Venman Bushland National Park, Mt Cotton – Half day excursion, 29 November 2026

Meeting details: Meet at 7.30am at the lower car park, main entrance, Venman Rd, Mt Cotton 4165. Parking can be limited, so carpooling is encouraged.

Registration: Registration is preferred via the QNC website. Click on the excursion name and fill all fields and submit. Once you have successfully registered you will receive an automatic email confirming your registration. Alternatively, register by email to excursion@qnc.org.au with VENMAN in the subject line. Please include name and contact details of all attendees, mobile phone and email address. Guests are welcome and can sign a guest membership form for the day upon arrival.

Directions: Venman Bushland National Park is 40km south of Brisbane on West Mt Cotton Rd. From the Pacific motorway, take exit 30 and turn onto Beenleigh-Redland Bay Rd, then left onto California Creek Rd and left onto West Mt Cotton Rd. Alternatively, set your GPS and travel through the suburb of Mackenzie. Allow about forty minutes travel time. Map 244 E3 (2013 UBD/Gregorys Street Directory)

Background Information: Jack Venman purchased this 255 acres (103 ha) property in 1954, and began restoring it after it had been logged in the early 1900’s. To thwart circling developers, in 1971 he famously sold to the then Albert Shire Council for one dollar, becoming caretaker. Over forty years he developed a parkland for people to enjoy, creating walking tracks, stone barbeques and picnic tables. QPWS now manages its 415 hectares which forms part of the Koala Bushland Coordinated Conservation Area.

The headwaters of the Tingalpa Creek flow through, and the 2.5 km circuit walk has stepping stones to cross. We will meander beside Tingalpa Creek and discover the plants and animals it supports; especially Umbrella Fern (Sticherus flabellatus) and the uncommon Scarlet Honeyeaters. An alternative 6km circuit might suit some members.

The open forest is a mixture of eucalypt and melaleuca trees and well-developed understory of flowering shrubs including Leptospermums and Pulteneas. The park is home to koalas, common ringtail and brushtail possums, greater gliders, swamp and red-necked wallabies, powerful owls and many other birds. Frogs, water rats and eastern water dragons live in and around the creek which runs underground in dry seasons. See the link to the QPWS site:

https://parks.qld.gov.au/parks/venman-bushland/about

What to Bring: Morning tea/lunch, 1-2L own drinking water, sun protection, insect repellent, binoculars, camera, mobile phone with frog identification app and bird call MERLIN app, walking pole recommended if you use one. A hand lens can be useful for close study of galls, tree fruits etc.

Amenities: Drop toilets and picnic tables are near the car park at the entrance to the two walks being offered.