Araucaria Lookout

Date: 7th May, 2012
Distance: 16.8 km
Time: 5 hours

Araucaria Lookout is one of the longer, less threatening hikes at Binna Burra. We strategically chose this walk due to the distinct lack of raging river crossings. There is a great debate in the hiking universe over it's true pronunciation, although I'm quietly confident Araucaria sounds like 'why u no care-ia.' Note for first-timers: I strongly encourage bringing along a small stool or step ladder, although this might make the walk significantly more demanding depending on its size and weight.

"From memory, the walk is basically flat the whole way," I advised my travelling companions as we set out along Binna Burra's Border Track. One hour of continual uphill walking later we reached Joalah Lookout, our halfway mark to Araucaria. From here there were sweeping views of Woggunba Valley across to Springbrook, and to our destination itself.


Around a kilometre later we left the safety of the well-worn Border Track, before meeting a second junction after another 15 minutes. This time we were offered the choice between two peaks: Mt Wagawn and Araucaria. Both were rated at 5.2 km return from this point, but an alluring downhill path towards Araucaria Lookout sealed the deal for us.

It's pretty obvious that this section of the park receives few visitors, given the track conditions. It wasn't long before we discovered why: the local plantlife has achieved sentience and lives solely to agonise wayward hikers who are lulled into believing the walk to Araucaria Lookout is a gentle stroll. Vicious spiked vines stretched across the path from all angles, ensnaring any of us unlucky enough to brush up against them. Dad spent a good five minutes curled up on the ground trapped between two of the buggers at one point.

We stopped for a break at Orchid Bower, a semi-hidden lookout which requires climbing up a dozen mossy stair rocks to find excellent views from Springbrook to Mt Wagawn, and Mt Warning beyond (or so at least I was told, since I left my glasses at home). In the morning this spot is nicely shaded, so we got chilly pretty quick sitting down.

From here the track winds back and forth, downwards out along the ridge, before branching and encircling the steep, rocky pinnacle, atop which lies our lookout. The path itself spirals around to avoid a 30 m vertical rock climb, and passes underneath a fallen tree. "The views at the top are really good," I repeated to myself during the last few metres to the top. Only when we got there, the views were far less impressive than I remembered. We climbed up a little rocky outcrop past the sign to get a better view (or even A view), although Orchid Bower is actually a much more interesting lookout. In the two years since I last did this walk, my body hasn't grown quickly enough to keep up with the thriving plants and I hadn't brought a stool with me (a necessary extra not mentioned anywhere at the park). You win again, plants of Araucaria. At least the lookout isn't as miserable as Mt Hobwee, which is basically a great big lump of cold rock covered in trees that are somehow able to block out all views while funneling freezing wind up from the valley.

We started running into loads of people again when we returned to the very wide and very tame Border Track. About 100 m out from the hike entrance we overheard one little girl telling her folks about what a wild jungle it is. I wonder what she'd think if she encountered the killer plants of Araucaria...