Essential Guide to Exploring Crows Nest National Park

I acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the area that Crow's Nest National Park is located on. I acknowledge their deep and ongoing connection to Country, and pay my respects to their Elders past and present.

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Crows Nest National Park reminds me a bit of Auburn River National Park near Mundubbera.

It’s much closer to Brisbane though but just like Auburn River, Crows Nest is very compact and offers surprisingly pretty views over the creek gorge.

With only a couple of short hiking trails and some rock pools, this little gem of a national park is great for a relaxing weekend away or a short stopover on a longer road trip.

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CROWS NEST NATIONAL PARK: TIPS FOR YOUR FIRST VISIT

Located just outside the small town of Crows Nest, the national park is a great spot for cooling down in the summer (depending on rainfall).

It also offers some dramatic lookouts over impressive rocky granite country that is reminiscent of places like Sundown National Park and the Scenic Rim.

BEST TIME TO VISIT CROWS NEST NATIONAL PARK

Crows Nest National Park is great at any time of the year.

Summer can be hot (mid-30s) and potentially dry. But you may also be lucky enough to get enough of the summer rains and storms that the waterfalls flow nicely.

Winter, on the other hand, is on the chillier side but days should be gorgeous and clear.

Depending on the time of year, you may only find semi-stagnant water in the rock pools at Crows Nest.

We camped at Crows Nest in mid-January following a few days of reasonably heavy rain, and found the creek and rock pools flowing enough to be inviting for a swim.

HOW TO GET TO CROWS NEST NATIONAL PARK

Located some 50km north of Toowoomba, the national park is also only a few kilometres outside the town of Crows Nest.

So at no point are you exactly far from civilisation. That also means a fair few day visitors but then they also disappear after dark.

From Brisbane, it’s only a 2-hour drive and makes for an easy destination for a weekend camping trip.

All roads into and in the national park are sealed so no particular vehicle is required to access the park.

CAMPING AT CROWS NEST NATIONAL PARK

Though not as tiny as other national parks (Dalrymple National Park near Charters Towers would take the cake for that), Crows Nest has one small camping area, Crows Nest Falls.

There are only 13 sites in total, some larger than others. Site #7 would be the pick of the bunch (for separation from other sites and shade) but it is only a small site.

The setup of the whole area is a bit weird as the camping area is circular with the toilet block smack bang in the middle. It’s like everyone is sitting around a campfire, except the campfire is the toilet facilities.

This also results in a decided lack of privacy, and in fact, your neighbours may be RIGHT NEXT to you. Like in a caravan park (albeit a much greener one :)).

Even though you’re so close to town, there are only compost toilets (not flush) but you do have shower cubicles and (unfiltered) water available.

To be honest, we didn’t love camping here because of the weird circle setup and the ensuing lack of privacy. It’s probably completely fine if it’s quiet or if there’s one other neighbour across the camping area.

Plus it was a bit noisy with music blaring from one of the neighbours (my pet peeve), and a new neighbour on the last night deciding that it was a good idea to watch TV in his caravan all afternoon and evening. Why you would do that in a national park escapes me.

But it is technically a nice setting being surrounded by tall eucalypt trees and all.

CROWS NEST FALLS CAMPING AREA AT A GLANCE

PROS: Surrounded by tall eucalypt trees, has a very 'green' feel; close to the walks and Crows Nest Creek; picnic tables in a couple of campsites

CONS: Odd circle layout of the camping area with little privacy for individual sites; can be busy / noisy over weekends; toilets perhaps spoiling the view a tad

COST: $7.25 pp/pn (2024); pre-bookings required

PERSONAL ENJOYMENT RATING: 2.5/5

Remember to pre-book your camping spot, and please camp responsibly (take your rubbish with you, don’t collect firewood in the national park, etc.).

If you’re short on time, you can just stop by Crows Nest for the day. There are also picnic tables and BBQs in the lovely grassy day-use area.

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EXPLORING CROWS NEST NATIONAL PARK

Besides exploring the hiking trails and marvelling at the dramatic lookouts, you may also want to take a little dip in one of the waterholes.

What’s more, Crows Nest National Park is home to, what feels like, a million kookaburras. If you’ve never seen these gorgeous creatures, Crows Nest will likely serve them up on a platter for you.

Right in the campground. 

WALKING TRAILS, LOOKOUTS AND ROCK POOLS

You can knock over the walking trails and lookouts relatively quickly. In fact, you can very easily combine the two walks into one slightly longer hike (about 5.1km) if you’re short on time.

They’re very easy with a few steps and a short uphill section at the end to Koonin Lookout.

Both walks are connected, and both start at the day-use area.

1. CROWS NEST FALLS LOOKOUT LOOP (2.7KM LOOP)

BASIC TRAIL INFO 

DISTANCE: 2.7km circuit
DIFFICULTY: Grade 3 (easy)
TIME: 45 min to 1 hour
TRAILHEAD: Day-use area

If walking clockwise, you first walk out to the lookout at Crows Nest Falls.

Unfortunately, you can’t see the falls very well (unless they’re gushing and then it’s probably pouring rain) but the lookout into the waterhole surrounded by steep granite cliffs is quite something.

Don’t be tempted to scramble around here; people have died as signs attest.

On the way back, loop along Crows Nest Creek, past Bottlebrush Pool (lovely spot for a tranquil swim) and then Kauyoo Pool (may or may not have sufficient water for a splash down).

And finally, you’ll hit The Cascades.

The Cascades were actually my favourite spot at Crows Nest, both for how the water tumbles over the rocky creek bed and for the chance to cool down and get a waterfall massage at the bottom cascade.

Even though the campground was fairly busy (plus plenty of day visitors), we somehow had The Cascades and Kauyoo Pool all to ourselves every single afternoon.

If you don’t want to do the whole loop to Crows Nest Falls, you can just walk to the creek and enjoy the cascading falls. There’s a little beach-y area along the creek as well.

2. KOONIN LOOKOUT (4.5KM RETURN)

BASIC TRAIL INFO 

DISTANCE: 4.5km return
DIFFICULTY: Grade 3 (easy)
TIME: 1-1.5 hours
TRAILHEAD: Day-use area

For Koonin Lookout, either follow the same trail as for Crows Nest Falls Lookout, or take the pool loop. Both will get you there, the pool loop is slightly longer.

From Crows Nest Falls, the hike is slightly uphill but still very family-friendly.

Continue on through forest until you reach a granite outcrop culminating in impressive views over the Valley of Diamonds.

3. TOP OF THE CASCADES (~0.5KM RETURN)

Not an official walk but a quick side trip leads you to the top of The Cascades.

You hop (or maybe scramble) across Crows Nest Creek just after the fork at the start of the walks (take the loop track). There’s some big logs to help you across, or you can wade through the water if it’s not too deep, I guess. 🙂

This will take you to the top of The Cascades and offers lovely views down and into the creek gorge.

Just be careful, you don’t want to slip here and tumble down.

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SUMMING UP

Though it’s a tiny national park, we actually really enjoyed Crows Nest (minus the camping, that was just ho-hum but probably ok-ish if it wasn’t busy).

It’s great for a weekend away if you don’t mind closed-in quarters. Outside of holidays and long weekends, Crows Nest National Park is probably super quiet if you come during the week.

The walks are short but they offer surprisingly interesting scenery!

Happy exploring,

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MORE INFORMATION

Check Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service for more information, including booking a campsite or if you want to download a map of the area.

MORE NATIONAL PARKS CLOSE TO BRISBANE

 If you’re keen to camp and explore other national parks close to Brisbane, try the Gold Coast hinterland (Springbrook National Park and Lamington National Park) or the Scenic Rim (Main Range National Park). Even further near Stanthorpe is Girraween National Park, another fabulous spot for camping and hiking.

Bunya Mountains National Park is a bit further inland, about three hours away.

You can find more ideas (some closer, some even further away) in my article on 17 national parks for weekend camping close to Brisbane.

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