White Rock Conservation Park
Encyclopedia
White Rock, a prominent pale-coloured rockface on a peak, is the major feature of interest of the White Rock Conservation Park, 30 km south-west of Brisbane
, Queensland
, Australia
.
The area was used as a training area by American forces in the late 1930s and 1940s. This apparently protected the area from logging with munitions lodged in trees causing problems for timber cutters.
In dry weather the track is covered with bulldust and is less than pleasant to walk on and difficult to run on. In wet seasons there is often water obstacles to be crossed.
There is a steep and rugged climb to the foot of White Rock at the end.
There is no formal track to the top of White Rock, and it is claimed that the local indigenous people would prefer that you did not do so, but it is possible to scramble up via a reasonably obvious route near the northern end of the rock.
Early in the mornings local wildlife including echidnas, wallabies, kangaroos and even dingos have been spotted. The area has abundant bird life, including endangered species such as the Glossy Black Cockatoo.
Each of the other tracks described below is reached from and is a side-track of this track.
If walking to the site, it is recommended you use good footwear and have adequate water.
The eastern end of this track is obvious from the foot of the Rock, but the western (start) end is not obvious and is not well signposted. (Western path updated as of april 2008 by council and is easily seen and has a clear track.) To find the start of this route you need to look out for the left / right on the vehicle track which crosses your path after a few minutes' walking on the main track. The Ridge Track starts 50m further along the vehicle track - so you need to turn left and then second right instead of first right.
The view is ruined slightly by safety rails.
Depending on the time of year the area has abundant birdlife. Unfortunately there is also a significant intrusion of lantana
.
The north valley track used to be a vehicle track like most of the main tracks but is now over grown and used mostly by dirt bike riders. Compass & Map; or GPS is highly recommended.
To get to the start of the track, go about 1 km past the start of the ridge track. The start is on the right before the powerlines.
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...
, 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...
.
White Rock
White Rock is a white sandstone outcrop and one of many on the ridge, the rock has excellent views in all directions although there are small trees on top and you have to tour around to grab all the views. The rock is quite soft and is covered with inscriptions of the usual nature, from as early as 1919.The area was used as a training area by American forces in the late 1930s and 1940s. This apparently protected the area from logging with munitions lodged in trees causing problems for timber cutters.
Walking tracks
The tracks in White Rock Conservation Park are a curious mixture of well-maintained / over-signposted near the carpark and unmaintained / unsignposted elsewhere.White Rock Walking Track
This out-and-back track leads from the car park at Paperbark Flats Picnic Area (UBD 255/J3) located at the end of School Road to White Rock itself alongside the gully for most of the way. It is for the most part a gently graded well formed 6.5 km walk, although much of the route is on a vehicle track.In dry weather the track is covered with bulldust and is less than pleasant to walk on and difficult to run on. In wet seasons there is often water obstacles to be crossed.
There is a steep and rugged climb to the foot of White Rock at the end.
There is no formal track to the top of White Rock, and it is claimed that the local indigenous people would prefer that you did not do so, but it is possible to scramble up via a reasonably obvious route near the northern end of the rock.
Early in the mornings local wildlife including echidnas, wallabies, kangaroos and even dingos have been spotted. The area has abundant bird life, including endangered species such as the Glossy Black Cockatoo.
Each of the other tracks described below is reached from and is a side-track of this track.
The Ridge Track
An alternative and much more entertaining route for most of the distance from the carpark to the Rock follows the ridge instead of the vehicle track. This is a Class 5 (Australian Standard) walk.If walking to the site, it is recommended you use good footwear and have adequate water.
The eastern end of this track is obvious from the foot of the Rock, but the western (start) end is not obvious and is not well signposted. (Western path updated as of april 2008 by council and is easily seen and has a clear track.) To find the start of this route you need to look out for the left / right on the vehicle track which crosses your path after a few minutes' walking on the main track. The Ridge Track starts 50m further along the vehicle track - so you need to turn left and then second right instead of first right.
Little White Rock Track
Little White Rock Track is a 250m diversion from the main White Rock Track. The walk is a Class 3 (Australian Standard) walk and travels up the hill to the sandstone outcrop.The view is ruined slightly by safety rails.
Boardwalk
Six Mile Creek boardwalk is a 375m diversion from the main White Rock Track and transverses in a loop through paperbark forest. The boardwalk is a Class 2 (Australian Standard) walk.Depending on the time of year the area has abundant birdlife. Unfortunately there is also a significant intrusion of lantana
Lantana
Lantana is a genus of about 150 species of perennial flowering plants in the verbena family, Verbenaceae. They are native to tropical regions of the Americas and Africa but exist as an introduced species in numerous areas, especially in the Australian-Pacific region. The genus includes both...
.
North Valley Track
The North Valley Track is for advanced bush walkers only!(This is an unmarked track)The north valley track used to be a vehicle track like most of the main tracks but is now over grown and used mostly by dirt bike riders. Compass & Map; or GPS is highly recommended.
To get to the start of the track, go about 1 km past the start of the ridge track. The start is on the right before the powerlines.