Frog Buttress

climbing area

Frog Buttress is a rhyolite cliff on the north-west side of Mount French near Boonah in Queensland, Australia. Climbers come for its concentration of high-quality traditional crack and arete routes and its important place in Australian climbing history.

Frog Buttress BrisbaneCairnsGold Coast, QueenslandTownsvilleToowoombaMackay, QueenslandRockhamptonMount IsaFrog Buttress

Frog Buttress essentials

Address: Mount French, Moogerah Peaks National Park, near Boonah, Queensland, Australia

Frog Buttress is a narrow rhyolite cliff on the north-west face of Mount French in the Moogerah Peaks area. The buttress is relatively small by international standards (about 400 m wide and up to roughly 50 m high) but offers superb climbing formed by columnar rhyolite with many parallel cracks and corners.

Discovered by local climbers Rick White and Chris Meadows in 1968, the buttress has since seen more than 400 established routes and important ascents by visiting and local climbers. Routes range widely in difficulty and the crag became famous for its hard traditional crack climbing and influential first ascents.

Visiting Frog Buttress feels like stepping into a very trad-oriented climbing venue: protection is typically natural and parallel smooth-sided cracks encourage the use of spring-loaded camming devices and efficient crack technique. Top-roping is difficult because of fragile cliff-top features and is generally discouraged; there are simple camping facilities above the cliff but you should book ahead with park managers.

  • Rhyolite cracks and columns: Dense, parallel crack systems and columnar rhyolite offer a variety of hand- and finger-crack climbing not common at other cliffs.
  • Classic routes: Historic lines such as Conquistador and Child in Time and hard trad testpieces illustrate the crag’s influential route development.
  • Cliff-top views: The top and camping area give clear views across the Fassifern valley and the surrounding volcanic peaks of the Moogerah area.
  • Trad climbing ethos: The crag’s strong tradition of placing natural protection and minimal bolting makes the climbing style and route-finding part of the experience.
Things to Do
When to Go

Best Time to Visit Frog Buttress#

Climbing is most comfortable in the cooler, drier months; summer brings higher temperatures and heavier rainfall. Choose winter for concentrated climbing and avoid hot, wet afternoons in summer.

Winter (best)
June - August · 6°C - 19°C (43°F - 66°F)
Cooler, drier conditions make sustained trad climbing pleasant and reduce heat-related fatigue on exposed rock.
Spring and Autumn (good)
March - May, September - November · 8°C - 27°C (46°F - 81°F)
Milder temperatures suit a mix of climbing and walking, though spring can still see occasional rain and variable conditions.
Summer (least suitable)
December - February · 16°C - 28°C (61°F - 82°F)
Warmer temperatures and higher rainfall make midday climbing uncomfortable and increase the chance of wet rock; plan morning sessions and check weather.

Weather & Climate near Frog Buttress#

Climate

Frog Buttress's climate is classified as Humid Subtropical - Humid Subtropical climate with warm summers (peaking in January) and cool winters (coldest in July). Temperatures range from 6°C to 28°C. Moderate rainfall (999 mm/year).

Air Quality: AQI 25 Good
Best Time to Visit
AprilOctoberSeptember
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
43°
Warmest Month
-1°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions
Month Comfort Temp Feels Rain Sky Humidity Wind UV Daylight
January Very Good 17° - 28° 23° 142 mm partly cloudy 68% 3.0 m/s 2.7 extreme 13.5h
February Very Good 17° - 28° 23° 139 mm partly cloudy 74% 3.3 m/s 2.5 extreme 12.9h
March Very Good 16° - 27° 21° 89 mm partly cloudy 76% 3.8 m/s 2.0 very high 12.1h
April Excellent 13° - 25° 19° 69 mm partly cloudy 74% 3.5 m/s 1.4 high 11.3h
May Very Good 10° - 22° 16° 74 mm some cloud 71% 2.8 m/s 1.0 moderate 10.6h
June Very Good 7° - 19° 13° 36 mm some cloud 77% 2.4 m/s 0.7 moderate 10.3h
July Very Good 6° - 18° 12° 48 mm mostly sunny 71% 2.5 m/s 0.8 moderate 10.5h
August Excellent 6° - 19° 13° 30 mm mostly sunny 64% 3.0 m/s 1.1 high 11.0h
September Excellent 8° - 22° 15° 37 mm mostly sunny 62% 2.9 m/s 1.5 very high 11.8h
October Excellent 12° - 25° 18° 82 mm some cloud 63% 3.3 m/s 2.0 very high 12.6h
November Very Good 14° - 26° 20° 115 mm partly cloudy 64% 3.4 m/s 2.4 extreme 13.3h
December Very Good 16° - 28° 22° 138 mm partly cloudy 67% 3.1 m/s 2.6 extreme 13.7h
Getting There & Around

How to Get to Frog Buttress#

The crag sits above the town of Boonah; the nearest major city with an international airport and the most services is Brisbane.

Most visitors drive from Brisbane or regional centers to the Moogerah Peaks area and then follow local roads to Mount French; the final approach is on rural roads with a short walk from the parking and camping area, so plan for a vehicle and the last short on-foot approach.

Tips for Visiting Frog Buttress#

  • Winter is generally the best season for climbing here; summer heat and high humidity make midday climbing unpleasant.
  • Frog Buttress is a traditional crag: bring a full rack of cams and trad protection rather than relying on sport hardware.
  • Top-roping is awkward and often discouraged because of fragile cliff-top features; learn the local ethics before attempting to set up anchors.
  • Camping is available above the cliff but facilities are basic and usually showerless, so book with park authorities ahead of your visit.