About Poona

Park features

Paperbark forests, woodlands, mangroves, banksia and blue gum woodlands, and wallum heathland grow in the park. These plant communities flourished in the Maryborough-Hervey Bay area before settlement and land clearing. Also growing here are one of the most southerly stands of the broad-leafed paperbark Melaleuca viridiflora and vulnerable plants including Boronia keysii and the endangered Macrozamia pauli-guilielimi.

Poona National Park is an important wildlife refuge. Vulnerable frog species such as the wallum sedgefrog and wallum froglet take refuge in the wallum heath. The park also protects part of the Kalah Creek catchment.

Looking after the park

You can help protect this park so it can be enjoyed now and in the future by observing these guidelines:

• Everything in the park (living of dead) is protected. Do not take or interfere with plants, animals, soil or rocks.
• Use toilets if available or bring a portable toilet. If bush toileting, ensure all faecal matter and toilet paper is properly buried at least 15cm deep and 100m from all watercourses. Bag and carry out disposable nappies and sanitary products.
• Do not put sanitary products, disposable nappies and cigarette butts in the toilet facilities.
• Take your rubbish home for appropriate disposal. Never bury or leave rubbish in the park.
• All refuse from fish cleaning, including offal, scales and unused bait, should be buried at least 30cm deep, below the high tide line.
• Keep waterways and the ocean free of all pollutants including soap, detergents, shampoo, sunscreens and food scraps.
• Do not feed or leave food for animals. Human food can harm wildlife and cause some animals to become aggressive. Store food in lockable boxes.
• Contact the Queensland Government Wildlife Hotline to report: wildlife incidents, marine animal strike, marine stranding or an injured, sick or dead turtle, dolphin or whale.

See the guidelines on caring for parks for more information about protecting our environment and heritage in parks.