Artists Cascades Hike (11.5km)

About 130 kilometres north of Brisbane, Conondale National Park stretches across 35,648 hectares in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, protecting a diverse landscape of subtropical rainforest, woodlands, and sclerophyll forests. It is home to Queensland’s tallest tree and features pockets of regenerating forest, remnants of past logging operations. Bordering the park, former plantation areas hint at the region’s history of timber harvesting. Now managed under the Nature Conservation Act 1992, the park serves as a refuge for rare and threatened species while offering a rugged and unspoiled wilderness for those who seek to explore its remote trails and waterways.

The Conondale region has seen significant environmental change since the 1860s, with land clearing for agriculture, mining, and logging shaping much of the terrain. Despite these impacts, the park remains a sanctuary for a variety of species, including the plumed frogmouth, giant barred frog, Conondale crayfish, spotted-tailed quoll, Gympie nut, and Richmond birdwing butterfly. Conservation efforts focus on mitigating threats to their survival, ensuring these species continue to inhabit the area. Of particular historical interest is the southern gastric-brooding frog, which was once recorded in the park before mysteriously disappearing in 1981. Presumed extinct, its loss remains one of the more intriguing mysteries in Australian wildlife conservation.

The park’s rugged topography is defined by deep gorges, steep valleys, and peaks that rise above 700 metres, with Mount Langley standing as the highest at 868 metres. Numerous waterfalls, cascades, and boulder-strewn creeks weave through the landscape, providing vital water sources for local wildlife. Booloumba Creek Falls is among the park’s most striking natural features, offering a glimpse into the power and beauty of the waterways that have carved through the range over time. The Conondale Range forms a natural divide between the Brisbane and Mary River catchments, with the park’s southernmost tributaries feeding into Booloumba and Yabba creeks. These waterways play an important role in sustaining the critically endangered Mary River cod, a species that has seen significant decline in recent decades.

With an annual rainfall of around 1,500 millimetres, Conondale National Park experiences distinct seasonal variations. Heavy summer downpours between December and March bring lush growth and increased creek flows, while winters tend to be cool and dry, with occasional frosts settling across the higher elevations. The park’s vegetation is equally diverse, ranging from dense notophyll vine forests and subtropical rainforest to stands of Bangalow palms, wet and dry sclerophyll forests, and expansive woodlands. Rainforest is most commonly found at higher altitudes and along the waterways, creating a shifting mosaic of habitats that support an incredible variety of plant and animal life.

This rich natural landscape tells a story of resilience, change, and ongoing conservation efforts. Whether exploring its remote trails, pausing by a secluded waterfall, or simply taking in the dense, layered greenery of its forests, Conondale National Park offers a glimpse into a wild and ancient world that continues to evolve with each passing season.