This spectacular mountain range lies between Jimna and Maleny, and features: deep gorges, thick subtropical rainforests, and many cold but refreshing boulder-strewn creeks, rock pools and waterfalls. A majority of the steep forested slopes of this range lie within the 2126 hectare Conondale National Park as well as adjacent State Forests. These forests provide safe haven for a multitude of plants, birds and animals, which rely on this particular ecosystem to survive. Some species are so rare and unique to this part of the world - they are endangered of becoming extinct.
The mountains within the
Conondale Range provide the water source for the Mary River to the north, and the Stanley River, Brisbane River and Lake Somerset toward the south. Since this region receives very high rainfall - especially in the early months of the year, the rivers and creeks are constantly flowing.
This interesting 4WD trek takes in historic towns such as Woodford - one of the earliest settled areas of the shire, and Conondale - an old renowned farming district located at the headwaters of the Mary River. The
Conondale Range and the surrounding forests offer plenty of attractions and activities, and experienced bushwalkers and birdwatchers will be thoroughly rewarded.
How to Use this Trek Note
Click the "Map" tab to see the route we've provided. Icons on the map are the POIs you'll need for navigation purposes. Be sure to check the list of Nearby
Places on each POI page.
If you'd like to save this information there are a couple of ways to go about it, depending on what you're actually after:-
- Ideal solution - download the ExplorOz Traveller App from the applicable store for your device -
either the Google PlayStore, the App Store, or the Windows Store (for Windows 10 devices only). The ExplorOz Traveller app is a complete mapping, navigation and tracking app and includes all the ExplorOz Trek routes ready for you to simply click and follow with auto-guidance available whether you are online, or offline. For more details, read our ExplorOz Traveller page. - You can print a paper copy of the text using the print icon button shown above, near the social media buttons. For the best output it is advised to open each tab/section to load all images and artwork. You will still need to click open each Place page (listed in Where to Stay, What to See) to print off all available information.
- If you have a Hema Navigator or use Mapping Software such as OziExplorer, or TrackRanger AND you are an ExplorOz Member, then you can click the Download Trek button at the top of this page to obtain the raw data files (eg. GPX) for this Trek.
- If you're not a Member, or you'd like to batch download the entire Treks database you can obtain this by buying a product called EOTreks Route Files from our online shop.
Environment
The forests in and around
Conondale Range, habitat hundreds of plant, bird and animal species - with many depending on this unique ecosystem for survival. In some cases - it is the last stand, and thus being given a vulnerable or endangered status. The Gastric-brooding frog for example has already become extinct - with the last specimen found in the
Conondale Range in 1979. The Fleay’s Barred frog, another indigenous animal in the Conondale region is highly endangered.
The various tracks through the
Conondale Range and surrounds are formed with gravel, dirt or clay. The drive is relatively easy to moderate, depending on prior weather. As you drive through the forest, the eucalypts you will see are
grey gum,
Queensland grey ironbark and forest red gum. You should also encounter: bunya pines, flooded gums, giant strangler figs, staghorns and plenty of fungi and ferns. Fauna that you may encounter are: skinks, sugar gliders, pouched frog and the platypus frog, freshwater cray, black-breasted quail, possums, bats, bandicoots, pademelons and even platypus.
History
Four tribal groups indigenous to the region named Gubbi Gubbi, Wakka Wakka, Jinibara and Kabi Kabi had lived a traditional lifestyle for thousands of years, until the arrival of European settlers, which changed the Aboriginal lifestyle forever. In 1942, Governor Gipps declared a large reserve to protect bunya pines which was a significant food source for Aboriginal people. It was therefore illegal to clear or settle on land where bunya pines grew. This lasted until 1860, when the new
Queensland Parliament withdrew the reserve status and settlement began in the early 1890s, with forests being cleared for dairy farms and fodder crops. Townships soon sprouted and grew in conjunction with gold fossicking and timber harvesting.
Today, the Upper Mary Valley sustains timber plantations, which continue to provide quality timber resources, whilst old growth native forests are now recognised for their high conservation and recreational values. The
Queensland Government also recognises the strong cultural links the descendants of the traditional owners have with the region, and also the rare and endangered species that need careful management practises in place to sustain this for generations to come.