Mount Walsh is a national park in Queensland

Queensland

Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...

, Australia

Australia

Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...

, 230 km northwest of Brisbane

Brisbane

Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...

.

A prominent landmark in the Biggenden region is the granite bluff area of Mount Walsh which rises to 703 m above sea leven in the northern part of park. The summit has three peaks. Exposed granite outcrops, rugged ridges and steep forested slopes support a range of vegetation.

The “Bluff” area of Mount Walsh is located at the park’s northern end and is a prominent landmark of the Biggenden area. The park features sheltered gullies, rugged ridge lines with mountain areas with spectacular exposed granite outcrops and cliffs support a diversity of vegetation. Such diversity gives a home to many endangered animal species such as the Powerful Owl

Powerful Owl

The Powerful Owl , also known as the Powerful Boobok, is a species of owl native to south-eastern and eastern Australia, the largest owl on that continent...

 and Grey Goshawk

Grey Goshawk

The Grey Goshawk, Accipiter novaehollandiae, the white morph of which is known as the White Goshawk, is a strongly built, medium-sized bird of prey in the family Accipitridae.-Description:...

. Visitors may also see Peregrine Falcon

Peregrine Falcon

The Peregrine Falcon , also known as the Peregrine, and historically as the Duck Hawk in North America, is a widespread bird of prey in the family Falconidae. A large, crow-sized falcon, it has a blue-gray back, barred white underparts, and a black head and "moustache"...

s, Dingo

Dingo

The Australian Dingo or Warrigal is a free-roaming wild dog unique to the continent of Australia, mainly found in the outback. Its original ancestors are thought to have arrived with humans from southeast Asia thousands of years ago, when dogs were still relatively undomesticated and closer to...

es, Wallabies

Wallaby

A wallaby is any of about thirty species of macropod . It is an informal designation generally used for any macropod that is smaller than a kangaroo or wallaroo that has not been given some other name.-Overview:...

, Eastern Grey Kangaroo

Eastern Grey Kangaroo

The Eastern Grey Kangaroo is a marsupial found in southern and eastern Australia, with a population of several million. It is also known as the Great Grey Kangaroo and the Forester Kangaroo...

s and Lace Monitor

Lace monitor

The Lace Monitor, or Lace Goanna, Varanus varius, is a member of the monitor lizard family, Australian members of which are commonly known as goannas. It belongs to the subgenus Varanus....

s.

A complex landscape has led to diverse vegetation communities which includes heath, shrubland, woodland, open forest and dry forest. There are patches of Hoop Pines in some gullies.

Geology

The geological history of the mountain began in the late Triassic period about 215 million years ago. Violent explosions emanated from a volcanic structure referred to as the Mungore Centre. Two large bodies of magma

Magma

Magma is a mixture of molten rock, volatiles and solids that is found beneath the surface of the Earth, and is expected to exist on other terrestrial planets. Besides molten rock, magma may also contain suspended crystals and dissolved gas and sometimes also gas bubbles. Magma often collects in...

rose close to the surface where Mount Malarga and Mount Walsh are presently situated. Erosion has left the cliffs, buffs, gorges rocky pavements and tors seen today.

Facilities

Picnic and barbecue facilities are available. Bush camping is allowed in the park. No facilities are provided so visitors must be totally self-sufficient.

Walking tracks

A 300 metre trail from the picnic area leads visitors through open eucalypt forest to a rocky creek gully fringed in rain forest, then on to lookouts over surrounding countryside. Experienced walkers can take the strenuous (unmarked) two and a half hour hike to Mount Walsh's bare granite summit. You will be rewarded with stunning views.

External links

• Rocks and Landscape Notes: Mount Walsh, Biggenden - Geological Society of Australia: Queensland Division