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Description
Mount Bartle Frere is the highest mountain in Queensland at an elevation of 1622 metres. Located within Wooroonooran National Park about 75 kilometres south of Cairns, the summit (when not covered in cloud) offers the chance to view both the coastal lowlands and the Atherton Tablelands. The mountain was named after Sir Henry Bartle Frere, a British colonial administrator and then president of the Royal Geographical Society by George Elphinstone Dalrymple in 1873.
Culture and History
Bartle Frere forms part of the traditional lands of the Noongyanbudda Ngadjon people. For thousands of years, they have lived in, and maintained a close spiritual connection with, the Bartle Frere area. Known to the Noongyanbudda Ngadjon-Jii as Chooreechillum, Bartle Frere is their spiritual home. It is here they believe their spirits return to when they die, to be reborn to walk the land once more, to watch over the Noongyandbudda Ngadjon people.
Traditionally, although the Noongyanbudda Ngadjon-Jii moved seasonally around the mountainside, they rarely approached the summit. Several Noongyanbudda Ngadjon men, however, guided locally-renowned explorer and prospector, Christie Palmerston, to the summit in October, 1886. After two days climbing, Palmerston became the first European to reach the summit.
Getting To The Top
The Bartle Frere trail leads from Josephine Falls on the eastern, coastal side of the mountain, over the summit to the Atherton Tableland on the western, inland side of the mountain. It can be walked in both directions, but unless you have 4WD you'll need to start from Josephine Falls.
The Bartle Frere trail is not for everyone. Although well marked, the trail is unformed, very steep and walkers must be prepared for rock scrambling in places. Only experienced and extremely fit bushwalkers should attempt the trail.
Climbing the summit of Queensland's highest mountain offers a challenging way to explore part of the World Heritage listed rainforest of the Bellenden Ker Range. Weather and track conditions are at their best in the dry season (May to October); some sections may be closed during the wet.
