Kenilworth
Attractive village nestled in the hills behind the Sunshine Coast.
Located 154 km north of Brisbane and to the west of Nambour, Kenilworth is a tiny and attractive settlement of some 260 people in the Mary River region, situated amid the Conondale and Blackall Ranges and Kenilworth State Forest. Traditionally it has been noted, not so much for the town centre, as for the opportunities it affords for bushwalking, gem fossicking and fishing in the creeks for bass, perch, cod and mullet. However, in recent times, as the number of attractions behind the Sunshine Coast has grown dramatically, the town has offered a range of amusements to encourage the visitor to pause for a few hours.

The Kenilworth Scarecrow and Limerick Festival is held in September/October.

Things to see:  

Kenilworth Country Food and Cheese Factory
A pleasant way to spend a couple of hours inspecting a cheese factory and tasting the produce. Contact (07) 5446 0144.

Kenilworth State Forest
Located just to the south-west of Kenilworth, this large apportionment of state forest is situated amid the Conondale range and the headwaters of the Mary River. A popular camping getaway it offers excellent views, deep ravines, mountain streams and fine forest scenery, with several camping and day-use areas, walking tracks and a forest drive that leads to a section of rainforest. Swimming, hiking, horseriding and pushbike riding can also be enjoyed.

Charlie Moreland Camping Area and Charlie Moreland Day Use Area (both on Little Yabba Creek and both in an environment of pine plantations and rainforest) are located along Sunday Creek Road (a forest drive). The open, spacious, grassy camping area is suitable for caravans and large groups. Facilities include barbecues, picnic tables, drinking water and toilets with wheelchair access. The turnoff is 7 km south-west of Kenilworth, along the Maleny-Kenilworth Rd which is sealed.

500 m further south along the Maleny-Kenilworth Rd is another turnoff. This one (Booloumba Creek Road) leads to a day-use area, three camping areas (all on Booloumba Creek) and continues south to Booloumba Falls. Booloumba 1 offers tent camping on individual sites and cold showers. Bookings are only required on weekends. Booloumba 2 is a picnic area only and the starting point of most of the walks. It is located in a patch of rainforest and is nearby the main swimming holes. Booloumba 3 offers more secluded tent camping, with bookings only required on long weekends. Booloumba 4 is an open, grassy area ideal for large groups and caravans. No bookings are required here. Facilities include toilets, showers, drinking water, fireplaces and a public telephone.

Access to all of the park's camping and day-use areas involves crossing creeks which can be impassable in a 2WD after rain. If this is the case, visitors will come to a 'Road Closed' sign. Sunday Creek Road and Booloumba Creek Rd eventually meet and continue south along a gravel road.

There are five designated walking trails in the park. The Mt Allan Hiking Trail (not for the unfit or infirm) leads to a fire tower atop Mt Allan, offering scenic views (2 km return); the Gold ine Walk Interpretive Trail (5.2 km return), which leads to an old gold mine now occupied by colonies of bats; the Booloumba 1 Walk (500 metres one way), which links Booloumba 1 Camping Area and Booloumba 2 Day Use Area; the Booloumba Falls Walk (3 km return), which leads from the day-use area atop the falls (with a rock pool nearby) down to a lookout platform over a rock formation known as The Breadknife; and Peters Creek Walk (500 metres return), which leads down a graded track from open to riverine forest beside a creek with rock pools and cascades.

There is a self-serve camping system with permits available at the camping areas and fees payable. For more information ring 131314 or email: enquiries@smartservice.qld.gov.au

Conondale National Park
In the area is Conondale National Park which cover 2126 ha of subtropical rainforest and tall wet eucalypt forest in the mountainous Conondale Range. Vegetation includes bunya pines, flooded gums, giant strangler figs, staghorns and plenty of fungi and ferns. Both sections of the Park are managed as wilderness areas and it is necessary to gain a Forestry access permit before entering, tel: (07) 5494 3983.

The areas contain a number of streams, rock pools and waterfalls and the local fauna includes skinks, sugar gliders and an interesting variety of birds. This is an area for scenic 4WD touring and for experienced bushwalkers. Camping is not permitted but it is permissable in the nearby state forest.

Off Beat Rainforest Tours offer a tour service through the rainforest with an 'eco-accredited guide', tel: (07) 5473 5135.

Markets are held at Conondale State School on the first Saturday of each month from 8.00 a.m. to midday.

Gheerulla State Forest
This camping area is situated on the banks of Gheerulla Creek, in a rugged area noted for its rock formations and sheer cliffs. Visitors can enjoy trail-bike riding, hiking, swimming, camping and bushwalking amid the rugged surrounds of sheer cliffs and rock formations. Barbecues, drinking water, picnic tables, firewood and toilets are provided. No bookings are required and there is a self-serve camping system with permits available at the camping area and fees payable. 2WD vehicles can access the spot via the Eumundi-Kenilworth Road, 6 km east of Kenilworth.

Borumba Dam
Visitors can camp in landscaped surrounds, on the banks of Yabba Creek, below the wall of Borumba Dam. The surrounding area consists of natural and plantation forest, offering opportunities for bushwalking and driving. Other activities are swimming, fishing, sailing, boating (there is a boat ramp), canoeing and waterskiing. The lake is stocked with lungfish and Mary River cod. Firewood is available and facilities include showers, toilets with wheelchair access, picnic tables, shelter sheds, a public phone, drinking water and fireplaces. No bookings are required and there is a self-serve camping system with permits available at the camping area and fees payable. 2WD vehicles can access the spot via Yabba Creek Road, 12 km south-west of Imbil and 20km south-west of Gympie.

Kenilworth Historic Homestead
Kenilworth Historic Homestead offers adventure holidays with horse riding, bushwalking, swimming and canoeing, and fossicking for gemstones. Contact (07) 5446 0555.

	Tourist Information
	Montville Tourist Information Centre 198 Main St Montville Kenilworth QLD 4560 Telephone: (07) 5478 5544 or 1800 882 032
	Hotels
	Kenilworth Hotel Elizabeth St Kenilworth QLD 4574 Telephone: (07) 5446 0206
	Bed & Breakfast/Guesthouses
	Kenilworth House 23 Elizabeth St Kenilworth QLD 4574 Telephone: (07) 5446 0500 Rating: ***
	Farm & Eco Holidays
	Historic Kenilworth Homestead 2760 Kenilworth-Eumundi Rd P.O. Box 204 Kenilworth QLD 4574 Telephone: (07) 5446 0555 Facsimile: (07) 5446 0644
	Caravan Parks
	Cambroon Caravan Park Kenilworth Rd Maleny Kenilworth QLD 4552 Telephone: (07) 5446 0002 Rating: **
	Camping & Other
	Bellbird Lifestyle Retreat 2 Boolumba Creek Rd Kenilworth QLD 4574 Telephone: (07) 5446 0960 Rating: ***
	Queensland National Parks & Wildlife Services Campground Kenilworth State Forest Kenilworth QLD 4574 Telephone: (07) 4146 0925
	Restaurants
	L'Escapade Restaurant Elizabeth St Kenilworth QLD 4574 Telephone: (07) 5446 0300