KINKUNA NATIONAL PARK

This new national park, on the coast between Bundaberg and Woodgate, is an area of Wallum country with interesting habitats. It has an area of 13,300 ha and stretches roughly from Coonar Creek in the north to Theodolite Creek in the south and inland to the railway line.

Sand dunes near the beach support excellent specimens of Casuarina equisetifolia, with natural Wallum flora on sand plains behind the dunes. Bushes of Petalostigma pubescens are common, many showing the marked effects of wind shear. Good specimens of Banksia aemula, among the Melaleuca quinquenervia and numerous other shrubs and small trees, can be seen in these parts. Further inland the vegetation becomes more dense, with several species of eucalypt, including E. intermedia and E. exserta occurring, together with other She Oaks - Casuarina glauca and Allocasuarina littoralis.

Some of the lower lying areas grade into swamps where there are good specimens of Livistona decipiens and many species of sedges. The fern Blechnum indicum is very common. Near the edge of the swampy areas many trees and shrubs of the vine forests occur, almost forming a closed forest.

A saltpan area supports very different vegetation, with several types of succulent chenopods present, and landward zone mangroves occurring. In this area and along the southern creeks, seven species of mangroves have been identified. Of particular interest is Aegialitis annulata, the Club Mangrove, which occurs in the far north at the tip of Cape York, and is near its southern limits in Kinkuna National Park.

Two species which are restricted to the northern Wide Bay are conserved in the Park. These are Eucalyptus hallii and Melaleuca cheelii.

In general, the flora of this area is of interest because it comprises some species near their southern limit and others which are at the northern end of their range of occurrence.

Access to the area is from Gotlow, south of Bundaberg, along Coonar Beach Road, then right along Palm Beach Road. Take a left fork at a "Dumping prohibited" sign along a fence line to the National Park sign at the entrance to the Park. Various tracks all lead to the beach and dunes, and can be followed as far south as One Mile Creek near its junction with Theodolite Creek. Heavy sand in some parts of the tracks necessitates the use of a 4-wheel-drive vehicle. The National Park Ranger in charge of the area is stationed at Bundaberg.

A preliminary plant list is available for this area, but a visit in spring is needed to extend the list of species.