Mt Garnet, Innot Hot Springs, Irvinebank and Herberton

This dry hilly wooded area to the south and west of the Atherton Tablelands has been a major mining area responsible for the early development of the far northern areas of Queensland. In the past tin was the major ore mined, today there is considerable geological exploration and also mining occurring, zinc particularly. Although volcanoes have not been active in the area for over 10 000 years, there are some hot springs such as Innot Hot Springs which has a unique wetlands system. The poor nutrient, shallow soils support a wealth of native often ‘heath-type’ plants, some well known, many rare or with a restricted distribution.