Lamington National Park, Gold Coast Hinterland: No Public Transport, Two Entrances, and Three Track Sections Still Closed to 31 December 2026 (QLD)

Lamington National Park has two entrances, Green Mountains and Binna Burra, and both are reached by steep, winding roads with no public transport, according to Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service. A cyclone damage alert still closes the eastern side of the Illinbah circuit, part of the Coomera circuit and part of the Albert River circuit until 31 December 2026, while the Border track and most other circuits are open. This guide uses the service’s pages, checked on Monday 9 November 2026.

How do I drive to Lamington National Park?

The service’s visiting safely page describes two sections: Green Mountains on the western side of the Lamington Plateau, and Binna Burra, which covers the rest of the park to the east.

Section	Route and time	Warnings
Green Mountains	From Broadbeach, drive 40 km to Canungra via Nerang. From the north, take Pacific Motorway exit 34 to Beenleigh, route 92 to Tamborine, then route 90 to Canungra. The bitumen road from Canungra is 36 km and takes at least 50 minutes	Winding and often narrow. Unsuitable for recreational vehicles longer than 6 m and for vehicles towing caravans and camper trailers
Binna Burra	Allow 70 minutes from Broadbeach. Drive 38 km to Beechmont via Nerang. From the north, take Pacific Motorway exit 69 and follow the signs west	The final 1.8 km is very narrow and winding

The service says there is no public transport to the park, and that getting taxis and rideshare operators to pick up from the park can be difficult. The service also notes that many commercial tour operators run tours to Lamington.

Which walking tracks are closed?

The service’s severe weather damage alert says some areas are closed until declared safe after damage from Tropical Cyclone Alfred. It applies from 14 March 2025 to 31 December 2026 and was last updated on 14 May 2026.

Section	Track	What is closed, and how to use the rest
Binna Burra	Illinbah circuit	The eastern side is closed, from the first junction on the Gwongoorool track to the Illinbah bush camp. The western side is open from the second junction on the Gwongoorool track. Return by the same track
Binna Burra	Coomera circuit	Closed from the Coomera Falls lookout to the southern junction on the Border track. The lookout is reached only from the northern junction (first turn-off) on the Border track. Return by the same track
Green Mountains	Albert River circuit	Closed from the northern junction on the Border track (first turn-off) to Echo Point. Echo Point is reached only from the southern junction (second turn-off). Return by the same track

The alert says all camping permits for closed areas are suspended while the closure lasts, and that commercial tour operators and other permit holders may not enter closed areas. It asks visitors to obey signs and barriers. It also says refunds can be applied for through your online account at qld.gov.au/camping.

What is still open?

The alert lists these areas as open:

• The Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk track, and the Border track between Binna Burra and Green Mountains.
• At Binna Burra: the upper day-use area and trailhead facilities including toilets, the Rainforest circuit, Tullawallal circuit, Caves track, Gwongoorool track, Daves Creek circuit, Lower Bellbird track, Wagawn track, Araucaria track, Mount Hobwee circuit and Ship Stern circuit, plus Upper Ballanjui Falls (return by the same track).
• At Green Mountains: the day-use area and trailhead facilities including toilets, the Rainforest return track, Centenary track, Morans Falls track, Python Rock track, Box Forest circuit, West Canungra Creek circuit and Toolona Creek circuit.

The service’s things to do page says the park has about 130 km of walking tracks, and that the 54 km Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk can start or finish at Green Mountains. The alert also lists the Echo Point bush camp and several other bush camps as open, but camping needs a permit booked in advance.

What facilities are there, and when is it open?

Lamington National Park is open 24 hours a day, but the service says it does not recommend walking at night and warns against starting long walks after midday. The park’s two information centres are open only on weekends when volunteers are available. On weekdays the Green Mountains office is open 8am to 3:30pm and the Binna Burra office 7:30am to 4pm, park duties permitting.

Place	Facilities named by the service
Green Mountains day-use area	Toilets, tables and three electric barbecues. Expect crowded conditions at weekends and in holiday seasons
Binna Burra lower day-use area	A small picnic area with two tables. Toilets are in the information centre just after the park entrance sign
Binna Burra upper day-use area	Toilets, tables and electric barbecues at the end of Binna Burra Road next to the trailhead

No bins are provided in the picnic areas, so bring rubbish bags and carry out all rubbish, including food scraps. No fuel is available on the plateau, but fuel and supplies are sold in Canungra and Nerang. Mobile phone coverage is not reliable, although you can often get a signal near lookouts. The nearest hospitals are at Beaudesert, Robina and Southport.

What are the rules, and what should I bring?

• Pets and domestic animals are not permitted.
• Mountain-bike riding, slack-lining and high-lining are not permitted, nor is installing bolts for climbing, abseiling or canyoning.
• Unauthorised entry is prohibited in several restricted access areas, including Egg Rock, Snake Ridge, East Mount Gipps, the Poondahra cliffs and the Ballunjui Falls, Black Canyon and Coomera Gorge areas.
• Commercial activities and organised events need a permit.
• Drones must not disturb other visitors or wildlife and must follow CASA rules. Commercial drone use needs a permit.
• The service discourages swimming in the World Heritage area.
• Bush camping sites are closed from 1 December to 31 January.

The service says Lamington is on average 5°C cooler than Brisbane, that frosts can occur, and that it receives about 1,600 mm of rain a year. The wet season is typically November to March, so the service’s packing list is warm clothing and raincoats, sensible footwear, a hat, sunscreen, water, a torch, extra food and a first-aid kit. Eels, ticks, leeches, stinging trees and venomous snakes live in the park.

What wildlife might I see?

The service says red-necked pademelons are commonly seen in the picnic areas early in the morning and late in the afternoon, and that Australian bush-turkeys are regular visitors. Albert’s lyrebird is often met along the rainforest tracks in the cooler months. Regent bowerbirds, crimson rosellas and Australian king-parrots are also named.

If you are driving up the Gold Coast hinterland, our guide to Springbrook National Park closures and access covers the neighbouring park, and the Tamborine National Park guide covers Cedar Creek parking.

Sources

• Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service — Visiting Lamington safely (checked 9 November 2026)
• Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service — Lamington National Park: things to do (checked 9 November 2026)
• Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service — Severe Weather Damage, Lamington National Park (updated 14 May 2026)

Featured image: Coomera Falls, photographed in February 2021 (photo: chujoslaw / CC BY-SA 4.0) (text added)

OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service or the Queensland Government. Check the park alerts before you go, as closures can change.