Explore the national parks

The national parks within Queensland's Southern Downs are a favourite escape for nature lovers. Each has something different to offer, from the spectacular granite formations of Girraween, to the 40-metre-high Queen Mary Falls.

Bushwalking tracks will take you on a journey of discovery through rugged gorges, beneath lush rainforest canopies and around dramatic waterfalls.

Girraween - an Aboriginal word meaning place of flowers - is a mecca for bushwalkers. You'll discover striking granite outcrops, precariously balanced boulders and the brilliant wildflowers that bloom in spring. With scenic creeks, open eucalypt forests and heath that turns golden in the spring, from September to December, this park has plenty of appeal.

Bald Rock is Australia's largest exposed granite rock and second-largest rock in Australia. Two walks lead to the summit, one more gradual through the scrub, the other straight up the steep face of the rock. Expansive views across a beautiful granite outcrop-dotted landscape can be seen from the top.

Sundown National Park, with its defined ridges and peaks rising to more than 1,000 metres, offers dramatic panoramic views. More than 130 species of bird along with grey kangaroos, wallaroos, possums and gliders thrive in this rocky country.

Impressive peaks, escarpments and ridges promise excellent bushwalking and breathtaking views at Main Range National Park. The World Heritage-listed park protects a diverse range of vegetation and wildlife.