Davies Creek National Park, Dinden National Park, Dinden West Forest Reserve and Bare Hill Conservation Park Tropical North Queensland

Photo credit: Robert Ashdown © Queensland Government

About Davies Creek, Dinden and Bare Hill

    Park features

    The parks and reserves in this special area feature two magnificent waterfalls cascading over huge granite boulders, and the impressive Clohesy River fig tree.

    Dinden National Park straddles the Lamb Range—the string of mountains behind Cairns. Rainforest cloaks the wetter eastern side of the range where Lake Morris, the main water reservoir for Cairns, is situated. Eucalypt woodland occupies the drier rain-shadowed areas on the western slopes. Between these two contrasting vegetation types runs a strip of a rare forest type known as wet sclerophyll.

    A number of birds, such as the eastern yellow robin, the white-cheeked honeyeater and white-naped honeyeater, are residents of the wet sclerophyll forest of these two national parks. Endangered northern bettongs are also found in Davies Creek National Park and parts of Dinden National Park. These rat-kangaroos, smaller than a rabbit, are found in very limited areas of North Queensland and these parks support their main population. Researchers recently discovered southern brown bandicoots in Davies Creek National Park—a long way from the nearest known population on Cape York Peninsula.

    In Dinden West Forest Reserve, Emerald Creek rushes out of the rainforest-clad heights of the Lamb Range and down into open eucalypt woodland. Here the waters of the creek tumble over granite boulders, forming the picturesque falls that plunge into placid pools.

    Bottlebrush trees sprout from between the rocks, their red flowers giving a splash of colour to the scene in season. Smooth-barked water gums lean over the creek, the trunks of some interestingly twisted by the battering of floodwaters.

    Near the creek, look for dragonflies and damselflies. These captivating insects are a common sight around sunlit sections of the creek. You may even see the giant petalurid dragonfly, the largest dragonfly in Australia.

    • Read more about the nature, culture and history of Davies Creek and Dinden national parks, Dinden West Forest Reserve and Bare Hill Conservation Park.

    Looking after the park

    • Fires are only allowed at the camp sites in Upper Davies Creek camping area (Dinden National Park) in the fireplaces provided. Firewood must not be collected from the parks. Bring a fuel stove for cooking.
    • Leave domestic animals at home—they are prohibited in national parks. This is especially important for the conservation of the endangered northern bettongs.
    • Rubbish bins are not provided. Do not bury rubbish—take it with you when you leave.
    • Stay on marked walking trails—this reduces the risk of injury, prevents disturbance to native vegetation and reduces erosion.

    Water quality

    • Protect water quality by not wearing insect repellents or sunscreen when swimming.
    • Wash at least 50m from creeks and swimming holes. Use gritty sand and a scourer instead of soap to clean dishes; scatter wash water so that it filters through the soil before returning to the stream.
    • Avoid allowing soaps, detergents, toothpaste and cosmetics to come into contact with water sources.

    See the guidelines on caring for parks for more information about protecting the environment and heritage in parks.

    Park management

    In 1971, the Davies Creek area was recognised for its outstanding recreational values and gazetted as national park. The gazettal of nearby Dinden National Park followed in late 2005 after being gazetted as a State Forest since 1900.

    Davies Creek and Dinden national parks, Dinden West Forest Reserve and Bare Hill Conservation Park are managed by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service to provide, to the greatest possible extent, for the permanent preservation of the area's natural condition and the protection of the area’s cultural resources and values.

    Most of Dinden National Park is within the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area and is managed in collaboration with the Wet Tropics Management Authority.

    Tourism information links

    Kuranda Visitor Information Centre
    www.kuranda.org
    Coondoo Street, Kuranda QLD 4881
    ph (07) 4093 9311
    email kurandavic@msc.qld.gov.au

    Mareeba Heritage Museum and Tourist Information Centre
    www.mareebaheritagecentre.com.au
    345 Byrnes Street, Mareeba QLD 4880
    ph (07) 4092 5674
    email info@mareebaheritagecentre.com.au

    For tourism information for all regions in Queensland see Queensland Holidays.

    • There are currently no park alerts for this park.