Lamington National Park Brisbane | Gold Coast

This bush camp site is hidden in high altitude rainforest. Photo credit: © Ben Blanche

Lush rainforest, ancient trees and stunning waterfalls make Lamington National Park an outstanding place to visit! Photo credit: Nicholas Hill © Queensland Government

Mount Bithongabel bush camp

Camp in a misty, cliff-top forest at a site that has immense significance for both conservation and history.

Accessible by

  • Walk-in

Camping area facilities

  • Tent camping
  • Long walk to tent
  • Walking
  • Cultural and historic sites

Always check

You need to be an experienced off-track walker with the right hiking equipment and good navigational skills to walk to this camp site. If you haven’t camped in a bush camp site before, this is a good location to begin; it is one of the easier to access in the park.

Hidden in high-altitude forest—where ghostly mist weaves around ancient Antarctic beech festooned with vines and lichen—this camp site is on a steep escarpment over 1,000m above sea level on the southern side of the Border Track. There is limited protection in windy weather. Although the escarpment cliff edge borders this site, there are no views.

In December 1918, a group of 11 Queensland naturalists and scientists celebrated Christmas at a camp nearby. Over several days they explored, collected and recorded the flora and fauna found here. New plant species were found and the name 'Green Mountains' was coined as a result of their visit.

This park is part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area, famed for its ongoing geological processes, evolutionary history, and diversity (especially of rare, threatened and endemic species).

Getting there and getting around

The Mount Bithongabel bush camp site is in the Green Mountains section of Lamington National Park, 110km south of Brisbane.

  • Map sheet—Tyalgum 9541-31. Grid reference—169 735.
  • The bush camp site is on the Border Track, about 6.5km from the trailhead at the Green Mountains day-use area.
  • Allow about 2hr walking time to reach the camp.

For more details on how to get to Lamington National Park and wheelchair accessibility, please see getting there and getting around.

Before you visit

Opening hours

Mount Bithongabel bush camp site (on-track) is open 24 hours a day. Check-in to your camp after 2pm and check-out by 11am on the next day.  Bush camp sites can only be booked for a maximum of one night per group, per site.

Check park alerts for the latest information on access, closures and conditions.

Seasonal closures

The bush camp site is only open from 1 February to 30 November each year.

Camping area features: A rough bush camp site situated in rainforest on the southern side of the Border Track. The site is located at an altitude of 1,000m. There is limited protection in windy weather. Although the escarpment cliff edge borders this site, there are no views.
Location: Map sheet: Tyalgum 9541-31, Grid reference: 169 735.
Access: Site is on the graded walking track system and a 2hr walk from the Border Track entrance.
Number of sites: No defined sites. Maximum of 6 people per night.
Camp sites are suitable for: self-sufficient, walk-in camping.
Camp site surface: Dirt.
Facilities: None. Campers must be self-sufficient. Water collected from creeks should be treated before drinking. All rubbish (including food scraps) must be carried out.
Open fires: Prohibited—fuel stoves only.
Generators: Not permitted.
Essentials to bring: Fuel stove, drinking water, extra food, rubbish bags, first-aid kit, topographic map, compass, torch, warm clothing, wet weather gear and a small trowel for burying faecal waste. Read more about before you visit.
Bookings: Advance bookings are essential and must be booked online or learn about our camping booking options.
Mobile phone coverage: Poor.

Upcoming camping area availability

Visiting safely

For more safety information see Visiting Lamington safely and camp with care.