Mt Cordeaux and Bare Rock are part of the Cunninghams Gap section of Main Range National Park, which is part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area. Mt Cordeaux is a straightforward out and back climb that takes you to just below the 1135m peak (the summit is not accessible). With views to Brisbane city – a 116km drive away – and everything in-between, Mt Cordeaux and Bare Rock are an achievable and rewarding bushwalk.
Quick Info
Location: Crest carpark, Cunninghams Gap, Tregony, Qld 4370
Walking Distance: 12.4km return, 6.8km return for only Mt Cordeaux
Elevation: 450m
Time: 4-5 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Costs/Permit: No cost, no permit required
Opening Times: Only closed occasionally for maintenance
Facilities: Lookout platform, toilets, information board, monument
What to take: Insect repellent, camera, picnic, water, sunscreen, weather appropriate clothing, sturdy shoes
Map:
The Mount Cordeaux track begins after first completing half of the Rainforest circuit, the second half can be completed on the way back. The Rainforest circuit is a pretty and simple track that starts from The Crest carpark. The track takes you past some very impressive trees.
For the most part, the Rainforest track is lovely. Traversing clockwise, there is a beautiful ferny undergrowth. However the second half of the circuit, encountered on the way back, was covered with weed (Inkweed?)
The Mt Cordeaux track is well maintained and near to impossible to get lost. Hazards, such as landslides, can occur without warning, and parts of the track may require impromptu navigation. Exposed cliff edges present potential danger, so keep kids supervised.
Various vegetation types will be encountered along the trail, the mossy rocks were particularly lovely.
The 500m closest to the top are the steepest, an old gold mine shaft is passed on the way. Views to Brisbane CBD are possible on a clear day.
The top is a great place to plan your next hike, with many other mountains visible: Mt Mitchell, Mt Edwards.
The track to Bare Rock is straightforward. In places it is overgrown with weed and vines. Morgan’s Walk, a 700m return deviation from the main track, offers another lookout point. The track was very overgrown with weed just before the lookout. Bare Rock wasn’t so much bare as covered in weed – a result of bushfires just over a year before – but did offer stunning 360 degree views.
While the amount of weed on the bushwalk was disappointing, the views at the top of Mt Cordeaux and Bare Rock make this a satisfying, and still beautiful bushwalk.