believed to be more than 1000 years old.

Bull kauris are the largest of Australia’s 38 conifer (pine) species and are restricted to a small geographic range on the Atherton Tableland.

Kauris, common in some rainforest types, are descendants of species that dominated tableland forests for thousands of years. Kauris today are almost identical to fossil kauris found in rocks 300 million years old. This ancient connection means that today’s kauris and other conifers are important in understanding the evolution of land plants.

Getting there and getting around

Twin kauris walk is in the Lake Barrine section of Crater Lakes National Park, about 60km drive up the Gillies Range from Cairns.

Access roads are sealed and suitable for conventional vehicles.

  • From Cairns, drive approximately 60km up Gillies Range Road, turn left on Lake Barrine Access Road and into the Lake Barrine car park. Alternatively, drive approximately 8km from Yungaburra township along the Gillies Range Road and turn right into Lake Barrine Access Road.
  • Once parked, walk down the road towards the lake to find the entrance of the twin kauris walk and Lake Barrine circuit track on your left. Take care when walking on the road.
  • The walking track starts at the eastern side of the Lake Barrine teahouse, the same starting point for the Lake Barrine circuit track.
  • Return along the same track.
  • Alternatively, continue around the Lake Barrine circuit track or return along the Rainforest walk.

Wheelchair access

Twin kauris walk is a sealed bitumen track and is accessible for wheelchairs with assistance.

The privately owned teahouse has ramps and wheelchair-accessible toilets.

Before you visit

Opening hours

Twin kauris walk, Lake Barrine, 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 Crater Lakes safely and Walk with care.