Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
WORTH A TRIP
MONTVILLE & KENILWORTH
It's hard to imagine that the chintzy mountain village of
Montville
with its fudge emporiums, Devonshire
tearooms and cottage crafts began life under the dramatic name of Razorback - until you arrive at the town's
spectacular ridge-top location 500m above sea level. To work off that excess fudge, take a rainforest hike to Kon-
dalilla Falls in
Kondalilla National Park,
3km northwest of town. After a refreshing swim, check for leeches!
Secrets on the Lake
( 07-5478 5888;
www.secretsonthelake.com.au
;
207 Narrows Rd; midweek/weekend
from $205/255; ) is a romantic hideaway where boardwalks through the foliage lead to magical, wooden tree-
houses with sunken spas, log fires and stunning views of Lake Baroon.
From Montville, head to the tiny village of
Mapleton
and turn left on the Obi Obi Rd. After 18km, you reach
Kenilworth
, a small country town in the pretty Mary River Valley.
Kenilworth Country Foods
( 07-5446
0144;
www.kenilworthcountryfoods.com.au
; 45 Charles St; 9am-4pm Mon-Fri, 10am-3pm Sat & Sun) is a
boutique cheese factory with creamy yoghurt and wickedly good cheese. If you plan to camp in the Kenilworth
State Forest or Conondale National Park you'll need a
permit
( 13 74 68;
www.nprsr.qld.gov.au
;
per person
$5.45). The
Kenilworth Showgrounds
has camping (no permit required) for $15 per vehicle, with power, water
and $1 showers.
Otherwise, head northeast on the Eumundi-Kenilworth Rd for a scenic drive through rolling pastureland dotted
with traditional old farmhouses and floods of jacarandas. After 30km you reach the Bruce Hwy near Eumundi.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Great Sandy National Park: Cooloola Section
The Cooloola Section of Great Sandy National Park covers more than 54,000 hectares
from Lake Cootharaba north to Rainbow Beach. It's a varied wilderness area with long
sandy beaches, mangrove-lined waterways, forest, heath and lakes, all featuring plentiful
bird life, including rarities such as the red goshawk and the grass owl, and lots of wild-
flowers in spring.
The
Cooloola Way
, from Tewantin up to Rainbow Beach, is open to 4WD vehicles unless
there's been heavy rain - check the situation with the rangers before you set out. Most
people prefer to bomb up the beach, though you're restricted to a few hours either side of
low tide. You'll need a permit (
www.nprsr.qld.gov.au
; per day/week/month $11/27.70/
43.60).
The best way to see Cooloola is by boat or canoe along the numerous tributaries of the
Noosa River. Boats can be hired from Tewantin and Noosa (along Gympie Tce), Boreen
Point and Elanda Point on Lake Cootharaba.
