Girraween National Park

Girraween National Park is an area of the Granite Belt in the Darling Downs region of Queensland, Australia reserved as a national park. Girraween is known for its spectacular flowers, dramatic landscapes and unique wildlife. Bushwalking and rock climbing are the most popular activities in the park.

Girraween National Park
Queensland
IUCN category II (national park)
Granite domes known as the Pyramids
Girraween National Park
Nearest town or cityStanthorpe
Coordinates28°46′27″S 151°54′43″E
Established21 October 1966 (1966-10-21)[1][2]
Area117 km2 (45.2 sq mi)[3]
Managing authoritiesQueensland Parks and Wildlife Service
WebsiteGirraween National Park
See alsoProtected areas of Queensland

Location

The park is situated 40 km south of Stanthorpe. The southern boundary of the park is the state border between Queensland and New South Wales. It is a twin park with Bald Rock National Park, which lies across the border in New South Wales, and features Bald Rock, the second-largest monolith (after Uluru) on the continent. Curiously, South Bald Rock and West Bald Rock lie in Girraween National Park in Queensland, not in Bald Rock National Park in New South Wales.

Features
Granite outcrops are a feature of the park.

It features granite landscapes, balancing boulders, clear streams, wetlands, cascades and open forest.[3] The granite outcroppings, such as the Pyramids and Castle Rock at 1112 m, dominate the local scenery. The park contains many kilometres of graded walking trails to the park's major features like the First Pyramid, Second Pyramid, The Sphinx, Turtle Rock, Underground Creek, the Eye of the Needle and Mount Norman - the highest point in the park at 1267 metres.[4] Fire trails can be followed when venturing into the southern and eastern sections of the park. The park has a temperate climate. During winter snow can fall in the area.[3]

Fauna and flora

Girraween is an Aboriginal word meaning 'place of flowers' and the best time to see the local flora is late in July when the Golden Wattle blooms.

The park has abundant fauna, including some that are rarely seen elsewhere in Queensland, such as the common wombat, spotted quoll, lyrebird and the turquoise parrot.

The area is also noted for its diverse flora. The eucalypt forests and heathlands provide habitat for abundant birdlife. In spring, many wildflowers bloom, this led to its being called "place of flowers" in the indigenous language. The area is the only place where the Wallangarra whitegums grow.[3]

In 1992, Taronga Park Zoo staff discovered the rare Bald Rock Creek turtle.[5] The species has only been found within a ten km stretch of the creek.

Facilities

Camping facilities are provided by the Queensland Department of National Parks at Bald Rock Creek and Castle Rock. Both sites have toilets and showers available, the latter is suitable for caravans and has disabled access to the amenities block.

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See also
  • Protected areas of Queensland

References
  1. "History of Girraween National Park".
  2. Queensland Environmental Protection Agency (2000). Heritage Trails of the Great South East. State of Queensland. p. 122. ISBN 0-7345-1008-X.
  3. Reid, Greg (2004). Australia's National and Marine Parks: Queensland. South Yarra, Victoria: Macmillan Education Australia. p. 22. ISBN 0-7329-9053-X.
  4. Seeing South-East Queensland (2 ed.). RACQ. 1980. p. 73. ISBN 0-909518-07-6.
  5. "Rare Species" (Transcript). Stateline. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 26 April 2006. Retrieved 30 August 2008.

Further reading
  • C. R. Twidale; Juan Ramón Vidal Romaní (2005). Landforms and Geology of Granitic Terrains. CRC Press. ISBN 0-415-36435-3.
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