Strangler Cairn

Conondale National Park

The Strangler Cairn was made by world renounced artist Andy Goldsworthy. It is composed of granite blocks shaped together with a strangler fig planted in the top. Over time the roots of the fig should grow down over the cairn. The walk is consists of a short side track off the Conondale Great Walk which is between the Gold Mine track and the Artists Cascades. The main track is through sub-tropical rainforest and wet sclerophyll forest.

Swimming
Bird Watching
Picnic Facilities
BBQ
Toilets
4WD Required
No Dogs Permitted
Camping Permitted
Rainforest
Eucalypt Forest
235m
Maximum Elevation
35m
Total Climb

Getting there:

From Kenilworth travel south on the Maleny Kenilworth Road for 7km before turning right onto Booloumba Creek Road. Travel a further 5km along this road to the entrance of the park. From here on, the road is unsealed and you will need a High Clearance 4WD as there a number of creek crossings. After 1km you will reach the Day Use Area on the right, where you can park.

All the walks start from here, although they can be accessed from the three camping areas.

Maps:

Conondale National Park Map

Route/Trail notes:

From the signs talking about the Great Walk, head up the steps and follow the signs. After 400m, you branch left and follow along the side of Booloumba Creek, past the Gold Mine circuit, before taking the path to you right up to the Cairn.

Return by the same route or carry on to Artists Cascades and Booloumba Falls.

Permits/Costs:

None. There are various camping options within the park, that require you to buy a permit. See:

Conondale NP Camping

Other References/Comments:

Conondale National Park

More about Strangler Cairn

Comments

Directions (the signage)was confusing at the junctions of Gold Mine, Strangler Cairn and 'circuit'. We wanted to do both of these things and thought that the circuit would do both of these but after the Cairn we kept on the walk but i think it MAY go to the Falls, we gave up and turned back to go to the Gold mine at the junction as I had children with me and was just unsure. Does anyone know if i should've just kept going?

Jane on 6 Jul, 2021

Took the opportunity to carry on beyond the Gold Mine and include this walk. The Cairn is fascinating, just such a shame that there is no information board there to tell you about it.

F.A.B. on 18 Oct, 2020

Nice walk. And interesting construction. Surprised to find there were no notice boards about this thing.

ovel on 2 Aug, 2020

Nice walk, not too travelled we only saw one other person the day we were there. Great camping area too

MELG on 10 May, 2020

Great walk, saw so much wildlife! Took us about 4 hours return to the artists cascades via gold mine and stranglers cairn. The artists cascades are beautiful, clear water and lots of rocks to climb on.

Wiggy on 30 Apr, 2020

This is a great easy walk through the beautiful forest, we started the walk late, it was about 14:30hrs, we still managed to finish the walk, the day was a mixture of sun and clouds, while at the cairn we had a light shower pass over us. We also did the loop to the entrance of the gold mine.

Maverick on 31 Dec, 2019

Great walk. We parked the car at the entrance to Booloumba as we couldn’t cross the creeks, so walked in the whole way. Did the Strangler Cairns, then via the Gold Mine on the way back. All up about 12km of trails.

Dan on 23 Jun, 2019

Great walk on a marked track. We parked the car at the Booloumba Creek Day Use Area. The creek had very little water. Went to the Strangler Cairn and returned via the Gold Mine on the way back. Spotted goannas and a snake along the track.

Ramona W on 23 Sep, 2017

Interesting stone structure on a very short detour on the walk to Artists Cascades.

Marisa on 27 Jul, 2017

Wonderful sculpture, completed this part of the walk along with the gold mine circuit in one go. We started from Camping area 3, so only 2km each way to the cairn, with a detour for the mine. Watch out for the very large fallen tree across the track.

Suzanne on 7 Aug, 2016

Part of the walk to the Artists Cascades.

Sue C on Aug, 2016

We parked just before the first creek crossing. This added 4kms to our walk, mainly due to taking a different track on way back that lead us through to campsite 1. But the walk back through the creek was a refreshing finish. Did this walk and gold mine, and cascades for a total 19kms. The cairn walk would have only been 12km of that walk return. Beautiful place. Cairn is approx 45-50cm so still quite small. Will definitely come back to watch it grow.

Sarah on 8 Apr, 2016

Beautiful Artistry

Ted n Jo on 17 Jan, 2016

This 'Cairn' will (one day) become an international icon!
It has been totally un-promoted - mainly because the Govmt got some really toxic reviews in the media.. (and yes, half a million dollars is heavy!) It also became a 'political scape goat'..
Eg.. "Aussies Outraged Over Government Funding for Self-Destructing Andy Goldsworthy Jungle Sculpture"..
A great 'must see' positive article is at..
http://www.classic-edu.com/arts/cairn.html

Brian F BBW on Jan, 2015

Great walk; Needs more signage.. The Artist Concept (painting by 'Michelle' in Mexico, shown on this site) of 'Strangler Cairn' is a real eye-opener and should be displayed on a sign-board at the 'Cairn'.

Brian Lor. on 1 Dec, 2014

We walked this track on our way to the Artists Cascades. The fig is only about 30cm tall at the moment. It will be good to see it grow.

Ian and Sue on 20 Oct, 2014

Where

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