Gambubal State Forest clings to the western side of the Great Dividing Range in southern Queensland, close to the New South Wales border, in country that drops from rainforest-clad ridges down to the grazing land around Killarney and Warwick. The forest adjoins Main Range National Park and belongs to the wider belt of subtropical and temperate rainforest protected as part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia. Hoop pine, ancient Antarctic beech on the highest ridges, tree ferns and strangler figs give it a feel of deep time, and it is one of the cooler corners of Queensland in summer.
The roads in this area are a joy for anyone who likes variety. From Killarney, the road to Queen Mary Falls climbs onto the range with tight bends, steep grades and a few rough patches, and the falls themselves, where a creek drops off the escarpment into a gorge, are a classic short stop. The Condamine River Road west of Killarney is famous for its many creek crossings through the gorge, which are fun in the dry and genuinely dangerous after rain, so check conditions and do not push through running water. Forestry tracks inside Gambubal are mostly gravel and can be closed for logging or weather.
Wildlife is everywhere. Look for wallabies at dawn and dusk, which is also when they jump out in front of bikes, so slow down in the half-light. Lyrebirds, whipbirds and king parrots fill the forest with noise, and in spring the gullies smell of damp earth and flowering shrubs. Winter mornings can be frosty on the tops, a surprise in Queensland.
Warwick, around thirty kilometres away, is the main town, a sandstone-built farming centre on the Condamine known for its annual rodeo and its rose gardens, and it is the dependable place for fuel, supplies and a decent meal. Killarney is closer and smaller, with a pub and basic services; do not leave it with a low tank if you plan to explore the range. Carry water, tell someone your route if you go onto the forestry tracks, and allow time to sit by a creek and listen.