Samford Conservation Park

Samford Conservation Park is home to a red ironbark forest with walking paths, picnic and BBQ facilities and mountain bike/ horse riding trails.

Part of the Mountains to Mangroves Corridor, this reserve provides a protected habitat for reptiles, mammals and birds, including the wallabies, koalas, and the Powerful owl.

There are under cover picnic tables, woodfire barbecues and toilet facilities located at Ironbark Gully, which has a shaded grassy area perfect for outdoor games and gatherings.

Samford Conservation Park (624 ha.) is one of the few locations where the narrow-leafed red ironbark, Eucalyptus crebra can be found. The tall, dark tree is also the namesake for the Crebra Circuit Track. This 700 metre track begins and ends at Ironbark Gully, passing many protected trees, and crossing several wooden bridges along the way.

There are ten trails located around the park, some of which are shared trails accessible to walkers, horse riders and mountain bikes where there is a "give way code" to be observed. Trails 4 - 10 are strictly for mountain bike riders only (some graded intermediate or difficult - so be sure to check the rating before beginning the trails). There is also a purpose built mountain bike warm-up area located next to Lomandra day use area car park.

A train line ran from Camp Mountain through the Samford Conservation Park to Ferny Grove from 1918 - 1947. It was closed after the Labour Day picnic derailment in which 16 people were killed and 38 people injured. Today, it is possible to cycle along the Ferny Grove Rail Trail and continue on to Samford Village itself (via McLean Rd South).

Need to know - Car parks available at Ironbark Gully and Lomandra day use area.

By Lucy Hordern