Artists Cascades from Booloumba Creek Day Use Area

3 h 30 min to 5 h 30 min

10.5 km
return

↑ 469 m
↓ -469 m

Hard track
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.
Show all
Downloads GPX PDF

+
-
Safer Bushwalks
Tips on staying safe on track
Before you start any bushwalk ensure you;
• Tell someone you trust where you are going and what to do if you are overdue
• Have adequate equipment, supplies, skills & knowledge for the whole journey
• Consider the impact of weather forecasts, park/track closures & fire dangers
• Can respond to emergencies & call for help at any point
• Are healthy and fit enough for this journey
If not, change plans and stay safe. It is okay to delay and ask people for help.
+
-
Getting There
Transport options and directions
Start (-26.6448896,152.6496403)
Mode Car (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.)
DirectionsFrom Bruce Highway, M1
  • Turn on to then drive for 330 m
  • At roundabout, take exit 2 onto Bli Bli Road, 23 and drive for another 1 km
  • Turn left onto Coronation Avenue and drive for another 1.3 km
  • Turn right onto Price Street and drive for another 870 m
  • Keep left and drive for another 70 m
  • Continue onto Nambour Mapleton Road, 23 and drive for another 10.4 km
  • Turn right onto Obi Obi Road and drive for another 20 km
  • Turn left onto Eumundi Kenilworth Road, 22 and drive for another 1 km
  • Turn slight left onto Elizabeth Street, 22 and drive for another 7.5 km
  • Turn right onto Booloumba Creek Road and drive for another 5.3 km
  • Turn right and drive for another 390 m
+
-
Track Notes
Turn by turn instructions & maps
Getting started
From Booloumba Creek Day Use Area(off Booloumba Creek Road), follow the signage and head along the singular walking track(Conondale Range Great Walk) as you move directly away from the dirt/gravel road. After about 325 metres, turn sharp left at the 4-way intersection to continue along the "Artists Cascades from Booloumba Creek Day Use Area" Track.....
Turn map Directions & comments
Start.
There is a toilet (about 25 m back from the start).
After 255 m come to the "Booloumba Creek No 3 Campground" (110 m on your left).
After another 95 m (at the intersection of Boloomba Ck No1 campground to Great Walk & Conondale Range Great Walk) turn left, to head along Conondale Range Great Walk.
After another 980 m (at the intersection of Conondale Range Great Walk & Creek circuit) continue straight, to head along Conondale Range Great Walk.
After another 550 m pass a seat (5 m on your right)., has a backrest.
The starting point of an alternate route. This alternate route lets you visit the abandoned gold mine entrance that is barred up for safety reasons. Features a steep incline and a gradual decline if you\'re coming from the day use area direction. To take the alternate route veer right here. Details below.
After another 100 m (at the intersection of Gold Mine Circuit & Conondale Range Great Walk) continue straight, to head along Conondale Range Great Walk.
The alternate route finishes here. Veer right to rejoin the main route at the 2.2 km waypoint. Details below.
After another 210 m (at the intersection of Gold Mine Circuit & Conondale Range Great Walk) veer left, to head along Conondale Range Great Walk.
The starting point of an optional sidetrip. This little side trip takes you to the Strangler Cairn, a unique work of art made by the renowned artist Andy Goldsworthy. To start this optional side trip turn right here. On returning from this side trip error >360 when you get back to this intersection. Details below.
After another 350 m continue straight, to head along Conondale Range Great Walk.
After another 2.8 km come to a ford.
About 15 m past the end is "Artists Cascades".
Turn around here and retrace the main route for 5.3 km to get back to the start.

This alternate route lets you visit the abandoned gold mine entrance that is barred up for safety reasons. Features a steep incline and a gradual decline if you\'re coming from the day use area direction.
Turn map Directions & comments
At the intersection of Gold Mine Circuit & Conondale Range Great Walk Start heading along Gold Mine Circuit (a walking track).
After 280 m find the "Gold Mine" (35 m on your right).
Gold Mine
Gold Mine

An abondoned barred-up gold mine from the 1920s.
+
-
An abondoned barred-up gold mine from the 1920s.

Turn left, to head along Gold Mine Circuit.
After another 560 m come to the end.
At the end of this alternate route, rejoin the main route.

This little side trip takes you to the Strangler Cairn, a unique work of art made by the renowned artist Andy Goldsworthy.
Turn map Directions & comments
Start.
After another 60 m come to "Strangler Cairn".
Strangler Cairn
Strangler Cairn

A granite cairn made by renowned artist Andy Goldsworthy that has a strangler fig sapling planted on top of it, standing 4 metres tall above ground. It is expected that the roots of the strangler fig will wrap around the man-made cairn in about a hundred years, making it an exceptional work of art for future generations.
+
-
A granite cairn made by renowned artist Andy Goldsworthy that has a strangler fig sapling planted on top of it, standing 4 metres tall above ground. It is expected that the roots of the strangler fig will wrap around the man-made cairn in about a hundred years, making it an exceptional work of art for future generations.

The end.
Turn around and retrace your steps back the 60 m to the main route.
+
-
Terrain
Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Artists Cascades from Booloumba Creek Day Use Area


Grading
Class 4/6
Hard track
Length 10.5 km
Time 3 h 30 min to 5 h 30 min
Quality of track Rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely (4/6)
Gradient Short steep hills (3/6)
Signage Directional signs along the way (3/6)
Infrastructure Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6)
Experience Required Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6)
Weather Foretasted & unexpected storms and severe weather may impact on navigation and safety (4/6)

Some facilities on route
Camp site: There is one 230 m from the start.

Toilet: There is one -24 m back from the start.

Seat: There is one 1.8 km from the start.


Order of key facilities on route
ItemFrom StartName & link to notes
Toilet
-24 m[toilet]
Camp site
230 mBooloumba Creek No 3 Campground
Seat
1.8 km[seat]
+
-
Reviews & Feedback
Share your experience
+
-
Weather & Alerts
Check forecasts & closures
Show Full Weather
Alerts and Closures
Show all alerts
Show all alerts
Show all alerts
+
-
Other Journeys
Discover nearby and similar journeys
Some of the information and maps on this page was generated using data from the awesome © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Please see how you can embed some widgets, access data and other stuff to that might be helpful.