The Conondale Range Great Walk showcases the very best of Conondale National Park. Ancient rainforest, cascading waterfalls, crystal clear creeks, tall open forest, and expansive views are just some of the spectacular features of this walk. Visitors can take short strolls or complete the full four-day 56km circuit walk.
The Conondale Range Great Walk starts and finishes at the Booloumba Creek day-use area in Conondale National Park. The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) has produced a Conondale Range Great Walk Topographic Map, which is essential for planning and undertaking your Great Walk. They can be purchased from a number of Great Walks topographic map sales outlets.
The four sections of the Great Walk are marked as S1 to S4 on the topographic map and described briefly in detail in the following section. Distances and times shown for each section of the Great Walk are approximate. Allow extra time for unexpected delays, rest stops, sightseeing and meal breaks. Always plan to reach your destination well before dark.
Track conditions
The Conondale Range Great Walk is a clearly marked track with a generally firm and stable surface. Some sections include very steep grades and creek crossings. This Great Walk track varies in width as its route follows new walking track, old forest roads and older snigging tracks.
The Conondale Range Great Walk is a Grade 4 track. Day walks within the Great Walk are classified as Grade 3 and Grade 4.
Section information
S1 Booloumba Creek day-use area to Wongai walkers’ camp
Grade 4
Distance: 11km one way
Time: allow 6hrs walking time
S2 Wongai walkers’ camp to Tallowwood walkers’ camp
Grade 4
Distance: 17km one way
Time: allow 8hrs walking time
S3 Tallowwood walkers’ camp to Summer Falls walkers’ camp
Grade 4
Distance: 15.2km one way
Time: allow 7hrs walking time
S4 Summer Falls walkers’ camp to Booloumba Creek day-use area
Grade 4
Distance: 12km one way
Time: allow 6.5hrs walking time, including Mt Allan fire tower walk 1.5km return
More information can be found here.
Water
Tank water is available at all walkers’ camps. Treat all water before use. Carry enough water for each day’s walk. It is recommended that each walker carry a minimum of four to six litres of water per day.
Grade 4 (Hard) -
Challenging Walks for Experienced Walkers: Grade 4 on the
AWTGS signifies challenging walking tracks. Bushwalking experience is recommended for these tracks, which may be long, rough, and very steep. Directional signage may be limited, requiring a good sense of navigation. These walks are suited for experienced walkers who are comfortable with steeper inclines, rougher terrain, and potentially longer distances.
Walk safely
Expect the best but prepare for the worst—you are responsible for your own safety. Sections of the Great Walk are remote and isolated. Accidents do happen, even to experienced bushwalkers. Nature can be unpredictable—storms, fires and floods can happen in a flash. Be aware of your surroundings, stay alert, use your senses and exercise sound judgement.
Don’t forget to take the Conondale Range Great Walk topographic map and a compass with you. A GPS (Global Positioning System) device is a useful optional extra however make sure you pack extra batteries. Check your map regularly to mark your progress against features on the track. Plan to reach camp well before dark and before bad weather sets in. Keep your group together. If someone becomes ill or difficult weather sets in, make camp and wait for conditions to improve or help to arrive. Know your group’s limitations and change your plans as necessary.
- Gravel Path
- Rough Trail
- Waterfalls
- Rivers
- Rock Scrambling
- Steep Terrain
- River Crossings
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Untreated Water
- Overnight Campsites
Total distance: 55018 m
Max elevation: 834 m
Min elevation: 156 m
Total climbing: 2503 m
Total descent: -2503 m
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The Conondale National Park is located 15km south of Kenilworth township, and about one hour west of Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast. 130km north of Brisbane.
From Brisbane, follow the 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 Sunday Creek Road is about 7km past Kenilworth and the turn-off to Booloumba Creek day-use and camping areas is a further 500m.
Alternative access is via Maleny. Go through Maleny and follow the signs to Kenilworth. On the way to Kenilworth, pass through a small town called Conondale. The turn-off to Booloumba Creek day-use and camping areas is about 13km past Conondale and the turn-off to Sunday Creek Road is a further 500m.
All park roads are gravel and at present are only suitable for high-clearance four-wheel drive vehicles. Booloumba Creek area roads include several natural creek crossings. Heavy rain can flood creek crossings. If it's flooded, forget it! Wait it out. Visit the QLD parks and forests website for current Park alerts and closures.
- 4WD Access
- Gravel Road
- Vehicle Ford
- Large Car Park
- Public Toilets
- Untreated Water
- Camping Area
Conondale National Park is 130 km north of Brisbane in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland near the town of Conondale in the south east Queensland bioregion. The park covers an area of 35,648 hectares protecting large areas of subtropical rainforest, woodlands, wet and dry sclerophyll forest including Queensland’s tallest tree. The park contains areas of regenerating forest which have been previously logged; areas of forest plantations also border the park. The park is currently managed by the Department of National Parks, Recreation, Sports and Racing (NPRSR) under the Nature Conservation Act 1992.
Since the 1860s the Conondale region has been impacted by land clearing for agriculture, mining and logging, today the park is a refuge for many species now rare and threatened. Threatened species such as the plumed frogmouth, giant barred frog, Conondale crayfish, spotted-tailed quoll, Gympie nut and richmond birdwing butterfly have been recorded in the park and are currently targeted for conservation management to mitigate threats to their survival. Species of interest include the southern gastric brooding frog which mysteriously disappeared in 1981 and is presumed extinct.
The landscape has a rugged topography with gorges, valleys and a number of mountains above 700m with the highest peak being Mount Langley at 868m. Throughout the park there are scenic waterfalls such as Booloumba Creek Falls, cascades and numerous boulder strewn creeks. The Conondale range forms a catchment divide between the Brisbane River and Mary River with the southernmost tributaries of the Mary river forming in Booloumba and Yabba creek.[6] The park also contains wetlands of national significance. These tributaries are important for the threatened Mary river cod which has declined in these creeks.
Gold mining at Kilcoy Creek, 1933
The region has a sub-tropical climate with a mean annual rainfall of 1,500 mm, the majority of rainfall occurs seasonally in summer (December–March) usually with heavy downpours and winters generally cold and dry with occasional frosts. Major vegetation types include a mix of complex notophyll vine forest, sub-tropical rainforest, woodlands, bangalow palm forests, wet sclerophyll and dry sclerophyll forest with rainforest occurring mainly at higher altitudes and along watercourses.
For more information on this hiking trail, please visit Queensland.com
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While planning your hike, it’s important to check official government sources for updated information, temporary closures and trail access requirements. Before hitting the trail, check local weather and bushfire advice for planned burns and bushfire warnings and let someone know before you go. Plan ahead and hike safely.
Adventure with peace of mind: Fill out your trip intentions form. Before you hit the trail, fill out an online form to privately send important details about your hike to your family or friends. If you don’t return on time, they can easily alert emergency services, preventing worry and ensuring a swift response. Hike with peace of mind and enjoy your outdoor adventure to the fullest. Be smart, be safe: Register your plans here.
What you carry in your pack will depend on the weather, terrain, time of year, type of adventure, and personal preferences. Having trouble deciding what gear’s right for you? My free planning, food and packing checklists provide an introduction to things your could consider (as well as the Ten Essentials) on your day, overnight and multi-day adventures. Customise your kit according to your personal needs, always considering safety first.Â
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1 Review on “Conondale Range Great Walk (56km)”
I completed the Connondale Range Great Walk in October 2022. I found it be a beautiful walk with a range of points of interest throughout.
As I don’t have a 4WD, I started the walk from Charlie Moreland Campground and Day Use area just to the North of the National Park. This was advised to be a safe place to leave my car and approximately 8km to the north of the designated trailhead. This variation did add a further 17km to my overall trip.
Once I’d traversed the top of Mt Allan the trail down towards the trailhead was easy to follow and well shaded. If you intend to commence the walk from Booloumba Creek, be aware that the Day Use area where the walk commences from has been damaged by storms and is currently closed. It is suggested by QPWS to use Camping Area #3 just up stream however, these can be busy.
Approximately two thirds of the walk uses Fire Trails and the remainder is on narrow footpads. Whilst a majority of the walk is well signed at intersections, some care is needed in the more remote sections of the forest as the trail does become faint at times due to the large amounts of leaf litter and tree falls. The section that I found the most challenging was the first few Kilometres of S2.
The campsites were neat with drop toilets and rainwater tanks. I used the water from these tanks with puri-tabs without a problem. The tank at the Tallowood Campsite seemed faulty, so perhaps try and keep some extra water handy. Peter’s Falls is about 1.5km away being the closest good water source. The campsites should be booked via the QPWS website but are not expensive. If you’re planning on using the Topo map, obtain one before setting out as I could not find one in Maleny and were advised they have not been available for some time locally.
My personal highlights were Artists Cascades and Summer Falls. I felt these were the most dramatic and accessible of the falls that I visited. Due to a late start and the extra time to traverse Mt Allan, I was late heading past the falls upstream of Artists Cascades.
Given that most of the Trail is on fire trails and well prepared foot pads especially either side of Booloumba Creek Day Use Area, the times for traversing the sectors are generous. Due to deteriorating weather I chose to do S3 and S4 (amended to Charlie Moreland Day Use Area) in one day. In total I completed the walk, 73km, in 3 days.
An alternative to completing the whole walk in one hit is to use the Booloumba Creek camping areas a base to do day or overnight walks to the various points of interest.