Things to do
View from Point Glorious Lookout, Mapleton National Park.
Photo credit: © Ross Naumann, QPWS volunteer
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Mapleton day use and picnic area.
Photo credit: © Shelley Skinner
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Point Glorious day use and picnic area.
Photo credit: © Queensland Government
Camping and accommodation
Camping
Mapleton National Park has a small walk-in camping area at Gheerulla Creek.
Gheerulla camping area is close to the creek and has limited facilities—toilets and three campsites.
Camping permits are required and fees apply.
- Find out more about Gheerulla camping area.
- Book your campsite online.
- Book your Great Walk campsite online.
- If you cannot book online, see camping bookings for other options.
For walkers on the 58km Sunshine Coast Hinterland Great Walk, there are walkers' camps at Thilba Thalba and Ubajee in Mapleton National Park. Please see the Sunshine Coast Hinterland Great Walk for more information.
Other accommodation
There is a wide range of holiday accommodation in and around Montville, Mapleton, Maleny and other towns in the Sunshine Coast hinterland. For more information see the tourism information links.
Picnic and day-use areas
Two picnic and day-use areas are provided in Mapleton National Park—Mapleton day-use area and Point Glorious day-use area.
- Mapleton day-use area: Located in tall blackbutt forest (Eucalyptus pilularis) and on the site of an old forest station. Picnic tables, toilets and barbecues are provided. If you plan to use the barbecues, bring your own milled firewood, as it is illegal to collect wood from the forest. Preferably bring and use a fuel stove.
- Point Glorious day-use area: Point Glorious, approximately 400m above sea level, provides spectacular views of the coast and hinterland. Scribbly gums and grass trees grow around the lookout. Abseiling enthusiasts can apply their skills on the rhyolite bluffs at Point Glorious in designated areas. Picnic tables are provided.
Caution: Do not enter the forest in strong wind conditions—blackbutt, flooded gum and other trees growing here are prone to dropping branches. Strong wind increases the risk of branch fall and injury.
Gheerulla Creek flows beside the small camping area.
Photo credit: © Ross Naumann, QPWS volunteer
Several short walking tracks are provided in Mapleton National Park.
The Sunshine Coast Hinterland Great Walk, a 58km Grade 4 walking track with overnight campsites, passes through Mapleton National Park. Walkers can also take shorter day walks along this great walk.
- Read more about the Sunshine Coast Hinterland Great Walk opportunities.
There are also other short walk opportunities nearby in Mapleton Falls National Park and Kondalilla National Park.
Walking tracks
Lush forest on the Linda Garrett circuit, Mapleton National Park.
Photo credit: © Ross Naumann, QPWS volunteer
Pilularis walk is an easy forest walk with a beautiful fern understorey.
Photo credit: © Ross Naumann, QPWS volunteer
Linda Garrett circuit
Distance: 700m return
Time: allow 20min
Details: this circuit starts at the Delicia Road trailhead and leads through rainforest, a palm grove and tall wet eucalypt forest dominated by blackbutt, turpentine, brush box and flooded gum.
Pilularis walk
Distance: 400m
Time: allow 20min
Details: this walk begins at the Leafy Lane trailhead off Mapleton Forest Road and leads through tall open forest with an understorey of ferns and rainforest shrubs.
Shared trails and mountain bike trails
Walkers, cyclists and horse riders can explore the park on shared trails.
Mountain-bike riding is permitted on shared trails and dedicated mountain bike trails.
Bicycles are not permitted on designated walking tracks and Gheerulla trail bike track.
Caution: Do not enter the forest in strong wind conditions—blackbutt, flooded gum and other trees growing here are prone to dropping branches. Strong wind increases the risk of branch fall and injury.
Mountain bike trail and shared trails are intermediate grade:
- Wide trail, natural surfaces, moderate slope, some obstacles. Some trails include steep sections.
- Suitable for experienced horse riders and horses with moderate skills and fitness; skilled mountain bikers; fit walkers with bushwalking experience.
Follow the give-way code:
- Be careful and courteous.
- Cyclists must give-way to walkers and horse riders, and alert others when approaching them.
- Walkers must give-way to horses.
Turpentine trail
Distance: 7.8km return
Details: surround yourself in forest on this narrow, undulating two-way trail through wet eucalypt forest and scribbly gum forest with a heath understorey.
Piccabeen circuit
Distance: 6.7km return
Details: discover tall blackbutt forest and rainforest communities. Enjoy several crossings of Gheerulla Creek.
Kureelpa Falls circuit
Distance: 8.5km
Details: the first half of this trail descends 200m in elevation. Halfway along the circuit, take a short walk (400m return) down to view Kureelpa Falls on the South Maroochy River.
Caution: This track has large areas of blackbutt forest—higher risk of branch fall.
Oaky Creek lookout mountain bike trail
Distance: 19km return
Details: explore different forest communities as you travel along this trail. Wet eucalypt forest gives way to drier woodland with a grassy understorey along the ridge. From the Oaky Creek lookout enjoy spectacular views of the Conondale Range and Mary Valley.
Bike riders beware:
- Gheerulla trail bike track runs next to and crosses the Oaky Creek lookout trail. Give way to motorbikes at all times.
- Blackbutt and other trees growing here are prone to dropping branches that can get caught in bike spokes and chains. Strong wind increases the risk of branch fall and injury.
Horse riding
Horse riders can explore parts of the park on shared trails and the South East Queensland horse riding trail network.
A horse float parking area is provided on Mapleton Forest Road, approximately 2.5km north-west of Mapleton.
Horses are not permitted on designated walking tracks.
A special permit is not required unless it is a commercial activity, an organised event activity or a competitive even. View permits and fees for further information.
Read and view maps about the horse trail networks in this region.
Trail-bike riding
Gheerulla trail bike track provides licensed riders using registered motorcycles with about 26km of forest trail riding experience. A special permit is not required.
Ride responsibly
- Stay on the defined trail bike tracks.
- Observe and obey safety and advisory signs.
- Most of the track is one way to maximise rider safety. Follow directional signs.
- Ride cautiously on the two-way trail sections.
- Be aware that a separate mountain bike trail runs between the trail bike track loop. For everyone’s safety and enjoyment, stay on the trail bike track.
- Always expect to find someone or something on the track around the next corner. You may encounter other riders, wildlife, cattle and natural obstacles such as fallen trees and water-eroded tracks.
- Trail bikes are not permitted on trails for walkers, mountain bikers and horse riders.
- Do not enter the forest in strong wind conditions—blackbutt, flooded gum and other trees growing here are prone to dropping branches. Strong wind increases the risk of branch fall and injury.
- Avoid spinning your rear tyre excessively as this leads to erosion problems. Ride sensibly so this recreational facility can be available for future use.
See other trail-bike riding opportunities.
Driving
Scribbly gums and grass trees grow at Point Glorious Lookout.
Photo credit: © Ross Naumann, QPWS volunteer
The Mapleton Forest Road starts just north of Mapleton and leads to spectacular views of the coast and hinterland from Point Glorious. Scribbly gums and grass trees grow around the lookout. This forest road is suitable for four-wheel-drive vehicles only. It is unsealed and varies in condition depending on weather impacts and maintenance.
Forest roads—expect the unexpected!
Unsealed forest roads can be steep and winding.
- Slow down. Allow time to react to unexpected situations and changed conditions. You may encounter other drivers, cyclists, walkers, horse riders, cattle and wildlife.
- Be courteous. Pull over to the left to allow vehicles to pass. Do not stop in the middle of the roadway for photography and enjoying the scenery. Find a safe place to pull over or turn around.
- Watch out for corners and steep slopes. Drive carefully around corners, especially after rain. Stay on your side of the road and avoid sudden slowing. Shift down a gear when roads are steep.
- All road rules apply. Obey speed limits. Always wear a seat belt. Never carry passengers outside the vehicle cabin.
- Avoid using forest roads during and immediately after wet weather to reduce damage to road surfaces and for your own safety. Do not attempt to cross flooded creeks.
- Roads may be rough. Forest roads are often rough, with potholes and wash-outs. Driving too fast may be dangerous or cause damage to your vehicle. Drive slowly.
Roped sports—abseiling and rock climbing
At Point Glorious, abseiling and rock climbing enthusiasts can apply their skills on the rhyolite bluffs.
Rock climbing and abseiling opportunities are only suitable for experienced and well-equipped people—and those under their direct supervision.
Prepare for these activities in a safe area and ensure that people who are not abseiling or rock climbing stay well back from the cliff edges.
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service supports sustainable climbing as an activity in a number of Queensland’s protected areas.
Department approved anchor points are provided near the lookout.
Installing, replacing or modifying bolts, anchor points or other fixed protection is prohibited in parks and forests without written authority from Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service.
For abseiling and rock climbing safety:
- Use ropes and protective equipment designed for climbing and abseiling.
- The use of existing bolts, anchor points or other fixed protection is at your own risk.
- Your anchor load must not exceed the weight of one person and their equipment.
- Assess the site for hazards and suitability for your experience and skill level, and those in your group.
- Never attempt to climb or abseil unless you are confident you can complete the activity.
- Check weather conditions.
- Never attempt climbs in wet weather as smooth surfaces can be slippery and dangerous. The likelihood of rockfalls and landslides are heightened by rainfall and intense fire activity. Flexible-soled shoes with good grip should be worn.
- Never climb alone—find a climbing or abseiling partner.
- Take care to avoid dislodging rocks as they might hit climbers below—even small rocks can cause serious injury.
- Plan to abseil or rock climb in daylight hours only.
- Carry emergency communication equipment and a first-aid kit.
- Let a reliable person know your plans and what to do if you do not return as expected. Remember to let them know if your plans change.
- Minimise vegetation disturbance to protect the area from erosion and the introduction of pest plant species.
Climbing in protected areas:
- Make sure you adopt leave-no-trace principles and minimise your impact.
- Do not install, replace, or modify bolts, anchor points or other fixed protection without written authority from Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service.
- Only use anchor points provided, including back-up anchor points.
- As much as possible, do not interfere with the natural resources, such as lichens and plants—remember the cliff is an ecosystem too.
- Be aware of nature’s calendar and don’t disturb birds nesting on crags.
- Stay on formed tracks to minimise vegetation disturbance and prevent erosion.
- Carry out all litter and waste.
For more information on roped sports in this region visit Australian Climbing Association (QLD).
- There are currently no park alerts for this park.