Summary

The Sunshine State

Queensland has a wealth of bushwalking opportunities including multiple World Heritage Listed rainforests such as the Daintree and Lamington National Park, great coastal and island parks like Fraser Island and Hinchinbrook Island.

Other Information

World Heritage Areas

• Fraser Island
• Gondwana Rainforests of Australia (Lamington NP, Springbrook NP, Mount Chinghee NP, Mount Barney NP, Main Range NP)
• Great Barrier Reef
• Riversleigh
• Wet Tropics (Daintree NP, Barron Gorge NP, Cedar Bay NP, Girringun NP, Wooroonooran NP)

Contact details

Queensland Parks and Forest:
https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/

Regions

The link below provides a region map of QLD as a reference to what council zones are included in the 7 geographic regions of QLD.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regions_of_Queensland#/media/File:Qld-regions-map.gif

1. Far North Queensland
2. North Queesnland
3. Central Queensland
4. Mackay, Isaac and Whitsunday
5. Wide Bay Burnett
6. Darling Downs South West
7. South East Queensland

Walks in Sunshine Coast

(South East Queensland)

Easy

1 km return

30 mins

Merdian Hill, Mooloolah River National Park

This walk up Merdian Hill is moderately steep but very short so whoever graded it easy is correct. The view from the top is nice but not spectacular, glimpses of Ewen Maddock through the trees. It's hardly worth making a special trip just for this walk, but combined with a few other walks in the area makes a nice day out. For starters, in the same location but on the other side of Old Caloundra Rd there are several short walks through wet woodland type vegetation, eg lots of candlestick banksia. Take the walking trails further down Old Caloundra Rd to get away from the traffic noise on Steve Irwin Way. Add a walk around Jowarra Section of Mooloolah River NP and/or Dularcha NP, both an easy drive from Meridan Hill. That makes a really nice day out.

Easy

8 km return

2 hrs

Moffat Beach to Currimundi Lake (SCCP 4)

Time to get your feet wet on this one, as you cross Swamp Creek and head up the sand to Dicky Beach and on along the coastal wetlands boardwalks to beautiful Currimundi Lake.

Easy

8 km one-way

2 hrs

Mooloolaba Beach to Maroochydore (Picnic Point) (SCCP 7)

Coastal walk that is part of the Sunshine Coast Coastal Walk.

Easy

500 m return

20 mins

Mooloolah River Circuit

This is part of the Jowarra Section of the Mooloolaha River a separate section of this park to be accessed via the Steve Irwin Way off the Bruce Hwy ( caloundra off ramp ) turn right at traffic lights into the Information Centre Car park ( there's also Daisy's Restaurant ) in the middle of the car park you will find the entrance of park leading to both walks.

Medium

2.6 km return

90 mins

Mount Coolum

Enjoy a steep trek to the summit of one of the Sunshine Coast’s ancient volcanic domes. Created about 26 million years ago, Mount Coolum is a laccolith, formed when a dome-shaped bulge of magma cooled below the Earth’s surface.
Spectacular coastal views, rare and threatened plants, wildflowers, bird life and geology feature here.

Hard

1.6 km return

90 mins

Mount Coolum Powerline Track

An alternative, more challenging route to the summit, located on the north-western ridge, accessible from the northern end of South Coolum Road.

Hard

3 km return

2 hrs

Mount Cooroy

Mount Cooroy is 438m high and provides great views around the Sunshine Coast. Access to the mountain is through private property and public access is only available once a year at the Cooroy Mountain Spring Festival. The festival was held in August.

Please respect the private property and do not access without permission.

Two great lookouts at the top.

Hard

1.3 km return

1 hr

Mt Cooran

A lesser known peak, just north of Mt Cooroora, Mt Cooran hosts exceptional 360° views; Sunshine Coast, Blackall Range, Gympie and Woondum National Park to the north and east to the coast.

Hard

2.6 km return

2.5 hrs

Mt Cooroora

Become your own 'King of the Mountain'.
Mt Cooroora at 446m (Tuchekoi National Park), is probably the most famous of the Sunshine Coast climbs, due to the King of the Mountain race held annually in July since 1979. The fact that it is a race from the pub in town, and the best time is 22:43, gives you the false impression that this might be quite an easy climb, but you would be wrong!
Take time out as you climb to enjoy the stunning views south across the Sunshine Coast and the 360° vista from the top.

Hard

2.8 km return

3 hrs

Mt Eerwah

This is a seldom but fun mountain to climb and in places only has a faint trail to the top. Views from there are in a westerly direction and whilst spectacular, the views to the east across the coastal plain, would have been even better, but for the scrub and trees.

It's a steep and loose track, definitely not suited for those with balance issues, smaller children, etc. A section near the top has eroded/wasted away, leaving a significant drop off - be careful!
The track is very clear. At one point the description on this site indicates to turn right upon reaching a ridge. I think that’s a typo as the track continues up to the left.