Things to do

Camping and accommodation

Camping

Camp beneath the eucalypts in the small bush camping area which has unpowered tent and caravan sites, pit toilets, wood barbecues and ‘boil-your-own-water’ showers. Camping permits are required and fees apply.

Accommodation

A range of holiday accommodation is available in and around Crows Nest, Toowoomba and the Hampton and Ravensbourne areas. For more information see the tourism information links.

• Crows Nest National Park map (PDF, 182.7KB)

Walking

Take a creek-side walk to waterholes and to lookouts with spectacular views.

Tracks lead from the picnic area and follow the steep-sided gorge in the upper reaches of Crows Nest Creek to a lookout overlooking Crows Nest Falls. Continue to Koonin Lookout for an impressive view over a deeper gorge known locally as the Valley of Diamonds.

Explore around the creek, but be careful. Rocks and stepping-stones can be slippery, especially after rain. Supervise children closely.

Crows Nest Falls Lookout via Kauyoo Loop

Grade 3 and Grade 4

including The Cascades

Grade 3

Kauyoo Pool and Bottlebrush Pool

Grade 3

Distance: 2.7km return
Time: allow 1 hour

Bottlebrush Pool is the ideal place to enjoy a swim and relax. The river she-oaks and bottlebrush trees provide shade and habitat for a variety of wildlife. Keep an eye out for brush-tailed rock wallabies, as they move quietly around the surrounding granite hills and boulders. Take care on the steps leading down to the creek, as they can be slippery when wet.

A sandy beach allows easy access to the normally shallow water at Kauyoo Pool.

Steep crevices and slippery rocks lead to The Cascades, where you can hear the ‘tock tock’ calls of striped marsh frogs echoing around the boulders in summer. Watch your step, especially if the creek is flowing. This is another good spot to sit quietly and watch for rock-wallabies.

Crows Nest Falls Lookout

Grade 3

Distance: 2.1km return
Time: allow 45 minutes
Details: at Crows Nest Falls water tumbles over 20m high granite cliffs.

Koonin Lookout

Grade 3

Distance: 4.5 km return
Time: allow 1 hour 30 minutes
Details: Wander out to Koonin Lookout for a bird’s-eye view of the gorge (known as the Valley of Diamonds) and to distant rolling hills around Ravensbourne. Look along the way for intricate lichen patterns on rocks and small ground orchids.

Picnic and day-use areas

Picnic beside Crows Nest Creek. The picnic area has picnic tables, pit toilets, gas barbecues and interpretive signs.

Viewing wildlife

Look for platypus in the creek near the picnic area, brush-tailed rock-wallabies on the rocky cliffs along the creek and, if you’re lucky, spot koalas in the gum trees. Be patient and quiet and you may be rewarded. For your safety and to protect the wallaby habitat, stay on the track.

Go birdwatching during the day. See pale-headed rosellas, magpies, yellow robins, thornbills, golden whistlers, eastern spinebills, grey fantails or blue-faced honeyeaters. Try spotlighting for sugar gliders, brushtail possums, ringtail possums and greater gliders along the walking track at night. Enjoy the wildflowers in spring.