Walkers: Mark & Rhiannon
I did this walk with my daughter over four days between 17 & 20th July 2011. The weather was perfect for walking and the nights were cool but not uncomfortably cold. Water was available at all three Walkers Camps from the water tanks however we used the creek water at Summer Falls and other creek crossings. I was comfortable drinking water from the creeks along the way however we did treat all drinking water we took from the water tanks.
Access to the start of the Great Walk is via the Booloumba Creek Road just south of Kenilworth. There is a reasonable amount of parking for vehicles at the Booloumba Creek Day Use Area if you choose. You will require either a 4WD or a 2WD with good ground clearance to reach the start of the walk because there are three creek crossings to drive through.
There is a sign “4WD high clearance vehicles only” at the first creek crossing of Booloumba Creek. 2WD vehicles with reasonably high clearances should get across all three crossings. 4WD vehicles with good clearance will cross the creeks easily providing no recent heavy rainfalls swell the creek.
If you decide not to take your vehicle across the creeks there is no designated parking area provided to leave your vehicle at the first creek crossing. The best you can achieve is to park along the edge of the gravel road. The road is narrow and very little shoulder to park on.
Alternatively you can contact Pete Cusack who owns and operates the Bellbird Creek Teahouse which is located 4km south of Kenilworth and approx 5km north of the Booloumba Creek Road turn off.
Contact details are phone 07 5446 0211, www.bellbirdcreek.com, email: info@bellbirdcreek.com and Pete’s mobile is 0417 756 876
Pete has kindly offered walkers a complimentary service whereby he will drop you at either the first creek crossing or at the start of the Great Walk (if you have a 4WD) and then take your vehicle back to his residence at the Tea House. There is a public phone at the Bouloumba Creek camping ground that you can call him from to pick you up upon your return. THANK YOU PETE – GREATLY APPRECIATED.
The first creek crossing is approx 4km from the Maleny – Kenilworth road turnoff (approx 5min drive time). There is about 450m between the first and second crossings. Then approx 700m between the second and third crossings. Allow approx twenty (20) minutes walk across the three creek crossings.
Landsborough to Maleny is approx 17min drive time.Maleny to Connondale is approx 17min drive time
Connondale to Booloumba Creek Rd Turn off is approx 17min driving and the Bellbird Creek Tea House is about another 5min further towards Kenilworth on the left.
8:30am we were dropped off at the first Booloumba creek crossing. We took a leisurely 20min walk in crocs to cross the three creek crossings to the Day Use Area and the beginning of the Great Walk. This included a brief stop at the camping ground to check the public phone was working (it was). After drying our feet, putting on our socks, boots and gaiters, we checked in for last minute toilet visits then we set out on the great walk at 9:30am.
We took 40min to the Old Gold Mine (via the 300m side track) After a short morning tea break we then headed off to the Artists Cascade taking about 1Hr 20min.
A leisurely lunch at the Artists Cascade was very picturesque. We then took off our boots and waded through the creek. Rock hopping across the creek is possible but we decided not to chance wet boots so early in our walk.
1Hr 10min later we arrived at Booloumba Falls and the Bread Knife. A great spot for an afternoon snack before tackling the last segment into Wongai Walkers camp which took us about 35min.
We arrived at Wongai Walkers camp at 3:30pm which allowed plenty of daylight time to set up camp and get dinner ready. The camp sites are spread out. About 25m to 35m between platforms. I found four platforms but there could have been another one or two. There was plenty of clean clear water in the tank. Note, the tap was broken and we had to use the tank stop cock to turn the water on and off. The stop cock was a little hard to turn but it did function.
We did have a few encounters with leeches particularly at Artist Cascades when we crossed the creek so I recommend carrying a bit of salt to sprinkle on them which will encourage them to let go quickly. I also suggest keeping your boots on when at the camp sites. Whilst wearing crocs around the camp site might seem like a good idea to get some air on those toes, one of my brown crocs turned red with blood from the freeloader that attached itself between my toes.
Day 2, Monday 18th July 2011
The longest of the four days this 17km section ultimately ended as a 21km plus day for us. We departed Wongai Walkers camp at about 8:45am. The track consists of moderate climbs and then enters a fire trail where the Great Walk is well sign-posted (Turn Right). Most of the Great Walk on day two consists of walking on fire management trails. These fire trails do get a bit boring and it is welcomed respite to get back onto the bush tracks. We stopped for lunch along the side of the one of these fire trails. We found the fire trails a bit muddy particularly in the hollows but they were easily traversed. Gaiters do help keep the mud out of your boots and off your legs as well as keeping those pesky leeches away from fresh blood.Whilst the junctions where small tracks join or cross fire management trails are obvious the junctions where you are required to leave a fire trail and enter a small track are less obvious. Yes, we missed a turn and added about another 4km to our walk. So pay close attention, at the T junction of fire trails where a ‘Great walk’ sign indicates it is 3.9km to Tallowood Walkers camp it is only another 200m (supposedly) to the next ‘Great Walk’ sign on the right hand side of the trail indicating 3.7km to Tallowood Walkers Camp. You must turn right here on to a track departing the fire management trail. We missed this turn and continued along the fire management trail to a gate and Sunday Creek road. At this junction there is a sign stating you have just come along Peter’s Fire Management trail. There is also a sign indicating that Jimna is 14km to the left. If you get this point, stop, check your map, turn around and head back about 2km keeping a close look out for the ‘Great Walk’ sign post that will now be on your left. The sign post will indicate 3.7km to Tallowood Walkers camp.
The track will merge with another fire trail or old loggers trail however just over 3km in you will see a ‘Great Walk’ sign indicating that you turn left. It is another 500m to Tallowood according to the Great Walk sign.
At Tallowood I found five camp site platforms (there might have others, I didn’t look too hard). Note, this campsite is a set on a ridge and it gets windy so be careful where you set up camp under the trees. Water from the tank here was discoloured but still tasted OK, we still used water purifying tablets.
Day 3, Tuesday 19th July 2011
From Tallowwood Walkers camp to Summer Falls Walkers camp is 12km. We missed the old logging arch about 500m from Tallowwood Camp. Obviously we’re not very observant – missing the turn the day before as well.We stopped at Peters falls filled up water bottles with clear water and then headed towards Summer Falls.
The track follows a ridge and eventually crosses Sunday Creek Road, the same road we found ourselves on ‘incorrectly’ the day before. This time about 8km further north. We stopped for lunch along the track and made it into Summer Falls Walkers camp just after 3pm.
The campsite is located about 100m from the Falls in a small rainforest. The falls offer a great place for a quick dip to freshen up before dinner and to gather clean fresh cool water.
We set off from Summer Falls at about 8:45am and headed to Mt Allan fire tower. We stopped for a short morning tea break at Sunday Creek Road resting our packs on the gate before pushing ahead to the Fire Tower which we reached at 10:40am. The track to the Fire Tower is the last of the up hill climbs and the last 1km I found a challenge.
We spent about 1¼ hours here retracing our walk over the past few days from the Fire Tower lookout and then had a leisurely lunch finishing up leftovers before heading back to the Booloumba Creek Day Use Area. The track is predominately down hill thus we made very quick time. We arrived back at the Day Use area at about 2pm. After taking our boots off we waded through the three creek crossings stopping at the Camp Area to call Pete from the public phone. By the time we crossed the last creek, Jasmin from the Bellbird Creek Tea House was there ready to pick us up.
Overall this is a good ‘Great Walk’. It is reasonably well sign posted despite the fact we missed a turn. Some of the distance markers I feel are a bit out but maybe we just walked faster than I thought we were travelling at. The Walker’s Camps are well set up. Nevertheless be conscious of where you put your tent under those tall trees, particularly if it is windy.
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