Scott Warner Photography

Tucked away on the side of the highway at Cunninghams Gap is a short walk that is well worth stopping for….

Mossy green logs and palms abound

Large buttress roots support the trees in the shallow rainforest soil

The track winds gently along the side of the valley

It’s the Box Forest track, an easy 5km return track that parallels the highway and is a hidden gem.  Cunninghams Gap is about an hour and a half south west of Brisbane on the Cunningham highway and the Box Forest track goes between the picnic area and a carpark at the top of the Gap. You can start at either end but the picnic area is a good option with toilets, picnic shelters and an abundance of bird life. There is also a toilet at the carpark end.

The picnic area

A watching Currowong

Moss covered tree near the creek

Starting from the picnic area the track crosses a pretty creek and then very gradually makes its way up the side of the valley passing through a range of different forest types but mainly dry rainforest with lovely mosses, ferns and palms. Keep an eye out for the large buttress roots and strangler figs.

Mossy tree captures the morning light

A Strangler Fig slowly taking over its host

Lots of colourful fungi to be seen if you take it slow

A Rasp fern (Doodia Aspera) highlighted in the suns rays

A couple of the locals to be on the look out for: the Gympie Gympie bush and the Stinging Nettle. Both will deliver a painful sting, the Stinging nettle will sting for a few hours but the Gympie Gympie bush can give out a painful sting for a few days! Trust me – I have been stung several times by both and they are very unpleasant.

Stinging Nettle

Gympie Gympie

As long as you avoid the hazardous flora you will find a very pleasant and reasonably easy walk that the whole family can enjoy. It’s worth taking it slowly so you don’t miss any of the details of a very beautiful spot – it’s not a pristine wilderness experience with the highway nearby but it is definitely worth stopping for.

There are also a range of other walks in the area and you can get more information on this walk and other from the National Parks site http://www.nprsr.qld.gov.au/parks/main-range/

When you do stop there, keep an eye out for this amazing vine – it’s right next to the track but I won’t tell you where it is on the track – if you find it post a picture of it below 🙂

An unusual vine winds its way up the canopy

An unusual vine like a corkscrew