List of Bushwalks in Conondale National Park

Starting from Booloumba Creek Day Use Area, Kenilworth, this circuit walk takes you to the barred up entrance of a historic abandoned gold mine from the 1920s. Housing hundreds of bats inside, the place feels like a former base of the black cowled vigilante. The hike up features plenty of photo opportunities from the interesting wildlife to the picturesque creek setting in the dense rainforest. You’ll have a tranquilizing experience as the track is usually quiet outside the peak season. Keep an eye out for snakes. Depending on the weather and track conditions, you may need to park your vehicle 2-3 kilometres up north and cross Booloumba Creek twice on foot unless you have a 4WD vehicle with good clearance. Let us begin by acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.

Highlights

Gold Mine Circuit

4.9 km circuit

1 h 30 min to 2 h 30 min

1 h 30 min to 2 h 30 min

Ruins

Environment

Starting from Booloumba Creek Day Use Area, Kenilworth, this walk takes you to the Strangler Cairn and back via the Conondale Range Great Walk Track, optionally visiting a barred up abandoned gold mine entrance along the way. A granite cairn made by renowned artist Andy Goldsworthy that has a strangler fig sapling planted on top of it, the Strangler Cairn stands 4 metres tall. With its strong way of construction, it’s believed that the structure will be able to withstand the crushing power of the fig encaging it. If it stays intact as predicted, this unique work of art will be of exceptional value to future generations. The subtropical rainforest mixed with wet sclerophyll forest is home to plenty of interesting wildlife such as goannas of different sizes. Keep an eye out for snakes as well. Depending on the weather and track conditions, you may need to park your vehicle 2-3 kilometres up north and cross Booloumba Creek twice on foot unless you have a 4WD vehicle with good clearance. Let us begin by acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.

Environment

The Strangler Cairn

5.1 km return

1 h 30 min to 2 h 30 min

1 h 30 min to 2 h 30 min

Mount Allan from Charlie Moreland Campground

Mount Allan from Charlie Moreland Campground

8.5 km return

2 h to 3 h 30 min

Starting from Sunday Creek Road in Charlie Moreland Campground, Kenilworth, this walk takes you to the summit of Mount Allan and back via the Mount Allan Fire Trail, exploring the woodlands of Imbil State Forest and Conondale NP. Take in the rewarding 360 views over the pine forest after you conquer the challenging ascent. The cozy fire tower atop the summit lets you enjoy unimpeded views of the surrounding area. You may come across wallabies and crimson rosellas as you make your way through the dense forest, along with a nice surprise of monarch butterflies if you’re lucky. The sound of cicadas will accompany you if you’re here in summer. In fact, don’t forget to bring your swimmers as the campground features a beach-like sandy area near the waterhole along Little Yabba Creek. The wide, well-formed track gives you a great leg workout on the ascent, and tests your knees and ankles on the way down. Therefore, proper hiking boots with ankle support can come in handy along with hiking poles to ease the pressure on your knees. An above average level of fitness is recommended. Let us begin by acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.

Highlights

Swim

Views

Environment

Mount Allan from Booloumba Creek Day Use Area

Mount Allan from Booloumba Creek Day Use Area

9.8 km return

4 h to 6 h

2 h 30 min to 3 h 30 min

Starting from Booloumba Creek Day Use Area, Kenilworth, this walk takes you to the summit of Mount Allan and back via the Conondale Range Great Walk Track, exploring the woodland of Conondale NP. The fire tower atop the summit provides you with lovely 360 views over the land, which makes this a great spot to watch the sunset. Notice the vegetation change as you ascend, with interesting fungi and strangler figs sprinkled throughout the track. The track is well-defined and signposted, with switchbacks to reduce the steepness. Nonetheless, it gets the heart pumping and gives you a good leg workout. Take plenty of water, especially on a hot and humid day. Depending on the weather and track conditions, you may need to park your vehicle 2-3 kilometres up north and cross Booloumba Creek twice on foot unless you have a 4WD vehicle with good clearance. Let us begin by acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.

Highlights

Views

Environment

Summer Falls to Booloumba

Summer Falls to Booloumba

10.1 km oneway

5 h to 7 h

Starting from Summer Falls walkers’ camp, Kenilworth, this walk takes you to the Booloumba Creek Day Use Area via the fourth and last section of the 56 km long Conondale Range Great Walk track. Notice the stunning change in vegetation as you head along the track. Open forest to wet sclerophyll, then some rainforest to finish it off. Remember to stop and turn back whilst en route to Mount Allan for great views towards Booloumba Gorge. The said mountain was able to withstand more erosion than the surrounding area due to the quartzite parts of the summit. The fire tower atop offers panoramic views of the Conondale Range. A section of the track is also accessible by mountain bike and horse riders, so keep an ear out. Depending on the weather and track conditions, you may need to park your vehicle 2-3 kilometres up north and cross Booloumba Creek twice on foot to get to the Day Use Area unless you have a 4WD vehicle with good clearance. Summer Falls track head is not accessible by car. Let us begin by acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.

Highlights

Environment

Artists Cascades from Booloumba Creek Day Use Area

10.5 km return

3 h 30 min to 5 h 30 min

Artists Cascades from Booloumba Creek Day Use Area

10.5 km

Return

Walk

3 h 30 min to 5 h 30 min

Starting from the Booloumba Creek Day Use Area, Kenilworth, this walk takes you to the Artists Cascades and back via the Conondale Range Great Walk Track, visiting the Strangler Cairn and potentially the abandoned gold mine along the way. Try to allow as many hours as possible to this walk as you won’t understand how much time has passed whilst enjoying the lovely swimming spot at the end. Besides the refreshing water, the track offers possible side trips to a unique cairn and a historic gold mine from the 1920s. Additionally, the wildlife in the area include goannas, skinks and wallabies as well as different species of snakes. Scan the treetops for a chance to spot yellow robins and black cockatoos. All in all, this adventure of a walk is rated amongst the best walks in eastern Queensland. Keep in mind that the track can be quite slippery when wet, along with an increased number of leeches. Depending on the weather and track conditions, you may need to park your vehicle 2-3 kilometres up north and cross Booloumba Creek (twice) on foot unless you have a 4WD vehicle with good clearance. Let us begin by acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.

Highlights

Environment

Booloumba Creek Day Use Area to Wongai Walkers Camp

Booloumba Creek Day Use Area to Wongai Walkers Camp

10.7 km oneway

4 h to 6 h

Starting from Booloumba Creek Day Use Area, Kenilworth, this walk takes you to the Wongai Walkers Campground via the first section of the 56 km long Conondale Range Great Walk track. This journey along Booloumba Creek is full of highlights such as the Strangler Cairn and the abandoned barred-up gold mine from the 1920s. You’ll also pass by two gorgeous waterfalls named Artists Cascades and Booloumba Falls. This adventurous hike can be made into a return walk as well, if you’re not doing the great walk. Keep in mind that the track can be quite slippery when wet, along with the higher number of leeches. Depending on the weather and track conditions, you may need to park your vehicle 2-3 kilometres up north and cross Booloumba Creek twice on foot unless you have a 4WD vehicle with good clearance. Let us begin by acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.

Highlights

Environment

Tallowwood to Summer Falls camp

Tallowwood to Summer Falls camp

14.2 km oneway

6 h to 7 h 30 min

Starting from Tallowwood walkers’ camp, Kenilworth, this walk takes you to the Summer Falls campsite via the third section of the 56 km long Conondale Range Great Walk track. Home to many nocturnal animals such as mountain brushtail possums and microbats, this part of the track also has many items left from the forestry era. The logging arch near the start and the trees labeled ‘photo’ are some of them. The said trees were marked to measure how much they regrew after being cut. Additionally, you can visit Peters Falls with a side trip for a nice change of scenery. Take care when crossing Sunday Creek Road. Let us begin by acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.

Highlights

Environment

Wongai to Tallowwood

16.5 km oneway

7 h to 8 h 30 min

Starting from the Wongai walkers’ camp, Kenilworth, this walk takes you to the Tallowwood campground via the second section of the 56 km long Conondale Range Great Walk track. Exploring the rainforest of the national park, this scenic journey through the woods features heaps of wildlife including short-nosed echidnas, rufous fantails and noisy pittas. The male regent bowerbird will be relatively easier to spot due to its distinct black & yellow body. On the other hand, gigantic strangler figs and yellow carabeens along the track are bound to draw your attention. The bodies of water you’ll come across are actually home to multiple frog species that are at risk of extinction. Enjoy the lovely views of the canopy as you hike through the land and see if you can see the coastline in the distance. Keep in mind that you’ll need a 4WD vehicle with good clearance to get to the start. Let us begin by acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.

Highlights

Views

Environment