National Parks and Botanic Gardens
The Western Downs region has access to unique national parks and botanic gardens where you can experience the natural beauty of our special part of Queensland. We are home to the world famous bunya pine as well as one of Queensland’s unique botanic gardens that contains many of Australia’s botanical treasures.
Declared a National Park in 1908, the Bunya Mountains is the world’s largest remaining bunya pine rainforest and is linked to the Jurassic era. Until the late 1800s, Aboriginal people travelled up the mountain during bunya nut season to feast and celebrate. Notches still mark the tree trunks where young men cut footholds with stone axes to scale the trees and bring down bunya nuts.
Find out more at the Bunya Mountains National Park Website.
Lake Broadwater is a natural lake 27km south-west of Dalby. Surrounded by cypress pine, eucalypt and brigalow woodland, it is a refuge for our waterbirds and native wildlife. Bring your friends and family here for picnics and relax under the shady river red and blue gums on the shores of the lake. Find out more at the Lake Broadwater Website.
This internationally recognised botanic garden was established in the 1940’s and is located 7km outside the town of Glenmorgan. Focusing on arid and semi-arid plant species, the collection was the vision of Mr David Gordon (1899-2001) and was developed during the wool boom years when Mr Gordon sent collectors across Australia to source plant propagation material. Walking trails, day trips, campers and caravans are welcome. Accommodation cottage and renovated shearers quarters are available. Find out more at the Myall Park Botanic Gardens website.
Chinchilla Botanic Parkland incorporates prehistoric flora and fauna, the regions Aboriginal cultural history and the town's railway heritage connection with the early Western line.
Set amongst diverse wildflowers and wattles, White Cypress Pine and Chinchilla White Gums, this park provides an extensive selection of different experiences for all ages all while encouraging outdoor activity, social connectivity and improving the liveability of the community and its visitors.
November 2019 saw Chinchilla Botanic Parkland awarded international recognition as the only regional park in Queensland to receive a ‘green flag’ award and in October 2020 the Parkland was announced as winner of the Park of the Year at the Queensland Parks and Leisure Australia Annual Awards.
For more information about Chinchilla Botanic Parkland please Click Here.
