If you’re a keen hiker and live in South-East Queensland, no doubt you’ve heard of Mt Barney’s Lower Portals and visited once or twice. But have you adventured beyond the Lower Portals to explore Barney Waterfall?

Highlights

  • Rock hop down a picturesque creek
  • Take in the view from the top of Barney Waterfall
  • Check out the Lower Portals and take a dip if it’s not too chilly

Scouting Past The Lower Portals

Behind the Lower Portals lies a pretty, boulder-strewn creek with rocks bleached by the sun and water. Even further on you’ll find the Moonlight Slabs.

The Moonlight Slabs are stretches of rock slab rendered smooth by regular water flow and stretch out from the top of the Barney Waterfall, which for most of the year is not really a waterfall but clear pools of water leading to an epic viewpoint.

 

Lisa Owen_LowerPortals and Barney Waterfall_Moonlight Slabs, person, walking, hiker, bush, rocks

Strap on Your Rock Hopping Shoes

To get there, you’ll need to get your rock hopping on. The hike up to Lower Portals is on a maintained bush track that winds up and down small hills and over twisted tree roots, and cuts through creeks.

The hike up to the portals is 3.7km one way.

Once you get past the Lower Portals, you can rock hop to your heart’s content as you wind upstream. You’ll also cross the creek a couple of times as you negotiate your way along.

 

Swimming Under Mount Barney

Be warned that in winter the water is freezing! But in the summer months, it’s the perfect place for a dip.  

Once at the base of the Barney Waterfall, which may or may not is flowing, take the rough footpad up the left side to get to the top.  

You can stop here or tackle the smooth rock and head up a little further for some exploration along the rock slabs. Water has worn the rock slabs smooth so make sure you have some grippy shoes and have some rock scrambling skills if you plan to do some explorations.

 

Best Outdoor Nap Spots Near Brisbane (QLD), Lisa Owen, BarneyWaterfall, hikers, crew, rest stop, drop, view

Essential Gear

  • At least 3L of water
  • Waterproof hiking shoes or take hiking sandals for rock hopping
  • Lunch and snacks
  • Swimming gear
  • Camera

How To Get There

You can reach The Lower Portals from the car park at the end of Lower Portals Road. To reach this road from Brisbane, take the Mt Lindesay Highway to Beaudesert, turning right at the traffic lights and heading towards Rathdowney.  

Just past the Rathdowney township, turn right on Boonah-Rathdowney Road, and then turn left onto Upper Logan Road. Look for Lower Portals Road on your right and follow the signs to Lower Portals. The hike starts from the car park, so follow the signs.

After you reach the Lower Portals, the route’s no longer signed. To reach the Moonlight Slabs and the rock face of the Mt Barney Waterfall, you have to get around the Lower Portals.

Just before you hit the Lower Portals, there’s a rough track to your right which will take you up a hill. You can then get back down to the creek from here. Rock hop down the creek for about 45-60 minutes. You can’t miss the rock face to your left that is the Barney Waterfall with a view of Mt Barney looming behind it.

Skill Level

Intermediate. While the distance isn’t that far, you’ll need to be a fit, experienced hiker to negotiate your way down the creek. Some navigational skills wouldn’t go astray either to find your way around the Lower Portals and up to the Moonlight Slabs.

Distance / Duration

About 10km return / Allow about 5-6 hours