Eungella National Park
Eungella National Park is Queensland's largest rainforest national park spreading over 50,000 hectares. Waterfalls, crystal clear streams and natural rock pools make Eungella a welcome retreat for nature lovers. Access from Mackay is via a bitumen road, which winds its way through the sugar towns and villages of the Pioneer Valley. Take your time travelling through this fertile valley and you'll discover a community steeped in history. Chat to the locals in the small townships of Marian, Mirani, Pinnacle and Finch Hatton and you'll hear stories of pioneering days that hold you spellbound.
Call into the North Eton Pottery Store and most days you'll catch Bente Christensen hard at work making her pots which are so well known for their brilliant blue colouring. In the heart of the town of Mirani is a wonderful little museum that traces the history of the area. Besides the European based cultures, there is a walk through the dreamtime - the Juipera Walk. Here the local bush tucker shrubs are growing, showing some of the nutrition of the Aboriginal way of life. A series of simulated caves are dedicated to the memory of the early dwellers.
Finch Hatton features the Jack Wilms' Cedar Gallery and Finch Hatton Gorge walks which start at the bottom of the range and track up along rocky creek beds where clear water tumbles down the steep bed in a series of waterfalls.
Eungella National Park has 25 kilometres of walking trails through a magnificent high country mix of tropical and temperate rainforests. The walks range in length and difficulty from a one kilometre rainforest walk at Broken River to 16 kilometre round trips taking in the best rainforest and mountain views. In the mountains, there is no better way to experience the rainforest and the mountain views than from the back of a horse. Farms are seen in the distance where a puff of cane fire is like a wash of watercolour. From the hang gliding ramp at Eungella Chalet you can almost see to the coast on a clear day.
The appeal of Eungella National Park is not just the rainforest, the bush walks and the waterfalls. With the rainforest's total isolation from similar environments over thousands of years, a very distinctive animal community has evolved. Eungella has become home to a magical variety of native wildlife including the Eungella Honeyeater - one of only five new bird species discovered in Australia over the past 50 years. It is home to the gastric brooding frog and the orange-sided skink. And the star attraction is the platypus - an elusive little Australian who draws thousands of visitors every year. Broken River is one of only a few places in Australia that can boast ideal viewing. Here these shy little creatures can be seen taking their afternoon swim, oblivious to the presence of onlookers.
Eungella National Park is one of the state's most popular national parks thanks to the efforts of the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Services who have established excellent camping grounds and visitors facilities. The well maintained trails of Eungella offer a challenge to holidaymakers of all ages and varying levels of fitness.
Australia
Mackay Region
