Booloumba Creek: Camping, Swimming and Booloumba Falls in Conondale National Park
Last updated: September 2026
Booloumba Creek is one of those places you want to visit over and over again. Tucked away in Conondale National Park in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, it’s got everything you need for the perfect weekend escape. Think crystal-clear creeks, rainforest walks, waterfalls and off-the-grid camping. Whether you’re travelling as a couple, a group of mates, or with the kids, it’s a great place for a nature-filled getaway from Brisbane or the Sunshine Coast.
We camped at Booloumba Creek Area 1 on a two-day trip, swam at the day-use area, and walked to Booloumba Falls (and brought a few leeches home with us). In this guide, I’ll share everything you need to know: which camping area to book, how to get there, the best spots for a swim, and what to pack.
Booloumba Creek Summary
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Where |
Conondale National Park, about 12 km south of Kenilworth in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland |
|---|---|
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Access |
Hihg-clearance 4WD only, with several creek crossings |
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Camping areas |
Three: 1 (rainforest), 3 (rainforest – tents only) and 4 (open grassy area, off-road caravans) |
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Camping fees |
$7.75 per person or $31 per family per night (from 1 July 2026). Book before you go. |
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Vehicle permit |
Not needed |
|
Facilities |
Flushing toilets and fire rings. No showers, no bins, and the thank water must be treated. |
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Dogs |
Not allowed |
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Phone reception |
None. There’s a payphone at camping area 1 |
Where is Booloumba Creek?
Booloomba Creek is in Conondale National Park, in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland in Queensland. It’s about 12 km south of the country town of Kenilworth: 7 km along the Maleny-Kenilworth Road, then about 5 km along Booloumba Creek Road to the park entrance. It’s roughly two hours’ drive from Brisbane and an hour from the Sunshine Coast.
If you haven’t been to Kenilworth yet, it’s worth a stop on the way. You’ll find great coffee, a bakery famous for its 1 kg donuts and sausage rolls, a cheese factory and a charming 1930s atmosphere.
➤ Read our guide to Kenilworth for the best things to do in town.
Booloumba Creek Camping Areas
Camping at Booloumba Creek is one of the best ways to experience Conondale National Park. There are three camping areas to choose from; each is in a different setting. So it’s a unique experience wherever you set up camp.
|
Camping Area 1 |
Camping Area 3 |
Camping Area 4 |
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
Setting |
Rainforest |
Rainforest |
Open, grassy forest |
|
Sites |
24 numbered sites |
14 numbered sites |
Open area, no marked sites (up to 75 people) |
|
Tents |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Camper trailers / rooftop tents |
Sits 3, 8 and 10 only (off-road) |
No |
Yes (off-road) |
|
4WD campervans |
Sites 3, 8 and 19 only |
No |
Yes |
|
Off-road caravans |
No |
No |
Yes |
|
Wheelchair friendly site |
Site 21 |
No |
No |
|
Toilet |
Flushing |
Flushing |
Flushing |
|
Fire rings |
Yes, one per site |
Yes, one per site |
Yes |
|
Best for |
Couples, families and 4WD campers |
Tent campers who want to be close to the swimming spot |
Groups and families with off-road caravans |
Which Booloumba Creek Camping Area Should You Pick?
- Towing an off-road caravan? → Camping area 4. It’s the only one that’s suitable for caravans.
- Camper trailer, rooftop tent or 4WD campervan? → Camping area 1 (sites 3,8 or 10) or camping area 4. Those three sites book out quickly, so book early.
- Tent camping and want to be close to the water? → Camping area 3. It’s the closest to the day-use area and the rope swing.
- Big group of friends or a family get-together? → Camping area 4. It’s one open space, so everyone can camp together.
Camping Area 1
This camping area is set right in the rainforest. There are 24 campsites at Booloumba Creek camping area 1, but only three of them, sites 3, 8 and 10, are suitable for 4WD campervans, off-road camper trailers and rooftop tents. These sites tend to book out quickly, so make sure you book ahead. Site 21 is designed for campers with a wheelchair or other mobility needs. At the other sites, you park beside the road and carry your gear up to 20 metres to your tent.
You’ll find flushing toilets, and each site has a designated fire pit. Most of the campsites have access to the creek, and there are plenty of walking trails that start at this campground. There’s also a payphone here, which is handy, because there’s no mobile reception anywhere at Booloumba Creek.
From Camping Area 1, it’s a 1.5 km track through the rainforest to get to the day-use area.
We stayed at campsite 8, a beautiful, private site with its own fire pit. It’s a bit over 10 metres long, from memory, and it’s a reverse-in site. So if you’re towing a camper trailer, make sure you bring a spotter.
Camping Area 3
Booloumba Creek camping area 3 is for tents only, and it’s the closest to Booloumba Creek Day Use Area with direct access to the picturesque swimming spot with the rope swing. There are 14 sites set in the rainforest, some of them big enough for more than one family. You park beside the road and carry your gear a short way to your site.
Like Area 1, it has flushing toilets and offers secluded camping areas with a designated fire pit.
Camping Area 4
This camping area is an open grassy field, making it ideal for larger groups or families travelling in an off-road caravan. It’s just across the road from the creek, so you’re never far from a swim. You’ll find flushing toilets and fire rings too.
Can you bring a semi off-road caravan to camping area 4?
Parks says high-clearance 4WDs towing high-clearance caravans and camper trailers only. If your van has good ground clearance and you’re comfortable with creek crossings, it’s a great spot for caravans. If it’s a standard on-road van, don’t risk it.
Is there a Booloumba Creek Camping Area 2?
No. You can only book camping areas 1, 3 and 4 at Booloumba Creek. If you see an older map with a camping area 2, it’s no longer a bookable camping area/.
Booloumba Creek camping fees and bookings
A camping permit is required to camp anywhere in Conondale National Park, and bookings are essential. Camping fees are $7.75 per person per night, or $31 per family per night (one or two adults and their kids, up to eight people). Kids under five camp for free
Book through the Queensland National Parks Booking Service. Check-out is by 12 pm. The Booloumba Creek camping areas get busy in school holidays and on long weekends. Book well ahead.
→ Download your camping permit and a map before you leave home. There’s no reception once you’re in the park.
Booloumba Creek Camping Rules
- No bins. Take all your rubbish home with you. The nearest wast transfer station is in Kenilworth.
- Treat the water. There’s tank water in all three camping areas, but it’s pumped from the creek. Boil it for 3 minutes, use purification tablets, or bring your own drinking water.
- Campfires are allowed in the fire rings, unless there’s a fire ban. Bring your own firewood, and put your fire out with water, not sand.
- No generators.
- No dogs or other pets.
- Don’t empty chemical toilets at the camping area toilets.
Booloumba Creek Day Use Area and swimming
Once you arrive, you’ll see why this is the most popular spot in Conondale National Park. It’s like a postcard. Crystal-clear water with a rainforest backdrop. It’s the kind of place where you can spend hours swimming, floating, and just relaxing.
Honestly, I thought it was an Instagram hype and didn’t expect it to be true. But the water was so blue and clear, and even though it was 11 am, we had the place to ourselves.
To get to the swimming spot, park at the Booloumba Creek day=use area, walk to the end of the carpark, over the little hill and straight down to the water.
Booloumba Creek Day Use Area Facilities
You’ll find picnic facilities at the day-use area, right next to the creek. There are barbecues, picnic tables and toilets. Just remember to bring your own drinking water and your own firewood or gas if you want to cook.
Booloumba Falls
For a bit more adventure, take your 4WD and head deeper into Conondale National Park to Booloumba Falls. The track to Booloumba Falls Car Park is very steep, but it’s worth the drive. From the car park, it’s a 3 km return walk to the falls. After heavy rain, the track comes alive with mini waterfalls, giving it a fairytale-like atmosphere.
The waterfall is stunning, cascading into a series of rock pools that are perfect for a quick dip, just not after heavy rain. Look out for the Breadknife, a sharp, jagged rock pinnacle where the creeks meet near the falls.
A few tips for visiting Booloumba Falls:
- Wear enclosed shoes, the trail can get rocky and slippery
- Visit early in the morning to avoid the crowds
- Don’t swim after heavy rainfall, it can be dangerous
- Watch out for leeches if you’re hiking after rain. Both of us got attacked on the way back. We had to strip down at the car park and check everything (literally).
Walks at Booloumba Creek
There are plenty of walking tracks to explore at Conondale National Park, most of them start at the Day Use Area or from the camping areas. These walking tracks take you through lush forests, along stunning creeks and waterholes.
|
Walk |
Distance |
Time |
Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Peters Creek |
500 m return |
15 min |
Short and easy, to a boulder-strewn creek |
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Booloumba Falls |
3 km return |
2 hrs |
Cascades, rock pools and the Breadknife. Starts at the falls car park |
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Gold Mine Walk |
5.2 km return |
2 hrs |
Along the creek through rainforest to an old 1920s gold mine (closed for safety) |
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Strangler Cairn |
6.5 km return |
2.5 hrs |
A 3.7 m stone sculpture by artist Andy Goldsworthy, with a strangler fig growing on top |
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Artists Cascades |
10.6 km return |
4 hrs |
Along Booloumba Creek Gorge. A harder walk. |
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Mount Allan |
11 km return |
3.5 hrs |
Views over the Mary Valley. The fire tower is closed to climbing until 31 May 2027. |
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Conondale Range Great Walk |
56 km circuit |
4 days |
The full multi-day walk, with remote walkers’ camps |
more Things to do at Booloumba Creek
There’s so much more to do than just swimming. Here are a few other things to keep you busy:
Rock hopping and exploring
Follow the creek and discover small waterfalls, rock pools and secluded spots.
Mountain Bike Riding
You can go mountain biking on the vehicle track throughout the national park, as long as there aren’t any signs saying otherwise.
Horse Riding
This is only allowed on the SEQ horse network. If you’re keen for more horse riding, head over to the nearby Imbil State Forest, where horses are welcome on the state forest roads and can stay overnight in the horse paddock next to the Charlie Moreland Camping Area.
Birdwatching
Keep an eye out for kingfishers, lyrebirds, and other native species.
Photography
The pristine waters and rainforest setting are a dream for every photographer.
How to get to Booloumba Creek Sunshine Coast?
The drive is all part of the adventure. Get ready for a scenic drive through the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, passing rolling hills, small towns and lush forest.
From Kenilworth
Head south on the Maleny-Kenilworth Road for about 7 km, then turn right onto Booloumba Creek Road. It’s about 5 km along this road to the park entrance, and the day-use area is about 1 km past the entrance, on your right. The camping areas are signposted from there.
From Brisbane
It’s about two hours from Brisbane. Head north on the Bruce Highway, turn off towards Landsborough and Maleny, then follow the Maleny-Kenilworth Road north through Conondale. Boioloumba Creek Road is on your left, about halfway between Conondale and Kenilworth.
From the Sunshine Coast
It’s about an hour from the Sunshine Coast. Drive west through Maleny or Mapleton towards Kenilworth. Then follow the signs to Booloumba Creek.
→ Kenilworth is your last stop for fuel, groceries and ice.
Do you need a 4WD to get to Booloumba Creek?
Yep, you’ll need a high clearance 4WD o get to Booloumba Creek and access Conondale National Park. Booloumba Creek Road includes several creek crossings, uneven terrain, steep inclines and declines. The crossings aren’t too deep in dry weather, but they can get tricky after heavy rain. I would recommend checking the national park’s website before heading there and see if there are any updates or restrictions before you leave on your trip.
The good news? The 4WD access keeps the area a bit more secluded and peaceful, perfect for escaping the crowds (outside of school holidays and long weekends).
If a crossing is flooded, don’t cross it. Parks puts it simply: “If it’s flooded, forget it!” Floodwater rises and falls quickly in these creeks, and it doesn’t take much to sweep a car away. Check the Conondale Park alerts before you leave home.
→ We use Club 4X4 for our 4WD insurance, and it’s reassuring knowing they cover 4WDs anywhere they’re legally allowed to go, creek crossings included.
Can you get to Booloumba Creek without a 4WD?
Not by car. But some people park their 2WD before the first creek crossing on Bolloumba Creek Road and walk in, wading through the crossing. It adds a couple of kilometres each way; the crossings can be knee-deep or more, and it’s only an option when the creeks are low. Never try it after rain!
If you don’t have a 4WD and still want to camp in the forest, the Charlie Moreland camping area in the nearby Imbil State Forest can be reached from the east in a 2WD in dry weather, and it takes caravans.
➤ We compare it with other campgrounds in our Kenilworth Camping Guide.
Do you need a vehicle permit for Booloumba Creek?
No vehicle access permit is required to visit Booloumba Creek. But if you’re camping overnight, you’ll need a camping permit, which you can book on the Queensland National Parks website.
Is there reception at Booloumba Creek?
Mobile reception is limited to non-existent, so plan ahead and download your camping permit and maps, or save all the information you need for your trip before heading there. In an emergency, there’s a payphone at Booloumnba Creek Camping Area 1.
Are dogs allowed at Booloumba Creek?
Unfortunately, you can’t take dogs to Booloomba Creek. Pets are not permitted anywhere in Conondale National Park to protect the native wildlife.
If your dog’s coming along, several private campgrounds around Kenilworth welcome dogs, including Kenilworth Homestead and Parklands Camping on the Mary River. You’ll find them in our Kenilworth camping guide.
Best time to visit Booloumba Creek
The best time to visit Booloumba Creek is after a period of dry weather. Our two-day trip in November included some heavy rain, and when we went back to the creek afterwards, it wasn’t blue anymore. The creek crossings are also at their easiest when it’s been dry.
Summer is the best time for swimming, but it’s also the busiest, and it’s when you’re most likely to get heavy rain. Autumn and spring are lovely: warm enough for. a swim on a sunny day, and the creek is often at its clearest.
What to pack for Booloumba Creek
- Drinking water. Or a way to treat the tank water
- Your own firewood
- Rubbish bags
- Insect repellent – and put it on your shoes and socks too! The leeches are real after rain
- Enclosed shoes: for the walks and a par of water shoes for the rocks
- A SURVIVAL first aid kit: You’re a long way from help, with no reception. Get 10% off selected items when using the code BUSHANDBAY at checkout.
- Muk Mats. The best camping mat we’ve ever had. Get $10 off with the code BUSHANDBAY.
- Recovery gear
- A good hat from Will & Bear for the walks and the day use areas. Get 10% off your entire order with the code BUSHANDBAY.
Booloumba Creek Map
Having a map of the area is essential for exploring Conondale National Park and Booloumba Creek. The Queensland National Parks website provides detailed maps showing camping areas, walking trails and points of interest like Booloumba Creek Day Use Area and Booloumba Falls.
Booloumba Creek FAQs
Where is Booloumba Creek?
In Conondale National Park in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, Queensland, about 12 km south of Kenilworth via the Maleny-Kenilworth Road and Booloumba Creek Road.
Do you need a 4WD to get to Booloumba Creek?
Yes. Booloumba Creek Road has several creek crossings and is suitable only for high-clearance 4WDs. Never cross a flooded creek.
Which Booloumba Creek Camping area takes caravans?
Only camping area 4, and only off-road caravans towed by a high-clearance 4WD.
Can you swim at Booloumba Creek?
Yes. The most popular spot is at the day-use area, where there’s a rope swing. Don’t dive in, and don’t swim after heavy rain.
How long is the Booloumba Falls walk?
3 km return from the Booloumba Falls car park, which takes about two hours. The drive to the car park is steep and 4WD only.
Is Booloumba Creek worth it?
Absolutely. Booloumba Creek has the perfect mix of adventure and relaxation. Spend your days hiking through lush rainforests, cooling off in crystal-clear rock pools or simply unwinding by a campfire. It’s the perfect weekend getaway. Whether you’re after a quiet couple’s escape or a fun weekend with mates. This hidden gem in Conondale National Park is worth exploring.
Happy travels!
Exploring more of the Sunshine Coast?
Booloumba Creek si just down the road from Kenilworth. If you’re heading this way, these will help:
- Things to do in Kenilworth: the bakery, the cheese factory and where to stay.
- Kenilworth Camping Guide: Every campground around Kenilworth compared, including the dog-friendly and 2WD ones
→ On the coast: Noosa National Park | Sunset in Noosa | Peregian Beach
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Would a semi off road caravan towed by a 4WD be able to access camping area 4 – this one seems most suitable for vans
Hi Julie, I would say yes if your caravan has high clearance too. It’s a great spot for caravans!
Hi Sam, I am looking to book site 8 same as yourselves. We have a hybrid camper, 5m long 6m with draw bar. I can see they are wide enough but I cant see if it will be long it. Do you remember roughly how long the site was driving in? Thankyou. Looking forward to visiting this place!
Hey Britt, so cool! It’s a great spot. From memory, I reckon the campsite was a bit over 10 meters long. I do wonder if it’s easy to reverse into the site, though. I assume it must be possible, as it’s a trailer site. When we were there, we only saw a camper trailer at Site 3. I hope this helps! Have a great time!
Thanks for the info, the van is under 5m. I do believe they are all reverse sites, it might put the marriage to the test. Looking forward to visiting this place, it does look like pure magic.