WHAT'S ON THIS PAGE:

• Introduction
• Camping
  • Sheepstation Creek Camping Area
  • Forest Tops Camping Area
• Walking
  • Brindle Creek Picnic Area
    • Helmholtsia Loop
    • Brindle Creek Walk
    • Red Cedar Loop
  • Antartic Beech Picnic Area
  • Tweed Valley Lookout
  • Pinnacle Lookout
    • The Pinnacle Walk
  • Blackbutts Picnic Area
  • Bar Mountain Picnic Area
    • Falcorostrum Loop
    • Bar Mountain Circuit
  • Sheepstation Creek
    • Palm Forest Walk
    • Booyong Walk
    • Rosewood Loop
• Vegetation of the Border Ranges National Park
• Accommodation and Resource Links

 

INTRODUCTION:

Border Ranges National Park is located along the southern edge of the Queensland border, with Lamington National Park located across the border in Queensland. The park has World Heritage status, protecting some 30 000 hectares of tropical wilderness. It was declared national park in 1983 and became a World Heritage Area in 1986.

The Border Ranges area was home to the Galibal and Githabul Aboriginal people, part of the Bundjalung tribe.

The first Europeans to the area is thought to have been the cedar-getters who began to exploit the forests around 1842. Evidence of their presence can still be found in the park, including a rock wall with engravings from them at Sheepstation Creek (found on the Palm Forest Walk).

In Border Ranges you'll find areas of rainforest, amazing scenery and views, waterfalls and mountain streams, and rugged wilderness.

2WD vehicles are able to access the park, but this should be considered carefully after periods of rain. The best way to approach the park is from Murwillumbah off the Pacific Highway, along the Kyogle Road (about 38km), or via the Summerland Way from Kyogle (28km). It may also be accessed from Queensland via the Lions Road.

The Tweed Range Scenic Drive is a 44km gravel road that makes it's way through the eastern section of the national park. It is generally a very good gravel road and will lead the visitor to most of the walks available in the park. However, caravans are not to be taken into the park because of the steep terrain and these are best left at Sheepstation Creek prior to beginning the scenic drive.

 

CAMPING:

It should be noted that camping fees apply when visiting Border Ranges National Park. There are also entrance fees for the park (Currently camping fees are $3.00 per day for an adult and $2.00 per day for a child. Day Use fee is $7.00 per vehicle - 2004). These can all be paid at self-registration locations in the park

 

Sheepstation Creek Camping Area:

This camping area is located in the southern section of the park. There is drinking water, toilets and shelter. Walking tracks access the national park from this area.

 

Forest Tops Camping Area:

This camping area is located further north of Sheepstation Creek. There is drinking water, toilets and shelter.

 

WALKING:

Brindle Creek Picnic Area:

The Brindle Creek Picnic Area provides basic picnic area facilities beside the beautiful Brindle Creek.

 

Helmholtsia Loop:

The Helmholtsia Loop is a 1.2km easy walk (20-30 minutes) through the rainforest near Brindle Creek. It is named after the rare stream lily that is found only in the rainforests of north-eastern NSW and south-eastern Queensland.

 

 

ABOVE: Photos from the Helmholtsia Loop

 

Brindle Creek Walk:

The Brindle Creek Walk connects the Brindle Creek Picnic Area with the Antartic Beech Picnic Area. It is a 5km walk (2-3 hours) with steep sections. It comes off the Helmholtsia Loop, following Brindle Creek upstream.

The walk takes in a number of waterfalls as it winds through rainforest and Antartic Beech Forests. Return is the same way, adding a further 5km to the walk.

 

Red Cedar Loop:

The Red Cedar Loop is a 750m easy walk (20 minutes) to a massive Red Cedar standing at about 48m and 1.3m in diameter. The tree is thought to be about 1000 years old.

 

Antartic Beech Picnic Area:

This picnic area overlooks the NSW/Qld border area of Border Ranges and Lamington National Parks.

 

Tweed Valley Lookout:

This lookout is easily found along the Tweed Range Scenic Drive providing views of the Tweed Valley.

 

Pinnacle Lookout:

The Pinnacle Lookout is reached via a short walk from the parking area.

 

The Pinnacle Walk:

The Pinnacle Walk is a short 200m easy stroll to the Pinnacle Lookout. Thw walk is through rainforest and ends with some impressive Black Boys before reaching the lookout. There are spectacular views of Mount Warning and the Tweed Valley from this vantage point.

 

Blackbutts Picnic Area:

This picnic area provides views over the Tweed Valley and towards Mount Warning.

 

ABOVE: Blackbutts Picnic Area		ABOVE: Mt Warning
		ABOVE: Towards Blackbutt Lookout

 

ABOVE: Photos of the Blackbutts Picnic Area and The Pinnacle Lookout

 

Bar Mountain Picnic Area:

The Bar Mountain Picnic Area is found among a stand of Antartic Beech trees.

 

Falcorostrum Loop:

This is an easy 750m walk (20 minutes) through the Antartic Beech Forest. The walk takes it's name from the Falcorostrum Orchids that can be seen growing on the trunks of the Antartic Beech trees.

 

Bar Mountain Circuir:

The Bar Mountain Circuit is a 3.5km return loop which is best described as having some steep sections. It is not difficult as such, but it does provide a good leg workout.

The walk begins off the Falcorostrum Loop and will eventually lead to a lookout over the Collins Creek Valley, with views to Mount Lindsay and Mount Barney.

 

ABOVE: Photos of the Bar Mountain Area

 

Sheepstation Creek:

Palm Forest Walk:

The Palm Forest Walk is an easy 2km (40 minutes) walk through the rainforest beginning at Sheepstation Creek to Brushbox Falls. This is beautiful walk not to be missed. The walk passes engravings from the early cedar-getters in a sandstone wall near the falls.

 

ABOVE: Brushbox Falls	ABOVE: Sheepstation Creek Camping Area.	ABOVE: Sheepstation Creek Camping Area.
ABOVE: Sheepstation Creek Camping Area.

 

Booyong Walk:

The Booyong Walk is a 10.5km walk (5 hours) of medium difficulty linking Sheepstation Creek Camping Area with the Forest Tops Camping Area. The walk branches off the Palm Forest Walk and provides access to the Rosewood Loop. The easiest way to do the walk is probably from  Forest Tops, thereby avoiding the long climb uphill. Of course it is best to have a vehicle at the other end so you don't have to retrace your steps and add another 10.5km to the walk.

 

Rosewood Loop:

This is a 6km walk (2-3 hours) of medium difficulty, beginning at Sheepstation Creek. You start the walk by following the Booyong Walk.

 

Border Loop Picnic Area:

The Border Loop Picnic Area has a lookout over the Border Loop Railway below. It is located 3km from the NSW/Qld border on the Lions Road.

 

 

Border Loop Walk:

This is an easy 1.2km (30 minutes) walk through wet eucalypt forest and subtropical rainforest on the NSW/Qld border.

 

VEGETATION OF THE BORDER RANGES NATIONAL PARK:

There is a great diversity of vegetation in the Border Ranges National Park.

 

ABOVE: Doodia aspera (Rasp Fern)
		ABOVE: Dendrocnida excelsa (Giant Stinging Tree)
ABOVE: Alpinea caerulea (Native Ginger)	Cordyline petiolaris (Broad-leaved Palm Lily)

 

ACCOMMODATION AND RESOURCE LINKS:

• National Parks and Wildlife Service
  http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au
  
  (Kyogle Office)
  136 Summerland Way
  PO BOx 174
  Kyogle NSW 2474
  (02) 6632 0000
  kyogle.area@npws.nsw.gov.au
   
• There is also an excellent booklet put out by the New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service on the Border Ranges National Park.

  

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30/07/2006