Discover Conondale: Nature, Trails and Landscapes

Around Conondale, forest and creek landscapes offer a range of ways to spend time outdoors. Nearby Conondale National Park has lush rainforests, tall eucalypt forests, waterfalls and creeks lined with boulders. There are also trails to specific destinations such as Artists Cascades and Mount Allan, as well as the longer Conondale Range Great Walk. When planning your trip, it is worth keeping in mind the different time and equipment requirements of these options.

Camping at Booloumba Creek

There are three camping areas at Booloumba Creek. The right area for you also depends on whether you are travelling with a tent or a 4WD-capable camping vehicle. Area 1 is suitable for tents and also has three sites for high-clearance 4WD campervans and off-road camper trailers. Area 3 is for tents only. Area 4 is suitable for tents, high-clearance 4WD campervans, off-road caravans and off-road camper trailers.

The areas therefore differ considerably in the types of vehicles they are intended for. Before planning, compare these details with your own vehicle type. A high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicle is required to cross Booloumba Creek Road. Take this access requirement into account when choosing a camping area.

Forest and creek landscapes in the national park

Conondale National Park features a range of landscapes: lush rainforest, tall eucalypt forest, waterfalls and creeks with boulders along their banks. A trail runs through dense subtropical rainforest and wet sclerophyll forest along Booloumba Creek Gorge to Artists Cascades. Forest types and waterways combine to shape the route to this named destination.

The Strangler Cairn also brings together a distinctive form and a special botanical feature. A winding trail passes an egg-shaped rock sculpture planted with a Strangler Fig. The cairn is therefore a different destination from the waterfalls: here, the sculpture and the tree growing on it take centre stage.

Trails to Artists Cascades and Mount Allan, and the Great Walk

The national park’s trails offer a range of destinations and time commitments. The trail along Booloumba Creek Gorge leads to Artists Cascades. Another route runs from the Booloumba Creek Day-use Area to Mount Allan. There, a 9.6-metre-high fire tower is accessible by stairs and offers panoramic views over the Mary Valley and the surrounding Conondale Ranges. Check park alerts before climbing, as current access to the tower may be affected.

For a multi-day trip, the Conondale Range Great Walk is a different undertaking: it is 56 kilometres long and usually takes about four days. The circuit starts and ends at the Booloumba Creek Day-use Area in Conondale National Park. Its stated length and usual duration help you distinguish it from a walk to a single destination and allow enough time for planning. Check park alerts for current access conditions.

Mountain biking is permitted on vehicle tracks in Conondale National Park unless signs state otherwise. Follow current signs, closures and warnings. This helps distinguish cycling from hiking without assuming that the same rules apply to all trails.

Picnicking in Conondale

Fritz Park is recommended as a picnic spot for a day trip to Conondale. This offers another way to plan your visit if you would like to spend time in town. If you plan to picnic there, make the park your destination; no additional information about facilities or opening hours is implied.

Discover more destinations: Oakey, Longreach, Grandchester, Slacks Creek, Moura, Burleigh Waters, Newell, Cambroon

For the broader travel overview: Queensland.