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Parks and forests > Find a park or forest

Upper Mary Valley forests and national parks

Park alerts and park summary
Kenilworth State Forest and Forest Reserve
Amamoor State Forest and Forest Reserve
Jimna State Forest and Forest Reserve
Conondale National Park

Getting there and getting around

These state forests, national parks and forest reserves are in the Upper Mary Valley near the townships of Kenilworth, Conondale, Jimna and Amamoor.

To Kenilworth and Conondale

From Brisbane, follow the Bruce Highway north, and take the Landsborough exit. Go through Maleny, and follow the signs for Kenilworth. On the way to Kenilworth, you pass through a small town called Conondale. The turnoff to Booloumba Creek is about 13km past Conondale and the turnoff to Charlie Moreland is a further 0.5km.

Alternative access is via the Eumundi-Kenilworth Road, off the Bruce Highway. Kenilworth is about 28km from the highway. The turnoff to Charlie Moreland is about 7km past Kenilworth and the turnoff to Booloumba Creek and Conondale National Park is a further 0.5km.

Booloumba Creek Road and Sunday Creek Road are gravel roads, with several creek crossings, but are usually suitable for conventional, two-wheel-drive vehicles.

After heavy rain, check road conditions with the Kenilworth QPWS office before you go. Some roads may be closed due to deep water levels at creek crossings or slippery, wet road conditions.

To Jimna

Jimna is 40km north of Kilcoy on the Kilcoy-Murgon Road, and 42km from Kenilworth via the Sunday Creek Road.

To Amamoor

Turn off the Bruce Highway 20km south of Gympie and follow the signs to Amamoor township. The forest is 10km west of Amamoor along the Amamoor Creek Road. Access is suitable for conventional vehicles towing caravans.

Wheelchair accessibility

The areas listed below have wheelchair-accessible facilities but assistance is required, except at the Fig Tree walk, to negotiate grassed areas.

Park features

In the rugged Conondale Range are some of Queensland's most popular and picturesque forests. Luxuriant rainforests, tall eucalypt forest, mosaics of plantation forests, waterfalls, boulder-strewn creeks and spectacular scenery make this area well worth a visit.

The diverse forests provide homes for a wonderful variety of wildlife including more than 120 species of birds and many mammals. The threatened but seldom-seen yellow-bellied glider lives in the open forest.

At the junction of Peters and Booloumba Creeks, scenic Booloumba Gorge features cascades, falls and rock pools.

Jimna

This area has a colourful history of gold mining and timber milling. The last flurry of mining activity in the 1940s yielded 2.8kg of gold. Jimna township was built around the timber industry. Steam-driven sawmills processed timber at Jimna and near Sunday Creek. Today, a rich green mosaic of sustainable pine forest plantations and contrasting native forests create spectacular scenery.

Amamoor

Recreational areas at Amamoor are beside Amamoor Creek. The creek provides important habitat for many animals including the shy platypus and several rare and endangered frogs. The surrounding state forest produces some of the best plantation hoop pine in Queensland.

A changing land

Gubbi Gubbi, Wakka Wakka, Jinibara and Kabi Kabi people lived a traditional lifestyle in this area for thousands of years. Natural resources were plentiful and families were self-sufficient in all seasons. Bunya pines growing throughout this area were a very significant food source.

Arrival of European settlers changed the Aboriginal lifestyle forever. In 1842, Governor Gipps declared a large reserve to protect bunya pines because of their importance for Aboriginal people. It was illegal to settle or clear land where bunya pines occurred.

In 1860 the new Queensland Parliament rescinded the reserve status and settlement began in the early 1890s. Forests were cleared and dairy farms and fodder crops established. Townships grew around gold fossicking areas and a flourishing timber industry.

Today, strong cultural links with the land are maintained. Descendants of the traditional owners strive to share their knowledge and culture to help protect this region.

Upper Mary Valley's sustainable timber plantations continue to provide quality timber resources. Native forests are recognised for their high conservation and recreation values. These areas are managed to protect natural values and provide essential habitat for many plants and animals. Some rare and endangered species occur only in the Conondale and Blackall ranges.

Camping and accommodation

Camping

Kenilworth State Forest and Conondale National Park

There are three camping areas at Booloumba Creek and one at Charlie Moreland. All require a camping permit and fees apply. All camping areas have toilets and taps. Preferably bring a fuel stove. Barbecues and fire-rings are provided for cooking. Bring your own clean-milled firewood, as it is illegal to collect firewood from the forest. Generators are not permitted.

Booloumba Creek camping areas 1 and 3 are nestled in luxuriant rainforest. They are for tents only — no campervans, caravans or camper trailers are allowed in these areas.

Booloumba Creek camping area 4 and Charlie Moreland camping area are in grassy open forest and have sites suitable for tents, large groups, campervans, caravans and camper trailers. At Charlie Moreland camping area, the toilets and some campsites are wheelchair-accessible with assistance. A large enclosed paddock is provided beside the camping area for horses.

Camping permits for all campsites must be booked in advance, online or by phone.

Bush camping is permitted in remote areas of Kenilworth State Forest and Conondale National Park. Contact the Kenilworth QPWS office to obtain your permit.

Jimna State Forest

Peach Trees camping and picnic area is 45km north-west of Kilcoy along the Kilcoy-Murgon Road. Camp on grassy sites beside Yabba Creek, watch the water quietly near dusk and dawn and you might see platypus. Eastern grey kangaroos and possums are frequently seen here. There are tent and caravan sites, picnic tables, fireplaces (bring your own clean-milled firewood), taps, wheelchair-accessible toilets, coin-operated showers and a public phone.

Camping permits for all campsites must be booked in advance, online or by phone.

Amamoor State Forest

Travel 12km west from Amamoor township along the Amamoor Creek Road to Cedar Grove camping area. Tent and caravan campsites are in open grassy areas beside riverine rainforest, tall open forest and Amamoor Creek. Wheelchair-accessible toilets and cold showers, taps, barbecues and a public phone are provided.

About 4km west of Cedar Grove camping area, Amamoor Creek camping area provides flat, grassy campsites, suitable for tents and caravans, surrounded by ironbark and blue gum forest. Wheelchair-accessible toilets and cold showers, taps, barbecues and a public phone are provided. This is the only camping area where dogs are permitted. If you plan to camp here in August contact the Kenilworth park office first. The entire camping area is used for the annual Country Music Muster, a major event that runs for one week in August.

Bring a fuel stove for cooking. If you want to use the barbecues you will need to bring your own clean-milled firewood. It is illegal to collect firewood from the forest.

Camping permits for all campsites must be booked in advance, on line or by phone.

Other accommodation

A range of holiday accommodation is available in the Sunshine Coast hinterland. For more information see the tourism information links below.

Things to do

Driving

Registered four-wheel-drive vehicles may be driven on roads in these forests. A special permit is not required unless it is a commercial activity, an organised group activity or a competitive event.

Conditionally registered vehicles are not permitted. The driver must hold a valid licence to operate the vehicle

A scenic forest drive winds through Kenilworth State Forest and Conondale National Park, starting from QPWS Kenilworth office (map ref 1). Allow 90 minutes driving time for this 37km forest drive and extra time for picnics and bushwalks.

Travel past pine plantations established to ensure supply of timber resources. Stop at Charlie Moreland camping and picnic area and explore Little Yabba Creek (map ref 2).

Drive on to a lookout with views of hoop pine plantation, natural forest, Mt Allan and the distant Blackall Range (map ref 3).

Pass through open eucalypt forests of grey ironbark, grey gum and white mahogany with a grass and shrub understorey. Where there are moister conditions, tall open forests of brush box, flooded gum, tallowwood and blackbutt grow with a shrubby understorey. At Peters Creek, take a short 500m stroll along the picturesque creek lined with rainforest (map ref 4).

Drive through dense rainforest in Conondale National Park to Booloumba Falls (map ref 5). Enjoy a 3km return walk to cascades, waterfalls, rock pools and The Breadknife rock formation.

Booloumba View (map ref 6) offers scenic views of Booloumba Gorge and Mt Allan, where a fire tower is located.

Travel on, past Booloumba camping and picnic areas (map ref 7), to the Maleny-Kenilworth Road. Picnic facilities and a short rainforest circuit are provided near Little Yabba Creek (map ref 8).

When driving on forest roads — expect the unexpected!

Walking

Several walking tracks let you explore diverse forests, observe inquisitive wildlife and cool down in cascading creeks and swimming holes. The walks range from short strolls to the challenging Mt Allan hiking trail, which offers views over Booloumba Gorge.

Kenilworth and Conondale

Fig Tree Walk(map ref 8) — 1.2km (Allow 45 minutes) Easy grade

Stroll through magnificent rainforest on this short circuit. Watch out for large stinging tree leaves — look but don't touch! The circuit is suitable for wheelchair access.

Little Yabba circuit (map ref 2) — 1.5km return (Allow 45 minutes) Easy grade

Cross Little Yabba creek and walk through hoop pine plantation and regenerating rainforest. This is a good bird-watching area.

Piccabeen circuit (map ref 2) — 3.5km return (Allow 2 hours) Moderate grade

An extension of the Little Yabba circuit, this walk explores plantations, rainforest and a piccabeen palm grove.

Peters Creek walk (map ref 4) — 500m return (Allow 15 minutes) Easy grade

Walk through open forest and rainforest to a picturesque boulder-strewn creek with rock pools and cascades.

Booloumba Falls walk (map ref 5) — 3km return (Allow 2 hours) Moderate grade

Walk through tall open forest and discover this scenic creek's cascades, waterfalls and rock pools. At the junction of Peters and Booloumba creeks view The Breadknife rock formation.

Gold Mine Walk (map ref 7) — 5.2km return (Allow 2.5 hours) Difficult grade

A graded walk, through riparian rainforest with scenic views of Booloumba Creek and a steep gorge, leads to an old gold mine. The mine is inhabited by colonies of eastern horseshoe and common bentwing bats. It is closed to public access for safety reasons. A fungus that grows in the bat guano can cause lung disease.

Mt Allan fire tower hiking trail (map ref 9) — Difficult grade

This trail can be walked several ways:

The trail follows steep plantation roads from Charlie Moreland to the Mt Allan fire tower. A high level of fitness and bushwalking skills are required. Climb the tower (9.6m) for spectacular views up the Mary Valley to Maleny.

Jimna

Yabba Creek circuit — 700m (Allow 20 minutes) Easy grade

Beginning at the far end of the Peach Trees camping area, this walk crosses Yabba Creek and follows it before crossing again into the camping area near the main entrance. Watch the water quietly and you may see platypus, especially near dusk and dawn.

Eugenia circuit — 2.5km (Allow 1 hour) Moderate grade

Explore Yabba Creek. Walk through tall open forest and rainforest to a scenic creek lookout. Cross the creek on log bridges and meander back along the opposite bank. Lilly pilly trees grow densely along the creek bank. Creek crossings can flood after heavy rain.

Araucaria circuit — 4.5km (Allow 2 hours) Moderate grade

This walk features open forests of ironbark and grey gum, and dry rainforest with emergent bunya and hoop pines.

Amamoor

Walks from Amama day use area (map ref 1)

Platypus walk — 300 metres return (Allow 15 minutes) Easy grade

The path follows the creek to a viewing platform. Watch the water surface — you may be lucky enough to see platypus. This path is suitable for wheelchair access.

Amama walk — 1.5km return (Allow 40 minutes) Easy grade

Explore lush rainforest with buttressed trees, vines, ferns and mossy rocks. Along the rainforest-lined creek, look for the teardrop-shaped birds' nests which overhang the creek.

Walks from Cedar Grove camping area (map ref 2)

Rainforest walk — 1km return (Allow 30 minutes) Easy grade

Walk past large swimming holes and into sub-tropical rainforest featuring large red cedars, figs and a piccabeen palm grove. Along the creek are tall forest oaks.

Cedar Grove hiking trail — 4.6km return (Allow 4 hours) Moderate grade

Branch off the rainforest walk onto the hiking trail through open forest and hoop pine plantations. Cross Amamoor Creek and return to the camping area.

Walks from Amamoor Creek camping area (map ref 3)

Amamoor creek walk — 2km (Allow 1 hour) Easy grade

This walk follows the edge of the forest around the Country Music Muster site.

Amamoor Creek hiking trail — 2.5km (Allow 2.5 hours) Moderate grade

Walk through open, eucalypt forest and through forest with an interesting mix of rainforest plants that grow in drier areas on poor quality soils.

Picnic and day use areas

Picnic facilities are provided beside Little Yabba Creek and Booloumba Creek. Facilities include barbecues, picnic tables, toilets and tap water. Bring your own fuel stove or clean, milled firewood.

Horse riding and bicycling

Horses and bicycles may be ridden on roads in these forests. A special permit is not required unless it is a commercial activity, an organised group activity or a competitive event. A large, fenced paddock is provided beside Charlie Moreland camping area for horses.

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

Things to know before you go

Essentials to bring

Opening hours

These parks and forests are open 24 hours a day. The Kenilworth Office is usually open Monday to Friday from 8am to 4pm, park duties permitting.

Permits and fees

You will need a camping permit if you wish to camp in forests or parks. Fees apply.

Pets

Dogs (on a leash) are permitted only at Amamoor Creek camping area in Amamoor State Forest. Other domestic animals are not permitted.

Horses may be ridden on roads in these forests.

Climate and weather

Temperatures in the area exceed 30 degrees Celsius in summer and drop below zero in winter. Nights can be cool at any time. For more information see the tourism information links below

Fuel and supplies

Fuel and supplies are available at Kenilworth and Maleny. For more information see the tourism information links below.

Staying safe

Stay on track — Tell a responsible person where you are going and when you should return. Wear sturdy shoes. Carry adequate clothing, water and snack food.

Supervise children — natural areas have hazards with which children are unfamiliar — creeks, cliff edges, stinging plants and defensive wildlife.

Human food is not for wildlife — it can cause overpopulation, illness and aggressive behaviour.

Water hazards — Never dive into creeks or rock pools, as they contain submerged rocks and logs. Water depth is unpredictable. Rock surfaces can be slippery.

Carry a first aid kit — use repellent on exposed skin and shoes to discourage mosquitoes, leeches and ticks. Remove ticks immediately.

Drink tap water only — creek water may contain organisms that can cause illness.

Take care with fire — use constructed fireplaces and make sure the fire is out before you leave. Preferably bring a fuel stove.

Avoid food poisoning — store food at appropriate temperatures and out of reach of foraging wildlife.

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

Looking after the park

Help protect our natural resources by practising minimal impact recreation. Take all your rubbish out of the park. Remove excess food packaging at home, before your visit to the forest, and pack strong sealable bags or containers to store food and rubbish.

Creeks near camping and picnic areas supply water to the Mary River catchment's domestic water supplies for the Sunshine Coast, Gympie and Maryborough. Please keep them clean.

See Caring for parks and forests for more information about protecting our environment and heritage in parks.

Park management

The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) manages these forests and parks. Management plans for these areas will be prepared in the future.

Tourism information links

For more information about activities, tours and accommodation in this region, contact:

Maroochy Tourism (6th Avenue Office)
Maleny Visitor Information Centre
Tourism Sunshine Coast

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

Further information

Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service
  • Sunday Creek Road, Kenilworth
  • PO Box 52, Kenilworth QLD 4574
  • ph (07) 5446 0925
  • fax (07) 5446 0966
EPA Customer Service Centre
  • info@epa.qld.gov.au
  • 160 Ann Street, Brisbane
  • PO Box 15155, City East QLD 4002
  • ph (07) 3227 8185
  • fax (07) 3227 8749
Smart Service (for camping bookings)

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Last updated: 13 November 2008