Aratula

Description

The small village of Aratula, at the foot of Cunningham's Gap in South East Queensland, has long served as a resting place for weary travellers crossing the Great Dividing Range. The town offers a range of accommodation options including caravan parks and motels.

Aratula is surrounded by unspoiled natural areas including the Moogerah Peaks National Park and Main Rain National Park.

Located in the Fassifern Valley, the four peaks of Moogerah have been carved from volcanic rock and the inaccessibility of the area has spared the natural vegetation from clearing by European settlers. The Park shelters eucalypt forest, sheer cliffs, and patches of rainforest. The cliffs on Mount French are a favourite with rock climbers, but not for the inexperienced or faint of heart. Palm Gorge on nearby Mount Greville in home to a nearly pure strand of Picabeen Palms.

On the southern edge of Moogerah Peaks National Park lies Lake Moogerah, a popular spot for waterskiing, jet skiing, boating and fishing. The local council runs a caravan park on the shores of the lake and other facilities include electric and wood barbecues, two boat ramps, children's playground, kiosk and kayak hire.

To the west of Aratula lies the Main Range National Park, home of plants found nowhere else in the world. The Park is part of the Scenic Rim and offers many walking tracks that explore the rainforest and escarpments. Along the way you'll enjoy glorious sweeping views of the surrounding landscape.

By road, Aratula is 30 minutes' drive south west of Ipswich and an hour from Brisbane.