Main Range National Park Brisbane | Southern Queensland Country

After lunch, head off on one of the five walking tracks that leave from this picnic area. Photo credit: Joel Kotze © Queensland Government

Impressive mountain peaks, escarpments and ridges offer breathtaking views. Photo credit: © Janette Asche

Pioneer picnic area

Enjoy a picnic in this shady picnic area before heading off to explore the nearby walking tracks.

Accessible by

  • 4WD

Attraction facilities

  • Wood-fired barbecue (BYO wood)
  • Picnic tables
  • Toilets (non-flush)
  • Wheelchair access (may require assistance)

Delight in the antics of the abundant birdlife as you enjoy morning tea or a BBQ picnic lunch. Black-faced monarchs, rufous fantails, cicadabirds, spectacled monarchs and glossy black-cockatoos are all seen here.

Refreshed and rejuvenated, head off on one of the two walks that start in the picnic area. Learn about the park’s pioneering history along the easy Pioneer Graves track, or load up a pack and spend a few hours exploring the rugged landscape on the Mount Mathieson trail.

Just a short drive way are the Moss’s Well and Governors Chair lookout tracks, and the Heritage trail.

This park is part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area, famed for its ongoing geological processes, evolutionary history, and diversity (especially of rare, threatened and endemic species).

Getting there and getting around

The Pioneer picnic area is in the Spicers Gap section of Main Range National Park, about 120km south-west of Brisbane.

  • Pioneer picnic area is at the end of Spicers Gap Road, 3km from the park entrance.

Getting to the Spicers Gap section

Eastern approach

  • The eastern approach to Spicers Gap is suitable for 4WD vehicles.
  • From Brisbane, drive about 95km south-west on the Cunningham Highway.
  • About 5km west of Aratula turn onto Lake Moogerah Road, drive 6km then turn onto Spicers Gap Road and a further 6km to the park entrance.

For tourism information for all regions in Queensland, see Queensland.com, and for friendly advice on how to get there, where to stay and what to do, find your closest accredited visitor information centre.

Wheelchair access

The toilets and picnic tables are wheelchair accessible.

Before you visit

Opening hours

Pioneer picnic area is open 24 hours a day

Check park alerts for the latest information on access, closures and conditions.

Visiting safely

For more safety information see Visiting Main Range safely.