Mackay Highlands Great Walk

Description

Whether you are looking for a family stroll in the rainforest, or a challenging five-day hike, there will be a journey to inspire and delight as part of the Mackay Great Highlands Walk.

Beginning in the cool and often mist-shrouded rainforest of Eungella National Park, the Mackay Great Highlands Walk incorporates steep escarpments, verdant rainforest, dense palm groves, towering trees, dramatic gorge views and tranquil back-country farmland.

The 56 kilometre track traverses Eungella National Park, Crediton State Forest, and Homevale Resources Reserve and National Park.

The journey through the rainforest in Eungella National Park is a nature lover's paradise as it supports species from both subtropical and tropical rainforest vegetation. The starting point is at the town of Eungella, where highlights within the first three hours of walking include expensive views across the Pioneer Valley, towering red cedar, Mackay tulip oak, groves of piccabeen and Alexandra palms. Further along, the track will enter mixed eucalypt forests featuring fragrant lemon-scented gums, bloodwoods, ironbarks, banksias and stunning grasstrees.

Tropical fauna is abundant with an impressive array of colourful birds and butterflies. You may catch a glimpse of a platypus from the banks of Broken River.

The challenging walk will take three to five days to complete and finishes at the historic town of Mt Britton, a now abandoned gold-mining area which thrived in the 1880s.

Camps are located at Fern Flat (Broken River), Crediton Hall, Denham Range and Moonlight Dam. All have access to toilets and water, though it is advisable to treat water before drinking. Camping permits are required and fees apply.