BORDERRANGESNATIONAL PARK
WALKING TRACKS
- 40kms from Murwillumbah – 67kms from Lismore
Best access routes
From Lismore head north-west to Kyogle (48 kilometres) and then to Wiangaree.
Road quality: paved
From Murwillumbah follow the Kyogle road west to Lillian Rock, which is a locality not a town. At Lillian Rock turn right onto Creegan Road. From here the park is signposted.
Road quality: unpaved sections
From Queensland follow the Mount Lindsay Highway to Rathdowney. Follow the Lions Road east to the Richmond Gap and the central sections of the park where you'll find the Border Loop lookout and picnic area.
To reach the Sheepstation Camping Area and the eastern half of the park, keep following the Lions Road until you reach Simes Road. Turn left and follow the signs.
From Kyogle follow the Summerland Way north for 15 kilometres to Wiangaree then turn right onto the Lynchs Creek Road. The park is signposted from here.
Road quality: unpaved sections
THE PINNACLE WALK / Return distance: 0.2km
Estimated Time: 18 minutes / Easy / 2
FALCOROSTRUM LOOP / Return distance: 0.75km
Estimated Time: 30 minutes / Easy / 2
RED CEDAR LOOP / Return distance: 0.75km
Estimated Time: 30 minutes / Easy / 2
BORDER LOOP WALK / Return distance: 1.2km
Estimated Time: 30 minutes / Easy / 3
HELMHOLTSIA LOOP / Return distance: 1.2km
Estimated Time: 1 hour / Easy / 3
PALM FOREST WALK / Return distance: 2km
Estimated Time: 1 hour / Easy / 3
BAR MOUNTAIN CIRCUIT / Return distance: 3.5km
Estimated Time: 3 hours / Easy / 3
BRINDLE CREEK WALK / Return distance: 5km
Estimated Time: 3 hours / Medium / 4
ROSEWOOD LOOP / Return distance: 6km
Estimated Time: 3 hours / Easy / 4
BOOYONG WALK / Return distance: 10.5km
Estimated Time: 5 hours / Medium / 4
The Pinnacle Walk
Return distance (track entrance): 0.2kmEstimated Time: 18 minutes / Grade: Easy
This short walk is one of the highlights of the park. No other walk in the region offers such a dramatic encounter with the MountWarning crater.
The first part of the walk is through subtropical rainforest. Closer to the escarpment edge you burst out of the rainforest into a stand of New England blackbutt. The track finishes at a lookout platform perched at the edge of the escarpment. From here you have spectacular views of MountWarning and the Tweed valley 1000 m below.
This is one of the best locations in Australia to watch the dawn. The silhouette of MountWarning against the rising sun should not be missed.
Please do not go beyond the platform as this can cause serious erosion and threaten endangered plants.
Falcorostrum Loop
Return distance (track entrance): 0.75kmEstimated Time: 30 minutes / Grade: Easy
This walk winds its way through one of the largest stands of Antarctic beech in the park. Falcorostrum orchids can be seen clinging to the trunk and branches of these ancient trees, the only place they're found. The forest here is cool temperate rainforest which only occurs in the park in small pockets.
Watch for the endemic Albert's lyrebird which can, with a bit of patience, be seen scratching in the leaf litter amongst the Antarctic beech trees. Their display songs are renowned and are a wonderful mix of mimicry and their own calls. Early mornings and overcast winter days are the best times to hear or see these birds.
Red Cedar Loop
Return distance (track entrance): 0.75kmEstimated Time: 30 minutes / Grade: Easy
The highlight of this short walk is a giant red cedar. Measuring 48 m in height and 133 cm in diameter, it's probably about 1000 years old.
Cedar trees often grow close to creek lines. This made them easy pickings for the early cedar getters, who used flooded creeks and rivers to float the logs down to waiting ships and saw mills.
Among the branches and clinging to the bark of the trees are countless epiphytes, such as the common birds nest fern, orchids and staghorns.
Border Loop Walk
Return distance (track entrance): 1.2kmEstimated Time: 30 minutes / Grade: Easy
This short loop walk provides a wonderful opportunity to relax after a long drive. It starts at the picnic area and initially passes through pleasant grassy wet eucalypt forest dominated by brushbox, blue gums and tallowwood, before entering a very interesting stand of subtropical rainforest. To assist you many of the tree and shrub species have been identified and marked with track-side signs.The forest here supports a population of koalas.
Helmholtsia Loop
Return distance (track entrance): 1.2kmEstimated Time: 1 hour / Grade: Easy
This loop walk takes its name from the rare stream lilly that is found only in the rainforests of north-east NSW and south-east Queensland. These large strap-leafed plants require reliable supplies of water and so are usually found along the banks of creeks and gullies.
Lush rainforest, abundant epiphytes, hoop pines and stands of gnarled Antarctic beech are features of this loop walk.
PalmForest Walk
Return distance (track entrance): 2kmEstimated Time: 1 hour / Grade: Easy
Walk through rainforest and eucalypt forest near Sheepstation Creek camping area to BrushboxFalls. This track follows the line of an old bullock trail and logging road.
Nearer to the creek you enter the subtropical rainforest above the falls. There are plenty of bangalow palms, booyong, strangler figs and giant brushbox. Near here you pass a sandstone rock into which the early cedar getters carved their names.
Other features: Lookouts, Waterfalls, Swimming, Aboriginal/historic sites
Bar Mountain Circuit
Return distance (track entrance): 3.5kmEstimated Time: 3 hours / Grade: Easy
The Bar Mountain Circuit branches off the Falcorostrum Loop and winds its way down the ridge towards the western escarpment. As you descend the forest changes from cool temperate rainforest to warm temperate rainforest. Nearer the escarpment edge where drier conditions prevail you enter an area of wet eucalypt forest dominated by huge New England blackbutt and brushbox.
From the lookout there are views into Collins Creek and west to MountLindsay and MountBarney.From here the track winds its way back up the ridge past dripping cliffs and thickets of Helmholtsia.
Brindle Creek Walk
Return distance (track entrance): 5kmEstimated Time: 3 hours / Grade: Medium
This walk follows the line of Brindle Creek and links Brindle Creek Picnic Area with Antarctic Beech Picnic Area. It incorporates part of the Helmholtsia Loop.
Lush rainforest, stands of Antarctic beech, numerous waterfalls and delightful swimming holes are among the attractions you'll see on this walk. Must-see places include both Selva and Evans falls.
If you intend to swim in any of the park's creeks please ensure that you are not wearing sunscreen or other chemical creams as they can harm or even kill local frog populations. You will need to have a vehicle at both ends of the walk or otherwise retrace your steps.
Other features: Waterfalls, Swimming
Rosewood Loop
Return distance (track entrance): 6kmEstimated Time: 3 hours / Grade: Easy
About one-third of the way along the Booyong Walk you'll see signs for the Rosewood Loop. If you start this loop from the southern or Sheepstation Creek end, you will travel down to a creek past young, dense rainforest regrowth. You can take a swim here but be warned that even in summer these waters are cold.
Just beyond the creek you pass through a stand of strangler figs and enter an area of old growth flooded gum. The Rosewood Loop is known for its mature specimens of rosewood and white beech, both elegant timber species.
The Rosewood Loop and Booyong Walk will reward patient birdwatchers. Rainforest fruit-doves, bowerbirds and many smaller rainforest birds are common along these tracks.
Other features: Lookouts
Booyong Walk
Return distance (track entrance): 10.5kmEstimated Time: 5 hours / Grade: Medium
Named after the tall and majestic booyong trees that dominate these forests, this track provides an easy introduction to the rainforests of the park. The track links Sheepstation Creek Camping Area with Forest Tops Camping Area. It's best to start this walk at Forest Tops and avoid a long uphill climb. This walk incorporates the Palm Forest Walk and provides access to the Rosewood Loop.
Other features: Waterfalls, Swimming, Aboriginal/historic sites
BorderRangesNational Park / Page 1