Gondwana Rainforests of Australia

The Gondwana Rainforests of Australia are a serial World Heritage property made up of numerous protected reserves across Queensland and New South Wales that conserve remnants of ancient temperate and subtropical rainforests. These forests preserve a diversity of primitive plant groups and endemic species.

Within individual reserves visitors encounter closed-canopy rainforest, fern gullies, waterfalls and a network of walking tracks and lookouts. Many parks include interpretation centres and maintained trails that provide access to rainforest flora and fauna.

The forests are remnants of rainforest that once covered much of the Australian continent; their composition reflects ancient Gondwanan lineages preserved through geological and climatic change. Conservation measures in the 20th century brought many discontiguous reserves under protection and World Heritage listing.

The reserves are distributed along the eastern Australian highlands and coastal ranges in Queensland and northern New South Wales, occupying upland and escarpment landscapes.

• Heritage value: The property comprises multiple discontiguous reserves that together preserve ancient lineages of plants and animals, including primitive plants such as tree ferns and numerous endemic species.

What to See#

• Protected reserves: A network of separate rainforest reserves and national parks across Queensland and New South Wales that preserve relict Gondwanan flora and fauna.
• Walks and lookouts: Scenic lookouts, walking trails and waterfalls within individual parks that allow visitors to experience rainforest environments.

• Use the national‑park visitor centres (for example Lamington, Dorrigo or Gondwana Rainforests centres) to plan routes and get current track conditions - some rainforest tracks are closed seasonally and centres point you to quieter walks.
• Visit early in the day when wildlife (birds and rainforest mammals) is most active and popular lookouts are less crowded; consider lesser‑used trails that still contain ancient Antarctic beech and remnant Gondwanan forest that many day visitors overlook.
• Avoid peak school holiday periods if you want fewer people on the boardwalks and trailheads, and check park alerts for recent weather damage or maintenance closures before you set out.