Lamington National Park Trails: 12 Best Walks at Binna Burra and Green Mountains

Published 26 October 2026

Elabana Falls cascading through rainforest on the Box Forest circuit, Lamington National Park

Photo: Alandean88, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Lamington National Park has more than 20 walking tracks that QPWS describes in detail, ranging from a 30-minute rainforest loop to the 21.4 km Border Track. Choosing one starts with picking a section. Binna Burra covers the eastern side of the plateau, and Green Mountains (the O'Reilly area) covers the west. This guide lists the 12 best Lamington National Park trails across both sections, with distances, grades and times from the QPWS walking tracks summary, checked on 25 October 2026.

About Lamington National Park

QPWS says Lamington was declared in 1915, covers 21,176 ha along the McPherson Range, and is about 110 km south of Brisbane. It's part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area. That area includes the most extensive subtropical rainforest in the world and nearly all of the northernmost Antarctic beech cool temperate rainforest.

The two sections are reached by different roads. The Binna Burra upper day-use area is at the end of Binna Burra Road, 3.5 km from the park entrance. The Green Mountains day-use area is at the end of Lamington National Park Road, 5.7 km from the park entrance. The Border Track links them.

Lamington National Park trails at a glance

Trail	Section	Distance	Grade	Time	Best for
Rainforest circuit	Binna Burra	1.2 km circuit	2	30 min	Families
Centenary track	Green Mountains	1.8 km return	1	30 min	Prams and wheelchairs (assistance may be needed)
Python Rock track	Green Mountains	3.1 km return	3	1 hr	Sunset views
Tullawallal circuit	Binna Burra	5 km circuit	3	1.5 hr	Antarctic beech
Caves track	Binna Burra	7 km return	4	2 hr	Coomera Valley views
Lower Bellbird track	Binna Burra	10 km return	4	4 hr	A half-day walk
Box Forest circuit	Green Mountains	10.9 km circuit	4	4 hr	Waterfalls and brush box
Daves Creek circuit	Binna Burra	12 km circuit	4	4 hr	Views and variety
Coomera circuit	Binna Burra	17.4 km circuit	4	7 hr	Coomera Falls lookout
Toolona Creek circuit	Green Mountains	17.4 km circuit	4	6 hr	Gorge waterfalls
Ships Stern circuit	Binna Burra	21 km circuit	4	8 hr	Big views
Border Track	Both	21.4 km one way	4	7 hr	Crossing the park

Grades follow the QPWS system, where Grade 1 is easiest and Grade 5 is hardest. The Grade 5 Illinbah circuit (16.6 km, about 8 hr) is for fit, experienced walkers only.

Binna Burra walks

Binna Burra suits walkers who want lots of options from one trailhead. Most walks branch off the Border Track from the upper day-use area.

Rainforest circuit (1.2 km, Grade 2)

This short loop starts 500 m along the Border Track. QPWS promises "a wonderfully complex and diverse rainforest". It's a good first walk with kids.

Tullawallal circuit (5 km, Grade 3)

The circuit leaves the Border Track 1.9 km from the trailhead. QPWS calls it the park's "most accessible cool temperate rainforest" and the northernmost patch of Antarctic beech forest. It's one of the best mid-length Binna Burra walks.

Caves track (7 km return, Grade 4)

This walk has views across the Darlington Range and down into the Coomera Valley. Alert: QPWS listed the Caves and Gwongoorool tracks as closed for wet weather from 22 to 26 October 2026.

Daves Creek circuit (12 km, Grade 4)

QPWS calls this "one of the best walks in the park". From the trailhead you follow the Border Track for 2.3 km, then descend through the head of Woggunba Valley. Look for Surprise Rock, a trachyte volcanic dyke. Numinbah lookout has views of Springbrook, Mount Hobwee, Araucaria lookout and the Numinbah Valley.

Coomera circuit (17.4 km, Grade 4)

QPWS recommends walking this one anticlockwise. The cantilevered Coomera Falls lookout, 5.5 km from the trailhead, looks over Coomera and Yarrabilgong falls dropping into a 160 m deep gorge. The track crosses the river several times, so skip it after heavy rain.

Lower Bellbird and Ships Stern (10 km return and 21 km circuit, Grade 4)

Both start at the Saddle trailhead, opposite the road entrance to Binna Burra Lodge. The Lower Bellbird track passes Koolanbilba and Yangahla lookouts. Ships Stern continues through piccabeen palms into Nixon Valley and up to Kooloobano lookout. QPWS calls it "one of the most magnificent walks in the park". It also recommends walking Ships Stern clockwise.

Green Mountains (O'Reilly) walks

Centenary track (1.8 km return, Grade 1)

This is the park's only Grade 1 walk. It starts at the Python Rock and Morans Falls trailhead, 125 m back along the access road from the Green Mountains day-use area. QPWS says it's wheelchair accessible, though you may need assistance.

Python Rock track (3.1 km return, Grade 3)

The track runs from closed rainforest into open eucalypt forest and ends at a lookout over Morans Falls, Castle Crag and Mount Razorback. QPWS suggests the lookout for sunsets.

Box Forest circuit (10.9 km, Grade 4)

The circuit starts 3.2 km along the Border Track. It passes pink-barked brush box and Antarctic beech, then waterfalls including Tullerigumai Falls (Box Log), Elabana Falls and Darragumai Falls. QPWS notes that brush box elsewhere in the World Heritage area have been radiocarbon-dated at 1,500 years.

Toolona Creek circuit (17.4 km, Grade 4)

QPWS recommends walking this circuit clockwise. It climbs through the narrow Toolona Gorge past Chalahn and Toolona falls, then reaches Wanungara lookout, with views down the Limpinwood Valley.

Border Track (21.4 km one way, Grade 4)

This is the backbone of Lamington's track system and part of the Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk. On a clear day it has views of the Limpinwood Valley, Wollumbin (Mount Warning) and the Tweed Range. You'll need a car shuffle, because QPWS says there's no public transport to the park.

Planning and safety

Check Lamington park alerts. As of 25 October 2026, QPWS listed the Caves and Gwongoorool closure, Woonoongoora Walkers Camp upgrades (29 September–30 November 2026) and a severe weather damage alert for the park (14 March 2025–31 December 2026).
Start early. Many Grade 4 walks take 6–8 hours. Finish in daylight.
Check the weather with the Bureau of Meteorology. Creek crossings rise quickly.
Restricted areas: Coomera Gorge and the Ballunjui Falls area are declared restricted access areas. Unauthorised entry is prohibited.
No dogs are allowed in national parks. For more tips, read QPWS's Walk with care advice.

For more trails across the region, browse Active Quests or see the Active Quests home page.

Related guides

Frequently asked questions

What is the best walk in Lamington National Park?

QPWS describes the Daves Creek circuit (12 km, Grade 4) as "one of the best walks in the park" and Ships Stern (21 km) as "one of the most magnificent". For a short walk, try Python Rock (3.1 km return).

What are the best Binna Burra walks?

The Rainforest circuit (1.2 km), Tullawallal circuit (5 km), Caves track (7 km), Daves Creek circuit (12 km) and Coomera circuit (17.4 km) are all reached from Binna Burra.

What is the easiest walk at Lamington?

The Centenary track in Green Mountains is Grade 1, 1.8 km return and about 30 minutes. QPWS says it's wheelchair accessible, though you may need assistance.

How far is Lamington National Park from Brisbane?

QPWS says Lamington is about 110 km south of Brisbane.

Can you walk between Binna Burra and O'Reilly?

Yes. The Border Track links the two sections and is 21.4 km one way, Grade 4, and takes about 7 hours. Arrange transport at the other end.

Can I bring my dog to Lamington?

No. Dogs aren't permitted in Queensland national parks.

Walk it, check in, collect

Each trail in the table is a GPS check-in quest in Active Quests. Finish the walk, check in and earn ACTIVE Coins. Download Active Quests on the App Store before your next Lamington day.