Conondale National Park is about 35,700 hectares of rainforest, gorges and creeks in the ranges behind Kenilworth, and the walks to Booloumba Falls and the Strangler Cairn sculpture are the reasons most people drive in. It is a gravel-road park, so the trip suits a high-clearance 4WD, a picnic and a full day.
The park sits on the Conondale Range, one of the largest remnants of subtropical rainforest in South East Queensland, and is Kabi Kabi country. The best-known spot is Booloumba Creek, a pebbly, clear creek with rock pools, a day-use area and three camping areas.
Booloumba Creek: swimming and rock pools
Booloumba Creek is where most visits start. It is a crystal-clear, pebble-strewn creek with rock pools and cascades along it, so you can skim stones and splash across it from the day-use area. The road in turns off past Kenilworth.
There are swimming holes along the Booloumba Falls walk too (see below). Check road and weather conditions before you go, because Booloumba Creek Road has three creek crossings.
Booloumba Falls walk
The Booloumba Falls walk is 3 km return and takes about 2 hours. It is a Grade 3 track: formed, with some obstacles, short steep sections and plenty of steps. The track runs downhill from the Booloumba Falls car park to the falls, so the climb back up is the hard part.
At the bottom you get the Breadknife, a serrated rock pinnacle at the junction of Peters and Booloumba creeks, plus a lookout, cascades and rock pools. If you do not want to drive the last stretch, you can walk to the falls from the Booloumba Creek day-use area in about 17 km return, and some people leave the car before the first creek crossing.
Strangler Cairn and the longer walks
The Strangler Cairn walk is 6.5 km return, about 2.5 hours, Grade 3. It ends at a hand-cut granite and metamorphic block sculpture by the internationally known artist Andy Goldsworthy, 3.7 m high, in Booloumba Gorge.
The Mount Allan shared trail is 8.8 km return (about 4 hours, Grade 4) and climbs through steep pine plantation. The last 300 m to the fire tower is a walking track only.
The Conondale Range Great Walk is 56 km over up to four days, with three walkers’ camps (Wongai, Tallowwood and Summer Falls). It is for prepared, experienced walkers who carry camping gear, buy a topographic map and book their camps ahead.
Camping at Conondale National Park
Camping is at Booloumba Creek. Areas 1 and 3 are for tent camping only, with a 4WD car park nearby. Area 4 is an open grassy area with room for high-clearance 4WD campervans and 4WD-towed caravans as well as tents. Book camping online at qld.gov.au/camping before you leave, and read the current fees there.
Charlie Moreland camping and day-use area is in neighbouring Imbil State Forest, near Little Yabba Creek. It has a shaded grassy camping area, a large enclosed paddock for horses and a short wheelchair-accessible Fig Tree walk (780 m return, about 45 minutes, Grade 1) through rainforest with enormous fig trees. You reach it along Sunday Creek Road, 5 km from the turn-off.
Planning your visit
- How long: a full day for Booloumba Falls plus a swim, or a second walk to Strangler Cairn if you start early.
- Dogs: prohibited on the Booloumba Falls walk.
- What to bring: more water than you think you need, sun protection, walking shoes, a hat, a picnic and a plan you have told someone about. In an emergency, call 000.
- Mountain bikes and horses: there are shared trails and management roads in Imbil State Forest and a Horse Trail Network in the park.
- Roads: gravel, with three creek crossings on Booloumba Creek Road. A tough 4WD can drive to the falls car park.
Getting there and parking
Take the Bruce Highway and the Landsborough to Maleny exit or the Eumundi to Kenilworth exit, and follow the signs for Kenilworth, about 2 hours 5 minutes by car from the Brisbane CBD. The Booloumba Creek turn-off is 7.5 km past Kenilworth or 13 km past Conondale township, then it is a bit over 5 km more along Booloumba Creek Road to the day-use area (about 13 km from Kenilworth in all).
All park roads are gravel and suitable for high-clearance 4WD only. If you only have a conventional car, park before the first creek crossing and walk in. The nearest towns for food and supplies are Kenilworth and Maleny.
Nearby
- Kenilworth – the bakery, cheese and town park on the way in.
- Mapleton Falls National Park – an easy lookout and the 1.3 km Wompoo circuit.
- Kondalilla Falls – waterfall walks on the Blackall Range.
- Baroon Pocket Dam – a picnic and paddling stop near Maleny and Montville.
- More parks: national parks, camping and the Sunshine Coast Hinterland.
You might also like
- Blue Lake National Park (Dunwich)
- Glass House Mountains
- Noosa National Park (Noosa Heads)
Quick answers
Do you need a 4WD for Conondale National Park?
Yes. All park roads are gravel and suit high-clearance 4WD only, and Booloumba Creek Road has three creek crossings. In a conventional car, park before the first creek crossing and walk in.
How long is the Booloumba Falls walk?
It is 3 km return and takes about 2 hours. It is Grade 3, with steps and some steep sections, and it runs downhill to the falls.
Can you camp at Conondale National Park?
Yes, at Booloumba Creek areas 1, 3 and 4, and at the three Great Walk walkers’ camps. Book online at qld.gov.au/camping.
Are dogs allowed at Conondale National Park?
Dogs are prohibited on the Booloumba Falls walk.
How far is Conondale National Park from Brisbane?
It is about 2 hours 5 minutes by car to Kenilworth, then roughly 13 km on gravel roads to the Booloumba Creek day-use area.
0 Comments