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Araucaria lookout track
Stunning spring orchids, ancient pines and spectacular panoramas will entice you along this alluring walk.
- Journey type
- Walk
- Distance
- 17.8km return Start and finish points are the same and the traveller must return via the same path
- Time suggested
- Allow about 7hrs walking time.
- Grade
- Grade 4 walking track
Accessible by
- Conventional vehicle
- Bicycle
Journey facilities
- Lookout (natural)
- Walking
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Climb the stairs to the rock wall near the Orchid Bower lookout. Photo credit: © Lesley Hutley
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There are endless views from the Orchid Bower lookout. Photo credit: © Lesley Hutley
From the Border Track and Mount Hobwee circuit, ramble through lush, delicate rainforest and up moss-carpeted steps to Orchid Bower lookout. Drink in the spectacular views of the Mount Warning caldera and a beautiful display of rock orchids in spring.
Past the lookout, the track winds down towards Araucaria lookout, passing some of the most intricate and extensive dry-stone rock construction in the park.
Araucaria lookout is named for the ancient hoop pines—Araucaria cunninghamii— that point sharply above the surrounding canopy. These hoop pine communities are a living representative of the Jurassic Age (the age of the conifers) about 180 million years ago.
Take in the awe-inspiring vistas of the Springbrook Range and Mount Warning caldera, before continuing the loop around the summit and through open heath dotted with rock orchids.
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
Getting to Lamington
- Green Mountains section map
- Binna Burra section map
- Gold Coast and hinterland parks locality map
- View Google map
Lamington National Park is made up of two sections—Green Mountains and Binna Burra. Green Mountains section is located on the western side of the Lamington Plateau. The Binna Burra section encompasses the rest of the park to the east.
Getting to Green Mountains section
From Broadbeach, drive 40km to Canungra via Nerang. From the north, take Pacific Motorway exit 34 to Beenleigh, route 92 to Tamborine, and route 90 to Canungra. The 36km winding and often narrow bitumen road from Canungra requires care and takes at least 50min. This road is unsuitable for recreational vehicles (RVs) longer than 4m and vehicles towing caravans and camper trailers.
Getting to Binna Burra section
Allow 70min from Broadbeach. Drive 38km to Beechmont via Nerang. From the north, take Pacific Motorway exit 69 and follow the signs west to Lamington National Park—Binna Burra section. The final 1.8km of the drive is very narrow and winding.
There are many commercial tour operators that conduct tours to Lamington National Park. See the tourism information links for further details.
There is no public transport to the park and getting taxis and ride share operators to pick up from the park can be difficult.
Wheelchair accessibility
There are wheelchair-accessible toilet facilities at the day-use area in both the Green Mountains and Binna Burra sections of Lamington National Park. Binna Burra section also has wheelchair-accessible picnic tables.
At Green Mountains section there are two wheelchair-accessible walking tracks. The Centenary track is a 900m universal access track, and the first 700m of the Border Track is accessible for wheelchairs with assistance.
Before you visit
Opening hours
Araucaria lookout track 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 Lamington safely and Walk with care.
- Storm damage - Lamington National Park partially open 16 December 2020 to 29 January 2021
- Annual seasonal closure period for all Lamington bush camping areas 1 December 2020 to 31 January 2021
- Binna Burra walking tracks partial closure 7 September 2019 to 1 February 2021
- Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk Partially Closed and Caves Circuit Detour 31 August 2020 to 6 August 2021