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mackay: general info
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Name: Eungella National Park
City, State: Queensland Australia
What's it like?
There is an almost palpable spiritual feel about Eungella Natoinal
Park (pronounced young-gallah). This beautiful stretch of subtropical rainforest
is Australia's largest and sits atop an 800m high mountain range 80km west of
Mackay. It was known as "land of the clouds" by the Indigenous
people.
Location
To get to Eungella from Mackay, drive south along Nebo Road from the city heart and turn right just past the Mackay Tourist Information Centre onto the Peak Downs Highway. Then drive for several kilometres until you see the right-hand turn-off to the Eungella Road. Follow this road through the beautiful sugar cane fields and rural hamlets of the Pioneer Valley. Soon after you pass the picturesque village of Finch Hatton, you will begin the steep ascent to the top of the Eungella Range. You know you have reached one of the most beautiful areas in Australia when you see the Historic Eungella Chalet on the left.
Bushwalks
There are nine bushwalks through Eungella National Park, ranging from 100m to 16kms. These trails wander though lush rainforest to spectacular mountain lookouts, pristine creeks and to delightful picnic areas. One of the better-known walks includes Pine Grove. Leaving from near the Eungella Chalet, this trail takes you through splendid tropical rainforest to the Eagle View Lookout and back to the Cedar Grove picnic ground. For a brief and close-up view of the rainforest, take the Sky Window circuit. Starting at the Sky window picnic ground, this track passes spectacular mountain lookouts while signs inform you about how the indigenous people used the area. The start of the track has sheltered tables, barbecues and toilets for picnicking.
Special flora and fauna
Eungella is a pristine rainforest paradise that protects subtropical and tropical species. In fact, researchers have identified half a dozen plants and animals unique to Eungella. For example the Mackay Tulip Oak, a tall and buttressed tree, is unique to Eungella.
Perhaps the most well known animal in the area is the platypus, which lives in the slow-moving beauty of the Broken River atop the range. These shy mammals are best viewed at dusk and dawn when they are most active. Tortoises, fish and eels also live in the river. Local bird-life includes lorikeets, kookaburras and exotic species such as the regent bower bird, the noisy pitta and the wompoo pigeon, named after its soulful "wompoo" call. In the evening, there are possums and sugar gliders. One of Eungella's most exotic creatures is the Eungella gastric brooding frog - which carries its eggs in its stomach to full term and then spits out its young.
Things to do
- spot the platypus from the Broken River boardwalk at dawn or dusk
- go canoeing on the river
- watch the hang-gliders jump off the ramp in front of the Eungella Chalet
- go night spotlighting for wildlife
- picnic at several beautiful spots
- go bushwalking to a mountain lookout
- indulge in a Danish delight at the Hideaway Caf� or a snack at the 1870s' style Kelly's Coach House, Platypus Takeaway or Timber Craft and Gallery
Accommodation
The main accommodation places are the Historic Eungella Chalet on the edge of the range and the Broken River Mountain Retreat on the banks of the Broken River. While the Chalet offers traditional chalet accommodation, cabin-style accommodation can be found at the Mountain Retreat. Both have licensed restaurants. There are also unique cottage getaways nearby, as well as cabins and camping facilities at Eungella Holiday Park. There is also a National Park camp ground at Broken River.
If you know of a great destination we're missing,
review it for us!!
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