The Mt Cordeaux Track Explores Gondwanan Rainforest and Sprawling Views 1.5 Hours From Brisbane

The Mt Cordeaux Track is the epitome of Queensland hiking. Just over an hour from Brisbane, this friendly 6.8km return trail will immerse you in the very best of Gondwanan rainforest, with sweeping views, lush forest, and heritage wildlife.

 

We Are Explorers acknowledges that this adventure is located on the traditional Country of the Ugarapul and Githabul people who have occupied and cared for the lands, waters, and their inhabitants for thousands of years. We pay our respects to them as the Traditional Custodians and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.

Quick Overview

The Mt Cordeaux Track is a 6.8km return hike located in Main Range National Park, only an hour from Brisbane, Queensland. The hike takes 2-3 hours, slowly ascending to the Mt Cordeaux viewpoint, offering subtropical rainforest and some of the best views in South East Queensland.

Read more: Remember to leave no trace

Mt Cordeaux Track Facts

Distance: 6.8km return
Duration: 2-3 hours
Elevation gain: 350m
Nearest town: Aratula

About The Mt Cordeaux Track

Mt Cordeaux is a must. For all skill levels, and close to home, the track is one of the best and most accessible day hikes in South East Queensland, meandering through subtropical rainforest and gradually climbing to views that sweep all the way to the coast.

It’s a time capsule of Gondwana, a haven of rare and beautiful plants and animals (and views).

Giant spear lilies, grasstrees, and the beginnings of views

History of Mt Cordeaux

The history of Mt Cordeaux reaches back millennia.

Known by the Ugarapul and Githabul peoples as Niamboyoo, this mountain sits on a site of mythic origins. It’s believed that a stampede of kangaroos tore a pass into the mountain range as they bounded west after being set loose. That pass is called Cappoong/Cunninghams Gap, shaping Niamboyoo and Coonyin-nirra/Mt Mitchell on either side.

Post-colonisation, the mountain was bestowed its current name by explorer Allan Cunningham in 1828, named for surveyor and official William Cordeaux. Despite this selfless move, Cunningham didn’t shy from naming a few things after himself.

In the early 1900s, the mountain was subject to mining attempts by prospectors enchanted by the ‘gold fever’. They found little to nothing, and the site was abandoned. The shafts can still be seen along the track, reaching depths of up to 20m.

Mine shaft near the summit

How to Get to Mt Cordeaux

Unless you’re a very keen walker, the only feasible way to get to Mt Cordeaux is by car.

From Brisbane, drive approximately 115km (1.5 hours) southeast, taking the Cunningham Highway; from Warwick, drive 50km (30-35 minutes) east on the Cunningham Highway.

From Brisbane, it’s one of the most scenic routes in South East Queensland. Wind along the Cunningham Highway, past the Flinders Range and Moogerah Peaks, all the while watching the looming Main Range – crowned by Cordeaux – grow with every passing minute.

The road begins to ascend the range, then plateaus into Cunninghams Gap, where the Crest car park is on the immediate right. Follow signage to the trailhead.

Please note! At time of publication, the Crest car park is closed due to roadworks at Cunningham’s Gap (until 31 December 2025). The next available car park is at West Gap Creek Picnic Area, 1.6km further west. This adds a 5km return hike, using the Box Forest Track, to reach the Crest car park, so allow extra time.

Skill Level

Intermediate

The Mt Cordeaux Track is enjoyable for anyone of reasonable walking fitness.

It’s a Grade 4 walking track, defined by the Queensland Parks & Forests as: ‘Walking experience recommended. Tracks may be long, rough and very steep. Directional signs may be limited’.

The track is wide, well-maintained, and very easy to follow. It’s a gradual ascent that features stairs.

Be wary of tripping hazards such as roots and rocks, and take caution after rain, as the track can get muddy and the rocks slippery. Adhere to warning signs, as there are exposed cliffs at the viewpoint.

The amenities at the Crest car park are wheelchair accessible; however, Mt Cordeaux Track is not (nor are any other tracks).

Essential Gear

• A sturdy pair of shoes
• Hat, sunnies, and sunscreen
• Plenty of water
• Food
• Rain jacket
• First aid kit

A rain jacket won’t go amiss, especially at the lookout 1,050m above sea level, where conditions can change quickly. Strong wind is common, and cold weather is possible even in summer.

A first aid kit is always recommended when in the bush. Mt Cordeaux is nestled amongst subtropical rainforest – snakes, spiders, leeches, stinging plants, and trip hazards aren’t uncommon.

What it’s Like to Hike the Mt Cordeaux Track

Crest Car Park

From the Crest car park, the rainforest stands before me like an impenetrable green fortress, 20m tall with giant trees, snaking vines, palms and ferns of every kind. Very different to the arid land stretching out below.

There’s a bathroom here and multiple trailheads, so I double-check the signs and make sure I know which trail I’m taking.

I start off, wandering past the Allan Cunningham monument and turning into the forest.

The Wall

Gondwana

The track slowly ascends, and after a few moments, the rumbling highway fades away, replaced by bird song, the swaying and creaking of trees.

This is the Rainforest Circuit. Along this circuit is the Fassifern Valley Lookout, a small taster of the views to come. I look over the Fassifern Valley and out to Moogerah Lake, before continuing along the circuit and turning off at an unmissable sign to the Mt Cordeaux Track.

Fassifern Valley Lookout

From here, I’m fully immersed. The rainforest is ancient, and the flora and fauna are unique, often endemic. Giant box trees loom overhead, strangled in vines. Rainforest palms shoot upwards, fighting for the scarce light under the thick canopies, while ferns and moss-covered rocks carpet the ground.

Yet, if it’s silence I came for, I’m in the wrong place. Red-necked pademelons crunch and rustle as they bound by, and if I’m lucky, I might spot one. Birdcalls echo endlessly, from whipbirds to tiny bills and wrens, but I listen out for the mimicry of the Alberts lyrebird. I listen as it runs through its routine, performing the calls of other birds so well I hear them call back moments later.

The track continues to ascend, sidling and switching back until I approach the summit.

Green on green

Mt Cordeaux Viewpoint

The vegetation starts to dry. More sunlight creeps into the forest, and the trees grow thinner and scarcer. Eventually, subtropical rainforest gives way to montane heath. Box trees, ferns, and vines are traded for giant spear lilies and grasstrees poking out from rocky outcrops. The forest cracks open, and the views begin to tease.

Grasstrees and a rainbow over Mt Mitchell – not bad

Soon, I reach a fork. Turning right goes to Mt Cordeaux, left to Bare Rock. From here, the track gets steeper. Rocky stairs help the ascent, and I pass the old mine shafts here.

The trail switches back a few times before I’m spat out onto a large rocky plateau – the Mt Cordeaux viewpoint!

Here, the views are entirely unimpeded. I crane my neck at the Mt Cordeaux summit hanging overhead (you can’t summit it), and take in the panorama. Nothing between myself and the coast.

To the south, the 1,000m wall of the Main Range peers eastward, with Mt Mitchell standing tall, the closest of endless towering summits.

To the east, I take in… everything. Directly before me, Lake Moogerah glistens, surrounded by its peaks. Mt Maroon, Mt Barney, and Mt Lindesay are all visible further south.

And if I train my eyes northwest, I can spot the Brisbane skyline, a tiny cluster of towers. Queensland’s largest city, barely a speck in the rolling land.

What’s that speck over there?

With the views facing east, there’s no finer sunrise in South East Queensland than right here. Watching it all come alive. 

At the top, I take it all in. I unpack my snacks, hook into my muesli bars, and rehydrate. Then get ready to do it all in reverse.

Sunrise – a little dramatic

Side Trips & Alternatives

A good hike provides as little or as much as a hiker wants, and Mt Cordeaux has something for everyone. The area is a bustling hub, whether it’s a 30-minute microadventure or a four-day behemoth.

All side trips accessible from or connected to the Crest car park are:

• Rainforest Circuit
• Bare Rock Track
• Box Forest Track
• Morgans Walk
• Mt Mitchell Track
• Scenic Rim Trail
• Palm Grove Circuit
• Gap Creek Falls Track

By far the most popular is Bare Rock, and for good reason. A steady walk for an extra 2.8km (40-50min) past Mt Cordeaux, Bare Rock is – to nobody’s surprise – a bare outcropping of rock, peeking from the forest. Sitting 30m higher than Mt Cordeaux, it’s the highest point on this section of the Main Range, and the views prove it.

Tips For Hiking Mt Cordeaux

• Always check the weather and track conditions before leaving, and prepare accordingly. You don’t want to get caught out
• Be mindful of nature and of other hikers. Leave no trace. Respect the wildlife. Have fun. Enjoy the views. And don’t forget to check for leeches

An unparalleled snack spot