A two-hour circuit drive from Nambour into the Hinterland along the Blackall Range takes you into a rural English-like idyll quite unexpected in subtropical Queensland. Fields are dotted with herds of pied dairy cattle, and “villages” such as WOODFORD – with its annual folk festival over Christmas and New Year, MONTVILLE and MAPLETON are thick with potteries and tearooms and occasional long views over rolling green hills to the coast. After rain it’s worth stretching your legs to reach a couple of respectably sized waterfalls up here: Kondalilla, 3km from Montville, with swimming holes along Obi Obi Creek; and Mapleton Falls, just west of Mapleton, where the river plunges over basalt cliffs.
Approaching from Nambour along the highway, you can reach Noosa by turning coastwards at EUMUNDI, a tiny town best known for its Saturday market, reputed to be the biggest and best in Australia. An appealing place to overnight here is Taylor’s Damn Fine B & B, an old Queenslander home filled with an extraordinary array of European “kitsch” and collectables – one separate guestroom is a beautifully renovated railway caboose. Otherwise, the turn-off for Cooroy sees you entering Noosa along the river via Tewantin. Approaching from Maroochydore up the coastal road, the journey is half as long, passing unevenly spaced townships; coming this way, Coolum Beach Budget Accommodation at 1862 David Low Way, Coolum (tel 07/5471 6666; up to $18), is a very clean and well laid out place to pull up for a couple of days of beach life.
Mapleton Falls National ParkThis park protects remnants of rainforest and wet eucalypt forest that once occurred throughout the Blackhall. Range in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland. Pencil Creek cascades 120m over the escarpment to the valley below to form the Mapleton Falls. Popular for picnicking, bird watching and bushwalking. To reach this area, travel 13km west of Nambour to Mapleton. Turn north off the Mapleton-Kenilworth Road.
Maps
Sunshine Coast
Greater Sunshine Coast Area