This rural Queensland town is surrounded by farmland with access to forested parks.
The southeastern Queensland town of Nanango is a couple of hours’ drive inland from both the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane, making it a convenient stop on road trips through Queensland that skirt the coast or avoid the larger cities. At a slight altitude (355 metres), Nanango has cooler summers than lower-lying coastal and outback areas, and colder winters. Surrounded by farmland that’s used for livestock as well as vineyards and eucalypt forests, Nanango offers a rural retreat for campers with both free-camping spots and holiday parks, plus access to national parks, state parks, and forest reserves with some special tree species within a couple of hours’ drive.
South of Nanango, this small national park is a rainforest haven for birds, frogs, bats, and other wildlife, and provides a beautiful, lush environment of Piccabeen palms and Moreton Bay fig trees for visitors to stroll amid. While camping isn’t permitted in the small park, accommodation and camping options can be found in nearby Cooyar and Yarraman. There are day-use and picnic areas within The Palms National Park.
South of Nanango is the very small town of Maidenwell, which provides access to the wetlands of Tarong National Park and lovely Coomba Falls, a waterfall with a clear and refreshing swimming hole. It’s a popular place to swim when the weather’s hot, but there’s a steep climb down to the falls. Campers in the Nanango area can visit Maidenwell and Coomba Falls on a day trip or camp at the sports ground or rest area in the village.
About an hour’s drive southwest of Nanango, the small Bunya Mountains National Park is notable for having the largest stand of ancient bunya pine trees in the world. These are especially significant to the local First Nations people. The park houses three grassy and well-developed camping areas that are suitable for tents, caravans, and camper trailers. The campsites are equipped with toilets, showers, barbecues, and picnic tables.
Nanango is surrounded by the mountains of southern Queensland, which generally has a subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and mild winters. However, its slight altitude (355 metres) and proximity to the mountains takes the edge off the heat, making this a comfortable region to visit in summer, and year-round. In summer there’s an increased risk from both wildfires and floods in the region, so check local conditions before travelling.