Tent Camping at Booloumba Creek Camping Area 3, Conondale National Park, QLD.

We decided to tent camp at Booloumba Creek Camping Area 3 because we couldn't resist camping on the creek bank. We were surprised to have the whole place to ourselves. No one else was camping in Camping Area 3 or Camping Area 4 while we were there. We don't think there was anyone camping at Area 1 either but we didn't go over to check. Our camping companions were Kookaburras, Brush Turkeys and the occasional Red-legged Pademelon. Night visitors to our campsite were Bandicoots and a large mouse of some type. Boobooks could be heard calling through the night.

Our campsite at Booloumba Camping Area 3

Red-legged Pademelon Thylogale stigmatica

We set our tent up on the tent pad provided and took our chairs to the waters edge. It was so peaceful sitting next to the creek and watching the birds come down to bathe in the afternoons.

Azure Kingfisher

Lewin's Honeyeater having a bath.

Booloumba Creek has crystal clear water; perfect for watching native catfish and tadpoles swimming along.

Eel-tailed catfish Tandanus tandanus 

We could hear a few frogs in the evenings but unfortunately we only found a Cane Toad.

Cane Toad Rhinella marina

We had better luck when we spotted a mature-sized Small-eyed Snake. These small highly venomous snakes are active at night. 

Small-eyed Snake Cryptophis nigrescens

The weather has been dry for a very long time and Booloumba Creek is drying up in patches. It is a shame to see the creek and it's wildlife under stress and so badly in need of a good rainfall. As it turned out we had to pack up and leave because a Severe Weather Warning was issued. It started raining during our last night and we had to do a wet pack up which reminded us of one of the reasons we have bought a van. Hopefully there was enough rain falling in the catchment to give Booloumba Creek some relief.

Artist Cascades Walk: Class 4, 10.6 km from the Day Use Area (less from Camping Area 3 and 4 and more from Camping Area 1). The Strangler Cairn Walk, Class 3 and the Gold Mine Walk, Class 3 are both on the way to the Artist Cascades.

The track from our campground led us over a dry section of Booloumba Creek and into the dark rainforest. We spotted a python crossing the track in front of us.

Carpet Python Morelia spilota

We have done all these walks before but we decided to take the short off-shoot to the Strangler Cairn to see how the Strangler Fig was growing since the last time we saw it. We didn't notice any progress, however, there did appear to be attempts to maintain moisture around the young tree so perhaps it had been suffering from the very dry conditions. Certainly the plants at the base of the cairn weren't looking too happy.

Strangler Cairn

We didn't take the side loop to the Gold Mine this time.

There were quite a few Logrunners scratching about in the leaf litter and Yellow-throated Scrubwrens on the path. Wompoo Fruit Doves were eating fruit in the tree canopy. Both Pale-yellow and Eastern Yellow Robins were about. We came across a Noisy Pitta but it bolted before we could get a photo.

Pale-yellow Robin.

Due to the very dry conditions and the low water level in Booloumba Creek we were concerned that the Artists Cascades would be reduced to a trickle so we were pleased to hear the cascades as we approached. We found a large rock to sit on and enjoyed a picnic before returning to our camp site. We didn't see a single person on the trail.

Artists Cascades

Our trip may have been cut short but we will be back to beautiful Booloumba. Full details about the campgrounds in Conondale National Park can be found here in a previous blog.

Wildlife List for this trip:
Red-legged Pademelon, Northern Brown Bandicoot, Carpet Snake, Small-eyed Snake, Cane Toad, Eel-tailed Catfish.
Birds: Australian Brush Turkey, White-faced Heron, Wompoo Fruit Dove, Brown Cuckoo-Dove, Australian King Parrot, Laughing Kookaburra, Rainbow Bee-eater, Azure Kingfisher, Noisy Pitta, White-browed Scrubwren, Yellow-throated Scrubwren, Brown Thornbill, Bell Miner, Lewin's Honeyeater, Logrunner, Eastern Whipbird, Eastern Yellow Robin, Pale-yellow Robin, Little Shrike-thrush, Grey Shrike-thrush, Golden Whistler, Grey Fantail, Rufous Fantail, Willie Wagtail, Magpie-lark, Satin Bowerbird, Grey Butcherbird, Pied Currawong, Torresian Crow, Red-browed Finch, Bassian Thrush.

Booloumba Campgrounds, Conondale National Park, QLD.

 Booloumba Creek at Booloumba Camping Area 4.

While camping at Charlie Moreland Campground we drove to nearby Conondale National Park to check out the campgrounds. We have been there a couple of times before on day trips and have done most of the walks but we haven't actually camped there and we were trying to decide if we should take the tent or the van.

In Conondale National Park there are three campgrounds and a day use area; collectively referred to as Booloumba. To access the national park, it is necessary to have a high clearance 4WD, as all the campgrounds and the Day Use Area are reached via creek crossings. Many keen walkers park their cars on the side of the road before the first creek crossing and walk in. Over the years,we have had no problems fording the crossings with a standard Pajero and a standard BT50, however, keep in mind that the crossings will vary enormously depending on how much rain there has been in recent times. The photos in this blog were taken on our recent visit and show very tame crossings due to an extended dry season.

The first water crossing

The second water crossing

There is a third water crossing on the way to Area 3 and 4.

The third creek crossing into the Day Use Area is the hardest crossing. Photo taken from the side.

Booloumba Camping Area 1 is a pleasant campground with numbered sites, each having a tent platform and an individual car park. This is the only area with a pay phone and it is the easiest area to get to. 

Typical campsite at Booloumba Area 1: car park in front with tent pad behind.

Fan-tailed Cuckoo and  Staghorn at Booloumba Area 1.

The Day Use Area (Area 2) is the hardest to access as it is beyond the more challenging creek crossing. Many people take their vehicles through the first two creek crossings then park on the side of the road before crossing the creek by foot into the Day Use Area. There is an extensive car park in the Day Use Area and the walks start from here. We love Booloumba Day Use Area; it is a very relaxing place beside Booloumba Creek and there are lots of birds. It’s a great place to have a picnic after doing one of the walks.

Booloumba Day Use Area on the banks of Booloumba Creek

Even on this short visit we saw many birds at the Day Use Area.

Azure Kingfisher

Mistletoebird back and front, male.

Little Shrike-thrush and Grey Shrike-thrush

Booloumba Camping Area 3

There are two sections to this camping area; the lower section near the creek which has flush toilets and the higher section that has pit toilets. All the sites are numbered and have tent platforms with adjacent car parks.

After parking we walked towards Booloumba Creek where a Kookaburra snatched up a frog and landed right in front of us with its catch.

Kookaburra with its catch.

We were looking at the front row of campsites when we noticed a male Paradise Riflebird eyeing off an immature staghorn fern. It quickly lifted the base of the fern away from the tree with its very long beak and ate the snacks it found there.

Paradise Riflebird, male.

Booloumba Camping Area 4

This is the only camping area for vans, camper trailers and large groups. However, bear in mind that the vehicles need to be 4WD's towing high clearance off-road vans and trailers to ford the three creek crossings to access the campground. The campground is a large sloping grassy area with only a few flat spots. This is the only campground not beside the creek as it is on the other side of the access road, roughly opposite Camping Area 3.

Booloumba Camping Area 4, amenities block on the left.

Details for Booloumba, Conondale National Park:

Where: Booloumba is about a two hour drive north-west of Brisbane, via Maleny. The turn-off from the Maleny-Kenilworth Road onto Booloumba Creek Road is about 13 km past Conondale. 

Access: All the National Park roads are gravel and are only suitable for high clearance four-wheel-drive vehicles.

Similarities for Camping Areas 1,3 and 4:
Fees: $5.95 per person, children under 5 years are free. There is a Family Rate of $23.80 for 1 to 2 adults with children under the age of 18, with a maximum of 8 people in total. 
Bookings: Phone 13 74 68 or online at http://parks.nprsr.qld.gov.au/permits. There is no mobile phone reception. There is a pay phone at Camping Area 1.
Facilities: Non-drinking water, toilets, fire rings, BYO wood. No bins. No phone reception.
Prohibitions: No generators, no domestic animals.

Differences between Camping Areas 1, 3 and 4:
Type of Camping: 1 and 3 are for tent camping. Area 4 is for tent and group camping as well as 4WD vans and trailers.
Facilities: Camping Area 1 has cold showers, a pay phone, 24 numbered sites and two water crossings to access. Camping Area 3 has 20 sites, 3 water crossings to access and the best access to walks. Camping Areas 1 and 3 are for tents only and have dirt tent pads and the individual car parks are in front of bollards; both are near Booloumba Creek. Camping Area 4 is an open grass area with parking beside your tent or rig; suitable for 4WD's towing off-road vans or trailers and is the only group camping area. 

Day Use Area 2:

Type of Access: 4WD, high clearance vehicle.

Number of Creek Crossings to access: 3

Facilities: BBQ's, picnic tables, non-drinking water, toilets and good access to the walks.

Prohibitions: No domestic animals.