Dularcha National Park, Nature reserve in Sunshine Coast Region, Australia

Dularcha National Park is a nature reserve on the Sunshine Coast that combines eucalypt woodlands, subtropical rainforest, and wetland habitats. The park features multiple environments, so walking through it shows you quite different landscapes and plant types in one place.

An old railway tunnel built in 1891 once ran through the area until train operations stopped using this route in 1932. The tunnel remains visible today and shows how the region developed with early transport connections.

The name Dularcha comes from the railway era, and the park was first declared to give train passengers a view of Queensland's forest. A walking track now runs through the 93.5-metre curved tunnel between Landsborough and Mooloolah stations, and the tunnel shelters bats, moths and other cave-dwelling animals.

Walking tracks, mountain biking trails, and horse riding paths are available throughout the reserve. Plan for day visits since camping is not permitted and motorized vehicles are not allowed in the park.

The abandoned railway tunnel now serves as a seasonal home for several bat species, most notably the large-footed myotis. This unexpected second life shows how old structures can become wildlife refuges.