Lamington National Park Brisbane | Gold Coast

Endless views of the Numinbah Valley await! Photo credit: Nicholas Hill © Queensland Government

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

Lower Bellbird circuit

Be serenaded by bellbirds as you take in spectacular views, amazing geology and babbling mountain streams on this half-day trek.

Journey type
Walk
Distance
12km circuit The same start and finish point, but the traveller doesn’t return along the same path
Time suggested
Allow about 4hrs walking time.
Grade
Grade 4 walking track
Where
View map

Accessible by

  • Conventional vehicle
  • Bicycle

Journey facilities

  • Walking

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.

Getting to Lamington

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

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.