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Overview
Also known as 'The Crater', Mount Hypipamee is a small national park located at the Western edge of the Atherton Tablelands where the land rises to nearly a thousand metres. As a result of this altitude the reserve typically has lower temperatures year round and in fact can get pretty cold at night during winter. Fog is a common feature here and in the surrounding area, especially in the early morning.
The typical vegetation is high altitude rainforest, though other vegetation types exist too in a relatively small area. The park itself is of considerable interest to birders as it contains all twelve Wet Tropics endemics as well as an impressive variety of other species.
Birds
Notable Species
Birds that visitors can expect to encounter here include: Southern Cassowary, Australian Brush Turkey, Grey Goshawk, Painted Buttonquail, Brown Cuckoo Dove, Topknot Pigeon, White-headed Pigeon, Superb Fruit Dove, Wompoo Fruit Dove, Pacific Emerald Dove, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Rainbow Lorikeet, Australian King Parrot, Crimson Rosella, Shining Bronze Cuckoo, Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Rufous Owl, Lesser Sooty Owl, Papuan Frogmouth, Laughing Kookaburra, White-throated Treecreeper, Lovely Fairywren, Atherton Scrubwren, Yellow-throated Scrubwren, Mountain Thornbill, Fernwren, Brown Gerygone, Lewin's Honeyeater, Macleay's Honeyeater, Bridled Honeyeater, Grey-headed Robin, Yellow-breasted Boatbill, Chowchilla, Eastern Whipbird, Golden Whistler, Bower's Shrike-thrush, Black-faced Monarch, Pied Monarch, Spectacled Monarch, White-eared Monarch, Rufous Fantail, Grey Fantail, Barred Cuckoo-shrike, Varied Triller, Pied Currawong, Spotted Catbird, Satin Bowerbird, Golden Bowerbird, Tooth-billed Bowerbird, Victoria's Riflebird, Red-browed Firetail, Olive-backed Sunbird, Mistletoebird Silvereye, and Bassian Thrush.
Other Wildlife
Spotlighting for nocturnal mammals is particularly good at Mt Hypipamee. Mammals commonly encountered here include: Giant White-tailed Rat, Lumholtz's Tree Kangaroo, Red-legged Pademelon, Common Brushtail Possum (Coppery race), Lemuroid Ringtail, Common Ringtail, Green Ringtail, Herbert River Ringtail, and Long-nosed Bandicoot.
Reptiles: A number of species are found in the park. Commonly occurring are Yellow-blotched Forest Skink, Eastern Water Dragon, Chamaeleon Gecko, and Northern Leaf-tailed Gecko.
Amphibians: A number of species of frogs occur in the park. These include Robust Whistling Frog, Southern Ornate Nursery Frog, Northern Sedge Frog, Australian Lacelid, Northern Stony-creek Frog, Waterfall Frog, Mountain Mistfrog, Whirring Tree Frog, Tapping Green-eyed Frog, Orange-thighed Tree Frog, Northern Barred Frog, Sharp-snouted Day Frog, Striped Marsh Frog, and introduced Cane Toad.
Site Information
History and Use
Mount Hypipamee was gazetted as a national park in 1934. In 1988 it was incorporated into the Wet Tropics World Heritage area. This long established park remains an important recreational area for casual visitors and the more serious naturalist alike.
Areas of Interest
Interesting wildlife can be found throughout the park. It is possible to record all twelve endemic species here. Visitors should spend time observing the surrounding trees from the Car Park where it is possible to look up into the canopy. When the Laurels and other trees here are in fruit, it is possible to observe all three Bowerbird species in the park in the same tree at once. Also look out for Fruit Doves, Cuckoo Shrikes and other visitors to these trees.
Visiting birder should also walk the entrance road and the trails. The trails can be especially rewarding for birds of the lower canopy such as Scrubwrens, Chowchillas and Fernwrens.
At the apex of the main trail is a platform from which visitors can look down into an impressively large volcanic crater with sheer granite walls. It is also easier to see birds here as the forest is more open and the platform affords views in different directions.
Access and Facilities
Mount Hypipamee is on the Kennedy Highway 25kms south of Atherton. Atherton is 96kms from Cairns via the Kennedy Highway and 80kms via the Gillies Highway. The park is also accessible from Malanda via the partly sealed Upper Barron Road.
There are no wheelchair accessible facilities or tracks although the track to the viewing platform is sealed.
Camping is not permitted in the park, however the park is open 24 hours a day.
There are two walking tracks in the park which can walked separately or as a circuit. Distance to the crater from the car park is 800m return. The track is graded as 'easy' and is sealed all the way.
The so-called Dinner Falls Circuit is 1.2 kms in length. It is graded 'moderate' as it is uneven and can be steep in parts and more hazardous to use in wet weather.
Picnic tables and toilets are available.
Bring warm clothing for early morning or night visits as it can be chilly, especially in winter.
Domestic animals are not permitted in the park.
A word on Cassowaries: Southern Cassowary is one of the undoubted highlights of a visit here and there are regular sightings. However visitors should take care around these birds. They are often fearless and will approach anyone on foot. Do not feed them or allow close approach as these birds can be dangerous and there are recorded attacks on people. Males with chicks can be particularly aggressive.
Having said that, it is perfectly possible to observe these birds at a safe distance in the car park and along the entrance road. Just be aware of the risks and take all reasonable precautions.
Contact Details
External Links
