• This 12km circuit has an ever-changing landscape. Photo credit: Lightcapturer © Queensland Government
• Endless views of the Numinbah Valley await! Photo credit: Nicholas Hill © Queensland Government

We recommend walking this anticlockwise and returning via the same track.

This track branches off the Ships Stern circuit 3.7km from the Saddle trailhead. Descend towards Nixons Creek and stop to admire spectacular views across Ships Stern, Turtle Rock, 'Kurraragin' (Egg Rock), and down into Numinbah Valley from Koolaninilba and Yangahla lookouts.

Pass through a cleft at Kong Gong Rock and then start winding past cliff faces adorned with orchids and ferns, cross mountain streams and pass through a patch of dry rainforest dominated by hoop pine—regarded as an example of the rise of the 'dry adapted' flora now widespread in Australia. Follow the track below Bellbird lookout and emerge from the rainforest at a clearing, once a dairy farm. From here, return back along the same path to the Saddle trailhead to avoid walking beside the bitumen road to complete the circuit.

Warning: take care if walking beside the bitumen road to complete the circuit, or if accessing the Caves circuit, especially on weekends when traffic is busy. If you choose to return via the Caves circuit it adds 2km to the walk.

This track forms part of the Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk, arrow markers indicate the route. If you are walking the Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk please ensure you have a copy of the Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk Topographic Map.

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 Lower Bellbird circuit is in the Binna Burra section of Lamington National Park,110km south of Brisbane.

• The circuit starts 3.7km along the Ships Stern circuit.
• The Ships Stern circuit starts at the Saddle trailhead, opposite the road entrance to Binna Burra Lodge.

Getting to Lamington

The park has two sections—Green Mountains and Binna Burra. The Green Mountains section is on the western side of the Lamington Plateau in an area called O'Reilly. The Binna Burra section encompasses the rest of the park to the east. There is no public transport to the park and getting taxis and ride share operators to pick up from the park can be difficult.

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.

Wheelchair access

There are no wheelchair-accessible facilities.

Before you visit

Opening hours

Lower Bellbird circuit 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.