ATTRACTION MAPLETON

Delicia Road Conservation Park on the scenic Blackall Range is a small park protecting remnant forest communities. It is a refuge for wildlife and a special place where visitors can enjoy a peaceful native forest. The land was generously donated by Linda Garrett. Locals refer to it as Linda Garrett Park. Walk the easy 2.2 kilometre Linda Garrett circuit through rainforest, a palm grove and tall, wet eucalypt forest. Enjoy a section of the Sunshine Coast Hinterland Great Walk. Along Gheerulla Creek, look for a great barred frog. Birdwatchers may be fortunate to hear the melodic, drumming call of the endangered marbled frogmouth.

In Mapleton Forest Reserve, Mapleton Forest Drive winds through deep forest, past Cooloolabin Dam, to Point Glorious lookout where great coastal and hinterland views await. Picnic at the Mapleton day-use area near Cedar Creek's headwaters or camp at Gheerulla Creek. (Bring a fuel stove or firewood). From the day-use area, enjoy an easy walk through blackbutt forest. Go on the forest drive and stop to enjoy the Bonyee walk through piccabeen palm groves to a large bunya pine. Registered and licence motor bike riders can enjoy the 26 kilometre special purpose Gheerulla motor bike track. At Point Glorious, enjoy the view or practise abseiling. From Delicia Road Conservation Park, enjoy a two to four day Sunshine Coast Hinterland Great! Walk circuit.

Mapleton Falls National Park marks the point just west of Mapleton where Pencil Creek cascades 120 metres over an escarpment. This small, day-use-only park shelters many bird species, including the peregrine falcon, eastern whipbird and wompoo fruit-dove. From the carpark, enjoy a short walk to Mapleton Falls lookout (wheelchair access to toilet and lookout). The panoramic view takes in the waterfall, rainforest valley and Obi Obi Valley. Look for peregrine falcons soaring above - in early spring they roost on the edges of the falls. From the open, grassy picnic area, the Wompoo circuit winds through eucalypts and rainforest. Listen for the fruit-dove's booming calls, 'wallock-a-woo' and 'book-a-roo'. Near the causeway pool, listen for frogs and look for distinctive hexagonal volcanic rocks.