Bunya Mountains National Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bunya Mountains National ParkQueensland |
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IUCN Category II (National Park)
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 Bunya Mountains National Park
Location in Queensland
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| Nearest town or city | Bell, Queensland |
| Established | 1908 |
| Area | 117 km2 (45.2 sq mi) |
| Managing authorities | Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service |
| Website | Bunya Mountains National Park |
| See also | Protected areas of Queensland |
The Bunya Mountains National Park is a special place located in the South Burnett Region of Queensland, Australia. It's famous for its amazing subtropical rainforest and the largest group of bunya pine trees still growing in the world. This national park is a fantastic spot to explore nature, see wildlife, and enjoy beautiful views.
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Exploring Bunya Mountains National Park
The park covers a big part of the Bunya Mountains range. It's about 63 km northeast of Dalby and 58 km southwest of Kingaroy.
What Makes the Park Special?
The Bunya Mountains National Park is known for its many animals, constant waterfalls, and stunning lookouts. The weather here is usually mild, meaning mornings and evenings can be cool. Getting to the park involves driving on steep, winding roads. Once you're there, you'll find places to camp, lots of walking tracks, and picnic areas to enjoy.
A Look at History
The Bunya Mountains have a rich history, especially for the Wakka Wakka, Jarowair, and Barrumgum tribes. These Aboriginal groups are the traditional owners of the land. They have cared for and used the mountains for thousands of years.
Ancient Gatherings and Land Care
For a very long time, the Bunya Mountains were the site of important 'Bunya Feasts'. Thousands of people from different tribes would travel here for these big gatherings. They would share food, stories, and traditions.
The park also has unique grassy areas called 'balds'. These areas have been around since the last ice age. They stayed treeless because Indigenous people regularly used controlled fires, a practice known as 'fire farming'. This helped manage the land and grow native foods like yams. Evidence shows this fire management has been happening for at least 9,000 years!
European Settlement and Park Creation
When European settlers arrived, Indigenous communities were moved from the Bunya Mountains. This stopped the traditional fire management around the 1860s. During this time, people also started logging the forests for valuable trees like red cedar and bunya pine.
However, people also began to visit the area to enjoy its natural beauty. The Bunya Sawmill opened in 1883. In 1908, the Bunya Mountains National Park was officially created. This makes it the second oldest national park in Queensland! Logging continued in some parts of the park until about 1917, and the last sawmill on the mountains closed in 1945.
The first walking tracks for visitors were built in 1939.
Plants of the Bunya Mountains
The park is home to some truly ancient trees. Some of the bunya pines are thought to be up to 600 years old and can grow as tall as 25 meters! The forests are also filled with other plants like stinging nettles, wild raspberries, many vines, and different kinds of ferns. You might also see white beech and silky oak trees. On Mount Kiangarow, grass trees can grow almost 5 meters tall and are hundreds of years old.
Grassy Balds
You'll find natural clearings scattered throughout the mountain forests, known as 'grassy balds'. These open areas are usually a few hectares in size. They are formed by bushfires and certain geological conditions. Where there are solid slabs of basalt rock, tree roots can't grow deep, leaving a clear patch in the forest. There are about 100 of these balds. They are important because they have more types of plants and animals than the dense rainforests around them.
Animals of the Bunya Mountains
The park is a haven for wildlife! It's home to over 200 different kinds of frogs and reptiles. You can also spot marsupials like pademelons, rock wallabies, swamp wallabies, and a special type of ringtail possum found only on these mountains.
Reptiles and Birds
Some of the reptiles you might see include the blue-tongued skink, land mullet, carpet snake, red bellied black snake, and brown tree snake.
Birdwatchers will love the Bunya Mountains! More than 120 species of birds have been recorded here. The park is part of an Important Bird Area because it has what is believed to be the largest group of black-breasted button-quails. You might also see large birds like the wedge-tailed eagle and peregrine falcon. Many rainforest birds, such as green catbirds, regent bowerbirds, and paradise riflebirds, also live here. Some common birds you're likely to spot include pied currawongs, laughing kookaburras, Australian king parrots, and brush turkeys.
Waterfalls to Discover
The park features several beautiful waterfalls, including Tim Shea Falls and Mcgrory Falls. These are great spots to visit and enjoy the natural beauty.
How the Park is Cared For
The Bunya Mountains National Park is looked after by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service. They work hard to protect the unique environment.
Protecting the Grassy Balds
Since the late 1990s, there has been a special program to burn the grassy balds in a controlled way. This helps keep them open and healthy, just like Indigenous people did for thousands of years. This 'fire management' is a top priority in the park's plan. The park also works with traditional owners, using their ancient fire techniques to help restore and maintain these important grasslands.
Visitor Facilities
At Dandabah, you'll find a visitor information center and campgrounds. There are also other campgrounds at Burton's Well and Westcott. The park has many well-kept walking tracks, some with amazing lookouts. Picnic areas are available at all campgrounds and at Cherry Plain.
Getting There
You can reach the Bunya Mountains by road from towns like Toowoomba, Kingaroy, Dalby, and Nanango. Be aware that the roads leading up the mountains are steep. It's generally not recommended to travel with large caravans or trailers. Smaller caravans might be able to access the mountains via Maidenwell.
See also
In Spanish: Parque nacional Montañas Bunya para niños
