How to have a wildlife filled weekend on the Southern Downs
G’day nature lovers! If you’re craving a dose of animal-filled adventures, the Southern Downs and Granite Belt is calling your name. Our region is packed with landscapes that’ll make your heart race and wildlife that’ll make your jaw drop. So, lace up your hiking boots and join us as we spill the beans on the best nature and wildlife experiences the Southern Downs has to offer.
1. Girraween National Park
About 30 minutes south of Stanthorpe, Girraween National Park is like Mother Nature’s epic rock garden. Massive granite boulders? Check. Bushland as far as the eye can see? Double check. Lace-up those hiking boots and hit the walks – The Pyramid Trail is the real MVP here.
Girraween, meaning ‘place of flowers’ transforms every spring, when wildflowers put on a stunning display. Go birdwatching for blue wrens, rare turquoise parrots, and a bunch of other chirpy forest dwellers. Spot bearded dragons and jacky lizards basking on the granite rocks, catching some rays. If you’re lucky you may even see a wombat or hear superb lyrebirds imitating the calls of other birds. When the sun sets, gear up for a bit of spotlighting action – high-flying ringtail possums in the eucalypt trees steal the nighttime show.
2. Birdlife at Queen Mary Falls
If waterfalls are your jam, Queen Mary Falls, located in the Main Range National Park, is your haven. Embark on the easy Queen Mary Falls circuit, a 40-minute walk that takes you from the lookouts at the top of the falls to the creek below. Take a leisurely stroll through changing forests to the top, and then the base, of spectacular Queen Mary Falls. From the Queen Mary Falls picnic area, head along a fragrant eucalypt-topped ridgeline to the lush, rainforested gorge. 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).
The rainforest surrounding the falls is alive with birdlife – it’s like a natural symphony. You’ll spot king parrots, crimson rosellas and bower birds. Head to the Queen Mary Falls Caravan Park across the road to buy a bag of seed to hand feed the birds. Camera ready? You’re about to capture a masterpiece.
Handfeeding birds at Queen Mary Falls Cafe and Caravan Park | Image by @lusischramm
3. Sundown National Park: birdwatching paradise
Sundown National Park is where the wild things are. Located about 3.5 hours south of Brisbane, via Stanthorpe, the park is a rugged wilderness of spectacular steep-sided gorges, sharp ridges and peaks rising more than 1000m. A haven for birdwatchers, Sundown boasts over 150 species, including charming seasonal visitors. Early mornings and late afternoons are the sweet spots for spotting woodlands filled with diverse birdlife and riverside hangouts featuring ducks, herons, cormorants, and tiny azure kingfishers.
As the sun dips or rises, The Broadwater transforms into a chill spot for eastern grey kangaroos, red-necked wallabies, and wallaroos. Venture north, and you might even catch a glimpse of the elusive brush-tailed rock-wallaby. Check out this local’s guide to exploring Sundown, pack your binoculars and get ready to go wild!
Sundown National Park | Image by @trippin_defender
4. Farmstays: meet the locals
Living the country life opens the door to loads of chances to hang out with some of the Southern Downs’ wilder locals. Round up the family for a weekend and sprinkle a bit of magic into your stay with an unforgettable animal encounter. We’ve got a bunch of local spots where you can hop on a horse, swing by an animal nursery, and soak in some good ol’ country vibes. Check out:
- Long Neck Farm – visit alpacas, ostriches and other farm animals.
- Bestbrook Mountain Farmstay – get hands-on with feeding the animals.
- Cherrabah Resort – saddle up for horse or pony rides and cuddle up with critters at the animal nursery.
- Granite Belt Christmas Farm – mingle with Santa’s animals and take a stroll through fields of real Christmas trees.
- Most of our bush camping spots across the Southern Downs also include plenty of wildlife and animal encounters.
Granite Belt Christmas Farm
5. Iconic Native Wildlife
Fill up your ultimate Australian fauna and flora bucket list as you explore the Southern Downs and come face-to-face with the rare and iconic wildlife that call Queensland’s wild country their home. Don’t miss:
- Leyburn jewel butterfly: Occurring only in extremely limited bulloak woodlands habitat near Leyburn, the Leyburn jewel butterfly (Hypochrysops piceatus) is considered the “rarest butterfly in Australia” and is best spotted during late summer/autumn afternoons.
- Kangaroos: One of the best places to see roos is lakeside at Leslie Dam every afternoon. You’ll catch large mobs of eastern grey kangaroos hanging out at dusk, particularly near Washpool Camping Reserve.
- Coxen’s fig parrot: Spot eastern bristlebird, Coxen’s fig parrot and giant barred frog along the Dalrymple circuit in the Goomburra section of Main Range National Park.
- Southern spotted-tailed quoll: Keep an eye out for an iconic and endangered Southern Downs resident in our National Parks and Reserves
Country landscapes
While You’re Here
Make a weekend of it by checking out these other things to do in the area:
- National Park lover? Check out more information on Girraween and Main Range National Park.
- Want to spend some more time in Stanthorpe? Here’s a local’s guide on spending 24 hours there.
- Prefer to travel in Spring? These 3 spring break ideas will give you all the travel inspo you need.
- If you have the kids in tow, make sure you check out these 20 family activities in the Southern Downs and Granite Belt.
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