Artists Cascades from Booloumba Creek Day Use Area

Starting from the Booloumba Creek Day Use Area, Kenilworth, this walk takes you to the Artists Cascades and back via the Conondale Range Great Walk Track, visiting the Strangler Cairn and potentially the abandoned gold mine along the way. Try to allow as many hours as possible to this walk as you won’t understand how much time has passed whilst enjoying the lovely swimming spot at the end. Besides the refreshing water, the track offers possible side trips to a unique cairn and a historic gold mine from the 1920s. Additionally, the wildlife in the area include goannas, skinks and wallabies as well as different species of snakes. Scan the treetops for a chance to spot yellow robins and black cockatoos. All in all, this adventure of a walk is rated amongst the best walks in eastern Queensland. Keep in mind that the track can be quite slippery when wet, along with an increased number of leeches. Depending on the weather and track conditions, you may need to park your vehicle 2-3 kilometres up north and cross Booloumba Creek (twice) on foot unless you have a 4WD vehicle with good clearance. Let us begin by acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.

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Safer Bushwalks Tips on staying safe on track
Before you start any bushwalk ensure you;
• Tell someone you trust where you are going and what to do if you are overdue
• Have adequate equipment, supplies, skills & knowledge for the whole journey
• Consider the impact of weather forecasts, park/track closures & fire dangers
• Can respond to emergencies & call for help at any point
• Are healthy and fit enough for this journey
If not, change plans and stay safe. It is okay to delay and ask people for help.

Getting There Transport options and directions

Start	(-26.6448896,152.6496403)
Mode	Car (Depending on the weather and track conditions, you may need to park your vehicle 2-3 kilometres up north and cross Booloumba Creek twice on foot unless you have a 4WD vehicle with good clearance.)
Directions	From Bruce Highway, M1 Turn on to then drive for 330 m At roundabout, take exit 2 onto Bli Bli Road, 23 and drive for another 1 km Turn left onto Coronation Avenue and drive for another 1.3 km Turn right onto Price Street and drive for another 870 m Keep left and drive for another 70 m Continue onto Nambour Mapleton Road, 23 and drive for another 10.4 km Turn right onto Obi Obi Road and drive for another 20 km Turn left onto Eumundi Kenilworth Road, 22 and drive for another 1 km Turn slight left onto Elizabeth Street, 22 and drive for another 7.5 km Turn right onto Booloumba Creek Road and drive for another 5.3 km Turn right and drive for another 390 m

Track Notes Turn by turn instructions & maps

Getting started
From Booloumba Creek Day Use Area(off Booloumba Creek Road), follow the signage and head along the singular walking track(Conondale Range Great Walk) as you move directly away from the dirt/gravel road. After about 325 metres, turn sharp left at the 4-way intersection to continue along the "Artists Cascades from Booloumba Creek Day Use Area" Track.....

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start. There is a toilet (about 25 m back from the start). After 255 m come to the "Booloumba Creek No 3 Campground" (110 m on your left). W:www.npsr.qld.gov.au
	After another 95 m (at the intersection of Boloomba Ck No1 campground to Great Walk & Conondale Range Great Walk) turn left, to head along Conondale Range Great Walk. After another 980 m (at the intersection of Conondale Range Great Walk & Creek circuit) continue straight, to head along Conondale Range Great Walk. After another 550 m pass a seat (5 m on your right)., has a backrest.
	The starting point of an alternate route. This alternate route lets you visit the abandoned gold mine entrance that is barred up for safety reasons. Features a steep incline and a gradual decline if you\'re coming from the day use area direction. To take the alternate route veer right here. Details below. After another 100 m (at the intersection of Gold Mine Circuit & Conondale Range Great Walk) continue straight, to head along Conondale Range Great Walk.
	The alternate route finishes here. Veer right to rejoin the main route at the 2.2 km waypoint. Details below. After another 210 m (at the intersection of Gold Mine Circuit & Conondale Range Great Walk) veer left, to head along Conondale Range Great Walk.
	The starting point of an optional sidetrip. This little side trip takes you to the Strangler Cairn, a unique work of art made by the renowned artist Andy Goldsworthy. To start this optional side trip turn right here. On returning from this side trip error >360 when you get back to this intersection. Details below. After another 350 m continue straight, to head along Conondale Range Great Walk. After another 2.8 km come to a ford. About 15 m past the end is "Artists Cascades".
	Turn around here and retrace the main route for 5.3 km to get back to the start.

This alternate route lets you visit the abandoned gold mine entrance that is barred up for safety reasons. Features a steep incline and a gradual decline if you\'re coming from the day use area direction.

Turn map	Directions & comments
	At the intersection of Gold Mine Circuit & Conondale Range Great Walk Start heading along Gold Mine Circuit (a walking track). After 280 m find the "Gold Mine" (35 m on your right). Gold Mine An abondoned barred-up gold mine from the 1920s.
	Turn left, to head along Gold Mine Circuit.
	After another 560 m come to the end. At the end of this alternate route, rejoin the main route.

This little side trip takes you to the Strangler Cairn, a unique work of art made by the renowned artist Andy Goldsworthy.

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start. After another 60 m come to "Strangler Cairn". Strangler Cairn A granite cairn made by renowned artist Andy Goldsworthy that has a strangler fig sapling planted on top of it, standing 4 metres tall above ground. It is expected that the roots of the strangler fig will wrap around the man-made cairn in about a hundred years, making it an exceptional work of art for future generations.
	The end. Turn around and retrace your steps back the 60 m to the main route.

Terrain Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Artists Cascades from Booloumba Creek Day Use Area

Grading

	Class 4/6 Hard track
Length	10.5 km
Time	3 h 30 min to 5 h 30 min

Quality of track	Rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely (4/6)
Gradient	Short steep hills (3/6)
Signage	Directional signs along the way (3/6)
Infrastructure	Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6)
Experience Required	Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6)
Weather	Foretasted & unexpected storms and severe weather may impact on navigation and safety (4/6)

Some facilities on route

Camp site: There is one 230 m from the start.

Toilet: There is one -24 m back from the start.

Seat: There is one 1.8 km from the start.

Order of key facilities on route

Item	From Start	Name & link to notes
Toilet	-24 m	[toilet]
Camp site	230 m	Booloumba Creek No 3 Campground
Seat	1.8 km	[seat]

Weather & Alerts Check forecasts & closures
Weather Forecast
- Nambour Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
  
  Sunday 8 December
  
  35°C
  Possible late shower.
  40% chance of rain
  
  Sunny morning. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the late afternoon and evening. The chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening, possibly severe. Light winds becoming northwest to northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h in the early afternoon then becoming light in the evening. Daytime maximum temperatures in the low to high 30s.
  
  Fire Danger Rating: No Rating
  
  UV Alert: Sun protection 7:20am to 3:50pm, UV Index predicted to reach 13 [Extreme]
  
  Monday 9 December
  
  23°C → 31°C
  Possible shower.
  40% chance of rain
  0 → 2mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the morning and afternoon. The chance of a thunderstorm, most likely in the afternoon and evening. Light winds. Overnight temperatures falling to the low 20s with daytime temperatures reaching around 30.
  
  Tuesday 10 December
  
  23°C → 30°C
  Shower or two.
  70% chance of rain
  0 → 10mm
  
  Partly cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely in the afternoon and evening. The chance of a thunderstorm, most likely in the afternoon and evening. Light winds. Overnight temperatures falling to the low 20s with daytime temperatures reaching around 30.
  
  Wednesday 11 December
  
  22°C → 26°C
  Showers.
  80% chance of rain
  2 → 20mm
  
  Cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely in the morning and afternoon. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds. Overnight temperatures falling to the low 20s with daytime temperatures reaching the mid to high 20s.
  
  Thursday 12 December
  
  21°C → 29°C
  Possible shower.
  40% chance of rain
  0 → 2mm
  
  Possible shower.
  
  Friday 13 December
  
  21°C → 29°C
  Shower or two.
  50% chance of rain
  0 → 5mm
  
  Shower or two.
  
  Saturday 14 December
  
  21°C → 30°C
  Possible shower.
  40% chance of rain
  0 → 2mm
  
  Possible shower.
  
  Forecast data thanks to © Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Alerts
- Conondale National Park alerts
  Mt Allan fire tower closed to climbing (update 28 Oct)
  Mt Allan fire tower in Conondale National Park is temporarily closed to climbing. An engineering report has indicated the tower is not suitable for public access. The tower will be closed to all access until further notice. Affected parks: Imbil State Forest; Conondale National Park; Conondale Range Great Walk
  
  Alert kindly provided by © Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service

Weather Forecast

Alerts