Mt Hypipamee National Park
Description
Mt Hypipamee National Park, otherwise known as The Crater, is located 25kms south of Atherton on the Kennedy Highway. It is a rare type of volcanic pipe, called a diatreme and is surounded by an unusual type of rainforest. There is a sealed path taking you from the carpark to the crater, then a natural path from the crater to Dinner Falls and back to the car park. The Crater, which has sheer walls of non volcanic granite, is the only known example of an explosion pipe on the Tableland. It was not formed by a lava flow, but was a vent for the gases which blasted a hole in the rock, sending rocks and debris flying for miles around. The water is covered by a thick layer of duckweed and underneath, there is a passage which runs back under the lookout and is said to connect with the Barron River which also connects with Lake Tinaroo.
Map
Kennedy Highway, Atherton