Editing Tamborine National Park

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2014}}
{{Refimprove|date=April 2008}}
{{Infobox Australian place
| type                   = protected
| name                   = Tamborine National Park
| state                  = qld
| iucn_category          = II
| image                  = Curtis Falls.jpg
| caption                = Curtis Falls in Tamborine National Park
| image_alt              = 
| coordinates            = {{coord|27|51|37|S|153|10|42|E|display=inline,title}}
| force_national_map     = 
| relief                 = 
| pushpin_map_caption    = 
| pushpin_label_position = 
| map_alt                = 
| nearest_town_or_city   = 
| area                   = {{Convert|11.60|km2|sqmi|2|abbr=on}}<!-- If the area is greater than 100ha (1km2) a conversion template is not required. -->
| area_footnotes         = 
| established            = 1993
| established_footnotes  = 
| visitation_num         = 1,727,000 (domestic visitors only)
| visitation_year        = 2012<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 2012 |title=Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service Community Survey 2012 |url=https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0026/156833/community-survey-exec.pdf |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=Department of Environment, Science and Innovation}}</ref>
| visitation_footnotes   = 
| managing_authorities   = [[Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service]]
| url                    = http://www.nprsr.qld.gov.au/parks/tamborine/index.html
}}
'''Tamborine National Park''' is a protected area split between the [[City of Gold Coast]] and the [[Scenic Rim Region]] in [[South East Queensland]], Australia,<ref>{{Cite QPN|52101|Tamborine National Park|national park|access-date=31 March 2024}}</ref><ref name="globeuse">{{cite web |title=Layers: Locality; Protected areas and forests; Land use |url=https://qldglobe.information.qld.gov.au/ |access-date=31 March 2024 |website=Queensland Globe |publisher=[[Queensland Government]] |archive-date=19 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171219175447/https://qldglobe.information.qld.gov.au/ |url-status=live }}</ref> {{convert|67.5|km|mi|abbr=on}} by road south of [[Brisbane]].<ref>{{Google maps|url=https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Brisbane,+Queensland/Tamborine+National+Park,+Cedar+Creek+QLD+4207/@-27.6865275,152.9629377,37794m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x6b91579aac93d233:0x402a35af3deaf40!2m2!1d153.0260341!2d-27.4704528!1m5!1m1!1s0x6b913dc3ec2efac9:0xf02a35bd721fbc0!2m2!1d153.180923!2d-27.8882459!3e0?entry=ttu|title=Brisbane to Tamborine National Park|access-date=31 March 2024}}</ref>

It covers {{convert|11.60|sqkm}} on the plateau of [[Tamborine Mountain]] and around its foothills. The [[plateau]] is {{convert|8|km|mi|abbr=on}} long, {{convert|5|km|mi|abbr=on}} wide and rises to an altitude of {{convert|525|m|ft|abbr=on}}. The elevation of the plateau keeps the temperature down a little in summer although December to April is also the wettest time to visit. Winter is drier but also cooler.

The protected area is scattered across 14 separate reserves<ref name="qh">{{Cite web |url=http://www.queenslandholidays.com.au/things-to-see-and-do/tamborine-national-park/index.cfm |title=Tamborine National Park |access-date=9 September 2010 |work=queenslandholidays.com.au |publisher=Tourism Queensland |archive-date=26 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100826035446/http://www.queenslandholidays.com.au/things-to-see-and-do/tamborine-national-park/index.cfm |url-status=live }}</ref> which make up the National Park, interspersed with villages. There are a number of [[picnic]] areas as well as scenic drives and many bushwalks to lookouts, [[gorge]]s, [[cliff]]s, [[waterfall]]s, [[rainforest]] areas, wet [[eucalypt]] [[forest]], open forest and woodlands.

Wildlife in the park includes [[Lyrebird]]s, the elusive [[platypus]], [[Australian brush-turkey|brush-turkey]]s, [[lorikeet]]s, [[eastern whipbird]]s and [[satin bowerbird]]s. The significance of the park is underscored by the fact that it provides habitat for 85% of all fauna species and 65% of all flora species in the [[Scenic Rim Regional Council]] area. [[Camping]] is not permitted in any part of the park. A range of small-scale cottages, bed-and-breakfast style [[Lodging|accommodation]], hotels and motels is available.<ref name="xqnp">{{cite book |title=Explore Queensland's National Parks |year=2008 |publisher=Explore Australia Publishing |location=Prahran, Victoria |isbn=978-1-74117-245-4 |pages=51 }}</ref>

The main areas to visit in the park are Joalah, Cedar Creek, The Knoll, MacDonald Park, Niche's Corner, Palm Grove and Witches Falls. All have picnic facilities and walking tracks. All but Cedar Creek have information centres; most have toilets and some have barbecues.

==Witches Falls==
[[File:Eucalyptus grandis 2.jpg|thumb|upright|left|[[Eucalyptus grandis|Flooded gums]], 2010]]
[[File:Cedar Creek Falls in Tamborine National Park 2.jpg|thumb|Cedar Creek Falls, 2011]]
The Witches Falls section, on the eastern side of [[Mount Tamborine, Queensland|Mount Tamborine]] village, became Queensland's first national park in 1908.<ref name="qh"/> The main walk here is the Witches Falls Circuit ({{convert|3|km|mi|abbr=on}}) which snakes down a steep slope through closed in forest into rainforest with [[cycad]] groves, seasonal lagoons, enormous [[strangler fig]]s and [[Arecaceae|palm]] groves, en route to the falls. An alternative way of seeing the falls is via the Beacon Road Track (four&nbsp;km one way). Access is off Main Western Road (also known as Tamborine Mountain Road and Geissmann Drive).  Subtropical rainforest containing large red cedar trees and strangler figs is the predominant vegetation here.<ref name="nch"/>

==Palm Grove==
On the western side of Tamborine Mountain village is the Palm Grove section of the park. The Curtis Road Track ({{convert|1.2|km|mi|abbr=on}} one way) links Curtis Road and Palm Grove Avenue. The Palm Grove Circuit ({{convert|1.4|km|mi|abbr=on}}) passes through rainforest, fig and palm groves. Curtis Road runs off Tambourine Mountain Road (in Tamborine Mountain) and Palm Grove Avenue runs off Central Avenue in [[Eagle Heights, Queensland|Eagle Heights]].  The section is named after the [[piccabeen palm]]s flourishing in the area.<ref name="nch"/>

==Joalah==
In between, and to the north of Witches Falls and Palm Grove, is the Joalah section of the park which features the {{convert|1.5|km|mi|abbr=on}} Curtis Falls Walk (return). It descends to a rock pool at the base of the falls, offering fine views of the [[basalt]] rock face. Brush-turkeys can be seen along the Joalah Circuit (4&nbsp;km), which links up with the Curtis Falls Walk. Access is off Eagle Heights Road.

==MacDonald Park==
[[File:Tamborine Mountain Botanic Gardens 15.JPG|thumb|Tamborine Mountain Botanic Gardens]]
Also in Eagle Heights, adjacent to the '''Tamborine Mountain Botanic Gardens''', is the MacDonald Park section. It has a rainforest circuit ({{convert|2.6|km|mi|abbr=on}}) wherein the plants are named. Access is off Wangawallan Road.

==The Knoll==
[[File:The Knoll picnic area Tamborine Mountain.JPG|thumb|left|The Knoll picnic area, 2012]]
The Knoll section of the park is located in the north-west of [[North Tamborine, Queensland|North Tamborine]]. It contains the Cameron Falls Circuit ({{convert|3|km|mi|abbr=on}}) which offers fine views, rainforest environs, open forest and the occasional black [[skink]] sunbathing on the rocks. Knoll Road runs off Main Street. The Tamborine Mountains Natural History Association Information Centre is also located in the village of North Tamborine.

Stands of [[Allocasuarina torulosa|forest she-oak]] are found at the Knoll as well as the [[Brachychiton discolor|lacebark]], an Australian native flowering tree.<ref name="nch">{{cite web |url=http://www.nprsr.qld.gov.au/parks/tamborine/culture.html |title=Tamborine National Park: Nature, culture and history |date=27 August 2012 |publisher=Department of National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing |access-date=10 December 2012 |archive-date=1 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121101054712/http://www.nprsr.qld.gov.au/parks/tamborine/culture.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Cedar Creek==
Heading north from North Tamborine, via Tamborine Mountain Road, there is a turnoff into Cedar Creek Falls Road. One of the most delightful walks in the whole Tamborine area is the Cedar Creek Circuit (3.2&nbsp;km) which explores the creek's various cascades, rock pools and plant communities, such as open and dry rainforest and [[Araucaria cunninghamii|hoop pines]]. The falls tumble (gently rather than spectacularly) down into a gully. The {{convert|1.5|km|mi|abbr=on}} Rock Scree Walk intersects with the circuit walk, for a potential detour.

==Niches Corner==
Located approximately {{convert|20|km|mi|abbr=on}} north of the Knoll and main section of Tamborine Mountain, Niches corner sits looking towards the Gold Coast and delivers expansive views. One of the best walks in the whole Tamborine area is the Niches Lookout Circuit ({{convert|3.2|km|mi|abbr=on}}) which explores the Niches Corners various cascades, rock pools and plant communities, such as open and dry rainforest and [[Araucaria cunninghamii|hoop pines]].

==See also==
{{Portal|Queensland}}
* [[Protected areas of Queensland]]
{{Clear}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category-inline}}
{{wikivoyage|Tamborine Mountain}}

{{South East Queensland}}
{{National Parks of Queensland}}

[[Category:National parks of South East Queensland]]
[[Category:Protected areas established in 1993]]
[[Category:1993 establishments in Australia]]
[[Category:Tamborine Mountain]]