If social distancing and isolation have taught us anything, it’s the appreciation for the great outdoors and the vast array of outdoor activities we have here on the Coast.
With the coronavirus pandemic sweeping through the state, many of our national parks were closed for bush walks. Thankfully, with the Queensland restrictions easing, we can lace up our boots and hit the track.
To help get you started, here are eight of the most beautiful bush walks on and around the Coast – enjoy your newfound freedom (all while maintaining social distancing, however!)
Baroon Pocket Dam to Baroon Lookout
Sunshine Coast Hinterland Great Walk
The Baroon Lookout walk is the perfect little taste-test of the Sunshine Coast Hinterland Great Walk, renowned for some of the most splendid gorge views in all the land! Power to the end of this 2.2km track and you’ll be hugely rewarded at the Baroon Lookout with breathtaking views of Obi Obi Gorge, Baroon Pocket Dam and catchment views. Perfect for embracing the winter chill. P.S. Make sure you don’t miss the slight detour to Narrows Lookout!
Buderim
Known as “the hidden jewel of Buderim”, this park is a nature lover’s paradise! Be totally gobsmacked by the towering strangler figs and gigantic boulders that are dotted all along the walk! Not to mention the crystal-clear rock pools, and of course, the spectacular Serenity Falls—it’s hard to believe this secluded oasis is less than 1km from the bustling village of Buderim. With two entry points—one at Quorn Close, just off Lindsay Road, and the other behind Harry’s Restaurant—you’ll finish your walk perfectly positioned to satisfy that hunger you’ve worked up, with Buderim’s finest eateries only a stone’s throw away!
Eumundi
With a mixture of easy and intermediate levels, horse riders (and their horses, obviously), mountain-bikers and walkers are all welcome along the beautiful bush trails that lie inside the Eumundi Regional Park! Give those calf muscles a workout as you traverse around the park’s hilly landscape. Be on the lookout for yellow-tailed black cockatoos—a handful of these cuties have set up camp here, and you’ll find them feasting on the banksias. Combine a bushwalk with a visit to the markets and you’ve got yourself a pretty bloody perfect day out, we think!
Ewen Maddock Dam
Landsborough
This spot kinda flies under the radar, but we’re here to shine the spotlight right on it. There are a million and one things to do at Ewen Maddock Dam, both on the water and on foot, but we have to say, the 5km Dam Trail is up there as one of the sweetest little bushwalks we’ve done in a good while. After the walk, you can pick a spot by the water for a picnic, cool off with a refreshing dip at the Maddock Park swimming spot. Dogs can join you for the walk too—just keep ‘em on a leash!
Noosa Heads
Noosa National Park, where bush walking trails and coastal views are aplenty! The park’s unique combination of beach and bush means that the opportunities for wildlife-spotting are prime, from koalas in the gumtrees to dolphins and whales out at sea. Another particularly special thing is its proximity to the heart and soul of Noosa, Hastings Street—if there was anywhere to be famished and in desperate need of a beverage after a big walk, you’d want it to be here! Frequented by walkers, runners and beach goers, the Noosa National Park is crazy popular among locals and tourists alike, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worthy of a visit. Just be prepared to share!
Conondale National Park
If you’ve got a couple of hours to spare one day soon, the Booloumba Falls Walk is well worth the journey. The Falls Walk is located inside the rugged Conondale National Park and is a totally doable 3km return trip! Cascading creeks and tranquil rainforests surround the walking path, which leads to the stunning Booloumba Falls. Stand back and marvel at the waterfall, or jump straight in for a swim—the choice is yours! Oh, and keep your eyes peeled for The Breadknife—a unique rock formation that sits right where Peters and Booloumba Creek meet!
Glass House Mountains National Park
If you’re afraid of heights, you can still experience the magic of our much-loved Glass House Mountains when you walk the Tibrogargan Circuit! There are a heap of walking trails in the national park, but this one’s our pick of the bunch because it’s a real one-stop-shop when it comes to taking in those sweet mountain vistas. Just 400m along the circuit, you’ll have the wind knocked right outta you with views of Mount Beerwah, Mount Coonowrin, Mount Tunbubudla AND Tibberoowuccum from the Mountain View lookout. Majestic peregrine falcons are often spotted in this area, so hold onto your hats!