Bulburin National Park

Bulburin National Park protects over 570 km² of upland forest in the Many Peaks Range, about 75 km southwest of Gladstone. Gazetted in 2000, Bulburin is notable as the site of Queensland’s southernmost subtropical rainforest – a cool, green refuge on the mid-coast. Parts of the park reach above 600 m in elevation, catching more rainfall and mist than the surrounding lowlands, which allows pockets of lush rainforest to thrive. Towering hoop pines (Araucaria) and red cedars emerge above the rainforest canopy in sheltered valleys, while the ridges support wet sclerophyll forest with majestic rose gum and tallowwood trees. In drier rainshadow areas, there’s also open eucalypt woodland and heath.

The biodiversity here is significant. Bulburin is home to many rare or geographically isolated species. Most famous is the Kroombit tinkerfrog, a critically endangered frog found only in a few rainforest streams of this region. It went unseen for decades until being rediscovered in Bulburin NP in 2010. The park also hosts the unique Bulburin Nut (Macadamia jansenii), one of the world’s rarest macadamias (only around 100 individuals known in the wild). Over 200 bird species have been recorded, including noisy pittas, wompoo fruit-doves, and rufous scrub-birds in the thick undergrowth. Mammals like the rufous bettong and yellow-bellied glider inhabit the eucalypt forests at night.

Visitors need a awd to access Bulburin. From the small town of Many Peaks, rough forestry tracks climb into the park (these roads can be slippery or closed after rain). Once inside, there are three basic camping areas: the Old Forestry Camp (site of former forestry barracks) and two others (Range View and Bompa) along the awd loop road:contentReference[oaicite:159]{index=159}. These are open grassy sites with no amenities except occasionally a pit toilet. Campers are rewarded with peace – you’re unlikely to encounter others – and a chance to experience the sounds of the rainforest at night (the calls of frogs and insects are constant). The Range View site, as its name implies, offers an extensive eastward view toward the coast from a nearby lookout spur:contentReference[oaicite:160]{index=160}. Short walks can be done along old snigging trails that lead into the forest, but caution is urged as they are not maintained or signposted.

Bulburin NP is primarily about conservation rather than tourism. The dense forests that once drew foresters (hoop pine logging occurred up to the late 20th century) are now left to regenerate. In summer, parts of the park become steamy and leech-infested, while winter brings cooler, pleasant days often shrouded in mountain cloud. It’s a destination for self-sufficient bush campers, birdwatchers, and those intrigued by its hidden natural treasures. The challenging access and lack of facilities keep casual visitors away, thereby preserving Bulburin’s atmosphere as a tranquil bastion of Central Queensland’s natural heritage.