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Description
The opportunity to get Golden Bowerbird, Fernwren, Tooth-billed Bowerbird , Bridled Honeyeater to name a few all in one place. In fact this is one spot that has all 13 of the Wet Tropics Endemics along with a host of region specific subspecies and hard to get rainforest birds.
Another draw for the clearing and the main reason people journey up the mountain just before the wet season is the Blue-faced Parrotfinch. There is plenty of birding to be had anywhere really along the road from the clearing and those that are more adventurous can brave the leaches and explore the track off the side looking for a few of the more cryptic and skulking birds.
Details
Access
Editors note. The Mount Lewis road is closed for the forseeable future - see 'author comments and tips' and link below.
The clearing is approx 12 km along the National Park access road. This road is gravelled and has rain diverting humps. This site requires a 4x4 or alternatively a high clearance SUV. There are no defined parking areas but for the clearing it is advised to pass the clearing and park 20m on from it out of site as not to disrupt the birds.
The road is closed often after periods of bad weather but National Parks are pretty quick to clear the road. It is shut during the peak of the wet season each year (Jan - Mar approx) to preserve the road surface. Parts of the road and the track off the clearing are actually on Brooklyn Nature reserve that borders the National Park and is managed by the Australian Wildlife Conservancy.
This is a remote site with limited patchy cell service so prepare accordingly for the conditions. Queensland National Parks website is kept up to date and best checked before any attempted trip.
Terrain and Habitat
Forest , MountainConditions
Mountainous , WetCircular trail
NoIs a telescope useful?
NoGood birding season
All year roundBest time to visit
Summer , AutumnRoute
Unpaved road , Narrow trailDifficulty walking trail
Average walkAccessible by
Foot , CarBirdwatching hide / platform
NoExtra info
While birds are the main reason you'll be visiting the National Parks offers the opportunity to see other rare wildlife, various species of Possum, Echidnas, and Boyds Forest Dragon can all be seen.
Links
- Queensland National Parks - Mount Lewis
- Brooklyn Nature Refuge - Australian Wildlife Conservancy
- Photo Golden Bowerbird by Dominic Sherony, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Mount Lewis closure.