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Conondale National Park: Booloumba Falls

Kenilworth

Walking1.5 kmIntermediateOne-wayDogs prohibited
2 Queensland Parks alerts for Conondale National Park
See them under Safety

Walk to the beautiful clear Booloumba Falls, one of the highlights of the Conondale Range Great Walk.

Suitability

Suitable for walkers with some experience.

Highlights

By the time you reach the Booloumba Falls carpark (via 4WD or foot) you’re at 500m above sea level. Take a short but very beautiful Downhill walk to the falls, cascading past a rock pinnacle nicknamed the breadknife for its serrated razor formation. It’s probably the most impressive part of the Conondale Range Great Walk complete with a great lookout, bubbling brook and sublime swimming holes along the way.

And yes, you can walk there and back in one day too from the Booloumba Creek camping and day use area. It would be about 17 km for the round trip.

Afterwards

There are numerous walks to be done in this area including the Strangler Cairn, Mount Allan Summit and the full 56 km Conondale Range Great Walk.

After your walk you can head to Mapleton township or Kenilworth, or even further afield to Imbil, Kandanga or Amamoor. In the latter there is a great place for Devonshire teas on the week-end – check out the blue and white teapot!

How to get there

To the starting point: Follow the M1 / Bruce Highway north, and take the Kenilworth exit. Follow the signs for Kenilworth, travelling along the Eumundi-Kenilworth Road for about 28km. Go through Kenilworth and continue toward Maleny. The turn-off to Booloumba Creek day-use and camping areas is on your right about 7.5 km, just after Little Yabba Creek Park. Follow this road for another 7 km and you will get to the Booloumba Creek Day area.

If you have a tough 4WD, it’s possible to drive right up to the Booloumba Falls carpark. The walk on the map starts from here, otherwise start from the Day Use Area.

NOTE: Queensland Parks advises: All park roads are gravel and at present suitable for high clearance four-wheel-drive vehicles ONLY. Booloumba Creek Road includes three creek crossings. Many keen walkers park their cars on the side of the road before the first creek crossing and walk in.

To the end point: The end point is the same as the starting point.

About this place

  • Suitable for walking
  • Dogs prohibited
Walking track grade
Grade 3
A formed track with some obstacles, up to 20km. Expect short steep sections and plenty of steps. Some walking experience helps.

Graded on the Queensland Parks walking track scale. Walk with care(opens in a new tab)

Managed by
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service
Conondale National Park(opens in a new tab)

To report damage, a hazard or another problem with the trail:

Safety

Queensland Parks alerts

Conondale National Park is managed by Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service. These are their current alerts for the park, and some may be about other parts of it. Park alerts in the Sunshine Coast region(opens in a new tab)

Mt Allan fire tower closed to climbing (update 8 Jun)
Safety Alert - Fallen trees and planned works on Conondale Range Great Walk (update 29 Sep)

In an emergency, call 000. Always adventure safely!

  • Always follow any local signage, it contains key information and conditions can change at any time.
  • Use the trails with consideration for your abilities, be prepared for the adventure ahead:
    • Be aware of the weather conditions, found here: Bureau of Meteorology — Queensland(opens in a new tab)
    • Always wear appropriate clothing, focus on good footwear.
    • Always bring more water than you think you will need.
    • Be Sun Safe!
    • Always let someone know where you are going that isn't going with you.
  • Just getting started try this site for good useful information: Trail Hiking Australia — hike safety(opens in a new tab)
  • Sunshine Coast Council does its best to keep this information current, but things change, so be aware that a trail may not be as listed here.

Review by Nicole7 years ago

This is a wonderful walk for summer with a great swimming hole. The only downfall of this is the walk back to the car park is an incline and you're hot and sweaty by the time you get back to the car. Would definitely recommend though.