Journeys

Breathe in crisp mountain air as you take a short stroll with the family. Walk for several hours, or take off on the challenging 56km Mackay Highlands Great Walk.

When choosing your walk, consider fitness levels and weather. Allow more time to rest and return to your starting point if you are inexperienced bushwalkers or walking with small children. If planning a one-way walk, allow time to return along the same track to your starting point. Alternatively, arrange to be picked up or dropped off at parking areas or track access points.

Please read the safety information before you walk at Eungella National Park.

For more information see the Eungella and Mackay Highlands Discovery Guide (PDF, 2.6MB) or pick up a copy from the information kiosk at Broken River.

To find out where each track starts and finishes, match the map references below to the Eungella National Park short walks map (PDF, 296.4KB) .

Walking tracks at a glance

Matching experience and expectations—to make your planning easier, simply match your expectations and experience with the most suitable track or trail.

Clarke Range-Broken River area - Eungella National Park

Track name	Classification	Distance (return unless stated)	Time (return unless stated)
Pine Grove circuit	Grade 3	1.6km	45min–1hr
Pine Grove-Cedar Grove track	Grade 3	2.8km one way	1–1.5hr each way
Sky Window circuit	Grade 1	250m	5–10min
Clarke Range track	Grade 4	8.2km one way	3–4hr each way
River Walk	Grade 1	520m one way	10min
Rainforest Discovery circuit	Grade 3	780m circuit	20–30min
Granite Bend circuit	Grade 3	1.6km circuit	40–55min
Crediton Creek track	Grade 4	8km one way	3–4hr each way
Wishing Pool circuit	Grade 4	1.7km circuit	35–50min

Crediton State Forest & Homevale National Park / Mackay Highlands Great Walk

Track name	Classification	Distance (return unless stated)	Time (return unless stated)
Crediton Hall-Denham Range	Grade 5	19.5km one way	6.5–9.5hr each way
Denham Range-Moonlight Dam	Grade 5	16.2km one way	5.5–8hr each way

Finch Hatton Gorge Section—Eungella National Park

Track name	Classification	Distance (return unless stated)	Time (return unless stated)
Araluen Cascades track	Grade 3	2.8km	1–1.5hr
Wheel of Fire track	Grade 4	4.2km	1.5–2hr

Walks in the Clark Range–Broken River area

Pine Grove circuit

Grade 3

Distance: 1.6km return
Time: Allow 45min–1hr
Map reference: (1)–(P)–(1)

Details: Fairly level circuit suitable for most visitors. Starting from the Pine Grove car park, enjoy a pleasant walk in rainforest shade with glimpses of the Pioneer Valley. Return to Pine Grove car park via a roadside track.

Cedar Grove track

Grade 3

Distance: 2.8km one way
Time: Allow 1–1.5hr
Map reference: (1)–(2)

Details: Moderate level of fitness required for short uphill sections and stairs. Walk in rainforest shade and catch glimpses of the Pioneer Valley through tall trees. Stop at the lookout to take in the valley floor view—a patchwork of green and brown cane fields with a steep mountain backdrop.

Continue from the Pine Grove track to feel dwarfed by towering red cedars and tulip oaks. Take a moment to stand inside the strangler fig tree arch. After crossing bridges over gentle creeks and brushing past livistona palm fronds, stay a while and relax at the Sky Window visitor area.

Sky Window circuit

Grade 1

Distance: 250m return
Time: Allow 5–10min
Map reference: (2)

Details: This is a short and level track suitable for most visitors. Take a leisurely walk to the lookout for views across Pioneer Valley to the steep, rugged northern wall. Stop at trackside signs to witness the changes in land use in the Eungella region.

Clarke Range Track

Grade 4

Distance: 8.2km one way
Time: Allow 3–4hr one way
Map reference: (2)–(G)–(R)-(3)

Details: Moderate level of fitness required for long track with some short uphill sections and stairs. From Sky Window, walk down through layers of bright piccabeen and Alexandra palms. During light rain or early morning mist, feel the rainforest’s magic as fronds glisten in the breeze. Descend to Broken River’s tumbling cascades and link up to Granite Bend Circuit and Rainforest Discovery Circuit to reach the visitor area and other facilities.

Note: Broken River Crossing is weather dependent with high flowing water restricting access after moderate to heavy rainfall. Visitors choosing to cross the creek need to take care on slippery rocks and be aware of fast stream flows.

River walk

Grade 1

Distance: 520m one way
Time: Allow 10min
Map reference: (3)

Details: Be entranced by playful platypus along this easy and relatively level track suitable for young families and people in wheelchairs (with assistance). The River walk links Fern Flat camping area and Broken River visitor area with the Rainforest Discovery Circuit and longer tracks. Viewing platforms allow you to stop and look for signs of life in the waters of Broken River.

Rainforest Discovery circuit

Grade 3

Distance: 780m circuit
Time: Allow 20–30min return
Map reference: (3)–(R)–(G)–(G)–(R)–(3)

Details: This short and level track is suitable for most visitors. From the Broken River visitor area, step into cool and shady rainforest. Cross trickling creeks and glance up to see tall trees decorated with epiphytes and vines. Stop at trackside signs to see the rainforest through the eyes of Eungella State School students.

Granite Bend circuit

Grade 3

Distance: 1.6km circuit return
Time: Allow 40–55min
Map reference: (3)–(G)–(C)–(G)–(3)

Details: This is a fairly level track suitable for most visitors. Consider walking Granite Bend Circuit as an extension of Rainforest Discovery circuit – starting from Broken River day-use area.

Pass through tall groves of livistona palms before taking a break at a bend in Broken River. Stay a while and listen to the water rushing over rocks.

Crediton Creek track

Grade 4

Distance: 8km one way
Time: Allow 3–4hr each way
Map reference: (3)–(C)–(W)–(4)

Details: Moderate to high level of fitness required for long track with some slopes. For a shorter walk, organise to be picked up at the Wishing Pool access point—you can also start your journey there.

From the Broken River visitor area travel through the Granite Bend Circuit to the Wishing Pool intersection. Follow the Crediton Creek track with the river at your side. Walk from rainforest gullies up to rocky ridges covered in drier vine forest. Where the track meets calm river sections, enjoy reflections in the water and watch for the ripples of a platypus.

Wishing Pool circuit

Grade 4

Distance: 1.7km circuit
Time: Allow 35–50min return
Map reference: (4)–(W)–(4)

Details: This is a fairly level track suitable for most visitors. The track entrance is hard to spot—travel 3km along Eungella Dam Road. Turn left into Crediton Loop Road. Continue another 3km until you reach a hair-pin bend with a small car park on the opposite side of the road. Enjoy this circuit or arrange to be dropped off at the track entrance as part of Crediton Creek track.

As you pass through tall rainforest carpeted with delicate ferns, listen for different birds calling around you. Stop by the calm river pool to see forest canopy reflections.

Walks in Finch Hatton Gorge

• Finch Hatton Gorge map (PDF, 325.7KB)

Araluen Cascades track

Grade 3

Distance: 2.8km return
Time: Allow 1–1.5hr return. Plus time to sit and enjoy.

Details: From Finch Hatton Gorge picnic area, a moderate track with uphill sections leads you through lush rainforest and between granite boulders to the lookout above Araluen Cascades.

See Finch Hatton Gorge safety section.

Wheel of Fire track

Grade 4

Distance: 4.2km return
Time: Allow 1.5–2hr return. Plus time to sit and enjoy.

Details: Turn off from Araluen Cascades track for a moderate walk to a large rock pool. This track has uphill sections with more than 300 steps—assess your fitness before commencing. Callistemon Crossing is a particularly rewarding place to sit among the palms.

When you reach Wheel of Fire, choose a comfortable boulder and cool your feet before walking 2.1km back to the parking area.

Mackay Highlands Great Walk

Distance: 56km one way (3–5 days)

Details: The Mackay Highlands Great Walk is only for experienced walkers with high fitness levels. Explore rainforest and palm groves, cliffs and peaks, and quiet roads and farming communities.