Explore Queensland National Parks

From Brisbane via Bruce Hwy then Steve Irwin Way, Landsborough–Maleny Rd, Maleny–Kenilworth Rd and Booloumba Creek Rd; from Nambour via Nambour–Mapleton Rd then Obi Obi Rd, Maleny–Kenilworth Rd and Boolooumba Creek Rd

In the Conondale Ranges, to the west of the popular tourist destination of the Sunshine Coast, lies the sprawling expanse of Conondale National Park. In addition to protecting a diverse array of natural treasures, Conondale also houses an intriguing sculpture and the Conondale Range Great Walk, one of the best walking trails in Queensland.

The traditional owners of the Conondale Range are the Gubbi Gubbi people, whose connection with the land is attested by the presence of several culturally important sites. The nuts of the bunya pine were an important food source for the Gubbi Gubbi, and nut harvests formed the basis of a triennial celebration in the Conondale region, where the Gubbi Gubbi would come together to share their culture and food, to socialise, and even to arrange marriages. The Gubbi Gubbi people maintain a strong connection with the land today, and were integral in the development of the spectacular Conondale Range Great Walk.

Unlike most other national parks, Conondale National Park began as a natural reserve protected from European settlers. George Gipps, governor of the colony of New South Wales, recognised the importance of bunya pines to Indigenous people and in 1842 declared illegal the clearing of any lands north of Moreton Bay which contained bunya pines. This edict effectively halted European settlement of the Sunshine Coast Hinterland region.

Unfortunately this protection of the land was overturned in 1860, shortly after Queensland formally separated from the colony of New South Wales. Settlement of the area began in earnest, and the native old-growth trees of the Conondale Ranges became a significant resource for the timber industry. Demand for timber peaked in the 1900s as steam-powered sawmills were brought to the area to allow more efficient on-site processing of logs.

Conondale National Park protects not only a rich array of plant and animal life, but also an artwork by internationally acclaimed sculptor Andy Goldsworthy. Goldsworthy’s Strangler Cairn can be found along the Conondale Range Great Walk, between the Gold Mine Circuit south of Booloumba Creek day-use and camping areas and the Artists Cascades.

Goldsworthy’s work can be described as an ongoing artistic dialogue with specific environments. His sculptures and installations are frequently made out of materials sourced from the site, so his pieces can range from ephemeral sculptures made from ice, mud or twigs, to more durable pieces made from clay or stone. Even the more durable pieces are not permanent, however – they change and adapt along with their environment.

Strangler Cairn exemplifies the creative tension between durability and change in Goldsworthy’s work. Made from locally sourced granite and slate, the cairn structure is built to last. However, in a small dish at the top of the cairn, a small strangler fig (Ficus watkinsiana) grows – and, as time progresses, the fig will ‘strangle’ the cairn and incorporate the stone into its structure. The sculpture was completed in 2011, so the fig is still small, but the cairn is a visually arresting artwork – one worth seeing now and 20 years hence.

In 1907 the first of a series of state forest reserves in the area was declared, and the timber industry gradually began to shift from logging old-growth forests to the establishment of native pine plantations. The current national park was established after lobbying by a group of committed conservationists, the Conondale Range Committee, in the 1970s.

Conondale National Park protects the forested slopes of the Conondale Range, part of the Great Dividing Range. The tallest peak of the Conondale Range, Mount Langley, sits within the park, reaching 868 metres. Needless to say, this is a hilly region, cut through with gorges and creeks – make sure you bring good walking shoes.

One of the key features of the park is the Booloumba Creek, around which the day-use and camping areas cluster. This creek's stunningly clear water reveals a creek bed covered by a colourful mosaic of rocks, a testament to the area's unique geological history. Visitors are welcome to swim in the creek, but should attempt to minimise their impact on native frog species – not to mention the wonderfully clean and translucent creek water.

As the area's history as a timber centre suggests, this is a land dominated by big trees – not just the bunya pine, but also blackbutt, hoop pine, red cedar and tallowwood. Beautiful native hyacinth orchids can be found throughout the park, flowering from December to February.

The Conondale Range is an important area for native frogs, and the park protects a large tract of habitat for the endangered Fleay's barred frog and giant barred frog, as well as the threatened cascade tree frog. To protect these valuable frogs, the park advises that visitors should clean and disinfect their footwear before entering the park, remove soil from footwear and camping gear before leaving an area, and keep to designated tracks and creek crossings.

Three camping areas are clustered close together near the Booloumba Creek day-use area; each is suitable for caravans and campervans as well as tents. Facilities are basic. Three walkers' camps with few facilities are situated along the Conondale Range Great Walk. These are restricted for use by hikers only. Visitors who would prefer to stay outside of the national park are well served in nearby Maleny, which offers a wealth of B&B accommodation as well as rural farmstays.

BUSHWALKING If you're after a quick stretch of the legs, the Peters Creek Walk (500 metres return, 15 minutes, easy) takes you from a carpark on Booloumba Creek Road to a scenic, boulder-strewn spot on Peters Creek. For a longer walk rewarded by an excellent view, take the Booloumba Creek to Mount Allan walk (11 km return, 3.5 hours, difficult), which winds from the Booloumba Creek day-use area to a fire tower at the peak of Mount Allan. Climbing the 9.6-metre fire tower after a 5.5-kilometre uphill walk may test your endurance, but persevere – you'll be rewarded with splendid 360-degree views of the Mary Valley and the Conondale Range. If you don't want to turn around, the track continues from Mount Allan to the Charlie Moreland camping and day-use area (4.4 km one way, 2 hours, difficult) in the adjacent Imbil State Forest, although be aware that the track is frequently closed owing to forestry work in Imbil.

Serious hikers will delight in the Conondale Range Great Walk, a 56-kilometre, four-day circuit that winds its way through the park. The walk can be taken either as a full four-day trek or in smaller sections. The shortest of these is the Booloumba Falls walk (3 km return, 1.5 hours), which departs from the Booloumba Falls carpark on Booloumba Creek Road and offers excellent views over Booloumba Falls. From the Booloumba Creek day-use area casual walkers can proceed south along the trail to various points of interest, including the historic Gold Mine (5 km return, 2.5 hours) or the Artists Cascades (10.6 km return, 4 hours). These walks just begin to touch on the possibilities of the full four-day Great Walk, which moves deep into the Conondale Range, well beyond the areas visited by daytrippers. Camping at the walkers' camps along the Great Walk must be booked and paid for in advance.

HORSE RIDING Conondale is one of the few national parks in Queensland where horse riding is allowed. Horses and riders in the park are restricted to the Queensland Horse Trail Network, which connects Conondale to Imbil and Jimna state forests.

SCENIC TOURING A network of gravel roads threads through Conondale and the adjacent Imbil State Forest. These roads intersect with various walking trails and allow ready access to scenic areas. The Booloumba View, south of the Booloumba Creek day-use area, and a lookout on Sunday Creek road near the border of Imbil State Forest are two such scenic areas that are only accessible by car. The roads inside Conondale are suitable only for 4WD vehicles.