Things to do

After heavy rain, water plummets 20m over Crows Nest Falls. Photo: © Queensland Government

A small sandy beach allows access to Kauyoo Pool. Photo: © Queensland Government

Bottlebrush Pool is the ideal place to relax or swim. Photo: ©Queensland Government

Crows Nest picnic area. Photo: Charlie Finn © Queensland Government

Camping and accommodation

Camping

Camp beneath the eucalypts in the small bush camping area which has unpowered tent and caravan sites, pit toilets, wood barbecues and ‘boil-your-own-water’ showers. Camping permits are required and fees apply.

Accommodation

A range of holiday accommodation is available in and around Crows Nest, Toowoomba and the Hampton and Ravensbourne areas. For more information see the tourism information links below.

• Crows Nest National Park map (PDF, 182.7KB)

Walking

Take a creek-side walk to waterholes and to lookouts with spectacular views.

Tracks lead from the picnic area and follow the steep-sided gorge in the upper reaches of Crows Nest Creek to a lookout overlooking Crows Nest Falls. Continue to Koonin Lookout for an impressive view over a deeper gorge known locally as the Valley of Diamonds.

Explore around the creek, but be careful. Rocks and stepping-stones can be slippery, especially after rain. Supervise children closely.

Key to track standards

Crows Nest National Park's walking tracks have been classified to Australian Standards to help you select a walk that matches your bushwalking experience and fitness.

Grade 3 track

• Gently sloping, well-defined track with slight inclines or few steps.
• Caution needed on decomposed granite and exposed natural lookouts.
• Reasonable level of fitness and ankle-supporting footwear required.

Grade 4 track

• Distinct track usually with steep exposed granite inclines or many steps.
• Caution needed on decomposed granite and exposed natural lookouts.
• Moderate level of fitness and ankle-supporting footwear required.

Crows Nest Falls Lookout via Kauyoo Loop (including The Cascades, Kauyoo Pool and Bottlebrush Pool —2.7km return (allow 1 hour)

Bottlebrush Pool is the ideal place to enjoy a swim and relax. The river she-oaks and bottlebrush trees provide shade and habitat for a variety of wildlife. Keep an eye out for brush-tailed rock wallabies, as they move quietly around the surrounding granite hills and boulders. Take care on the steps leading down to the creek, as they can be slippery when wet.

A sandy beach allows easy access to the normally shallow water at Kauyoo Pool.

Steep crevices and slippery rocks lead to The Cascades, where you can hear the ‘tock tock’ calls of striped marsh frogs echoing around the boulders in summer. Watch your step, especially if the creek is flowing. This is another good spot to sit quietly and watch for rock-wallabies.

Crows Nest Falls Lookout—2.1km return (45 minutes)

At Crows Nest Falls water tumbles over 20m high granite cliffs.

Access to the Crows Nest Falls waterhole has been closed due to the danger posed by large rocks falling onto the track and into the waterhole. 

For your safety, never attempt to climb around the Crows Nest Falls Lookout barriers for any reason—to do so could result in serious injury or cost you your life!

Koonin Lookout—4.5 km return (1 hour 30 minutes)

Wander out to Koonin Lookout for a bird’s-eye view of the gorge (known as the Valley of Diamonds) and to distant rolling hills around Ravensbourne. Look along the way for intricate lichen patterns on rocks and small ground orchids.

Picnic and day-use areas

Picnic beside Crows Nest Creek. The picnic area has picnic tables, pit toilets, gas barbecues and interpretive signs.

Viewing wildlife

Look for platypus in the creek near the picnic area, brush-tailed rock-wallabies on the rocky cliffs along the creek and, if you’re lucky, spot koalas in the gum trees. Be patient and quiet and you may be rewarded. For your safety and to protect the wallaby habitat, stay on the track.

Go birdwatching during the day. See pale-headed rosellas, magpies, yellow robins, thornbills, golden whistlers, eastern spinebills, grey fantails or blue-faced honeyeaters. Try spotlighting for sugar gliders, brushtail possums, ringtail possums and greater gliders along the walking track at night. Enjoy the wildflowers in spring.