Auburn River National Park
Author & Photos: Lauren Pinwill
Published: Journal December 2020
Image Above: Ficus obliqua with trunk extending over rocks
The Auburn River National Park is 40km south west of Mundubbera on the Hawkwood Road. Mundubbera is a small town in the lower North Burnett Region and downstream from where the Boyne and Auburn Rivers join the mighty Burnett River. The Auburn River National Park was established in 1964. At that time I lived with my parents in Mundubbera. My mother who had been brought up on the Boyne River had numerous stories of her visits to the dangerous Auburn River Falls and the accidents incurred from the rushing waters and gigantic boulders. But it didn’t stop her from taking me to see the wonders of the gorge. I returned last weekend ready for adventure but also to look at the native flora.
The National Park includes a rocky 1.55km stretch of the Auburn River which flows through a gorge with large boulders creating small waterfalls towards its end. The riverbed and steep sided gorge has been formed from weathering along the fractures of decomposed granite (light pink, coarse grained granodiorite). As a result the riverbed has become strewn with water sculptured granite boulders some weighing up to one tonne. Unstable boulders have been sent crashing down to the riverbed from the gorge walls. In the riverbed, local residents have seen several boulders moved by turbulent flood waters as there is a drop of 50m in elevation along this stretch. The salmon coloured boulders with swirling black patterns are a testament to their battering and unstable existence. The area is also prone to tremors. Indeed the first tremor recorded in Queensland in 1878 was at ‘Dykehead’ cattle station not far away.
Looking downstream
Brachychiton rupestris and B. australis at gorge lookout
Hakea lorea, Bootlace Oak
The National Park protects a western hardwood forest which is uncommon in this area. On the southern bank of the river the eucalypt forest includes Eucalyptus tereticornis Forest Red Gum, and E. melanophloia Silverleafed Ironbark. The understorey is dominated by grass trees and native grasses. The northern bank is covered with softwood scrub and many plants cling to rock crevices as do melaleucas such as Melaleuca trichostachya, and M. viminalis, Weeping Bottlebrush, in the riverbed. This area can be accessed by a 300m walk to the gorge lookout with spectacular views. At the lookout a Brachychiton rupestris Narrow-leaved Bottle Tree and a Brachychiton australis Large-leaved Bottle Tree were growing next to each other. A flowering Hakea lorea Bootlace Oak, could be seen clinging high on the gorge wall opposite the lookout.
The riverbed and rock pools were accessed by a narrow walking track 750m long down steps through the vine scrub. Many familiar plants species were noted (see photos and list below). Of interest a small patch of Platycerium veitchii Silver Elkhorn, was wedged between rocks on the northern wall. The steepness of the rock walls seemed to create unusual plant growth with Backhousia angustifolia Narrow-leaved Backhousia, adopting a prostrate habit over rocks and a Ficus obliqua Small-leaved Fig, with a root-like trunk over rocks to the walking track.
The common vines were Melodorum leichhardtii Zig-zag Vine, and Cissus oblonga Smooth Water Vine. Hovea longipes Bush Hovea was covered in pretty purple flowers.
Platycerium veitchii, Silver Elkhorn on gorge wall
Gorge wall on southern side
A 1.6km walk westward along the top of the gorge through groves of B. angustifolia was very pleasant with scenic views of the river. Relics from an unsuccessful gold rush in the late 19th century could be located upstream at the start of the rocky area. Many small birds were heard and seen in the open forest. A White eared Honeyeater was enjoying the H. lorea blossoms along with several Silvereyes. Not far from the national park we drove over the Auburn Range and stopped to look at the many flowering Grevillea whiteana bushes. They are endemic to the Mundubbera area and have given rise to the popular cultivar ‘Moonlight’ Grevillea with large white flower spikes seen in many gardens.
Ficus obliqua Small-leaved Fig
Hovea longipes Bush Hovea
Solanum sp
Grevillea whiteana ‘Moonlight’ Grevillea
Bridelia leichhardtii Small-leaved Bush Ironbark
A complete plant list for the Auburn River National Park can be accessed on the Internet. Other plants photographed and listed in ‘Mangroves to Mountains’ (MM)
were:-
Acalypha eremorum Soft Acalypha MM 301
Acronychia laevis Glossy Acronychia MM 312
Alphitonia excelsa Red Ash MM 124
Alstonia constricta Bitter Bark MM 359
Carissa ovata Currant Bush MM 360
Cayratia clematidea Slender Grape MM 127
Clematicissus opaca Forest Grape MM 127
Croton insularis Silver Croton MM 347
Drypetes deplanchei Yellow Tulip MM 291
Geitonoplesium cymosum Scrambling Lily MM 127
Hoya australis subsp. australis Wax Flower Vine MM 373
Jasminum simplicifolium subsp. australiense Native Jasmine MM 378
Notelaea microcarpa var. microcarpa Native Olive MM 125
Pandorea pandorana Wonga Vine MM 151
Solanum sp.
Psydrax odorata forma buxifolia Stiff Canthium MM 329
Lauren enjoying the gorge top walk