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Published: July 20th 2015
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One of the best ways to get the most out of your Australian holiday is by hitting the road and planning out a scenic drive with stops along the way. Some of the most beautiful and diverse landscapes can be taken in on a road trip called the Rainforest Way. The Rainforest Way is an oval shaped track that starts in Lismore on the coast of northern New South Wales north to Brisbane in Queensland and then a south inland route down to Casino. This region has 14 of Australia’s amazing World Heritage National Parks. The best way to see the sites is with
Budget car hire, as it takes at least 3 or 4 days to enjoy this beautiful scenic drive and the sites along the way.
Lismore Lismore is a countryside town in northern New South Wales known for cultural arts and history. Plan to tour the galleries, theatres and performing arts centre around town. A highlight is the Richmond River Historical Society Museum where you can learn about the aboriginal history of region. It is the beginning of your magical journey through some of the oldest rainforests in the world on this amazing scenic road trip.
Nightcap National Park
Nightcap National Park is one of the national parks that make up the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area. The land is rich with flora and the dramatic waterfalls here are mystical and mesmerizing. Protestor Falls (pictured above) were named because of the landmark protests that happened here in 1969 and led to big advances in the protection of animals. There are many endangered species that are protected here in the park. It is a precious resource, not just for the protected flora and fauna here, but for the new ones that are being discovered all the time.
Wollumbin National Park Wollumbin National Park is home to the centrepiece of the region, Wollumbin, the shield volcano. Don’t worry, it’s a dormant shield volcano; the last time it erupted was 23 million years ago. One of the top things that should be on your list to do here is climb to the top of Wollumbin’s summit to the ‘the first sunrise” in the world here daily. Captain Cook named the summit Mt. Warning when he spotted it from the coast, but it is most widely known by Wollumbin, its aboriginal name.
Tweed Heads Tweed Heads is the northernmost city in New South Wales and is situated on the coast and the Queensland border. It is a coastal city known for its surf and white sand beaches. Tourism is big here, but don’t forget to soak up some aboriginal history along with the sun.
Lamington National Park Lamington National Park is known for its natural beauty. In addition to being part of the Gondwana Rainforest, this national park is part of the Scenic Rim Important Bird Area. It protects many threatened species of birds that live in the park as well as other plants and animals. Lamington National Park’s forests encompass over 20,000 hectares of land that includes dry eucalypt forest, Arctic Beech forest, and the sub-tropical rainforest. See it all from the mountain lookouts on the walking tracks in the park.
Springbrook National Park There are 4 sections in this national park: the Springbrook Section, Natural Bridge Section, the Mount Cougal Section and the Numinbah Section. The park is situation in the Gold Coast hinterland and you can even see the coastal town and its high rises from the peaks of the Scenic Rim volcano peaks. Cave Creek is
the sight of the Natural Bridge pictured above, which has been formed over time and is a serene and magical place to visit.
Main Range National Park The Rainforest Way trip reaches its most northern point in the Queensland capital of Brisbane. Just west of Brisbane is Main Range National Park. In addition to being part of the Gondwana Rainforest, the park includes the Goomburra Forest Reserve. Bushwalking, camping, and mountain climbing are some of the fun activities visitors can do while visiting this park.
Border Ranges National Park Border Ranges National Park is known as one of the best places in Australia to watch the sun rise. The Pinnacle Walk in the park leads hikers to the Pinnacle Lookout. If you like to feel like you are on top of the world, this lookout with 360 degree views of the amazing landscape is the place to achieve that feeling.
Toonumbar National Park Toonumbar National Park features quite a few different and unique habitats within the sub-tropical rainforest and is great to visit every season, any time of the year. There are remains of the ancient eroded volcanoes and babbling brooks and creeks to
enjoy. Fishing and swimming is allowed in some of these clear mountain creeks. Some of the wildlife you might spot within the park includes paradise riflebirds, fruit-eating pigeons, owls, carpet pythons, koalas and red-necked pademelons.
Richmond Range National Park Richmond Range National Park is great for scenic picnics, camping, bushwalking, and horseback riding. It is rich with wildlife and the lookout at Mallanganee is one of the most popular ones for the entire Rainforest Way road trip. Once you have made your way south and inland to Richmond Range National Park, the Rainforest Way scenic drive comes to an end in the nearby town of Casino. While in town, check out the Casino Miniature Railway and the Platypus Pool. Treat yourself to an end of holiday celebratory steak dinner in the “beef capital” of Australia.
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