Adventure: Mooloolah River walk (5km, Sippy Downs)

An inviting national park wetlands – which even many locals may not be aware of, running right in between Sippy Downs and Brightwater – provides the perfect place to view coastal plants and animals… and maybe even a spectacle unlike any you’ve seen before taking place in the skies above!

Suitability

Suitable for walkers and runners, especially bird and nature lovers. Dogs are not permitted.

Highlights

There are four trails through the Mooloolah River National Park, though note - none take you to the Mooloolah River.  

The mapped 5km route follows three trails: Boronia, Aemula (banksia) and Littoralis (she-oak) Trails.  

This is a half out and back and half circuit loop with interesting glimpses toward the coast and the river wetlands.

This trail is an excellent example of the wet heath coastal habitat. During flower season it is a walk not to be missed. You’ll get to see yellow banksia flowers and bush peas and if you are super observant well-camouflaged rainbow bee-eaters with intense green, orange and black features. You should also get to see and smell the fragrant boronia shrub.

There is a fifth trail (Trail 5) (accessible close to the Motorway) that is a sealed path suitable for recreational cyclists, wheelchairs and prams that follows the northern boundary. This sealed trail is the only one that provides cycle access in this national park.

This park is best visited early morning or late afternoon when wildlife is most active.  

Heads up

And a special advance notice, at dawn next Sunday 4 May, for the first time in SE Queensland, a rare opportunity to see Patricia Piccinini’s 'Skywhales Across Australia', as two monumental hot-air balloon sculptures will soar in the skies above you! 

The 34m tall whale-like creatures, Skywhale 2013 and Skywhalepapa 2019-2020 are a family, symbolising nurture and evolution.

Skywhales is part of the opening weekend of Horizon - the region’s leading 10 day contemporary art festival – and will take flight from the UniSC Athletics Track as the sun rises.    

How to get there 

Take the Sunshine Coast University exit off the Sunshine Coast motorway. Coming from the M1 the overpass (Dixon Rd) will take you directly onto Claymore Rd. Coming from the coast, after you exit turn left into Sippy Downs Drive and left again at the roundabout and at the T Junction, turn right into Claymore Rd. Follow this road until after the parkland on your left, take the first turn on your left. The walk starts at the end of the bitumen road where there is park signage.

For more than 250 walking, running, paddling, cycling, mountain biking and horse-riding trails on the Sunshine Coast, choose your next adventure with Adventure Sunshine Coast.