Mount Bartle Frere hikes: Can I climb Queensland’s highest mountain?
Two Mount Bartle Frere walks reach the 1,611 metre summit of Queensland’s highest mountain. They’re for fit, experienced walkers only, and are likely to involve overnight wilderness camping.
What is the highest mountain in Queensland?
Mount Bartle Frere, with a summit at 1,611 metres above sea level, is the highest mountain in Queensland. Only very fit and experienced walkers should attempt to reach the Mount Bartle Frere summit, however.
Queensland’s highest mountain is in the Atherton Tableland, near Cairns in far north Queensland. Like Windin Falls, Mount Bartle Frere is part of the Wooroonooran National Park. But this national park is largely untamed rainforest wilderness, and people have gone missing there for days even with search parties looking for them.
Trip-booster! 8 great day trips from Cairns to power-up your holiday
- Kuranda combo package – take the Kuranda Scenic Railway up and the Skyrail cable car down.
- Green Island tours with beach time, glass bottom boat and snorkelling. (Or pick a Fitzroy Island trip instead).
- Moore Reef day tour – with underwater observatory, snorkelling gear, glass bottom boat & semi-submersible cruises.
- Great Barrier Reef snorkelling cruise – with snorkelling stops at two excellent spots on the Reef.
- Cape Tribulation rainforest day tour – with Mossman Gorge Aboriginal cultural experience and Daintree River crocodile-watching cruise.
- Atherton Tableland waterfalls and rainforest tour – including wildlife-spotting and a swim in a volcanic lake.
- Outback 4WD tour – visiting Chillagoe Caves, Aboriginal rock art and Granite Gorge.
Mount Bartle Frere hike from Josephine Falls
Most walks in the Wooroonooran National Park, therefore, require fitness, experience and good preparation. This absolutely the case with the two main Mount Bartle Frere walks, which are steep and extremely tough, even if no technical climbing skills are required.
The first of the Mount Bartle Frere walks starts at Josephine Falls. It’s a 15km return hike, but walkers are strongly urged to allow two days.
If tackling the Mount Bartle Frere Hike from Josephine Falls, it is possible to camp at either Big Rock Camp or the Eastern Summit Camp near the mountain top.
Mount Bartle Frere climb to Eastern Summit Camp
It’s only about 3km from Josephine Falls to Big Rock Camp, which should take about two hours. From there, however, it gets hard. From Big Rock Camp to the Eastern Summit Camp, the trail rises 1,000 metres in elevation over 4km. This ascent should take around five hours.
Weather permitting, Eastern Summit Camp offers great sunrises and sunsets. But you can’t leave your gear there during the day, as it is also the helicopter landing pad for rescue teams.
The final climb to the summit of Mount Bartle Frere rises 300 metres in elevation over about 500 metres. Allow about an hour to complete it, and expect to scramble over boulders that can be very slippery when wet. The town of Innisfail and the north Queensland coast lie to the east, the Atherton Tableland to the west.
Mount Bartle Frere walk from Junction Camp
Approaching from the Atherton Tableland end, the Mount Bartle Frere walk from Junction Camp isn’t quite as steep. But it’s still 15km return and walkers should allow two days.
There’s arguably more to see on the way, too. Bobbin Bobbin Falls is close to Junction Camp, and is a pleasant detour before the steep section to North West Peak. This rises 700 metres over 5km, with some rock scrambling, and feels almost entirely uphill.
From North West Peak to Western Summit Camp takes about two hours. There are some magical views of the Mulgrave River Valley along the way, and the creekside Western Summit Camp is the best spot for overnight camping on the route.
Reaching the summit of Queensland’s highest mountain
From there, the summit of Queensland’s highest mountain is 750 metres away. It’s not an easy 750 metres, however, and requires scrambling though a field of granite boulders.
If you arrange the transport, it’s possible to combine both walks, starting at Josephine Falls and finishing at Junction Camp, or vice versa.
Mount Bartle Frere climbing advice
Would-be walkers are strongly advised to read the Mount Bartle Frere section of the Queensland Government Parks and Forests website.
Other less exhausting options in the Atherton Tableland include seeing the Cathedral Fig in Danbulla National Park, shopping at the Yungaburra Markets, swimming at Millaa Millaa Falls and searching for a platypus in Yungaburra. You can also try mango wines at the Golden Drop winery in Biboohra.
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