Park is closed
Things to do
Visitors of all ages enjoy The Palms' short circuit track.
Photo credit: Karen Smith © Queensland Government
The small picnic area is regularly visited by brush turkeys.
Photo credit: Karen Smith © Queensland Government
Have a bush picnic with the local wildlife or take a short walk through the rainforest.
Camping and accommodation
Camping
Camping is not permitted in The Palms National Park.
Other accommodation
Limited accommodation is available in Cooyar and Yarraman with a greater range of options at larger towns in the region. See the tourism information links below or consult the local telephone directory or the internet.
Walking
The Palms Circuit
Distance: 650m return
Time: allow 15 minutes
This short track encircles the palm forest—palms one side, dry vine forest on the other. Admire piccabeen palms, a large strangler fig, bunya and hoop pines, and buttressed trees along the track and boardwalks through the rainforest.
Look for grey-headed flying-foxes roosting in the palm trees above the creek in summer, or on the ground for noisy pittas and black-breasted button-quails during winter and spring.
Picnic and day-use areas
A small picnic area with picnic tables.
Viewing wildlife
The Palms National Park might be small, but that makes it even better for seeing the rainforest plants and animals for which it is a refuge.
The spring-fed creek running through the park is always damp and becomes quite wet after good rain. Listen for the calls of frogs in warmer months and watch the birds and other animals that come to the creek to drink.
Summer is also the best time to see the flying-foxes which rest by day in the park and fly by night to feed on forest fruits in the surrounding hills and valleys.
More than 90 species of birds have been recorded at the park. Watch for rose-crowned fruit doves or green catbirds feeding on fruits of piccabeen palms and figs. Listen for the distinctive calls of wonga pigeons or brown cuckoo-doves echoing through forest. See eastern yellow robins and white-browed scrub wrens flitting through the shaded understory and brown or buff-rumped thornbills feed busily in sunny patches at the forest edge. Barking owls have also been seen here.
Red necked pademelons and swamp wallabies can sometimes be seen thumping noisily through the gully.
- The Palms National Park closed for scheduled maintenance 1 May to 30 June 2023