Border Ranges National Park Park

Website: https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/visit-a-park/parks/border-ranges-national-park

Border Ranges National Park is a protected area in northern New South Wales on the state border with Queensland, conserving subtropical rainforest and steep escarpments. The park forms part of the Gondwana Rainforests World Heritage Area.

The park contains deep, wet rainforest, basalt plateaus and dramatic escarpments that provide lookouts with wide views over the Tweed Valley and coastal plain. Walking tracks range from short rainforest trails to longer hikes on ridges and through gullies.

Many visitors combine trips to Border Ranges with neighbouring protected areas across the border, notably Lamington National Park, to experience larger tracts of World Heritage rainforest and interconnected walking routes. Birdwatching and rainforest ecology observation are key attractions.

The area was recognised for its ecological significance in the 20th century and was incorporated into a series of reserves that later formed part of the Gondwana Rainforests World Heritage listing. Conservation management focuses on protecting rainforest remnants and associated species.

Border Ranges National Park sits on the NSW-Queensland border in northeastern New South Wales, occupying an escarpment zone above the coastal plain. The park is accessible from regional towns and forms a continuous rainforest block with adjoining Queensland reserves.

• World Heritage status: Part of the Gondwana Rainforests World Heritage Area, the park protects subtropical rainforest, basalt plateaus and an escarpment that drops to the coastal plain.
• Access note: Vehicle access is available from a small number of sealed roads and lookouts; many walking tracks are steep and may be closed in wet weather due to slippery conditions.

What to See#

• Link with Lamington National Park: The park is contiguous with Lamington National Park across the Queensland border and together these protected areas form a large block of Gondwana rainforest habitat.
• Escarpment lookouts and rainforest: Lookouts on the escarpment provide extensive views over the Tweed Valley and coastal plain; the park contains deep rainforests on steep escarpments.

The park is accessible from the NSW side via Kyogle and the Tweed Valley. The nearest sizable towns are Murwillumbah and Kyogle; driving from Brisbane takes about 2-3 hours. Use the Mount Warning/Tweed Valley corridors and local roads that lead to the park’s car parks and lookout points.

• Hike at dawn to avoid mid‑day insect swarms and to catch birdsong at its most vivid.
• Bring a map of the Illawarra escarpment - many lookouts and side trails are unsigned and easy to miss.
• Visit the nearby Minnamurra Rainforest Centre for guided walks that explain the Gondwana flora found in the park.