As we entered the Girraween National Park, we were struck with an overwhelming feeling of being teleported to the Flintstone Era.
Giant granite boulders scattered everywhere, creating a rocky wonderland, an intriguing playground for our imagination.
There are many national parks in Australia, each with its unique wonders.
Each place we go to has some magic, but I will remember this one for a long time because I saw something unique here!!
These Girraween National Park Walks are truly something else! Let me show you…
Where is Girraween National Park?
Girraween National Park is close to the Queensland/New South Wales border, about 260km southwest of Brisbane and about halfway between Stanthorpe and Tenterfield.
Access to the park is from the car park on Pyramids Road at Ballandean. There is plenty of parking and picnic areas here.
Girraween, or “place of flowers,” is one of the most popular places to visit on the amazing Granite Belt. Access to all the Girraween National Park walks is FREE!
Best Girraween National Park Walks:
Girraween National Park has numerous walks available for all types of hiking experiences.
From EASY 30-minute walks to Granite Arch or Dr Roberts Waterhole, a MEDIUM graded walk track to The Pyramid, or a VERY HARD 4-hour hike to Second Pyramid.
There is also a two-day walk from Girraween to the Bald Rock Circuit. Well, there is plenty to see around here!
On our trip, we spent a beautiful and sunny afternoon here, and it was a hot one, I tell you!! Sweating or not, on our list, we had the Granite Arch and the Pyramid to tick off. So, let me tell you a little bit about those two.
1. Granite Arch
Granite Arch is one of the walks classed as EASY, which is perfect for us at this point in time, as my gorgeous wife was pregnant.
This 1.4 km walk starts at the car park and takes you through a winding walkway past the rocky pools of Bald Rock Creek.
As you go up, you see plenty of rocks here and there, but the Granite Arch is one of a kind.
This relaxing stroll is easy for all hikers, but we recommend making your way here in the early morning or late afternoon to avoid the intense midday heat!
The park, with all its rocky surfaces, heats up fast, so make sure you drink heaps of water to rehydrate!
2. The Pyramid
The Pyramid walk is classed as a MEDIUM track.
The track is 3.4 km from the car park, and it will take you around 2 hours to complete. It’s definitely worth it!
There are plenty of stairs here, so if you are pregnant like my wife, or you are coming with small kids, this may take a little longer.
The track winds past some extraordinary rocky formations and heaps of giant boulders where you can rest quickly and chill for a minute.
As you climb further and closer to the top, things get a bit tricky. It’s slippery when wet, very steep, and very, very hot in the early afternoon hours!
One has to wonder just how these things are created. To us, the travelers, it’s like nature’s puzzle.
Oval-shaped rock, seemingly balancing on a small area, surely more stable on its one foot than some people are on both feet.
What to Take With on Your Walks at Girraween National Park
Always remember the essentials for any hike! Our recommendations are:
- Good hiking shoes
- Sun protective hat
- Sunscreen
- Plenty of water,the more – the better
- Umbrella for shade when needed
- And a good backpack to carry it all
Where to Stay in Stanthorpe:
Recently, we had the pleasure of staying in a fantastic glamping tent at Alure Stanthorpe. It was an incredible, super-relaxing experience.
Final Thoughts
We absolutely loved our Girraween National Park walks to the Granite Arch and the Pyramid, and I’m sure you will too!
However, if you are wondering what other walks are available at Girraween National Park, follow the link here. You will find something to suit all your hiking needs and then some.
We still haven’t made it down there but it’s on the list as soon as this humidity drops a bit, way to hot for me to do a climb like that at the moment without much tree cover. It does look so beautiful though.
Oh yes! Do wait for this heat to settle! When we went it was November and the sun reflecting off those Granite Boulders were pretty powerful! We both struggled a bit! But yes definitely worth a visit once it cools down a bit!
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Thank you 🙂 Glad you liked the info. This is trully a beautiful spot.