Page 237 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Australia

BRISBANE  235

(5-mile) treks. These pass
through the rainforest, which
abounds with animal life. Other
excellent walks are at Manorina
and at Jolly’s Lookout, the oldest
formal lookout in the park,
which has a good picnic area.
Also in the park is the Westridge
Outlook, a boardwalk with
sweeping views.
The engrossing South East
Queensland Wildlife Centre
at Walkabout Creek park’s park’s
at Walkabout Creekt Walkabout Creek
a
headquarters is a re-created
large freshwater environment.
Water dragons, pythons, water
Lush landscape of the Brisbane Botanic Gardens rats, catfish and tiny rainbow
fish flourish within these natural
Mon–Sat, excluding public winds its way through the lush surroundings. Visitors also
holidays and late Dec–late Jan. mountains. Another scenic drive have the chance to see the
Mount Coot-tha Forest Park extends from Samford up to the extraordinary lungfish, a unique
offers both spectacular views charming mountain village of species which is equipped with
and attractive picnic areas. Mount Glorious and down the both gills and lungs. The on-site
The Aboriginal name means other side. It is worth stopping restaurant looks out over the
“place of wild honey”, a reference from time to time to hear the beautiful bush landscape.
to the tiny bees found in the distinctive calls of bellbirds About 4 km (2 miles) from
area. On a clear day, from the and whipbirds. the park headquarters is Bellbird
summit lookout you can admire Six km (4 miles) past Mount Grove, which includes an
a spectacular panorama that Glorious is the Wivenhoe outdoor Aboriginal collection
encompasses the skyscrapers Outlook, with spectacular views of bark huts. It has a picnic area
of central Brisbane, encircled down to Lake Wivenhoe, an and also grassed picnic areas at
by the winding river, Moreton artificial lake created to prevent Ironbark Gully and Lomandra.
and Stradbroke islands, the the Brisbane River from flooding
Glasshouse Mountains and the the city. One km (half a mile)  South East Queensland
Lamington Plateau backing onto north of Mount Glorious is the Wildlife Centre at Walkabout Creek
the Gold Coast (see pp242–3). entrance to Maiala Recreation 60 Mt Nebo Rd, The Gap. Tel (07) 3300
The park also offers easygoing Area, where there are picnic 2558. Open 9am–4:30pm daily.
walking trails through the areas, some wheelchair Closed Good Fri, 25 Dec & 25 Apr
woodland, including Aboriginal accessible, and several walking (until 1:30pm). & - 7 limited.
trails which detail traditional trails of varying lengths, from ∑ nprsr.qld.gov.au/parks/
uses of native plants. short walks to longer, 8-km daguilar/walkabout-creek.html
pSouth D’Aguilar
National Park
@ 385. n The Gap (07) 3614 3600 or
13 74 68. Visitor Centre: Open 9am–
4:30pm daily. Closed 1–2 Jan, Good
Fri, 25 April am, 25–26 & 31 Dec. &
∑ npsr.qld.gov.au/parks/daguilar
South D’Aguilar National Park,
within the D’Aguilar Mountain
Range, stretches for more than
50 km (30 miles) northwest of
Brisbane city centre. Covering
more than 28,500 ha (70,250
acres) of natural bushland
and eucalypt forests, the park
offers driving routes with
breathtaking views over the
surrounding countryside. The
most scenic driving route is
along Mount Nebo Road, which Spectacular waterfall in South D’Aguilar National Park