Mt Barney & Rathdowney - Adventure into Nature

Start exploring

We begin in Mt Barney National Park, a 2 hour and 10 minute drive from Brisbane or 2 hours and 25 minutes from the Gold Coast.

This itinerary will also take you through the quaint village of Rathdowney, 34 kilometres South of Beaudesert and often referred to as the gateway to Mt Barney National Park.

Distance

105 km

Drive time

2 hours 15 minutes

The park’s rugged mountain peaks pierce clouds and watch down over the surrounding ancient Gondwana Rainforests. There are seven iconic mountain peaks in the park, all formed 24 million years ago when the ancient Focal Peak Shield Volcano erupted.

Today, the peaks are home to a diversity of landscapes and ecosystems and countless species of common and rare animals.

A walk along the way

Upper Portals Walking Track; 3 hours, 9 km return, Grade 4

To reach this challenging track you’ll require a 4WD. Drive about 45 minutes from the Lower Portals and the Yellow Pinch area of the park. Follow the trail until it reaches the junction of Yamahra Creek and Mount Barney Creek. Follow the creek to the Upper Portals. Be sure to check the current status of the track and be prepared for your hike with plenty of water and appropriate hiking clothing.

If you’d like to spend more time exploring Mt Barney, you’ll find diverse accommodation at the nearby Mt Barney Lodge, as well as a year-round program of guided adventure activities.

Next, we head north east through Rathdowney. The authentic warmth of this village has been cultivated since John Rankin first took up a lease in the mid-1800s.

A look into the village’s milling and dairy industries and the people of its past can be found by visiting the Rathdowney Information Centre and Historical Museum.

You’ll need a 4WD as we arrive at the Scenic Rim Adventure Park to the north of Rathdowney. Here you can explore 28km of off-road driving tracks and trails for 4WD enthusiasts, mountain bikers and bush walkers alike. Or build your skills on a 4WD awareness course. Dogs welcome on a lead.

Not far from the adventure park, you’ll find a delightful café experience at, Oaky Creek Farm nestled on a garlic, ginger, turmeric, chilli and lime farm. This is the home of the Harvest Café where you can enjoy a tasty treat and peruse their fresh produce and a selection of sauces and spice rubs made on the farm.

With so much natural beauty surrounding you, why not leave the planning to the professionals at Araucaria Ecotours. From day trips to multi-day tours, you’ll find yourself exploring biodiversity hot spots.

Places along the way