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Parks and forests > Find a park or forest

Mapleton Forest Reserve

  • Nature, culture and history

    • Park alerts and park summary

    Getting there and getting around

    From Brisbane, travel 105km north along the Bruce Highway to Nambour, then travel 11km west to Mapleton.

    To reach the Mapleton day use area and the southern end of the Gheerulla trail bike track, turn onto Mapleton Forest Drive and travel 2km north from Mapleton.

    To reach the Gheerulla camping area and trail bike area from Mapleton, continue through Mapleton on Obi Obi Road for 19km and turn right into the Eumundi — Kenilworth Road. After 5km turn right into Sam Kelly Road. The camping area is 2km down the road.

    To reach the Gheerulla camping area and trail bike area from the north, take the Eumundi-Kenilworth Road turnoff from the Bruce Highway and travel 24km, turn left into Sam Kelly Road and continue 2km to the camping area.

    Wheelchair accessibility

    There are no wheelchair-accessible tracks or facilities in Mapleton Forest Reserve. Nearby, Mapleton Falls National Park has a wheelchair-accessible lookout with views of the waterfall and rainforest valley below.

    Park features

    In the Sunshine Coast hinterland, Mapleton Forest Reserve protects diverse forest types and offers a range of recreational opportunities including a scenic forest drive and a popular trail bike area.

    Camping and accommodation

    Camping

    Mapleton Forest Reserve has one car camping area and two walkers’ camps. Camping permits are required and fees apply.

    Gheerulla camping area is accessible by car and offers picnic tables, toilets and barbecues. If you plan to use the barbecues, bring your own firewood, as it is illegal to collect wood from the forest. Preferably bring and use a fuel stove.

    For walkers on the Sunshine Coast Hinterland Great Walk, there are walkers' camps at Thilba Thalba and Ubajee in Mapleton Forest Reserve, and at Flaxton in Maleny Forest Reserve. Please see the Sunshine Coast Hinterland Great Walk for more information.

    Other accommodation

    There is a wide range of holiday accommodation in and around Montville, Mapleton, Maleny and other towns in the Sunshine Coast hinterland. For more information see the tourism information links below.

    Things to do

    Walking

    Pilularis forest walk — 800m (Allow 20 minutes) Grade: Easy

    This walk leads through tall open forest with an understorey of ferns and rainforest shrubs.

    Bonyee walk — 400m (Allow 10 minutes) Grade: Easy

    This track is named using local Gubbi Gubbi language for bunya. The walk features a very large bunya pine, rainforest and a piccabeen palm grove.

    Sunshine Coast Hinterland Great Walk

    Experience the subtropical beauty of the Sunshine Coast hinterland on this 58km Great Walk through the spectacular Blackall Range. Take a half-day stroll, a full day walk or stay for overnight adventures.

    Picnic and day use areas

    At the Mapleton day use area, on the site of the old forest station in the headwaters of Cedar Creek, are picnic tables, toilets and barbecues. If you plan to use the barbecues provided, bring your own firewood, as it is illegal to collect wood from the forest. Preferably bring and use a fuel stove. Tall blackbutt trees (Eucalyptus pilularis) dominate the forest in this area.

    Driving

    The Mapleton Forest Drive starts just north of Mapleton and leads to spectacular views of the coast and hinterland from Point Glorious. Scribbly gums and grass trees grow around the lookout.

    Trail bike riding

    At Gheerulla trail bike area, about 26km of trail bike circuits and limited camping facilities are provided for licensed riders using registered motorcycles. A special permit is not required.

    Ride responsibly

    Horse riding

    Read about the proposed horse riding trail networks in the Caboolture, Bellthorpe, Kenilworth and Mapleton region.

    Abseiling

    At Point Glorious, abseiling enthusiasts can apply their skills on the rhyolite bluffs. Anchor points are provided near the lookout. Do not interfere with fixed equipment on the cliff or anchor to trees or the lookout platform.

    For your safety when abseiling:

    Things to know before you go

    Essentials to bring

    Opening hours

    The forest is open 24 hours a day, but for your safety, walk and ride in daylight hours only. The QPWS Kenilworth Office is usually open Monday to Friday from 8am to 4pm, and the QPWS Maleny office from 7.30am to 4pm, park duties permitting.

    Permits and fees

    Camping permits are required and fees apply.

    Climate and weather

    Always check weather conditions before your visit. Be aware that forest areas are hazardous during strong winds, as tree branches may fall. After high rainfall, which occurs mostly in spring and summer, check park conditions with the QPWS Maleny office. During severe wet weather, some tracks flood and are closed for public safety.

    Local temperatures can rise above 30 degrees Celsius in summer and drop to freezing point overnight in winter. Nights can be cool at any time of the year. For more information see the tourism information links below.

    Fuel and supplies

    Fuel and supplies are available in Mapleton and other nearby towns. For more information see the tourism information links below.

    Staying safe

    Forest roads — expect the unexpected!

    Unsealed forest roads can be steep and winding.

    For more information about staying safe while visiting national parks, please read the guidelines on safety in parks and forests.

    Looking after the park

    See the guidelines on caring for parks and forests for more information about protecting our environment and heritage in parks.

    Park management

    Mapleton Forest Reserve is part of a network of parks and forests that protect the Blackall Range's remnant forest communities, provide essential wildlife habitat and scenic places for nature-based recreation.

    See the description of Blackall Range's natural environment, culture and history for more information about the history and values of Mapleton Forest Reserve.

    Tourism information links

    Montville Tourist Information Centre
    • Main Street, Montville
    • ph (07) 5478 5544
    Maroochy Tourism

    For tourism information for all regions in Queensland see www.queenslandholidays.com.au.

    Further information

    QPWS Maleny
    • 61 Bunya St, Maleny QLD 4552
    • ph (07) 5494 3983
    • fax (07) 5494 3986
    QPWS Kenilworth
    • Sunday Creek Road, Kenilworth
    • PO Box 52, Kenilworth QLD 4574
    • ph (07) 5446 0925
    • fax (07) 5446 0966
    EPA Customer Service Centre
    • 160 Ann Street, Brisbane
    • PO Box 15155, City East QLD 4002
    • ph (07) 3227 8185
    • fax (07) 3227 8749
    • email csc@epa.qld.gov.au
    Smart Service (for camping bookings)

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    Last updated: 18 July 2007