Bunya Pine – Bunya Mountains Rainforest Richard Cox
A majestic Bunya Pine (Araucaria bidwillii) stands silhouetted against the warm glow of a mountain sunset in Queensland's Bunya Mountains National Park. The tree's distinctive symmetrical form and layered branches create a striking contrast against a sky painted with soft gold, orange and pale blue hues. As the sun sinks behind the ancient conifer, light filters through its branches, highlighting the unique architecture that has made the species one of Australia's most recognisable native trees. Wisps of cloud drift across the horizon while distant ridgelines fade into the evening haze, creating a peaceful and timeless atmosphere. The image captures both the grandeur and quiet beauty of a species that has stood largely unchanged for millions of years.
The Bunya Mountains rise more than 1,100 metres above sea level in Queensland's South Burnett region and contain one of the world's largest remaining natural stands of Bunya Pines. The park is renowned for its cool rainforest climate, spectacular lookouts, waterfalls and rich biodiversity, attracting visitors from across Australia.
For countless generations, the Bunya Mountains have been a place of great cultural significance for First Nations peoples. Seasonal gatherings centred around the bunya nut harvest brought communities together for trade, ceremony, storytelling and the strengthening of cultural connections across a vast region of eastern Australia.



