Backyard Tourist: Off to Mount Barney to explore secret waterholes and discover wildlife

Looking to stretch your legs this weekend? I’ve got just the place — and it even boasts a number of secret waterholes and waterfalls. But there’s a catch if you want to find them.

The glorious Mt Barney.

IF you’re really looking to stretch your legs this weekend, hiking Mount Barney might just do it for you.

Located in the Scenic Rim west of the Gold Coast — about a two-hour drive — a trip to Mount Barney for the day is utterly delightful.

View of Mt Barney in the Scenic Rim. Photo Chantay Logan.

Think scenic drive with majestic gum trees, shallow waterholes that reflect the azure blue sky and dozens of cows grazing in large paddocks.

Mount Barney itself is a wonder for any nature enthusiast, being listed as a Gondwana rainforest area, and one of just four national parks in Queensland with World Heritage classification.

Cronan Creek Falls at Mount Barney National Park. Picture: @kenwarephotos

Cronan Creek Falls. Picture: @andrew.meadows7

The area is also home to the vulnerable plumed frogmouth. Kudos to you if you manage to spot one, considering their excellent camoflague.

All the walking tracks on Mount Barney are classed as Grade 4, meaning bushwalking experience is recommended, with tracks rough, long and steep.

Mt Barney. Pic Jono Searle.

A shorter trail, called Yellow Pinch lookout, is only a two kilometres long, needing about an hour to complete a return trip.

You’ll be rewarded with uninterrupted views of the mountain, so it’s a great starting spot.

The Lower Portals track is a bit longer at 7.4km, needing three hours for completion. This track takes you to a stunning pool fed by Mount Barney Creek and set within a rocky gorge.

The longest track is the Cronan Creek Falls trail, which is 12km return, but offers up its hidden waterfall in return.

WHILE YOU’RE THERE … DO

Mt Barney Lodge and campsite. Pic Jono Searle.

IF you have the time to stay over the night, award-winning Mount Barney Lodge has a few extra hidden spots for you to explore.

They include secluded waterholes, bubbling creeks and even a hidden cave shower.

Once you’ve found these secret spots, you can also take part in abseiling, guided eco tours and workshops, or just enjoy the rural scenery. There are also fun activities for the kids if they come along, all nature-based.

The accommodation is varied. You can either camp out at their grassed, unpowered sites, go glamping or fall asleep in a rustic cabin.

For larger groups, they even have a Queenslander available.

DISCOVER

Spotted-tailed quoll

MOUNT Barney has lots of wildlife hiding among its trees, streams and cliff-faces.

Some of the animals are endangered, such as the Hastings River mouse, the spotted-tail quoll, the rufous scrub-bird, Fleay’s barred frog and the eastern bristlebird, and the swift parrot is classified as critically endangered.

Our favourite natives are also squirrelled away up there, with koalas, short-beaked echidnas, the platypus and the rarely-spotted glossy black cockatoo.

In fact, there are hundreds of species for keen wildlife-spotters to check out.

And for those more interested in the flora, there are even more species to discover.

EAT AND DRINK

The Historic Rivermill Cafe with a pumpkin and corn frittata with avocado, tomato jam and doorstop toast. Photo by Richard Gosling

YOU’LL find plenty of cute cafes to stop at on the way to Mount Barney.

The Historic Rivermill at Mt Nathan is a great place to stop at on the way out of the Gold Coast, especially with kids, thanks to the adorable animals that live on the property.

At Canungra, The Hub caters for people from all walks of life, including those who need gluten free fare or are vegan. The tiny town even boasts a sushi shop, a pub, a pie shop and the famous Outlook Cafe.

There are plenty of little pit stops along the way to keep you from getting too peckish, including little highway cafe Tamrookum Fill and Feast, as well as the Rathy Pub at Rathdowney.